I've been reading through the archives in this forum for the past few weeks, and came to the conclusion that it would be easier and less stressful to apply and receive my Finnish Residency prior to moving. Well I just got off the phone with the Finnish Consular here in NY and, well they told me the opposite. I was quite surprised. She told me that it would take a good year to obtain the residency and that I should just do it in Finland. After reading others experiences, I know its not difficult by any means, but I would have liked to have arrived with the process finalized.
Few questions that this now brings up:
Can I travel easily while waiting for the residency? The Consular said she thinks so, but wasn't positive. She thought I could go back to the states, but wasn't sure at all about travel in the EU.
When am I eligible, if ever, for medical benifits and other social services? I plan on keeping my medical coverage in the states for as long as needed, but as I'm sure you all know its quite expensive. I probably won't be working immediately and the $350/month could be a bear after a long while.
For those of you who don't know me, I'm an American Citizen living in NY with my Finnish girlfriend, Maria W. We plan on getting married this spring and relocating to Helsinki hopefully at the end of the summer. Basically whenever I can get my ducks in a row. I already know how difficult it will be and already have the work thing under control.
Thank you for any help or experiences you can share.
Its better to apply for residency in Finland?
The lowdown is that if you're married by the time you're in Finland, it's possible and much simpler to apply in Finland. Once you have the marriage certificate, you can stay as long as you want while your application is processed. It appears the 'travelling' part may be slightly trickier but you have a right to your passport, so you can ask for it and travel when you need to, theoretically.
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ilikepeanutbutter
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Re: Its better to apply for residency in Finland?
I travel alot due to our family being scattered all over the globeMikie wrote:I've been reading through the archives in this forum for the past few weeks, and came to the conclusion that it would be easier and less stressful to apply and receive my Finnish Residency prior to moving. Well I just got off the phone with the Finnish Consular here in NY and, well they told me the opposite. I was quite surprised. She told me that it would take a good year to obtain the residency and that I should just do it in Finland. After reading others experiences, I know its not difficult by any means, but I would have liked to have arrived with the process finalized.
Few questions that this now brings up:
Can I travel easily while waiting for the residency? The Consular said she thinks so, but wasn't positive. She thought I could go back to the states, but wasn't sure at all about travel in the EU.
When am I eligible, if ever, for medical benifits and other social services? I plan on keeping my medical coverage in the states for as long as needed, but as I'm sure you all know its quite expensive. I probably won't be working immediately and the $350/month could be a bear after a long while.
For those of you who don't know me, I'm an American Citizen living in NY with my Finnish girlfriend, Maria W. We plan on getting married this spring and relocating to Helsinki hopefully at the end of the summer. Basically whenever I can get my ducks in a row. I already know how difficult it will be and already have the work thing under control.
Thank you for any help or experiences you can share.
lol The Residence lady told me you can travel freely when you have your residence permit, but when that expires traveling within the EU can be tricky. I went to America while my current permit was being processed, and I flew to Finland 2 days before it expired. They give you a receit that has your pic, passport number and all and says your residence is being processed. You REALLY need this paper when you travel inside Finland. I personally wouldn't travel outside Finland while you wait to get your permit. After it arrives it's a breeze.
I don't think it's going to take a year to get your permit. I waited 6 months for mine
It's super long but heck you do what you have to do I'd definitly apply for it while in Finland! You can be with your fiancee and be together I have a KELA card ! Whoo for 9 euro doctor's visits
lol (I live in the boonies, probably cheaper due to that lol) I applied for it once I got my residence permit I don't know if you're eligiable for benefits ( like unemployment), I don't collect any. It sounds hard but once you get it over with it's pretty easy
You fill out the small novel of forms, give them 2 passport pics and you're done! You will get to keep your passport through the entire process, so if an emergency comes up back home you can travel Just always remember to take the Residence Receit with you no matter where you go!:)I hope this helps!
Kat
I just did some looking into this for my wife’s future co-worker.
The situation for them is, she is Finnish blood has lost her citizenship to Finland because of time but has applied and will get it back. Her husband is from Canada and will be moving here with her.
