1st-time, family ties R.P.: embassy or police?

juntti · Post by **juntti** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 4:39 am

Hi all, first-timer here, so please forgive any forum faux pas.

I am a Canadian living in Canada, my wife is Finnish and is currently living in Finland (municipality of Jarvenpaa, 40km N. of Helsinki) to go to school. I'm planning to move there this February and wish to sort out my first Residence Permit as quickly as possible in order to start working.

My question is: Should I apply for the RP here in Canada through the embassy or should I apply at the police station once I arrive? Does anyone have recent experience applying from Canada?

Thanks

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Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:11 am

juntti wrote:Hi all, first-timer here, so please forgive any forum faux pas.

I am a Canadian living in Canada, my wife is Finnish and is currently living in Finland (municipality of Jarvenpaa, 40km N. of Helsinki) to go to school. I'm planning to move there this February and wish to sort out my first Residence Permit as quickly as possible in order to start working.

My question is: Should I apply for the RP here in Canada through the embassy or should I apply at the police station once I arrive? Does anyone have recent experience applying from Canada?

Thanks

During the time you are here, but don't yet hold valid RP, you are in a Limbo. If your case is slam dunk, I'd probably just hop on the plane and do the paperwork here. If you have time and/or something that might make the coppers confused then I'd apply before the flight. Granted I'm a Finn and my experience is mainly from this forum, so maybe you should wait for second opinion from someone who has done the jump.

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:52 am

Do it at the embassy in your home country. Permits are often given much faster when done outside the country (at least for Australia it is like this). You have plenty of time before February, that it's sure you'll get it.

If you do it in your own country, you'll get it before February I believe. I got mine in two weeks at the embassy in Australia.

Then you can get off the plane here with permit in hand and everything will be much easier. You can start searching for a job straight away, get your banking and KELA stuff in order.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:28 am

Flossy1978 wrote:Do it at the embassy in your home country. Permits are often given much faster when done outside the country (at least for Australia it is like this). You have plenty of time before February, that it's sure you'll get it.

If you do it in your own country, you'll get it before February I believe. I got mine in two weeks at the embassy in Australia.

Then you can get off the plane here with permit in hand and everything will be much easier. You can start searching for a job straight away, get your banking and KELA stuff in order.

Whoopsie, I happily missed the February part. Definitely RP application in now and off the plane with RP next year.

browndude · Post by **browndude** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:14 pm

You are Canadian and if your case is legit then it should not be a problem. Since you are looking to move in Feb. I would also strongly recommend applying to the Finnish embassy in Canada. Be super careful and thougrough with the paperwork and it will be a piece of cake.

juntti · Post by **juntti** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:54 am

Thanks all, seems like the consensus is to apply ahead of time.

Its encouraging to hear that some of you have been able to get R.P.s fairly quickly from your home countries. That said I'm a little confused by the migri assertion that as of August 2012

the earliest applications awaiting decision were largely submitted in September 2011.

Is that to say, that more recent, and presumably more straight-forward applications, have also been processed? or rather that, sitting on top of the pile are applications submitted in September 2011 and nothing more recent has been processed?

I guess what i'm getting at is, how realistic is it for me to expect to get my R.P by February 2013?

Thanks again, this is a great forum and I imagine I'll have plenty of questions between now and when I move.

juntti

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:06 am

Are they talking about permits put into immigration from here in Finland? From what you wrote? Things can move reeeeeeeeeally slow here in Finland when dealing with immigration.

I really can't see it taking that long from an outside embassy. Seriously. Mine took two weeks. I have never heard of anyone from a western country having to wait even months and months for a permit from a Finnish embassy in their own country.

Why don't you just ring your embassy and ask about how long it takes?

It really is in your best interest to apply from your own country. Even if it took a while, you'd be better off in your own country where you'll have healthcare, a job etc. If you do it here, YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING THE ENTIRE TIME YOU WAIT and it could taken a whole lot longer to process your permit than in your own country.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:22 pm

There is a time dilation effect - the closer you get to Finland and the MIGRI office the longer it takes.

In Canada you can pine, go to work & save money. In Finland you can count the pines & sit at home without money.

ritan7471 · Post by **ritan7471** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:36 pm

I agree with the others, apply from your own country. I applied from the US, and it took 6 weeks to get my RP this year (applied March 5, RP received April 23).

It meant that when I arrived in Finland I could register as a resident and get a henkilötunnus (Finnish personal number) and bank account right away. When I had a job interview, I was able to show that my papers were in order and I could start work right away.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:56 pm

juntti wrote:That said I'm a little confused by the migri assertion that as of August 2012
the earliest applications awaiting decision were largely submitted in September 2011.

Is that to say, that more recent, and presumably more straight-forward applications, have also been processed? or rather that, sitting on top of the pile are applications submitted in September 2011 and nothing more recent has been processed?

It means that while they may some limited number of applications that are even older (and clearly more messy than usual), with almost all applications made before that date, a decision has been reached. A good number of applications that are much more recent have been decided as well, including some mentioned in this thread (Migri processes all the applications submitted to Finnish embassies abroad)

juntti · Post by **juntti** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 4:32 am

Thanks for all the replies.
I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but with any luck I just might get my RP by February. This of course would make the move much easier, and far less frustrating, as I have a job there as soon as paperwork is sorted out.

Worst case, I move there with no RP, live off my girlfriend's student support allowance and play hockey

I better get started on those forms...

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:03 am

Just put the papers in at your own embassy there and you'll be fine. I am sure you'll have the permit well before February.

cherryrahtu · Post by **cherryrahtu** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:11 am

According to my own experience, I applied from Finland embassy in Singapore and I got my RP card within1 month this year, while my friend who applied in Finland took 2 months. Hopefully it helps, good luck to you

yoga · Post by **yoga** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 12:52 pm

cherryrahtu wrote:According to my own experience, I applied from Finland embassy in Singapore and I got my RP card within1 month this year, while my friend who applied in Finland took 2 months. Hopefully it helps, good luck to you

Hi cherry, could you tell us your situation and story, why u r so easy to get RP..cause some applicants so difficult to get it , sometime have to wait over 6 months maybe a year..for this, sometime almost frustration with the situation. thanks

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