I have fallen in love and want to marry a Finnish national

nyc282 · Post by **nyc282** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 9:39 am

Hey any advise, I want to Marry my girlfriend of three years, BUT I had some minor run ins with the law, the last was 15 years ago. I am a U.S. citizen with a great resume and some sports ties in Finland already. She will NOT marry me if we can not raise our kids in Finland. What our my chances of getting a RP??

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Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:04 am

It is pretty much guaranteed IF you marry her OR can show you've been living together (under the same roof) for two years.

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:10 am

Your chances for a RP depends on how serious they weight your criminal record.
But I think your RP might not be the only problem.

She will NOT marry me if we can not raise our kids in Finland.

This blocks a plan B if your job perspective in Finland is problematic.

nyc282 · Post by **nyc282** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:45 am

Well in the states its not Guilty or not guilty its "lets make a deal" plead to this and we will forget the whole thing, don't plea and we will pursue this and see you in ten years. That being said my most serious was breaking into a vehicle and the others were stealing food from stores. (tough period in my life) Does it weigh at all the time that has elapsed and the professional license's and achievements since this time in my life??

nyc282 · Post by **nyc282** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 11:15 am

Well in U.S. the courts are a "lets make a deal" game. They charge you with a crime that will never stick to get you to plead out to a lesser crime to pad there politically motivated conviction record. That being said i have been convicted stealing food, My most serious offense was breaking into a car to get a jacket to stay warm( it was a tough period in my life). I have been charged with some other crimes, but the others have been dismissed or dropped. Do I tell them of the dropped offense's or just the convictions. Also Should I include any of the positive things I have done since then, ie letter from probation officer commending me for early release from supervision, Professional license's, accomplishments in sports etc.. letters of support from respectable Finnish citizens. please advise??

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:24 pm

nyc282 wrote:I have been charged with some other crimes, but the others have been dismissed or dropped.

They don't ask about those. They do ask about criminal convictions (What, when and what was the penalty). Frankly, I seriously doubt they check, but just in case I'd be honest. I really don't see how such small and old issues could be a problem.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:35 pm

Also Should I include any of the positive things I have done since then, ie letter from probation officer commending me for early release from supervision, Professional license's, accomplishments in sports etc.. letters of support from respectable Finnish citizens. please advise??

I'd say "keep it simple" = "No"
If you had a rejection, you could try to use them in an appeal, but I don't see you getting rejected in the first place (assuming you're either married or have been co-habiting for two years). More likely than any benefit I'd see the possibility that an application with lot of extra attachments gets sorted to an "extra work, slow" pile with undesired results.

nyc282 · Post by **nyc282** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:26 pm

Ok well let me clear something up, we have not been living together and have known each other since 2005, she has visited the states a few times and I have maxed out my 90 days a few times and we are engaged and trying to decide on getting married. One plan is me to come back in 6 months and get married here in Finland and fill out the application at the same time. I have business dealings in the states and would be traveling back and fourth, is that a problem

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:06 pm

One plan is me to come back in 6 months and get married here in Finland and fill out the application at the same time.

You can do that. Based on information you've given I fully expect you to get the permit, but it may take several months (maybe, maybe not, Difficult to tell. Experiences vary), during which you're basically a tourist. No right to be employed locally, no social benefits, and paying for your own health care/insurance. You could find it difficult to even open a bank account.

I have business dealings in the states and would be traveling back and fourth, is that a problem

While you could stay and wait here for your permit to be processed, it seems at least questionable if you could get back in here after your normal visa free period has expired if you make a visit elsewhere (as far as I can recall, people here have decided not to even try that).

If you're ready to make the big leap, how about getting married first (here, there or in some third country that allows you to), submit the papers at the Finish embassy in USA and coming here after getting the permit?

nyc282 · Post by **nyc282** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:38 pm

Ok so once I process the permit, I should stay? Or once its granted stop going back and forth to the U.S. for a while??

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:35 pm

nyc282 wrote:Ok so once I process the permit, I should stay? Or once its granted stop going back and forth to the U.S. for a while??

No. Once you have the permit you can come and go as you please (maybe there would be hiccup at renewal time if you spent more than half of the time outside Finland, but not otherwise).

- But while your application is still being processed I(and if you apply in Finland), while you may legally wait for the result if you stay here, if you go abroad during that time, having that application does not seem to give any special re-entry right to Finland if you'd already spent your 90 days.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 4:39 pm

There is this thing called "too much information". They ask for a certain thing, so you answer exactly a certain thing and do not babble your lifes story. If you have been in jail, its different than been given something else. I don't remember what is the exact question about criminal convictions, but you don't go "elaborating"...

nyc282 · Post by **nyc282** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 7:28 pm

Ok so I think I got it Thanks if she has any questions when she gets home I will post them

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 9:52 pm

Once you are legally resident in Finland, you will be taxed in Finland on all your personal income from anywhere in the world. Finland gets the first bite, and it's a bigger bite than the US would take. You still have to file in the US reporting worldwide income, but first you get to exclude something like 90K of foreign earnings of some simple types of income and thereafter you get a credit for your Finnish taxes.

If you have complicated income, for instance income of any kind from two countries, your biggest headache will be finding someone to correctly prepare your US taxes. Your Finnish tax filing could also become complicated.

It sounds like you might have an unusual income pattern, and if so you should talk to advisors in both countries. Even choosing the time of year to officially move in can significantly simplify two years' tax returns and/or save you thousands or more in actual taxes.

ritan7471 · Post by **ritan7471** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 8:43 am

I just looked at my application from 2012 and I don't see it asking anything about past crimes.

But I agree with the others that say to get married here, then go back and apply from the US, because of your business dealings. Plus as others have said while your application is processed, you have no rights to work here, no rights to any benefits, no health insurance.

I applied in Los Angeles, and my application took 6 weeks (applied in March, approved in April), even though they told me it could take up to 6 months.

At least in my experience, my friends that came here without an RP and applied from here had a longer wait for the RP than I did.

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