My notice of acceptance to UTU (Suomalais-ugrilainen kielentutkimus) arrived on Saturday, and I'm a US citizen so I need a residence permit. Orientations and possible entrance exams for minor subjects are held in late August, and my spoken Finnish is a bit rusty so I'd like to get there at least a week early if at all possible.
According to Migri's latest statistics, student residence permit decisions have been taking about 45 days, and I suspect mine may take longer than average because I overstayed my tourist stay in 2001-2005 and got refused entry to the UK because I couldn't account for where I'd been.
I know there is an exception for students whose studies start so soon after the entrance exam that they do not have time to return to their home country to apply for the permit, but can I expect that to apply here? If not, should I be OK anyway, or should I still apply from the US and risk arriving in Finland a bit late? I've already asked the Finnish consulate, but they just copy-pasted the text from migri.fi.
Last minute residence permit - here or there?
Re: Last minute residence permit - here or there?
Migri states that students RP have priority. Everything is going as fast as possible, so they don't make exceptions for students with a pressing time schedule.According to Migri's latest statistics, student residence permit decisions have been taking about 45 days, and I suspect mine may take longer than average because I overstayed my tourist stay in 2001-2005 and got refused entry to the UK because I couldn't account for where I'd been.
But since you have been naughty, you can indeed expect them to work "by the rules" in your case. Don't expect exceptions or a favourable treatment.
Last edited by rinso on Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Last minute residence permit - here or there?
a)koisoke wrote: a) I overstayed my tourist stay in 2001-2005 and got refused entry to the UK because I couldn't account for where I'd been.
b] should I be OK anyway,
c) or should I still apply from the US and risk arriving in Finland a bit late? .
b) Doubt it because of (a).
c) Define "bit late" depends how long you over stayed in (a).
But applying and waiting in USA seems like only option ..because of (a).
People do not become more irritable as they grow old - they simply stop making the effort to avoid annoying others.
Re: Last minute residence permit - here or there?
I would definitely recommend applying at your nearest consulate. I've used the one in New York and they tend to be very helpful in answering any questions that you may have. When you apply for the permit I would ask if it is possible to visit Finland on a 3 month tourist visa if your permit is not ready by the end of August and to pick up the final permit in Finland.
When I first applied for my Finnish residence permit I was working in Shanghai (I am a New York Native) but during the application process I moved back to New York because I completed my assignment in China. During the processing time of the permit I was allowed to travel to Finland for a two week vacation and they gave me my permit at the New York Consulate even though I applied in Shanghai.
They are going to take longer on your permit because of the overstay but you should definitely contact the consulate and see if they will let you do what I suggested above. You may need to get an actual tourist visa though because you will most likely no longer qualify for the visa-free program that Americans normally share with the EU.
Nice to know that there will be some other Americans at UTU this fall, I will be starting my Masters there as well in August.
When I first applied for my Finnish residence permit I was working in Shanghai (I am a New York Native) but during the application process I moved back to New York because I completed my assignment in China. During the processing time of the permit I was allowed to travel to Finland for a two week vacation and they gave me my permit at the New York Consulate even though I applied in Shanghai.
They are going to take longer on your permit because of the overstay but you should definitely contact the consulate and see if they will let you do what I suggested above. You may need to get an actual tourist visa though because you will most likely no longer qualify for the visa-free program that Americans normally share with the EU.
Nice to know that there will be some other Americans at UTU this fall, I will be starting my Masters there as well in August.