Moving "out" of Finland

[Abu Omar]

Hello,

OK, this section if for "Moving to Finland", but this topic is about "Moving OUT of Finland"

I've been living in Finland since year 2000, working and having a permanent residence. Recently, I got an expat contract to work outside EU-zone for couple of years.
According to the immigration law, after two years of residing abroad continuously, my permit will be canceled:
http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/ ... F40033C9B5

My questions are:
1) How would UVI know that I am residing abroad
2) If the residence permit is cancelled, then what about the permanent visa sticker in my passport. How would they cancel it? I mean that the visa sticker is valid as far as my passport is valid; in this case I can visit Finland at any time, even though the residence permit is cancelled. Right??

Your advice will be highly appreciated!

[Hank W.]

1. They will look it up in the computer. You will inform of your moving abroad by doing a change-of-address to the Maistraatti, unless you want to pay taxes. Of course you can move permanently or temporarily abroad - and here is the catch, you need to state what your intent is.

2. The big brother has a cross-referenced Schengen database the border patrols summon up when they take your passport and machine read it. They have a database of all the visas, so the stickers and stamps are there for only entertainment soon.

So I'd first triple-check if the contract is only for a short while and if you maintain ties to Finland you may well be eligible to maintaining your residence permit. But read the small print. Its all in them darn computers these days...

Oh, BTW while I'm at it. The move to the Maistraatti will filter down to more or less all offices, insurance companies etc. The Post Office will forward your mail for 3 months or so free (not sure if it is free abroad) but then for a year if you pay up some. I warmly recommend this, as you need to keep a bank account for say your tax returns and such dropping in... So basically you can deal with stuff in Finland pretty effieciently still even living overseas.

[sinikettu]

The police may cancel a permit ...

The word is "may" ...not "will"...
It is also not very clear as to whether this applicable to either or both permanent or fixed period permits.

As Hank says ---sooner or later they will know that you have moved away..
Whether they bother to do anything about it....??

Where is Daryl?

[Abu Omar]

sooner or later they will know that you have moved away..

How do they know?

In case I maintain my apartment and pay the rent regularly as usual, then there is no proof that I'm residing abroad. Isn't it?

[Hank W.]

So you are paying your taxes to Finland?

[Abu Omar]

So you are paying your taxes to Finland?

No, my salary will be dropped in my new bank account abroad, and of course my salary in Finland will stop, so there won't be any taxes paid during my residence abroad.

Basically I am thinking of maintain my apartment and continue paying the all kind of rents, licenses and insurances as usual.

Well, the reason why I need to have ties with Finland is that I am doing my PhD in HUT, and it takes me around 4 years to get it done. So, I must be able to visit my professor at least once a year to show my results.

The expat contract could be a permanent one if I wish, and that what I'm thinking of.

[Hank W.]

Yes, well, I guess its then up to you to fiddle about. But as you know a Finnish resident is liable for taxes of his worldwide income, so if the tax office gets interested of your 0 income you might start getting funny letters. Now if you move out of the country for 6 months that income is tax free...

Subletting the flat out to some fellow HUT student sounds like a good idea if you plan on keeping the place.

This by no means nullifies the fact thet there will have your entry and exit dates there in the database.

[Ralf Grahn]

Omar, if your real need is to visit your professor once a year, why bother to keep your apartment and residence permit?

A simple visa for your visit would be enough, would it not?

[Abu Omar]

A simple visa for your visit would be enough, would it not?

I guess it would, but why to go for a new visa application.

Keeping my current permanent permit will qualify me to work in Finland easily, and in case of being unemployed I will get some help from the labor office.

It is really pity to pay taxes for seven years, and the to lose all your rights in Finland if you think to work elsewhere!

[dutchfin]

Why don't you go to the police and ask them about the rules in detail? I'm sure you get the best information from them. Just tell them you got an offer which you are considering...

You do not necessarily have to pay tax in Finland if you are employed abroad, if there is a treaty concerning these matters between the country in which you are going to work and Finland. However you might not qualify for unemployment fee when you come back or only for basic unemployment fee from KELA on which no one can live.

[daryl]

Why don't you go to the police and ask them about the rules in detail? I'm sure you get the best information from them. Just tell them you got an offer which you are considering...

Why are you sure that "the police" will provide "the best information"? Where, precisely, should such an enquiry be submitted? Should it be submitted in writing? If so, to whom should it be addressed? Should the enquirer expect a written response? If the response is given orally, could the enquirer perhaps tape record the response? How long would be reasonable to wait for a written response? What guarantees are there that the response would be reliable?

Why would it be in any way necessary to give a reason for an enquiry about any aspect of public policy?

I note that you just joined this Forum yesterday and immediately began supplying advice that runs counter to the experience of many contributors here with very long and detailed experience of the immigration administration in Finland. In another thread bb/viewtopic.php?t=16919&start=0&postda ... highlight= you described a completely nonsensical administrative process, which you initiated for no good reason after imagining that it would somehow consolidate your immigration status. It should give you cause for alarm that nobody at the police station knew enough or cared enough to advise you properly about this, so what is the real motivation for this declared confidence in the competence of the police?

As we chant on the terraces: are you Palmu in disguise?

daryl

[Abu Omar]

Why are you sure that "the police" will provide "the best information"? Where, precisely, should such an enquiry be submitted? Should it be submitted in writing? If so, to whom should it be addressed? Should the enquirer expect a written response? If the response is given orally, could the enquirer perhaps tape record the response? How long would be reasonable to wait for a written response? What guarantees are there that the response would be reliable?

That's why I'm thinking of consulting a lawyer to get the full information. Otherwise I need to collect information from police, tax office, KELA, UVI, etc.

Could anyone provide me a contact of a good lawyer specialized in immigration and tax issues?