Residence permit/KELA card

kmboll · Post by **kmboll** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:21 pm

I'm moving to Helsinki from the US and applying for residency based on family ties (common law girlfriend that I've been living with). Assuming this all goes as planned, I know this gets me the ability to work, but how does KELA work? Am I able to get insurance? Am I able to get a KELA card? Thanks for the help.

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Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:25 pm

Yes, eventually. You need to apply for it and then wait untile the universe rotates. They won't turn you out of the hospital if you don't have a credit card here like in the US, and nobody sues the doctors so you can even afford private

http://www.kela.fi => read.

kmboll · Post by **kmboll** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:56 pm

Thanks Hank, a few more questions.

This is from KELA.fi, "You can be considered to be living in Finland immediately from the day you move here if you intend to live in Finland on a permanent basis and have a residence permit for one year (if required)."

I couldn't find anywhere that said exactly when the one year is required. Maybe it's only required when the clerk is having a bad day?

Also, on the KELA application it asks multiple times for employment info. Do I need to have a job BEFORE applying for KELA? (I can understand if this is true, but I'm just trying to make sure I'm clear on everything before I move)

Alejandro_Lorenzo · Post by **Alejandro_Lorenzo** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:52 pm

isn't it that:

first you go to Magisteeri to register as you have moved here, you get some provisional paper.

Then to the police to register as inmigrant who "came to live with his finnish partenaire". So you get the permit of living here after that. you and your other half will have to fill that toguether.

then, you can apply from kela, even without job.

kmboll · Post by **kmboll** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 6:37 pm

hmmm, now I'm a little more confused. As I understood it, I registered with the police first. I've got an email to the maistraatti so hopefully they know (although in my experience with both American and Finnish immigration, everyone gives conflicting answers). Has anyone actually gone through the process of applying for residancy/KELA based on family ties/cohabitation?

Alejandro_Lorenzo · Post by **Alejandro_Lorenzo** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:11 pm

what does the email from magistraati says?

i know... that everybody in different offices, even in the same office, give confusing answers.

kmboll · Post by **kmboll** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:57 pm

no response yet,

But, here's a good story of immigration incompetance (on the American side)

My gf was coming back into the country on a student visa and she asked the immigration official how long she could stay as a visitor after the student visa expires.

Immigration official: 1 week!"
GF: I was told by the exchange program at my school 90 days.
IO: Um, yea....that's probably right. I suppose I should find that out.
GF: Politely waits for her to go find that out.
IO: Stares back blankly with no intention of finding out for either of them.
GF: comes into america with no clue if she'll be an illegal alien when she leaves.

Alejandro_Lorenzo · Post by **Alejandro_Lorenzo** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:08 am

who would go to exchange program to study in another country for one week? that's wierd...

enk · Post by **enk** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:22 am

Quick note: if you get a visa, make sure you show up on the day
it starts being valid, otherwise you're likely to have problems years later
when trying to apply for a permanent visa (they usually up the required number of years by one, if you show up later than the date your visa
started to be valid).

-enk

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