Marrying to a finn

[Ronn1e]

Hi, this question may seem a bit unusual but here's the situation. I met a girl online and we want to get married and live in Finland. And yes, she is real, we've been in touch for years . She is a native finnish citizen who's studying and working at the moment and I'm a native russian. I can come to her country for the summer strawberry picking job and we're thinking of doing it then.

The problem is, I don't have stable income (I work as a freelancer) and don't have a degree (long story but uni lost license and closed down), but from what I understood here http://www.migri.fi/moving_to_finland_t ... artnership - I can apply for residence permit and income requirement won't be needed as we'd be already married and I'll be considered as her family , right? I just need someone to confirm that we understand things right. I know it will only be a temporary resident permit and I can't work on that, but my freelance job will still be available and she wants me to stay while I'm waiting for the work permit. Of course If things get too rough,I can always go back and wait for it home. Once the work permit is ready , hopefully already having some finnish language basics I'll try to get some kind of a job ( I know it's not so easy but I'll try my best) and then apply to study in polytechnic or uni there (there's english programs). As a backup income, I might be getting a bit of help from my family relatives too and I sort of have a plan B with apartment to sell. Well, this is just a basic plan, we're not really sure what's the best way to do it all yet...just we really want to be together.

Ok, hope I'll get some advice...

[Pursuivant]

The residence permit is the residence permit, theres no separate "work permit" - its a "reason" for getting a RP (work/family/studies/other) that then has some restrictions say for sttudents or a family member on another permit, but having a married-to-a-finn family permit has no other restrictions - finding the job is another thing You just need to speak tshuhna... nitshevoo, harashoo

[Ronn1e]

Ok, well then - is it possible that the immigration authorities won't believe our relationship/marriage is real? Im not rich by any means and we'll live together for a month or so before doing it. But what exactly would they want to see as proof that we've been in this sort of - online relationship for years before actually meeting and marrying ? Skype logs or videos? Does that even count? I know ideally it'd be better to go to each other's countries a few times first or something like that, but that is crazy expensive and very very difficult. I mean there's really no point in that since when we'll meet and see that our feelings are the same, why be apart again? Anyone ever been in this situation? D

[Adrian42]

The problem is, I don't have stable income (I work as a freelancer) and don't have a degree (long story but uni lost license and closed down),
Once the work permit is ready , hopefully already having some finnish language basics I'll try to get some kind of a job ( I know it's not so easy but I'll try my best)

In what area are you working as a freelancer?

Except for some areas in IT, you have nearly zero chances in the job market without formal qualifications and without speaking Finnish fluently.

And the situation is becoming worse due to the current economic crisis with rising unemployment rates.

[rinso]

is it possible that the immigration authorities won't believe our relationship/marriage is real?

Yes that's possible.

But what exactly would they want to see as proof that we've been in this sort of - online relationship for years before actually meeting and marrying ?

Everything you have. There is no rule about what is "prove". You have to convince them.

[Ronn1e]

Alright, done some more research. Seems like it's not as unrealistic as I thought.

The problem is, I don't have stable income (I work as a freelancer) and don't have a degree (long story but uni lost license and closed down),
Once the work permit is ready , hopefully already having some finnish language basics I'll try to get some kind of a job ( I know it's not so easy but I'll try my best)

In what area are you working as a freelancer?

Except for some areas in IT, you have nearly zero chances in the job market without formal qualifications and without speaking Finnish fluently.

And the situation is becoming worse due to the current economic crisis with rising unemployment rates.

I've heard there's some kind of an adaptation program where they can offer language courses and even training ? Crisis is everywhere, It's worse where i am right now but I'm still managing it. I'm doing translations and work for one website atm, plus sometimes I do side work repairing household appliances and electronics. Everyone starts somewhere. Once I'll get the basics of finnish, I'll get any job I can handle until I get better qualifications.

Everything you have. There is no rule about what is "prove". You have to convince them.

Alright, I see

[Adrian42]

Alright, done some more research. Seems like it's not as unrealistic as I thought.

The problem is, I don't have stable income (I work as a freelancer) and don't have a degree (long story but uni lost license and closed down),
Once the work permit is ready , hopefully already having some finnish language basics I'll try to get some kind of a job ( I know it's not so easy but I'll try my best)

In what area are you working as a freelancer?

Except for some areas in IT, you have nearly zero chances in the job market without formal qualifications and without speaking Finnish fluently.

And the situation is becoming worse due to the current economic crisis with rising unemployment rates.

I've heard there's some kind of an adaptation program where they can offer language courses and even training ?

Yes, when you register as unemployed jobseeker.

Crisis is everywhere, It's worse where i am right now but I'm still managing it. I'm doing translations and work for one website atm, plus sometimes I do side work repairing household appliances and electronics. Everyone starts somewhere. Once I'll get the basics of finnish, I'll get any job I can handle until I get better qualifications.

When you compete with your "basics of finnish" with people who are native Finnish speakers for a job, it will be unlikely that you will get the job.

If you are determined to marry the love of your life and live together with her in Finland then do so, and assuming your relationship will work fine (living together is completely different from two lovers chatting with each other...) then the rest will be fine in the long run. But don't be disappointed if you have problems finding any work during your first 1-2 years in Finland.

[Ronn1e]

When you compete with your "basics of finnish" with people who are native Finnish speakers for a job, it will be unlikely that you will get the job.

If you are determined to marry the love of your life and live together with her in Finland then do so, and assuming your relationship will work fine (living together is completely different from two lovers chatting with each other...) then the rest will be fine in the long run. But don't be disappointed if you have problems finding any work during your first 1-2 years in Finland.

