Visa and Student Residence Permit Questions

[Seano]

Hypothetical situation:

Let's say it's late November, 2006, and you need to be in Helsinki on Jan 4, 2007 through May 31, 2007 to study abroad from the U.S. So far, you haven't mailed in either a Visa application or a application for a residence permit.

After banging your head against the wall for a while, you found out that you need a visa to get into the country, but the residence permit is just as good and really what you're after for a more "permanent" solution. You have all of the necessary documentation for both applications.

Do you:

a.) Mail in a residence permit application
b.) Mail in a visa application
c.) Both A & B (to hedge your bets should the residence application not arrive on time for the flight)
d.) Go drink some champagne to celebrate a monumental screw-up

[Hank W.]

OK,
4) visa means a permit on the basis of which an alien may enter and stay in the country for a short time if the other requirements for entry are met;
5) residence permit means a permit issued to an alien for a purpose other than tourism or a comparable short-term residence entitling the alien to enter the country repeatedly and stay in the country;

so a) (dhl express)

If you do a and b, then that will double the processing time as there is still the one person who now has to look through two papers instead of one and certainly make you look a total tool, as

Those who do not need a visa when coming to Finland include citizens of EU member states, citizens of the Nordic countries and citizens of countries on the list of visa-free states, providing they possess other valid travel documents.

e) you wouldn't need a visa in the first place, as US citizens don't need one to enter the country.

But a visa, or the lack of it wouldn't help you, as you can't get a residence permit in the country, you have to get it - into your passport - in your home country - and you cannot start your studies without it. So this information is of no use for you...

So a) (dhl express) & d) (a jeroboam or two magnums)

If you make it here in time you should spray like a F1 winner.

[Seano]

So let me get this straight: I have to send in my passport, and they write in it?

By the way, I may not be the brightest apple in the vegetable aisle - but I appreciate your help.

[Hank W.]

Yes, you need to send in your passport. And all the rest of the stuff thats on the list. Actually they put in a sticker with your mugshot in it.

You know, so as not to get illegal vegetables into the country and all that