I was wondering how 'formal' the process is for applying for a student residence permit. I will be finishing my final year of law school at the University of Helsinki. Unfortunately, I will not have a formal decision letter that can be submitted with my permit application for about 3 weeks. (I am SO MAD at the school for putting me in this situation, but that is an entirely different story.) Even summer school is now looking to be difficult, but I was planning to move July 9.
The New York consulate page states that one can expect a wait of 8-12 weeks for a permit. Does anyone know if it actually takes this long? I have been advised by the consulate that there is no way to get an expedited decision.
A person at the consulate already told me that I cannot move to Finland and apply for the student permit when I am there. But - could I go there on 'vacation' while maintaining Connecticut residency, and fly back to New York once the permit has been approved? You do not have to send in your passport when applying for a permit, do you? Is there any way they could stop me from going there on vacation?
It has already been MONTHS since I have seen my fiancee, and I am absolutely devastated that we may have to wait even longer. And no, I am not willing to get married just to get residency - we will be married, but only for the 'right' reasons. For now, I just want to be able to keep my July moving date.
Student residence permit question- having nervous breakdown!
Ah, and just for clarification, I am moving to Finland permanently, but had been advised by the consulate that the best route for me to take would be to get a student visa first.
Also, I have been all over the "official" sites - police, embassy and ministry of immigration or whatever it is called (forget the name at the moment.) Some of you have sent me quotes from those pages, and I thank you. But I am looking for people who can speak from experience - the sites are not very informative for anything but the norm.
Also, I have been all over the "official" sites - police, embassy and ministry of immigration or whatever it is called (forget the name at the moment.) Some of you have sent me quotes from those pages, and I thank you. But I am looking for people who can speak from experience - the sites are not very informative for anything but the norm.
Student permits seem to be issued pretty easily. If you are a student at the University of Helsinki, it shouldn't be a problem for you to explain to a student advisor your situation and have them write a cover letter or such, with other documents, to substitute for an 'acceptance letter'.
I would advise you to do it that way.
I would advise you to do it that way.
Re: Student residence permit question- having nervous breakd
I don't know if student permits are any different but I believe this is possible at least for residence permits. As a US citizen you automatically get 90 days when you enter the country. So long as you know you have a permit in process, you should be able to stay in the country and return to the US when it is ready to get it. And you're right, you shouldn't have to send in your passport when applying for the permit.kristeng wrote:A person at the consulate already told me that I cannot move to Finland and apply for the student permit when I am there. But - could I go there on 'vacation' while maintaining Connecticut residency, and fly back to New York once the permit has been approved? You do not have to send in your passport when applying for a permit, do you? Is there any way they could stop me from going there on vacation?
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Nathan Lillie
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2003 12:23 pm
- Location: Helsinki
I was in a very similar situation, in that it took so long for my residence permit to come through that I had to go to Finland without one. And I was common-law married to a Finn, so being married no solution. If they want to take a long time, they will, married or not. We were having our wedding in Finland, to formalize our marriage, and I wasn't going to reschedule everything to wait for a residence permit.
I had to send in my passport, but I was able to get the consulate to send it back. Just pay the extra postage, and they will do that. Then you need to bring your passport with you to the New York consulate when you pick up your visa.
I basically flew from Finland to New York and back to pick up the visa, which came through a matter of days before my 90 limit in Finland was up.
I had to send in my passport, but I was able to get the consulate to send it back. Just pay the extra postage, and they will do that. Then you need to bring your passport with you to the New York consulate when you pick up your visa.
I basically flew from Finland to New York and back to pick up the visa, which came through a matter of days before my 90 limit in Finland was up.
If you want to catch beasts you don't see every day,
You have to go places quite out-of-the-way.
You have to places no other can get to.
You have to get cold and you have to get wet, too.
If I Ran the Zoo, Dr. Suess
You have to go places quite out-of-the-way.
You have to places no other can get to.
You have to get cold and you have to get wet, too.
If I Ran the Zoo, Dr. Suess