Noted. I'm gonna start learning right now.

[Pursuivant]

You need to learn this (its the shibboleth)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypQuREhWe8o

[Julkka]

Hi, this question may seem a bit unusual but here's the situation. I met a girl online and we want to get married and live in Finland. And yes, she is real, we've been in touch for years . She is a native finnish citizen who's studying and working at the moment and I'm a native russian. I can come to her country for the summer strawberry picking job and we're thinking of doing it then.

The problem is, I don't have stable income (I work as a freelancer) and don't have a degree (long story but uni lost license and closed down), but from what I understood here http://www.migri.fi/moving_to_finland_t ... artnership - I can apply for residence permit and income requirement won't be needed as we'd be already married and I'll be considered as her family , right? I just need someone to confirm that we understand things right. I know it will only be a temporary resident permit and I can't work on that, but my freelance job will still be available and she wants me to stay while I'm waiting for the work permit. Of course If things get too rough,I can always go back and wait for it home. Once the work permit is ready , hopefully already having some finnish language basics I'll try to get some kind of a job ( I know it's not so easy but I'll try my best) and then apply to study in polytechnic or uni there (there's english programs). As a backup income, I might be getting a bit of help from my family relatives too and I sort of have a plan B with apartment to sell. Well, this is just a basic plan, we're not really sure what's the best way to do it all yet...just we really want to be together.

Ok, hope I'll get some advice...

I'll put it in a nutshell. Either you guys get married (in Finland, to save money and paper work) and you apply for a RP as a spouse (from Russia, your homeland! this is important in case of the 1st RP, Migri is very strict about that) - OR you try to get enrolled in an undergraduate program in English someplace in Finland, since I assume you do not speak Finnish yet.

The first option is much better: fast, easy etc. With the second one, 8 of 10 universities you have written to will not even reply, others have admission requirements set high etc.
If the girl is a Finnish citizen she does not even have to prove she can support you financially once you're married. The police might ask you to an interview but that should not be a problem when you say you've known each other for years.

Next step, learn Finnish. I mean, LEARN FINNISH. Then you get a chance to find them jobs

[Oombongo]

best of luck but keep your exit stretegy open and ready in case if things go south. As someone pointed out, living together is a different matter and divorce between Finnish female and foreign male tends to be....a bit higher. When her social circle is going to talk about your career and what you are doing, and that she could be better off with a local financially and socially then she is going to bite you harder than a white shark, and Mr. Matti Meikäläinen (or Ivan Ivanov as you say in Russian) will show up.

[Julkka]

Ok, well then - is it possible that the immigration authorities won't believe our relationship/marriage is real? Im not rich by any means and we'll live together for a month or so before doing it. But what exactly would they want to see as proof that we've been in this sort of - online relationship for years before actually meeting and marrying ? Skype logs or videos? Does that even count? I know ideally it'd be better to go to each other's countries a few times first or something like that, but that is crazy expensive and very very difficult. I mean there's really no point in that since when we'll meet and see that our feelings are the same, why be apart again? Anyone ever been in this situation? D

It takes guts to fight for your love
Migri does give a chance both to "normal" and online relationships, my experience proves it (married for 8 yrs now + kid + I'm already a Finnish citizen and my husband still isn't although the one who came here on a spouse RP is ME, LOL).
But you really have to convince them at Migri.
Photos, Skype logs, sms, call logs, everything counts. If you have common friends here in .fi that are eager to witness for you, great - put their names on the application as well.

And the last but not the least - Oombongo is right, there's an important thing to consider before you take steps to move here. You must be 146% sure the relationship lasts when you live under the same roof, with you probably unemployed for some time. It is VERY difficult to switch back to your country after 3-4 years if the marriage does not work. Especially when that homeland is Russia

Think twice and good luck.

[Upphew]

I'll put it in a nutshell. Either you guys get married (in Finland, to save money and paper work) and you apply for a RP as a spouse (from Russia, your homeland! this is important in case of the 1st RP, Migri is very strict about that)

Yeah, but no... to quote poliisi.fi:
"Family member of a Finnish citizen


A residence permit for a family member of a Finnish citizen is issued in Finland or may be applied for abroad. In Finland, the decision on issuing a residence permit for a family member of a Finnish citizen is made by the police department in the applicant's place of residence.

As family members are regarded

a spouse or a registered partner of the same sex, "
https://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf ... endocument

[Upphew]

Anyone ever been in this situation? D

Blatent2ndaccount and kutittaa (and whatever the new nick was)... sure there are more positive examples available too, but maybe you should check out how it could end too.

[Adrian42]

Either you guys get married (in Finland, to save money and paper work) and you apply for a RP as a spouse (from Russia, your homeland! this is important in case of the 1st RP, Migri is very strict about that)

That's complete nonsense, and Migri is stating the opposite (see questions 1 and 8 at http://www.migri.fi/services/faq/reside ... its/family ) - he can enter Finland on a tourist visa, apply for the RP from Finland, and can stay in Finland until he gets the decision on his RP application.

The first option is much better: fast, easy etc. With the second one, 8 of 10 universities you have written to will not even reply, others have admission requirements set high etc.
If the girl is a Finnish citizen she does not even have to prove she can support you financially once you're married.

Not only does she not have to prove it, she also won't have to support him financially in practice since he will be entitled to sufficient money paid from Finnish taxes:

From the day he receives his RP he will be entitled to all of Finnish social security, including unemployment payments from Kela (if he's under 25 there's a 5 month waiting period unless he has completed vocational training). Since he won't find a job and spouse income is irrelevant for that, he is basically guaranteed to receive that.