Citizenship Application Processing time for 2012 application

[ahmedkhan]

Hello there,

I know similar topics have been discussed on this forum previously, but just wanted to get some particular opinions.
Actually, I applied for Finnish citizenship in December 2012, and received a letter from Immigration Services asking me for a copy of my degree certificate, which I immediately provided, but since have never heard anything from them.
On migri website they are currently processing applications from November 2012 this month and possibly next week they'll start processing applications submitted in December 2012. But I have been hearing people getting decisions in 4 months and some waiting for years.
May be those folks who applied in November 2012 could post here if they have got a decision already? Also those who applied in December 2012 could follow up as soon decisions start showing up?

Cheers

[ahmedkhan]

They're processing your application so just wait. What are you in a hurry for?! simply go on with your normal life and forget about it.

I have to apply some jobs in European agencies, and I have to be a European citizen for that. No hurries other than that

[Adrian42]

But I have been hearing people getting decisions in 4 months and some waiting for years.

I've never heard of someone waiting for several years.

http://www.migri.fi/services/customer_b ... plications

The Finnish Immigration Service treats all student residence permit applications as urgent, and processes and decides upon them accordingly.

That makes it pretty clear that now at the time of the year when Migri gets flooded with student residence permit applications, there are not many resources at Migri available for doing any processing of citizenship applications.

[laconia]

Did you apply online or on paper? According to the migration website, online application will shorten the processing time by one month.

Why did they ask for your degree paper? What kind of degree you received? I also received my graduation paper lately, and wonder if I should submitted it as well.

Some extra info about my case. I applied in March through online application, but haven't heard anything about it ever since. When I initially visited the service point, the guy working there said that my case should receive a decision in 4-5 months. This means, I should get a result by August, the latest. I intended to do nothing but wait. After all, inquiry just slows things overall. so being silent is probably the best for everybody. I will post my status if anything happens.

Good luck with you application!

[ahmedkhan]

Thank you for your input Laconia.
I had to attach my degree certificate as a proof of Finnish language requirement since I passed maturity test in Finnish language. And I applied in person by visiting the police office.
Yes, being patient is the way now for all of us. Good luck.

[laconia]

So you did not attend YKI test and used the test results as language skill proof? As far as I know, the YKI test is by far the best way to prove your language proficiency:)

[interleukin]

As far as I know, the YKI test is by far the best way to prove your language proficiency:)

Well if you study a whole degree in Finnish that is pretty good proof as well! And no need to pay for the YKI test.

[ahmedkhan]

So you did not attend YKI test and used the test results as language skill proof? As far as I know, the YKI test is by far the best way to prove your language proficiency:)

Yes I passed maturity test in Finnish, and according to migri.fi that is sufficient to prove Finnish language skills. And to be honest, I did not know there is any difference or I would have passed YKI as well.

Why is btw 'YKI' by far the best way to prove language skills? is it mentioned anywhere on any official website?, or have you seen comparatively any worse results for those who applied using other methods, or is it just an opinion?

Cheers.

[laconia]

It is just a personal opinion. I do not see any differences between different ways to prove language proficiency.

I am more concerned with evidence of livelihood. For nearly all my Finnish stay, I am full-time employed. But unfortunately I lost my job contract right before my application. I am a little worried that my employment status may extend the processing time.

Cheers

[Alex.Sm]

Hi,
I applied online, on 10 December 2012 and got the decision on 12 April 2013 so it took about 4 months. Conditions:
- EU citizen,
- min 4 years permanent in Finland (I had 4.5 years when I applied)
- min 3 years living with my wife at the same address (I had 4.5 years)
- YKI certificate

I also sent all bunch of papers with the application and during the application process as my situation changed a bit so I thought I might avoid some unnecessary questions from them (taxes, salary slips, school, work contract (changed the job in the min while) and marriage certificate because we got married after I submitted my application). The papers I sent during the application process were online (scanned and attached to my application) and I didn't went to the police to verify them. No questions asked, no phone calls, no additional papers required, just wait! I checked the status of the application and for the whole 4 months nothing happened. In the same day when I got the decision it happened to check the status and right then I got the decision so it went through all stages at once ... after that celebrating (got wasted - welcome to Finland ).

One week later I got a letter from the army that they will take me to do the service but I decided to skip it as I have done it already in the country of origin (1 year). This was a bit of work as I had to translate my sotilaspassi and make a free application that I want to be exempt ... one week later after I sent it, I got another later that I don't have to do it! (I am 29 so they thought "We take him now or never "). With the same decisions I went to police and made the passport.

And that was all!

[laconia]

I got one question about the residence permit when receiving a Finnish citizenship.

When obtaining a Finnish passport, can I still keep the permanent residence permit in my home country passport? Can I request transferring the permit to my renewed home-country passport?

I am asking this because my home country does not allow dual citizenship. If the passport does not carry a valid residence permit any more, I could use the passport to visit my home country any more.

[ahmedkhan]

Laconia, your home country citizenship will automatically be considered cancelled if she does not allow dual citizenship. After you receive citizenship you'll have to contact embassy of your (previous) home country and get an 'origin card'/'overseas citizen card' or something like that, which may entitle you to enter your country without visa.

I have similar dilemma as I am going to my home country in first week of August and have purchased the ticket as well, however, if I get Finnish citizenship before that I'll need to get my home country's origin card. And it can be a lot of trouble if say; I get Finnish citizenship just a couple of days before my flight and I may not have enough time to get things done. To make my situation worst, Finnish authorities may not issue me a passport as well because I do not have any army service yet, and it's extremely important for me to visit my country in first week of August because I have to attend my brother's wedding. I just hope I get citizenship a couple of weeks before my departure or after my departure, and not just days before my flight or everything will be screwed up.

[laconia]

it seems an approval letter has arrived in my email. In my understanding, it is a positive decision.

[ahmedkhan]

Congratulations laconia. Happy for you.