Im moving to Finland, pregnant & want to get married!!!

cuffdomini · Post by **cuffdomini** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:21 pm

im leaving the states the end nov1st to join my fiance in vaasa, finland. he's new there himself so asking him a question about what to do is like asking my 21 month old daughter what to do!!lol!! he's telling me to wait until i get there but time is running out. we have to be married for me to stay on his working visa and im 4 1/2 months pregnant. and just because im pregnant im freaking out. i've been reading all the other topics, and leaving my little questions on there. but a helpful one left me 2 suggestions so know i have my own topic. yea!!!! so, help!!!

1) what hospital is close to Kauhajoki, vaasa?

2) what do i need to begin the marrage process, n how long does it really take?

3) where would i go to get a passport for a new born/ does that take long too?

**Sponsor:**

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:40 pm

You read the stuff at http://www.usembassy.fi its all explained there.

Basically you need to travel back and forth to the embassy heavily pregnant to get the (costly) affidavit that the Finnish authorities will accept as a proof of you and him being eligible to marry (wouldn't it be easier for him to fly over to the states and you get married and all), and then you'll have to do all the hassle of travelling to the embassy again to get the passport for the baby (wouldn't it just be easier to stay in the US as you'd actually get a birth certificate instead of a blank stare), but I guess you're not in for the "easy" bits in this equation are you?

And get yourself a map and have a look. Kauhajoki is a copule of miles from Vaasa. Though the central hospital is there http://www.vshp.fi the city of Kauhajoki http://www.kauhajoki.fi has also all the pertinent information of county services on its pages.

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:52 pm

In terms of the baby bring all your maternity notes with you and make sure you understand what everything is in them.

Where you live in Finland, there will be a Neuvola nearby, call them and get an appointment. They take care of all pregnant women and the babies plus a few health checks on the older children. They will take care of all your maternity needs and sort you out with the hospital. I know there is one in Vaasa, so you will be sent there. Im not sure if you will have any choice as it depends if there are any other hospitals that deal with births in the area.

Dont worry about the maternity care though. Its very good here (Im 35 weeks with my first child) and Ive been impressed with everything. The nurses at Neuvola are lovely and friendly. The hospitals are good, if you take a birth plan they will do exactly their best to try and follow it for you, unless there are complications which mean things have to be changed.

You will be able to get a passport from the American Embassy or then you can have a Finnish one for your baby. Best thing to do is look on the American embassy website as they will tell you what they need and what you have to do. http://helsinki.usembassy.gov/

I would also make sure you have good health insurance before you leave that will cover you in Finland, just incase you dont manage to get the Finnish side of things sorted out before baby is due.

EP · Post by EP » Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:53 pm

Would you be living in Kauhajoki or Vaasa? Because Kauhajoki belongs to Seinäjoki´s hospital district, and you would be giving birth in Seinäjoki. But if you live in Vaasa, you give birth in Vaasa.

cuffdomini · Post by **cuffdomini** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:56 pm

i wish it was easy but he left suddenly and i just found out i was pregnant, i cant stay here in the states because my job doesnt allow you to work while you're pregnant so the only thing i can do is move there. we've been living apart for 4 years now because of his work, and this is our second child but sometimes you just have to do what needs to be done at tough times, thankx

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:58 pm

Sara wrote:or then you can have a Finnish one for your baby

Is she a Finnish citizen (or married to one)? A child born in Finland is always first the nationality of the mother, then the father. Finnish nationality has nothing to do with the place of birth.

cuffdomini · Post by **cuffdomini** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:02 pm

ok my fiance said Kauhajoki but i thought it was a city in vaasa, u see im totally lost. so i guess its Kauhajoki. thanx for asking that question cuz my silly companion would have had me very confused!!!

cuffdomini · Post by **cuffdomini** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:04 pm

no we're both american citizens

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:18 pm

Hank W. wrote:
Sara wrote:or then you can have a Finnish one for your baby
Is she a Finnish citizen (or married to one)? A child born in Finland is always first the nationality of the mother, then the father. Finnish nationality has nothing to do with the place of birth.

ahh I didnt know that.

Good to know ta

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:18 pm

cuffdomini wrote: but sometimes you just have to do what needs to be done at tough times,

Well, I guess then you just need to bite the bullet. Anyways the system here is biblical "each to their own city" so your local meternity clinic in Kauhajoki is going to figure out where you go and what to do. However this hubby-to-be of yours would need to "find out stuff" real quickly now, as you'll be flying into Helsinki most probably it would be the "intelligent thing" to do that he pays the moneys required for the affidavits and stuff and you save yourself a trip down.

