Applying in Finland? - RP Intimate Relationship

ljv2022 · Post by **ljv2022** » Sat Nov 20, 2021 8:42 pm

Hello,

I am a US citizen who has been dating a Finnish person for 2 years now. I am currently saving money for the RP based on intimate relationship and am planning to have the €12,000 by March 2022. On migri's website, there is a part that says first time resident permant applicants are able to apply in Finland and wait for the decision there. I recently emailed migri and they said that I am able to apply for it in FInland and wait there for the decision, even if my visa-free period expires (US passports are visa-free with 90 day period). If I am able to apply in Finland and wait there, that would be ideal... Although, I emailed VFS global with the same question a couple months ago and they said that I should apply for it in the legal country of residence (USA). (I've also sent an email regarding applying in Finland after recieving the reply from Migri...currently waiting for a reply.)

My questions are:

Has anybody successfully applied in Finland for this RP?

Do I need to go through VFS global for my application? (I am not sure if they mostly deal with student and work visas, or if they also need all RP applicants to go through them as well)

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FinlandGirl · Post by **FinlandGirl** » Sun Nov 21, 2021 2:52 am

ljv2022 wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 20, 2021 8:42 pm
I am a US citizen who has been dating a Finnish person for 2 years now. I am currently saving money for the RP based on intimate relationship and am planning to have the €12,000 by March 2022.

What is your plan for the second year?
Except for some very narrow exceptions, the residence permit on other grounds does not grant you the right to work.

ljv2022 wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 20, 2021 8:42 pm
On migri's website, there is a part that says first time resident permant applicants are able to apply in Finland and wait for the decision there. I recently emailed migri and they said that I am able to apply for it in FInland and wait there for the decision, even if my visa-free period expires (US passports are visa-free with 90 day period). If I am able to apply in Finland and wait there, that would be ideal... Although, I emailed VFS global with the same question a couple months ago and they said that I should apply for it in the legal country of residence (USA). (I've also sent an email regarding applying in Finland after recieving the reply from Migri...currently waiting for a reply.)

My questions are:

Has anybody successfully applied in Finland for this RP?

Migri wrote: If you are abroad, visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). If you are already in Finland, book an appointment at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

ljv2022 wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 20, 2021 8:42 pm

Do I need to go through VFS global for my application? (I am not sure if they mostly deal with student and work visas, or if they also need all RP applicants to go through them as well)

Application for residence permits always happens with Migri, if you apply for a residence permit in the US then VFS global may collect your biometric data.

ljv2022 · Post by **ljv2022** » Sun Nov 21, 2021 3:01 pm

Thank you FinlandGirl for the quick response! For the second year, we are mostly discussing marriage...because the job availability for those with a RP based on intimate relationship are limited. Ideally, I would like to get a job shortly after I arrive, but I will mostly likely have to wait until after the first year. It is a relief to know that I am able to apply for my RP in Finland!

FinlandGirl · Post by **FinlandGirl** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:24 am

ljv2022 wrote: ↑
Sun Nov 21, 2021 3:01 pm
Thank you FinlandGirl for the quick response! For the second year, we are mostly discussing marriage...because the job availability for those with a RP based on intimate relationship are limited. Ideally, I would like to get a job shortly after I arrive, but I will mostly likely have to wait until after the first year.

Not having the right to work isn't your only problem.
Outside IT, being able to work in Finnish is usually mandatory for any job.
Job availability for those who do not speak Finnish is very scarce, many students from countries like Nepal or India are competing with you for the same postal and food delivery work.
If you are not fluent in Finnish at that point, when you got the residence permit on family ties after your marriage you will spend a year in a language course organized by the employment office.

Jmichaelstinnett · Post by **Jmichaelstinnett** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 8:29 am

Good morning. I’m a u.s. citizen. Legally married to my kids mom also u.s. citizen. But I’ve lived as a single parent (without divorce) for over 15 years. I’m in a relationship now. It is with a Finnish born citizen. And I am in Finland with her. We love each other very much. I would like to stay here. And I’ve no real alternative but to stay here.

