newcomers in finland...

[Karhunkoski]

isma-ayala, did I get this right, you're intending to come to Finland as an illegal immigrant and work illegally?

[isma.ayala]

I am not planning on going to Finland! I am going to Finland by the end of the year to see a girl a met here in California... i will not be able to fly without a passport which is all we as mexicans need to visit and stay in Finland up to 3 months so no I am not getting there illegally. While in Finland i'll try to pick up a job since i don't have much money available for the trip once in Finland i'll see what i can do to stay longer if i like it there and if everything goes well with Mia my gf..

[Karhunkoski]

Must say, I'm terribly confused, you say you're not planning to come to Finland, then in the next sentence you say you're coming to Finland before the end of the year, which is is man?

If you're serious about Mia, I would strongly advise against trying to "pick up a job" whilst on a tourist visit. It is illegal and if you get caught, it could quite possibly screw up your chances of any future in Finland. If she's a decent chick with any brains, she will be aware of this (or at least be bothered about finding out for you). If she's telling you that it's not a problem for you to pick up casual work in Finland, then I suspect she is either stupid, extremely naive or possibly not as committed to a future with you as you may think.

Good Luck all the same.

[isma.ayala]

thank you! for you advise!! by the way i was being sarcastic with the first two sentences..im sure you've heard of sarcasm before right? but thank you very much for your opinion!!! .

[cris_chinatown]

Depending on what country you live in i believe you can get a 12 month visa if you have enough funds.
then lets say you find work, get sponsered.
live there. end of story
sounds simple but probably isnt.

just my two cents worth.

=)

[Tiwaz]

Except you cannot come to look for work/work.

You have to get the job first, from abroad. Then you apply for residence permit based on work, FROM ABROAD. And if someone can make convincing case enough why you possess such rare skills that cannot be obtained from unemployed finnish/EU native.... Then you can move in.

Anybody want to guess if salesman, dishwasher or uncertified builder are such jobs?

And hygiene pass... You have to understand and know finnish food regulations to pass. Which, little birds tell me, few if any immigrant actually know when arriving.
Yes, some may hire workers without pass and illegally looking for work.
Usually small, low level places which have little to lose if, and during seasons when, inspector arrives. You see, inspectors are not stupid. They know that during busy season temptation to break rules increases, and they act accordingly.

[cris_chinatown]

i dont think being an illegal alien was implied.
However i do agree, It is quite hard to find work in such countries without knowing the language, be a permanent resident and have the education and the skill to back it up.
My best bid would maybe start your own business, but then you need the money and so on and so forth to do this.

I'm sure there are a whole lot of options to explore, you just have to search more. And hey, if it's ment to be then it will be fine, If not, it's not the end of the world.

[Hank W.]

i dont think being an illegal alien was implied..

A "tourist" seeking to do work is most of the time "illegal", unless in a very few designated fields. Don't "think",read http://www.migri.fi , clears the head of silly thoughts. The Finnish immigration is also quite adamant still in that you can't come and expect to stay, but return back home and apply "proper channels", and even they are planning to change the law it hasn't made the rounds yet. It isn't exactly the first time someone has had this kind of bright ideas , and people usually find the hard way that the system doesn't favor those who "think" but people who give them the right papers in the right order in the right office.

Now if Isma wouldn't be so arrogant to "hope" and actually use his brain to think, he might have been able to figure out that as studying in Finland is free, and there are English programmes for say chefs and catering and as he can come with a passport over he would have better chances of actually getting in than the poor sods who can't get a visa to come do the entrance tests. And as a student is allowed to do work, that would be a win-win situation. But as he is living in "hope" he'll crash and burn and frankly I don't give a damn.

[cris_chinatown]

i dont think being an illegal alien was implied..

A "tourist" seeking to do work is most of the time "illegal", unless in a very few designated fields. Don't "think",read http://www.migri.fi , clears the head of silly thoughts. .

Maybe it's different for australians because we have a....

