visa for extended visits

jamie_designer · Post by **jamie_designer** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:36 am

I was wondering if anyone might have experience or knowledge pertaining to visas for extended visits to finland.

my situation:
I will be flying to finland february 1st and staying with my girlfriend for the maximum time my passport will allow. That is 90 days. This would mean I would have to leave the country as of May 2ed. We have been talking and there is much going on in spring and early summer. Family things which I would love to be a part of. Birthdays, High School Graduations, Weddings etc.

Is there any way that I can purchase a visa to give me more time in Finland? to extend my visit so I can take part in these family events.

Any suggestions?
_jamie

**Sponsor:**

Ralf Grahn · Post by **Ralf Grahn** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:55 am

Jamie, perhaps you should ask the Finnish Embassy, but as far as I know visas are meant for short stays (up to 3 months during one year).

For longer periods residence permits and requirements for them (marriage, job/self-employment, studies) step in.

jamie_designer · Post by **jamie_designer** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:27 am

Thanks Ralf,
Thats somewhat what I was thinking too. But I was hoping maybe there was something a person could get to stay a little longer as a visitor. I looked on the finnish embassy's website but didn't see any info there about what I was looking for, perhaps tommorrow I will call there and talk to someone.

Pilvii · Post by **Pilvii** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:33 am

I am not sure... but maybe you can leave and then re-enter the Schengen area - your 90 days might start again? (others would have a much better idea....)

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:44 am

Your 90 days start again after 180 days out of Schengen. I used to recommend people go to Russia to "renew" their 90 days. Siberia teaches.

Pilvii · Post by **Pilvii** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:52 am

See? Someone knew!

trentti · Post by **trentti** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:23 pm

It's a pity Finland and Canada don't have a working holiday agreement, then you could stay there for up to 12 months.

Finnish Embassy Ottawa wrote:Canadian citizens do not require a visa for visits to Finland provided that their stay does not exceed 90 days within the period of 6 months. However, a passport is required to enter the country. If the intended length of stay in Finland and within the Schengen area exceeds 90 days, a residence permit is required

It doesn't look like there's really any way around it, unless you can somehow score a residence permit.

gistroud · Post by **gistroud** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:34 pm

Since he is not yet in Finland, is it possible for him to apply for a short term visa? For a period of five to six months long?

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:16 pm

Yes, you can apply the moon off the sky if you want.

gistroud · Post by **gistroud** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:20 pm

Hank W. wrote:Yes, you can apply the moon off the sky if you want.

thanks for the answer? That was honestly the most helpful answer yet.

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:32 pm

jamie_designer wrote:I will be flying to finland february 1st
This would mean I would have to leave the country as of May 2ed. We have been talking and there is much going on in spring .... Weddings etc.

Any suggestions?
_jamie

Make one of the first Weddings your own....then you can stay....

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:40 pm

gistroud wrote: thanks for the answer? That was honestly the most helpful answer yet.

People who lack the ability to read the UVI website need help beyond my abilities. It says clearly how when and why can one apply for an extended visitor/tourist visa.

sy · Post by sy » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:25 pm

Well, I couldn't find any related info from UVI's website. Maybe Hank can give a direct link.

I think it should be (at least in theory) able to apply for a tempory residence permit for several months. But I don't know in practice whether UVI will approve it or deny it.

Section 45, Paragraph 1 of the Aliens Act says that "Temporary residence permits are issued to persons residing abroad for: ... ... 4) other special reasons."

The Government Bill says:

Momentin 4 kohdan mukaan tilapäinen
oleskelulupa myönnettäisiin, jos muu erityinen
syy puoltaa luvan myöntämistä. Tilapäisen
oleskeluluvan myöntäminen ulkomaalaiselle
olisi poikkeustapauksissa mahdollista
esimerkiksi perhe-elämän perusteella, kun
ulkomaalainen on tulossa Suomeen avioitumistarkoituksessa.
Tilapäinen oleskelulupa
voitaisiin myöntää erityisen syyn perusteella
myös ydinperheen ulkopuolisille perheenjäsenille,
kuten isovanhemmille tai ulkomaalaisille,
jotka haluavat tutustua esimerkiksi
kulttuuriin tai luontoon Suomessa.

That is to say, that a temporary residence permit can be issued, in exceptional cases, to foreigners who has the intention to come to Finland to get married, or who wants to get to know Finnish culture or nature.

So, in your case, I would suggest you to apply for the temporary residence permit for the period Feb 1 - May 2 at the Finnish embassy in Canada. It would help a lot if you state the reason that you want to get to know your girlfriend's family and the Finnish culture and nature. You can also list the details of those social events: when, where, and whose birthdays, graduations, and weddings.

Also I think it is important to apply for the residence permit abroad, not after you enter Finland with the visa exemption rule. It's still possible to apply for the tempory residence permit when you've entered Finland without a residence permit. But it's more difficult and more at UVI's or police's discretion.

BTW, can you really extend a visa? Has anybody done that?

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:34 pm

There is relevant information, and the answer one wants to hear. If they do not match, then it might be futile to search for an answer that does not exist. They give the options. Basically, the three month rule is the key here. Applying for a residence permit etc. is possible, but the thing is if one wants to stay through May, why come here in February unless one is infatuated with soggyness and rain? Each to his own. The application however needs to be filled to the point.

sy · Post by sy » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:56 pm

Hank W. wrote:Applying for a residence permit etc. is possible, but the thing is if one wants to stay through May, why come here in February unless one is infatuated with soggyness and rain? Each to his own. The application however needs to be filled to the point.

Maybe there are also some social events in February.

Yes, you're right that the application needs to be filled to the point. I had a case before. A friend of mine wanted to invite her mother to stay in Finland for less than one year, and she consulted the local police or UVI. Of course they said that they could apply and told my friend to file the application at the local police (ie. by my friend, not by her mother at Finnish embassy). Then the application was conveniently turned down by simply referring that her mother is not her family member. Later in the appeal I stated that the lady wanted to stay Finland temporarily for more than 3 months and less that one year to get to know her daughter's life in Finland, to see the growth of her grandchildren, even to teach them her dialect. However, the court regarded these were new demands or grounds, not presented when the application was made; and thus turned down the appeal.

That's why I said in my previous post that when filing the application it's better to give details as much as possible, basically to make UVI harder to refuse such a permit.

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