advice needed.. moving to finland, what to do there?

[tizlit]

[quote][/quote]Almost all foreigners in Finland (Legally+No criminal records) have the right and the access to these integration programs to learn the language.

Others have already explained this to you, but here goes:
Of course you have the right for an access for the program. But like Pursuivant wrote, it does not mean that you can readily and immediately get it.
A husband of a friend of mine, who both moved to live in Finland, went through hell with this matter. First he had to prove to have a job in the past (papers and more papers), then he registered himself with TE (employment office). There they made a big mistake, which fortunately was corrected. Then waiting for a school to study Finnish, which would enable him to receive some KELA benefits. But waiting was long, as a matter of fact, 1,5 years.
In the meanwhile he attended a free school, which he found, but in TE was told the government does not recognise this school. More waiting. So 1,5 years went down the drain.

Saving became useful during this time. Then attending school, during which they put you into tyoharjoittelu, which in practise means you work for nothing (no salary), if you refuse they cut your benefits. And it is not so easy to learn the language just in one year, believe me, it takes years.

As far as the quality of life here, compared to the one in Turkey, is somewhat different, in terms of climate, culture, and peoples attitude generally. Rasicm flourishes, although they all deny this. Perhaps a trial period of coming first here to "feel the ice" might be appropriate. And then decide.

My friend with his wife are planning now to leave Finland, forever, as the country proved just too much for them. It all looked rosy, but after you take the pink sunglasses off, the reality hits in the face.
Sour faces, depression (they all pop pills for depression), dark days and freezing temperatures in winter do not lift the mind.
And the bureaucrasy, it is worse than in some southern less developed countries, take my word. Just to get an appointment for a doctor, you must prove (?) that you are really ill. How do you prove it - well there is this young 18year old girl taking the appointment times, and try argue with her...
And about the sea, yes in Helsinki and the other coastal towns, there is sea, but it is murky and cold.
Welcome to finland!

[tista]

It seems as if you're exchanging a situation in which your wife has no friends, no job, and feels like she doesn't fit in for a situation in which you wil have no friends, no job, and feel like you don't fit in. Just try harder to learn Finnish than you've ever tried to go anything before, and in the meantime to keep your relationship functioning, ask your wife to extend you the same courtesy for Turkish. Your common language is English, I assume?

Yes, we communicate in English. It is littlebit difficult but we dont have any other possibility right now. You are right, I will have same difficulties in Finland as my wife has here. Life will be harder than here.

After all your opinions/advices, we think now to stay here in Turkey and search possibilities and some activities for my wife. Meanwhile I continue applying for a job in internet. It will be really difficult in Finland without working. Here we have somehow nice apartment with all furniture, car, money etc. When we are bored we dont mind going out to a restaurant, cafe, seaside.. In Finland we are nothing, we will have to start from zero again. And money problem will affect us badly because we got used to comfortable life here.

I have already been in Finland twice for holiday. It wasnt so so boring because I didnt stay so long. Cold weather wasnt so problem in winter. I even liked it. And in summer climate was really nice. I could even swim in lake. Just it was boring to see no people when I went outside. Maybe it was because where I have been was a small place, Joensuu. I got used to see many people in the streets here in Turkey. Everyone does something, running around. Something is always going on. I like this in Turkey. In Finland life is more routin. And as tizlit said, in winter dark days are really depressive. I have never seen that sunset comes at around 2pm.

Thank you for all your answers. They really helped me about the questions in my mind.

[Upphew]

Meanwhile I continue applying for a job in internet. It will be really difficult in Finland without working.

Getting work before RP might also be really difficult as you can't start the work legally before you have the RP on hand.

[missjingleighpoo5]

Hello. There ARE Finnish Language courses to take if/when you move to Finland. If you go to unemployment office to sign up for unemployment benefits, they require you to take language courses to help you find a job. When you take the courses, you get a little more money each day you are in class. So you get paid to take the courses. There are three levels, Taso 1, 2, and 3. And there is also Taso Valko. 1,2,3 are 3 month courses, where you are in class 7 hours a day, 5 days a week learning the language. After Taso 2, you have the choice to apply for Taso 3, or Taso Valko. Taso 3 does not come every fall or spring. And there are always long lines to get into the class. Valko is 9 months long and prepares yo for University, if you want to go to university and there is a test and an interview to get into the course (if you have done well in your previous courses, then you have nothing to worry about getting into Valko). Even if you have degrees from your home country, You will need to sort of ''transfer'' that degree to see how it applies to Finnish system and schools. So after you take the language courses you can go to university or ammattikorkealkoulu to catch up your degree so it meets Finnish standards. So, it could be a long process learning the language and finding a job, but it IS possible, especially if you have the desire to work and WANT to learn.