Now I am just curious has he applied for you for the residence permit as stuff doesn't work "like you just show up and stay" here. As far as the Finnish system is considered you're just another illegal alien on a tourist visa and they'll deport you - tell him to stop "thinking" and "find out the facts". (Unless he is a Finnish citizen, but you said somewhere that he's on a working visa). Read that small print at http://www.uvi.fi - getting in you don't need a visa but getting married might get tricky and then applying for the residence permit... you said somewhere you'd be flying out in April. That doesn't even get you through the process in most cases, and yeah, you're Non-nordic and non-EU so that makes you legally 3rd nations as far as the immigration law is considered...

So I'd say someone would need to start get "worrying about stuff" and it definitely ain't you. I am just afraid this man in Kauhajoki is getting you into some serious trouble just saying everything will be allright. Is he one of these "positive thinkers"?

cuffdomini · Post by **cuffdomini** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:31 pm

u called him out, "positive thinker" more like non thinker to me!! but one thing that i will discuss to him is if it gets too complicated he'll just have to buy me a ticket and ill fly back before i even have the baby, that might give me enough time to figure out where to stay in the states. we've been moving so much that we're renting out my house in florida. but you guys are helping me out so much. his main concern is just having me there with him because im pregnant and cant work and we have a 21 month old. he feels everything will fall into place but i think ahead most of the time...but i shouldv thought more ahead when we decided to have another little one. i feel blessed to be pregnant but i hope the stress does not take over.

and as for leaving in april, we're leaving but we will be back, he plays for a small basketball team and the season is over. then he goes to play for another team in the states for 3 months then the season starts back in finland. its very confussing, and its hard trying to keep the family together when i really need to settle in one spot n raise my kids. hopefully it will all fall in place with my research n contacting and more.

thanks again!

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:43 pm

Has he even applied a resident permit for you based on "fiance" or "living together"...If not it could take a while before you have a residence permit.
Till then as Hank outs it, you are an alien and will need insurance for them to cover you for anything like a cold...let alone a pregnancy.
if you have a residence permit..its like a Entrance ticket for your pregnancy..
So Cover that base first...
As for marriage: I posted the link in the other thread...for impediment certificate etc etc and hank also has posted a link from Finlex..
next: Ask him the address where he is staying and where you re gonna be going as people told you, where you live=determines where you get service.
Once that happens, then as I said before find out about nevoula etc etc,..
You better decide to stay where its comfortable for you ...more than "we" as it looks like he is the one traveling quite a bit and leaving his parent-duties to you..so where do you feel comfortable?
With a 21 month old, and a new born one, are you going to stay in a country all alone without the language, friends etc etc where your future hubby is or in the US where you ll have your friends are, language is English , known culture etc etc..
Balance your thoughts and decide on things.. as you seem to be the one preparing for this more than your to-be-hubby..

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:54 pm

You need to also consider the stage of your pregnancy. A lot of airlines wont take you after 27/28 weeks without a doctors certificate. If youre thinking of going back to the US to have the baby you need to go before the end of 36 weeks or they wont take you either.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:42 pm

cuffdomini wrote: his main concern is just having me there with him because im pregnant and cant work and we have a 21 month old. he feels everything will fall into place but i think ahead most of the time...

The thing here, without a residence permit is you're going to be arriving as a "tourist". And "tourists" are not eligible for anything other than emergency care. Which their insurance is supposed to pay. And pregnancy is a... hrm... "premeditated condition" so very rarely if never will a travel insurance cover that. Now the only thing I am really concerned is that you'll end up in the "tourist" trap - see as you don't/won't have an ID number the public maternity centres won't necessarily admit you. Of course you can go all private - but if you already are in a tough financial situation? you imply, and knowing basketball players get jack for salary in these parts his ability to support you financially through the private clinics without the insurance kicking in is... hrm... again a slight issue? Of course prices here aren't orbiting the planet as in the US, but our universal coverage is paid for residents.... so theres a slight catch-22 situation here unless y'all are "financially independent" so to speak. And then as Sara points out the airlines will not let you fly after/before a certain date due to the risks. So really - I know love conquers all, but you're in a bit of a situation here. Now in principle an athlete can bring their spouse over no problem, get the appropriate permits etc. and the baby stuff works as we've told. Problem is... hrm...I'm not "being negative" here but lets say "your timing is challenging" to be putting it all politically correct and nice.

cuffdomini wrote:u called him out, !

BTW is it Cedric, Daryl, Greg or Josh I need to look out for sweet talkin the missus

?

cuffdomini · Post by **cuffdomini** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:18 pm

it's cedric!!! u did some research!!!! he knows i like to know it all so he figures im chatting with someone with some sense. he's taking his time about asking the right people the right things and im hoping that when i discuss some of the issues you've pointed out to me he'll get on the ball. dont get me wrong he's a wonderful man but he's kinda stuck on how great it is in the us. not really great but we have a crazy and supporting health system where immigrants can be seen and treated on at tax payers expense. i hope u stick around until i get there so i can tell you what the run around is. may i ask whats your proffesion? u seem like a person who knows his stuff! kiitos!

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