"bilateral working holiday agreement exists between Finland and Australia. A 12-month working holiday permit can be issued to an Australian citizen provided that he/she fulfils the following conditions:

The primary purpose for residing in Finland is holidaying
The applicant's age when applying for the visa is between 18 and 30 years
The applicant will not be accompanied by a spouse or children who would be dependent on the applicant
The applicant has not been issued a working holiday visa to Finland before
The applicant is in good health and has a sound background
Under the working holiday permit one can work altogether 9 months but no more than 3 months for one employer at a time."

so i believe, you can work and look for work while "holidaying/being a tourist"

[Hank W.]

so i believe, you can work and look for work while "holidaying/being a tourist"

Yes, if you are an Australian... or a Kiwi... in possession of the aforementioned... Thats one special agreement with Australia and New Zealand, only leaves the small insignificant matter of scoring a job but paperwise its quite straightforward... and it isn't technically a "tourist" visa but a "trainee"one. But it doesn't apply for an Australian who is 17 or a 31-year old New Zealander. And it doesn't really matter when the OP is concerned as since when was Mexico in Australia?

[raamv]

One thing that others were trying to clarify to the OP was that, you can come here on a tourist visa.
In case you land a job, you cannot stay here and apply for a Permanent resident permit based on that job.
you need to go back to where you live(lived before you entered Finland) and then apply with the nearest embassy there.
There have been many who have done what the original poster tried to do and then got sent "home" and have to apply from there,while the job was waiting in the trees!!

[Hank W.]

Well, technically you can. And technically there is a dispensation for "special causes". But technically most people who have done that have gotten massively upset of first waiting 3-4 months and then getting a "wrongly applied" verdict.

[isma.ayala]

Although i dont really like or agree with everything said i really appreciate all the comments they're really helpful!!

[Hank W.]

Well, as I say, "did you come here to get answers" or "did you come to hear what you wanted to hear"

The HBS will take care of stroking your ego - there are ways to do things, and there are ways not to do things.
OK, read these. Considering these people are "EU" who are "legals" allowed in the country to seek employment and live here... so what do you think the chances of a non-EU person is without proper planning? See now I am not saying anything is impossible - but if this is what people who do not plan and "think" and "believe" end up doing... Those who know what they do and plan well can prosper.

[Lauramexico]

Well, as I say, "did you come here to get answers" or "did you come to hear what you wanted to hear"

.."The HBS will take care of stroking your ego - there are ways to do things, and there are ways not to do things.
... so what do you think the chances of a non-EU person is without proper planning? See now I am not saying anything is impossible - but if this is what people who do not plan and "think" and "believe" end up doing... Those who know what they do and plan well can prosper.

Hello Isma,
I gotta say Hank W, has so good arguments in his words and you definatly have to think about it, I am also mexican so I may have a good idea, I recently moved to Finland , also I studied here and visited for couple of times before finally moved here,and STILL there was lot of planning I had to handle with .
The thing is that you cannot just show off and look for a job without any paper and just a passport, and in fact as NON.EU when you come as a tourist in "Schengen area" yes you have 3 months time that you can be without any other than a passport , BUT after you have to leave "Schengen area", you need to wait to be able to enter again as a tourist to "Schengen area", just in case you are thinkng to leave and come back, after expired the 3 months time in Finland.
You need a RP or WORKNG VISA, and even if u intend to study here you still need a STUDENT VISA, (and to get any of those you still need to follow requirements, enough money to prove you can handle your stay here without work, because as a student you cannot work either, except certain amount of hours) however as posted already in order to get a proper visa you need to have an employee already and still you have to apply in Mexico and wait couple of months.
I was working on Mexico and searching for jobs in Finland as I knew I will move here, when I found out some companies where interested on me and try to get the WORKING VISA,they said it takes still time(so i dont know u need to find also a employee willing to wait you), even they said as I planned also to get marry that it may be possible I could get the RP before my working visa, and for so you better think about it.
I think is great you are thinking to come here and so on, you will face lots of challenges just do not make it harder for yourself,
Good luck
"Cualquier cosa por aca estamos si decides darte una vuelta"