[tista]

Hello. There ARE Finnish Language courses to take if/when you move to Finland. If you go to unemployment office to sign up for unemployment benefits, they require you to take language courses to help you find a job. When you take the courses, you get a little more money each day you are in class. So you get paid to take the courses. There are three levels, Taso 1, 2, and 3. And there is also Taso Valko. 1,2,3 are 3 month courses, where you are in class 7 hours a day, 5 days a week learning the language. After Taso 2, you have the choice to apply for Taso 3, or Taso Valko. Taso 3 does not come every fall or spring. And there are always long lines to get into the class. Valko is 9 months long and prepares yo for University, if you want to go to university and there is a test and an interview to get into the course (if you have done well in your previous courses, then you have nothing to worry about getting into Valko). Even if you have degrees from your home country, You will need to sort of ''transfer'' that degree to see how it applies to Finnish system and schools. So after you take the language courses you can go to university or ammattikorkealkoulu to catch up your degree so it meets Finnish standards. So, it could be a long process learning the language and finding a job, but it IS possible, especially if you have the desire to work and WANT to learn.

Thank you for information. it is really long process to learn language for work or university.

One more question. If i apply for RP in Turkey and get it, do I have to go to Finland straightaway and live there? Is it possible to get RP but still live in Turkey?

[Pursuivant]

Just it was boring to see no people when I went outside. Maybe it was because where I have been was a small place, Joensuu. I got used to see many people in the streets here in Turkey.

Heh, I had some Romanian friends first time go to town (Helsinki). It was morning - around 10-11, they came back "Theres no people around, is it holiday?" heck, all people are at work at that time. Now they are gone native, they visited Romania and came back "too many damn people"

Is it possible to get RP but still live in Turkey?

To get, yes, but to keep, you have to live in Finland (first year) and if you then eventually have a permanent one but stay away 2 years you lose it.

[tizlit]

Correct me if I am wrong, someone, but you have to live in a certain country, in your case finland, to receive RP, after applying for one. I have a RP in Greece, but I did live there.
How can you apply for one while living somewhere else? Does not make sense.

IMHO I would perhaps stay where you are, enjoy a quality life, as you said yourself, and let the time show what the future brings. Have seen many cases, where people from the southern Europe find it quite difficult to integrate into the stiff way of life here. I, for one, am one of them. It is easier for your wife to adapt in Turkish culture, than for you for one in Finland.

[Rip]

Correct me if I am wrong, someone, but you have to live in a certain country, in your case finland, to receive RP, after applying for one. I have a RP in Greece, but I did live there.
How can you apply for one while living somewhere else? Does not make sense.

You can apply for one, and in many cases (though not all) you must do that while still living elsewhere. Then when you have got your permit it would be expected you move into the country you got the permit for. Here the first permit is for one year, while I don't know what is the actual policy, I would think renewal could get tricky if you haven't lived most of the time the first permit covered here.

[Logic]

Since he needs it just for visits then it's better to get a long term multiple entry visa. The max I heard is a 2 year visa.

[missjingleighpoo5]

Correct me if I am wrong, someone, but you have to live in a certain country, in your case finland, to receive RP, after applying for one. I have a RP in Greece, but I did live there.
How can you apply for one while living somewhere else? Does not make sense.

You can apply for one, and in many cases (though not all) you must do that while still living elsewhere. Then when you have got your permit it would be expected you move into the country you got the permit for. Here the first permit is for one year, while I don't know what is the actual policy, I would think renewal could get tricky if you haven't lived most of the time the first permit covered here.

I do not know about living abroad and applying for residence permits,I just know that I lived in Finland 3 months before applying for my residence permit--which lasted one year. I just renewed it, and now it lasts 4 years. I think the next one lasts 10 years. But am not certain.

