participating to integration program without resident permit

Ulkosuomalainen1 · Post by **Ulkosuomalainen1** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:29 am

Hi,

I'm Finnish citizen and have been living in China for long time, but after change in my work situation I need to go back to work in Finland again. Now me and my long term girl friend have been decided to marry in China and move to Finland together. Only problem with this is that resident permit process using normal way to claim it in China and move to Finland after approval seems to be too slow because I need to start working in Finland again in August.

I have hear that after registering marriage in Finnish China embassy it would be possible to get one year visa to my wife. This way we could move in Finland and start resident permit process in Helsinki area. Now after reading forum seem that it could get six months or even longer to get resident permit and this has rise few question that you might be able to help based on your experience.

My main concern is my wife able to participate integration program (learning Finnish language and culture) in that time we are waiting for getting resident permit in Finland? I feel that it would be important that she would have daily studies on going when I'm working normal days, that she could learn language and get new friends from classes. Do anybody have experiences about this? Thank.

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Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:12 am

Ulkosuomalainen1 wrote:My main concern is my wife able to participate integration program (learning Finnish language and culture) in that time we are waiting for getting resident permit in Finland? I feel that it would be important that she would have daily studies on going when I'm working normal days, that she could learn language and get new friends from classes. Do anybody have experiences about this? Thank.

Without RP she is a tourist. Tourists don't go to integration programs.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:28 am

She will get no public money or free courses. She may find on her own (with your help) what language courses are organized in the area by various schools and institutes (plenty of options in Helsinki area, less so elsewhere) and pay the requested course fees.

I have hear that after registering marriage in Finnish China embassy it would be possible to get one year visa to my wife.

A visa is for maximum three months. She is allowed to stay here after that while a permit application is being processed, but she has no other rights than those a tourist would have.

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:09 am

But what if one was to be on the integration scheme and then was forced to make a return to China for an emergency or other reason of some sort. Could they return and simply start from where they left off?

Or would they have to start all over again with a 1 year visa even if they had already lived in Finland for a year.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:15 am

Kutittaa wrote:But what if one was to be on the integration scheme and then was forced to make a return to China for an emergency or other reason of some sort. Could they return and simply start from where they left off?

Or would they have to start all over again with a 1 year visa even if they had already lived in Finland for a year.

Visa is for visiting, RP is for residing

You won't get into integration program (or rather the courses that the työkkärintäti "recommends" to your individual program). Adhering to the program is prerequisite to getting integration assistance (= fancypansy name to money).

As for the RP and revoking/applying for new one... http://www.migri.fi/moving_to_finland_t ... the_permit

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:23 am

No I meant that if you left back to China after your 1 year permit ran out and then decided to go back after a short period (under a year) just as a random example.

Could you walk in and go from where you left off, meaning your next permit would be a max of 4 years (extended permit) or must they start again with a 1 year permit?

Would they be exempt from the integration scheme because they have already done it once and left after their initial permit ran out?

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:43 am

Kutittaa wrote:No I meant that if you left back to China after your 1 year permit ran out and then decided to go back after a short period (under a year) just as a random example.

Well.. you have to be able to come under either visa exemption, visa or rp. Extending the permit: http://www.migri.fi/moving_to_finland_t ... _extension
So either you extend your permit or apply to new one. Imo.

Kutittaa wrote:Would they be exempt from the integration scheme because they have already done it once and left after their initial permit ran out?

I'm sure the new scheme would take to account if you have already done "Finnish basics" and "how to fill unemployment paper and cv". Or at least I hope so. :/

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:54 am

Sounds fair enough. That there is at least some lee-way, that if you leave you can at least come back and return to what you were doing without too much trouble. Whether you get the extended permit for a max of 4 years or have to start again from a 1 year permit at least there is the option in the first place.

My knowledge was that if you left even for a short time it was sort of hard to get back into the system.

It's quite amazing how catering Finland is visa/permit-wise. At least compared to my country. I don't know about China, but I would bet they aren't half as flexible though.

I'm sure the new scheme would take to account if you have already done "Finnish basics" and "how to fill unemployment paper and cv". Or at least I hope so. :/

But what would be the next step? Rinse and repeat?

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:14 am

Kutittaa wrote: Could you walk in and go from where you left off, meaning your next permit would be a max of 4 years (extended permit) or must they start again with a 1 year permit?

After you have a permit, short trips of temporary nature don't effect your status. If you're away so long that your permit either gets cancelled or expires without renewal, then you need to start again with a one year permit when you return.

Would they be exempt from the integration scheme because they have already done it once and left after their initial permit ran out?

Well, it is supposed to take into account the situation of the individual (educational background, possible knowledge of Finnish (knowledge on English language, is he literate in any language...))
How well it works in practice I do not know.

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:20 am

As always thanks for the enlightenment both of you.

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