Tell me how many months it took you to get Citizenship

[Alicia]

I am wondering how long it takes to get citizenship in Finland. I did the language test in November, got results in January and then applied. One man (I will not mention his name) got his citizenship last month and he sat the exam with me, that means that he got his citizenship in 6 months from date of earliest application. His citizenship was announced on the radio and in the newspapers, but now I am still waiting. I am a little disappointed knowing that he got his so quickly. They won't be annoucing mine in the newspaper but I would like to know how long it is reasonable to expect (it says 15 months on the uvi).

Let me know how long it took for you.

[Vesta-Minerva]

You have call to UVI again and ask.

They can tell you wants going on. That is the only way to find out.

[Alicia]

I'm not in a rush, I am more interested in what other people have experienced. (Ok, I admit, I am a bit of a statistics nerd, but don't hold it against me.)

[Vesta-Minerva]

I'm not in a rush, I am more interested in what other people have experienced. (Ok, I admit, I am a bit of a statistics nerd, but don't hold it against me.)

It's good that you think it through and you think all the options. If you plan it well, you have 50% already.

That don't make a nerd!

I'm Finn, so it work for me differently, but so are you. You can pass from most of exam test what they put you through in University. You need 2 things:
1. very good sitting muscles
2. good memory skills. If you can remember what you have read with thought, you'll pass.

Most of books in University is in English (luckily). Most of my books are in English and it's hard to write the exam in Finnish after reading to the exam in English. I wrote Finnish sentences in English grammar way

You can study here in English too. More information:
http://www.helsinki.fi/kksc/

Go for it!

[sy]

I think UVI still have the two-queue system. If your application is a "selkeä tapaus", meaning that obviously you meet every requirements (language, 6 years of A-status or A-type), supporting documents are all clear and included in your application, they will put your application to the "fast track", and within several months your application could be approved.

However, if they think that your case is that clear at the first glance, then they'll put your application to the normal, slower, track. Then the waiting time could be several years.

This practice seems unfair. But the Chancellor of Justice approved it as a solution to clear the application backlogs.

I think you can find more info from UVI's annual report.

[Spectra]

I'm also curious to know how long it took others to get the citizenship after all the forms were sent in.

[Alicia]

Just got mine through. I waited 14 months for it. I did try and ring UVI one day, about 2 weeks before my visa was about to expire. I didn't know whether I should just fork out the 120 euros or not, so I tried calling during the hours that they stated, but they kept turfing me and probably many others off the line. 2 days before my visa ran out I got the letter in the mail.

[Spectra]

Alicia, I'm sort of in the same boat, or at least will be in the coming months. I want to get the Finnish citizenship before my visa expires so I don't have to pay the visa renewal fee. Just out of curiosity, what were you planning on doing if your visa had expired? Or were you just ready to go on into the police office just the day of expiration to apply for the visa renewal? What's the system with that--do you get an unofficial visa while you're waiting for the new one, or what?

[Alicia]

I was prepared to go in with 120 euros (in cash) to get the new visa. I had been down once already and checked, and the alien lady said that I had no choice. So I thought I would hold out to the second last day (which I did) before it ran out and go down to the police station. It is frustrating that some people, and I mean sports persons can get it through so quickly! Don't bother ringing and asking though....

[queen_mob]

It took me over 3 years to obtain Finnish citizenship.After those 3 years passed by they kindly asked me to fill in a couple of additional forms about what I was doing during those 3 years while my application was waiting on their dusty desk for handling.