Once she has her citizenship back he can get residency in Finland, he can apply in Finland and have it rushed since he has work waiting for him.
If the two of you have been living together for two years or more and can prove it on paper, you will fall into the same category as he. You just can’t get it rushed for you since you don’t have work waiting.
To prove you are common-law you will need…
Proof of joint bank account for the past two years. (Icing on the cake if you have it)
Your lease or ownership of a residence with both your names on it.
Loans in both your names
Utility bills in both your names or let’s say phone in your name and electricity in your girlfriends name to the same address in the same month.
Anything else you can think of that is official with the two of you involved.
For the social benefits, I’m not to sure if you will receive them when you are waiting for the paper work to be processed
The situation for them is, she is Finnish blood has lost her citizenship to Finland because of time but has applied and will get it back. Her husband is from Canada and will be moving here with her.
Once she has her citizenship back he can get residency in Finland, he can apply in Finland and have it rushed since he has work waiting for him.
If the two of you have been living together for two years or more and can prove it on paper, you will fall into the same category as he. You just can’t get it rushed for you since you don’t have work waiting.
To prove you are common-law you will need…
Proof of joint bank account for the past two years. (Icing on the cake if you have it)
Your lease or ownership of a residence with both your names on it.
Loans in both your names
Utility bills in both your names or let’s say phone in your name and electricity in your girlfriends name to the same address in the same month.
Anything else you can think of that is official with the two of you involved.
For the social benefits, I’m not to sure if you will receive them when you are waiting for the paper work to be processed
Serving my 9th year of a life sentence with no chance of early parole
Well, If you don't want to get married in the US, you can always do it when you get to Finland too. I am assuming she is a Finnish citizen so a civil ceremony should be free or near to it. When you come over, you have 3 months to stay with your passport alone (no need for a visa). What I will be doing is getting married soon (I got here Jan 21) and then apply for my residence permit. I can stay as long as it takes to get my application processed. If it gets approved, then everything is pie in the sky. You can then take yourself down to the KELA office and see what you qualify for (healthcare should be automatic). And, I believe that when you get here, you can purchase a sort of medical insurance for foreigners who are not residents yet that's pretty cheap 
But I haven't looked into it, only heard about it from my boyfriend (he's Finnish). It might be something to look into so you aren't paying American prices ... and depending on the quality of your American insurance, it might not even cover you in a foreign country ... also something to look into. It would also help you along to scout for a job before you come. If you can find something it will help your efforts a lot.
Good luck
But I haven't looked into it, only heard about it from my boyfriend (he's Finnish). It might be something to look into so you aren't paying American prices ... and depending on the quality of your American insurance, it might not even cover you in a foreign country ... also something to look into. It would also help you along to scout for a job before you come. If you can find something it will help your efforts a lot.Good luck
I've just applied for my residence permit recently. It takes 1-6 months to get it processed. I also submitted my passport but they told me I can have it back anytime I want if I plan to go somewhere outside Finland. I got my passport back last week because my boyfriend and I went to Oslo for the weekends and I returned my passport back to them again without any problems.
Good luck.
Good luck.
I called the Finnish consulate in New York 202-298-5800 and was told I very well could apply for my residence permit in Finland. I was informed I could do it at the local police department. I would need a UVI 101 form and UVI 102 attachment which is about family ties. I just need a valid passport and my i.d . I am legal to stay there until the process is finished. You get some type of receipt or documentation proof of your permit being in process.
Yeppers! But watch out ... that UVI 102 is a bear! Its got all kinds of crazy questions on there ... I suggest you preview it so you know what kinds of information you will need to get. You can find that here http://www.uvi.fi/netcomm/content.asp?article=1991Malfiorre wrote:I called the Finnish consulate in New York 202-298-5800 and was told I very well could apply for my residence permit in Finland. I was informed I could do it at the local police department. I would need a UVI 101 form and UVI 102 attachment which is about family ties. I just need a valid passport and my i.d . I am legal to stay there until the process is finished. You get some type of receipt or documentation proof of your permit being in process.
