Residence permit B to A and P and so on

nkkhatri · Post by **nkkhatri** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:10 pm

I have been working for two years in Finland and is holding type B residence permit. This permit will expire by the end of this year. I can apply for Continuous (type A) residence permit now and will get till December 2008 or maximum of a year (provided I have a working contract). Will it be wise to apply for type A now ? since both residence permits will be till Dec 2008.

My question: Is time spent during residence permit B accounted in Permanent residence permit (type P)? or only time spent under A is counted for securing P in future

Kind regards

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distantspaces · Post by **distantspaces** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:49 pm

You need to have lived in Finland with an 'A status' permit for at least 4 years before a permanent residence permit can be granted.

nkkhatri · Post by **nkkhatri** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:34 am

Does this mean that all my time spent on B permit will not be counted? I heard that immigration authorities count time spent on B equals half of A. i.e two years on B is one year on A. Is it true?

moon · Post by **moon** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:50 am

i think u can simply ask for permanent a the police will deside
i have many years ago askd for that but cose i havent been here long inough they just gave regular visa.
the year after they gave p visa
or you can also simply edvise with them what can you apply for

distantspaces · Post by **distantspaces** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:07 pm

According to the latest Finnish Alien's Act:

Section 56 (380/2006)
Issuing permanent residence permits

(1) A permanent residence permit is issued to aliens who, after being issued with a continuous residence permit, have resided legally in the country for a continuous period of four years if the requirements for issuing an alien with a continuous residence permit are still met and there are no obstacles to issuing a permanent resident permit under this Act.

(3) The period of four years is calculated from the date of entry into the country if the alien held a residence permit for continuous residence upon entry. If the residence permit was applied for in Finland, the period of four years is calculated from the first day of the fixed-term residence permit issued for the first continuous residence in the country.

Therefore, a permanent residence permit is issued after 4 years of residence on a 'continuous residence' type permit. A continuous residence type permit is defined as:

Section 34
Residence permit entries
(1) The nature of fixed-term residence is indicated in the residence permit with a letter. A continuous residence permit bears the letter A and a temporary residence permit the letter B.

So, 4 years of living on Status A can get you Status P, if you apply for it and if you are still eligible for a residence permit. You can of course go and ask the Police, and this is what they'd most likely tell you too. You are still free to apply for a P status anytime, but it is unlikely that you get it before time.

jas_rho · Post by **jas_rho** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:08 pm

I actually myself tried to skip the 4 year wait and get the permanent residency but it didn't work. I moved here in 2000 to study so had been here on B status during that time, then when I graduated and got a job here I got another B status for 3 years. During that time I got married and last year when that B status expired, I applied for the A status. As you know the first time is given for one year. Now this year I went to renew that and asked would it be possible to get the permanent permit since I have been here so long and am married to a fin. The lady just said that its possible and lets see what happens. Well this week when I picked it up, it was A status and for 3 years so I guess it didn't work. Next time I can apply for the permanent one or then get Finnish citizenship so we'll see what happens then.

moomintroll · Post by **moomintroll** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:28 pm

Does time spent on the B type visa count towards the time requirement for citizenship?

network_engineer · Post by **network_engineer** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:39 pm

Hi all,

Haven't the dynamics related to this question been discussed a number of times on this forum already?

Kind regards.

ahan · Post by **ahan** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:23 pm

it only mentioned 4 years A in the law, besides the 4 years A, is there any requirements for permanent resident permit?
for example: if i have 4 years A, but when the time come, i apply for permanent resident permit, i have no job, being unemployed, can i still get it?

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:48 pm

Well, ummm... no. If you are on a work-based RP, then you need to be working.

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