Canadian studying in USA wants to bring Finnish girlfriend

ac499 · Post by **ac499** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 3:38 am

I am wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and has a possible solution. I am a Canadian in a four year university program in the USA with J-1 Visa status. I am in a serious relathionship with a girl from Finland and flying back and forth to see eachother is getting difficult. She is interested in moving here with me for my four years of school but she would need to work here in the USA. We aren't quite ready to get married even though this would solve the problem. I do not think she would meet the criteria for an H-1B visa as she does not have a degree in an area that is in special demand. Does anyone know if there is a way to help her find legal employment in the USA for a few years? Thank you.

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Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 4:42 pm

Its not finding employment, its getting the visa.

You want, they want. They win.

ac499 · Post by **ac499** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 9:52 pm

Thank you for the replies. That is true about the Visa. From what I have read it seems you need an employer first to be able to initiate the visa process?
If we were married she could get J-2 status and then qualify for a work permit haha. I would love to do my degree in Finland but I'm already committed to Dental school in the USA. Hopefully when I graduate Finland will need some more dentists. I would love to live there in the future.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 11:43 pm

Well, we like to give people the answers they don't want to hear

You'd be a non-EU-trained so you'd be put back in school for a while, and you'd have to pass fluency tests. EU's have the light shining out their asses, so they don't need a language test (though you won't get hired unless you know the language).

ac499 · Post by **ac499** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 1:02 am

Haha yes I've started to look into the process of getting certified in Finland with my DMD degree. I am hoping it is similar to Canada and the USA where you take two more years of clinical training and have to pass board examinations. I'm working on the language, hopefully I can get it beyond an acceptable level within 4-5 years otherwise I wouldn't consider moving until I have mastered it.

ac499 · Post by **ac499** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 4:38 am

It's true that I could maybe find help in an American immigration forum but I found some similar questions to mine in this forum and decided that it wouldnt hurt to ask.

inkku · Post by **inkku** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 6:34 am

Tell you girlfriend to ask that question on Expatrium.fi discussion forum (or they might have a FB group), there are many Finns there who have moved to the US who can advise her.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 10:06 am

ac499 wrote:Haha yes I've started to look into the process of getting certified in Finland with my DMD degree. I am hoping it is similar to Canada and the USA where you take two more years of clinical training and have to pass board examinations. I'm working on the language, hopefully I can get it beyond an acceptable level within 4-5 years otherwise I wouldn't consider moving until I have mastered it.

http://www.valvira.fi/en/licensing/prof ... ide_the_eu

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