[Myrica]

Hello everybody,

I readed couple topics in the forum and i find the forum very helpful for people who is interested in Finland. So i registered too.

I am married with a Finnish citizen woman and we have a 5 months old son.I am myself a turkish citizen. We currently live in Turkey but we are thinking to move to Finland for a better life (at least we hope it will be so).I graduated from university as mechatronics engineer. In Turkey i work as a design engineer, I have a good work but we cant live here in peace. My wife has no possibility for the life here, no school without turkish language, no language course in place where we live, no friends etc. And for me, if i find a work in Finland, i probably will earn 3-4 times more than what I earn here, better working conditions etc. So we are thinking abt moving to Finland.

I search job for myself in internet from Finland. I have applied many companies for 1-2 months but got no positive feedback. Is it really so difficult to find a work in Finland for a non finnish speaker? At the same time, I improve my english language to pass IELTS exam so that i can apply a university in Finland for master education.but then i have worries about our financial situation to take care of my family. Can we live then with only Kela money? I will have residence permit because I have finnish citizen wife, so they will pay me some money from Kela. Some child benefit will come too. And my wife will take also some money from Kela because she has no work yet. Would this all money be enough for normal life in Finland?

Another option is to study finnish language. I think government has free finnish courses for foreign people.

So this is my story, I wanted to share with you. I appreciate any advice.
Thanks.

maybe i can help you here as another turkish citizen:P
First of all,your wife should find a job,you cant rely on kela money which is quite low.

Other than that,without finnish,your chances of getting job is %0.0000001.Your experience in the field and everything else doesnt matter UNTIL you learn finnish.Easiest way to get a job is through connections,like everywhere else.

Also if you move to suomi,you will experience a huge culture shock(its even more for turkish since we are ENTIRELY different than finns).Its hard process to get used to live in finland,get some connections and learn language.Takes several years at least.

In addition to that,without a work,i dont think you can get residence permit based on family ties,government will know that you will be burden to country basically.Wait until she gets a job.

Yes government has free finnish courses for foreigners.You have to wait though.

On the other hand,for your wife,it will be quite hard to get used to live in Turkey.Literally nobody speaks english properly,probably everybody will think your wife is russian,they will call her *whore*.Also life is not stable,since there is hidden islamisation going on already.

If you are willing to start a new life,finland is good place.But it will be hard.

Good luck mate

[Upphew]

If you are willing to start a new life,finland is good place.But it will be hard.

Elämä on kovaa, mutta ilman kovaa ei ole elämää.

[Kutittaa]

It will hardly be a 'better life' if you have to survive on Kela benefits.

Also it would be a very sad situation if you come here to do Finnish language courses when you are a university graduate.. Those courses are for people who don't have any sort of qualification really, so they cannot work. They aren't really for people who have qualifications.

What is the point that you come here and cannot speak Finnish, or even at the minimum, any English. How do you think that your life will be any better if you come here and cannot even communicate with people?

I suppose you could always just open up another Turkish kebab store. Anyone who can speak better Finnish and English than you will get the job that you will apply for. So your situation is pretty much hopeless...

I hope you realise that those Masters of Education programmes from University only take people who are extremely skilled in English. Even Finns who have studied English their entire lives, as well as people who speak English natively get rejected from those courses. How do you expect that you will even have a chance at getting into University?

How much is an engineer salary in Finland per month (when taxes taken away)? I know that it depends of position, experience etc. but as average ?

http://www.uil.fi/portal/page?_pageid=1 ... ema=PORTAL

Thank you. I expected more

I think you should be more greatful. In Turkey you're paid in donkey !"#¤% aren't you? Some modesty goes a long way for a start...

Think about it seriously, you're basically choosing the 'frying pan' instead of the fire. Your wife's situation is hopeless if you live in Turkey. If you live in Finland your situation is basically hopeless.. realisticly what do you hope to achieve with your situation?

[Logic]

In Turkey you're paid in donkey !"#¤% aren't you?

My god you're so ignorant!! There are actually people living in other parts of the world who are quite content with their life. There are things that are more important than money.

[Pursuivant]

I still rather cry in a Ferrari than smile in a Lada...