Would I be approved for rp on the grounds of my intimate relationship although legally married but I’ve been separated/considered single in the u.s.?
Thank you in advance for anyone’s time and input to my question! Kittos

SecretCode · Post by **SecretCode** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 12:53 pm

Have you been cohabiting (in Finland or anywhere) with your new partner for 2+ years? I presume not in Finland as you couldn't stay that long without a rp.

Do you have evidence of the relationship having existed for 2+ years? I think this is the bare minimum for an intimate relationship rp, but I could be wrong.

Being still married to your former partner is definitely an obstacle to a new marriage! But I'm not aware it would be an obstacle to an rp. You will have to show evidence of separation though. How long ago did you separate?

FinlandGirl · Post by **FinlandGirl** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 8:54 pm

Jmichaelstinnett wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 03, 2021 8:29 am
I’m a u.s. citizen. Legally married to my kids mom also u.s. citizen. But I’ve lived as a single parent (without divorce) for over 15 years. I’m in a relationship now. It is with a Finnish born citizen. And I am in Finland with her. We love each other very much. I would like to stay here. And I’ve no real alternative but to stay here.

Would I be approved for rp on the grounds of my intimate relationship although legally married but I’ve been separated/considered single in the u.s.?

Migri wrote: You must also meet the following requirements:
- You or your partner are not married to anyone else.

The most realistic option for you is to divorce your current wife, and then marry your girlfriend.

crockett22 · Post by **crockett22** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 3:55 pm

Would the Finnish Residence Permit based on an intimate Relationship still work for me?
I am US citizen and my girlfiend is an Estonian citizen, though she is currently studying at university in Finland. I am 20 and she is 22.
I have a remote job that pays over $12,000 a year and we can easily prove we are dating, since I am currently an exchange student in Finland (The whole reason I even did the exchange was to be with her), and have been living with her for the past 5 months.
I need to drop out of college after this semester though due to high tuition fees in the US.
I hope to attend college again once I can save up the money.

My current goal is to fly back to the US at the end of my exchange, say Hi to my family, grab my things, and come back to Finland using my passport, and then apply for the residence permit while in the country.

I am wondering if there are any flaws in my plan? Is it a problem that she is an Estonian Citizen? Is it okay that I have an income or do I need 12,000 in savings?
Am I able to come back to Finland just using my passport or do I need to wait in the US for 90 days or even 180 days before flying back? I currently have a Temporary Student Residence Permit.

FinlandGirl · Post by **FinlandGirl** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 8:00 pm

crockett22 wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 11, 2024 3:55 pm
Would the Finnish Residence Permit based on an intimate Relationship still work for me?
I am US citizen and my girlfiend is an Estonian citizen, though she is currently studying at university in Finland. I am 20 and she is 22.
I have a remote job that pays over $12,000 a year and we can easily prove we are dating, since I am currently an exchange student in Finland (The whole reason I even did the exchange was to be with her), and have been living with her for the past 5 months.

What is the legal setup of your remote job?

When you are residing in Finland you have to report your worldwide income/inheritance/gifts/... to Vero and might have to pay taxes on it, but different from a student residence permit the residence permit on other grounds for an intimate relationship does not include the right to work.

crockett22 · Post by **crockett22** » Thu Apr 18, 2024 7:41 pm

Ah sorry I meant "can have a remote job". But if I need to, I can just work over the summer in the US to save up about $6000 so that I can just get a 6 month permit and then maybe renew it every 6 months.

I am wondering, If I later work remote for a US based company, would I be allowed to work in Finland with this permit? I am guessing not, even though this seems like a wasted opportunity for Finland to receive more tax revenue from me. If not, I can just simply live without work until marriage and never pull any money out of the 6000 in savings in order to keep renewing the permit.

FinlandGirl · Post by **FinlandGirl** » Fri Apr 19, 2024 12:36 pm

crockett22 wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 18, 2024 7:41 pm
even though this seems like a wasted opportunity for Finland to receive more tax revenue from me.

During the time where you officially reside in Finland, you anyway have to report to Vero and might have to pay taxes on it.

You have to report your worldwide income to Vero.
If your parents gift you $6000, you have to pay gift tax in Finland.
If you inherit something abroad, you might have to pay inheritance tax in Finland.

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