marriage and applying residence permit

raymond · Post by **raymond** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:25 am

Hey.. I'm living in Finland and going to marry with my Finnish girlfriend, however she is out of Finland for some months. Is it a good idea that we marry in Finland, and she goes back and then returns after some months. Would I be able to apply for residence permit meanwhile? She will be back in 4-5 months, so I thought it can save time which a person has to wait after applying for residence. Please tell me if it is good idea? Or it is important to wait for her to move back to finland and then we marry? Are there any restrictions or any pros and cons for that?

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AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:37 am

What is your current immigration status?

raymond · Post by **raymond** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:48 am

I'm on study visa

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:01 pm

So she's currently resident in Finland, it sounds like?

Will she change her registered domicile while she is abroad for 4-5 months?

How long have you been living together, and is that something you can document?

raymond · Post by **raymond** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 3:14 am

we have lived togther for like 1.5 years, then we both went abroad. now im back to sweden, and she will be back in around August. So i was thinking if we can marry and she goes back and meanwhile i can apply to save the time, will this work=?

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:54 am

So after they frst give you a "no" and then you get married that is not called "saving time" rather than "digging a very deep hole"...

raymond · Post by **raymond** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:41 am

Pursuivant wrote:So after they frst give you a "no" and then you get married that is not called "saving time" rather than "digging a very deep hole"...

We never applied earlier, if that was what your mean.

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:14 pm

raymond wrote:
Pursuivant wrote:So after they frst give you a "no" and then you get married that is not called "saving time" rather than "digging a very deep hole"...
We never applied earlier, if that was what your mean.

No, I think he's saying you want to choose a course now that avoids a situation where you apply, get turned down, get married, and then re-apply.

I'm not seeing a clear answer to your question, which may explain why (to my surprise) there haven't been more answers from others already.

I'm guessing that at the least, you are better off getting married BEFORE you apply. An actual legal commitment like that must be better from migri's perspective than a mere expressed intention to marry. If you could show you had been living together continually for the past 2 years, that would be sufficient; but since you can't, you want the strongest case you can make on the marriage basis.

Then, since you're on a study visa, it doesn't sound like you're in danger of losing your student status at present. If this is true, I'm further guessing you are better off waiting to apply until she has returned to Finland because then you will be living together. My recollection is they do expect married couples to have been living together most recently. You will be living together at the time of the application although you have not been during the time immediately prior to it. Maybe they won't ask. If they do, I wouldn't think it's a fatal thing to have been living apart for good reasons like education or a limited-term work opportunity. It sounds like both may be true in your case, with education for you and work for her. In any case, being married, living together at the time of the application, and having joint property or a lease signed in both names would strengthen the perceived legitimacy of your relationship, it seems to me. Not that I doubt, and not that the bureaucrat who handles your application necessarily would doubt. But since your situation is a little unusual it seems best to be as careful as possible about this application so that you don't get forced to jump through extra hoops or wait extra time for approval. When you apply on family grounds, the family member IS expected to live in Finland for the term of your permit.

Again this is mostly guesswork (plus reading the website) on my part in the absence of answers from people with more relevant experience. In your shoes, I would not be overly worried about the outcome (could be my mistake...), but I would make a cautious choice over a hasty or emotionally grounded choice. If I were choosing for myself, I'd go ahead and get married but hold off on the application.

pseudo · Post by **pseudo** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:50 pm

raymond wrote:Are there any restrictions ?

Absolutely not, unless of course either one of you don't meet the requirement.... e.g. impediment to marriage etc.

pros would be you can apply for resident permit sooner but your wife won't be in Finland while police do their work. They may/will interview you and may/can demand, 'where's your newly-wedded wife?'

It's better you wait for her return and get married and then apply for resident permit. A 4-month wait ain't long unless your student permit is running out and it's your final year

. Meanwhile, you should work on collecting credits if you haven't had sufficient credits yet. Since you two have already lived together for 1.5 years (which you should be able to prove it) and on top of that if you are still continuing your studies, MY SUGGESTION is WAIT for her RETURN.

By the way, are you two at present out of Finland and living separately?

tizlit · Post by **tizlit** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 9:26 am

I agree with Pseudo and AldenG.
If you get married, and apply yr permit on the grounds of family connection – which I would do in your situation - the spouse must live in Finland (ie. be registered living here). In my case, while married and living abroad, we had to wait until I had arranged to move back here, and register myself, in order the spouse to join me.
Wait just a few months, then get married, while both of you are here , and after that apply for your permit. The most logical approach, in my opinion.

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