[URGENT] Waiting for visa while RP expires...

phuongnvu · Post by **phuongnvu** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 7:39 pm

Hi guys,

I am in a very tricky situation here. My residence permit (for studying) in Finland is about to expire on 15.08.2015. I have studied in Finland for my bachelor degree and now going to move to Germany. However, while I am waiting for my visa in Germany, which takes about a few weeks, my Finnish RP will expire soon.

Now I am so worried that my Germany visa will come after the RP expires, which probably means that I live illegally in Finland for a week or two. I have an idea but I dont know if it works. I have set my health insurance for Germany visa to start from 15.08, which means that my Germany visa will start valid from 15.08. Since both Finland and Germany are in Schengen Area, if I receive the visa before 15.08 then everything will be fine. The thing is that it is highly likely I will receive the visa after 15.08.

Does anybody have any experience or know anything about my situation? Is it possible for me to live in Finland while waiting for visa in Germany? Is there something I can do to extend my Finnish RP?

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betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:16 pm

phuongnvu wrote:Hi guys,

I am in a very tricky situation here. My residence permit (for studying) in Finland is about to expire on 15.08.2015. I have studied in Finland for my bachelor degree and now going to move to Germany. However, while I am waiting for my visa in Germany, which takes about a few weeks, my Finnish RP will expire soon.

Now I am so worried that my Germany visa will come after the RP expires, which probably means that I live illegally in Finland for a week or two. I have an idea but I dont know if it works. I have set my health insurance for Germany visa to start from 15.08, which means that my Germany visa will start valid from 15.08. Since both Finland and Germany are in Schengen Area, if I receive the visa before 15.08 then everything will be fine. The thing is that it is highly likely I will receive the visa after 15.08.

Does anybody have any experience or know anything about my situation? Is it possible for me to live in Finland while waiting for visa in Germany? Is there something I can do to extend my Finnish RP?

Two legal options:

1) If you don't need a visa, you can stay as a tourist: FAQ 15 here: http://www.migri.fi/services/faq/residence_permits
2) If you graduated from Finland, you can apply for the job search residence permit: http://www.migri.fi/working_in_finland/ ... om_finland

Beep_Boop · Post by **Beep_Boop** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:33 pm

One more final-resort option:
3) Lodge an extension application for your residence permit, or apply to any other residence permit based on anything plausible. The officer taking your papers will tell you have missing papers, so just say that you insist to apply with this application. They'll have no option but to accept your submission and give you a paper that says you've submitted an application and you can stay legally while your application is being processed.

Needless to say, your application will eventually have a negative decision, but you'll get a paper that says you can stay in Finland legally.

Marsh04 · Post by **Marsh04** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:11 am

I think booking an online appointment should be enough. Most probably it will be after one month or so . You can live with an expired visa if you are waiting for an appointment date to submit your application. As soon as you get your other Schengen visa withdraw your application here .

betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:03 am

Marsh04 wrote:I think booking an online appointment should be enough. Most probably it will be after one month or so . You can live with an expired visa if you are waiting for an appointment date to submit your application. As soon as you get your other Schengen visa withdraw your application here .

Having an appointment does not make the stay legal according to Aliens Act. It would be the same as not doing anything at all. In both cases there's no expulsion process that would work in such a quick time frame.

phuongnvu · Post by **phuongnvu** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 2:31 pm

Guys thank you so much for your suggestions. I just had a long day running back and forth between offices. Here's some update:

First I cannot stay longer after my RP expires because I don't come from visa-free countries.

I went to ask the Finnish Immigration Services about my case. They recommended me to apply for extended permit for job seeking in Finland which lasts for a year. The best bet would be applying for the extension as soon as possible before my RP expires and then get the confirmation. (so it has to be real!!). Only with that confirmation wil I be able to stay legally in Finland. However, now it's too late to book an appointment online, so they suggested me to prepare all the documents and just come to Poliisi in Pasila, get a number, wait in line for about half a day, then explain the urgent situation and insist on applying directly. Anybody has done this before?

Later I came to the German Embassy and they also required a confirmation that I have applied for RP extension in Finland. They cannot issue me a visa if I live a day without RP here. So after all it all comes to the RP in Finland.

The only problem for me is that I have not officially graduated from my university. Yea, the study office personnel are away on vacation so I can only get my degree earliest at the beginning of September. I guess I have to explain that too and finger crossed that it will be alright.

Marsh04 · Post by **Marsh04** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 3:23 pm

You can book am online appointment and then go and tell the police that you want to renew your expiring permit but there is no slot avavailable before the expiration. I'm quite sure they would ask you to just wait. While they would consider it your carelessness to not apply beforehand but you are not responsible for their lack of resources and not being able to accept your application straight away .

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 3:55 pm

While they would consider it your carelessness to not apply beforehand but you are not responsible for their lack of resources and not being able to accept your application straight away .

They can always say to come and wait in line. It's not their problem you don't want to waist time waiting.

burak25 · Post by **burak25** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:07 am

Apply and not submit one thing (like enrollment papers), which is normally acceptable to be submit late. Problem solved

Of course they will charge you for it but nothing you can do about it.

BTW, just go there and explain your situation clearly and honestly. Immigration police is probably the nicest government officials I met. (unlike Kela people who acts like they are kings and I am begging for supper) They are experts and advice great solutions. (worked for me nicely)

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