Question about Citizenship

[johnnyromerro]

Dear All,
I will apply for Finnish citizenship next year, I met all other requirements except that I got a restraining order on request of my ex girlfriend last year September 2013. The order was for one year and during the order I did not commit any offence I mean I did not try to make any contact with my ex. About the restraining order it is such a shame that besides having all the proofs in my favor the judge still issued the orders against me. Some of you might think that O.k now I am just trying to defend myself but dear all, the bitter truth is that, I was punished for being a foreigner. My ex used old love letters (total letters 3) which I wrote her during the time when we were dating and luckily I wrote dates on top of each letters which was in 2012.

We broke up in March 2013 and from March till September 2013 I sent her only 3 text messages and two more letters. Those letters contained nothing but stories of our time together and those text messages were the response of those messages which my ex sent me in which once she sent me her pics after a month of our breakup and in other text she told me how much she regrets after the breakup. The last text message I sent her was in June 2013 and after that I never contact her by any means and than one night in September I went to her place just to return her stuff but I saw her in her balcony but instead of talking to her and giving her stuff back I returned my home without saying a word.

The next morning I went myself to the police station informing them about the situation, the police wrote my statement and told me that they will try to make contact with my ex and otherwise I should just throw away those things. After 4 days I received a letter from the court that my ex has asked for restraining order against me. I was shocked but still I had the faith that I have all the proofs and I have done nothing wrong but as said earlier in the court room opposite happened. The judge gave my ex her full time and my ex gave her 20 minutes long hatred speech against me and on my turn the judge told me that I have 5 minutes to tell my story? Anyhow I already knew what will happen so the judge issued restraining order for one year but also said that I can contact my ex only in case of emergency but I never contacted her since than.

Now the year has already passed but I am just worried that I will apply next year for citizenship and I have read that restraining order can affect the citizenship process. So please tell me do I have any hope or any positive chance?

Another funny thing is that after getting the restraining order I applied for the appeal in the high court and I hired one of the brilliant lawyers in the city for representing my case but guess what??? The high or the superior court did not even gave me the chance to be present in the high court and without having any further hearing they just kept the ruling from the lower court. Later my lawyer told me that in his 15 years career and especially dealing with these similar cases this was the first time that the high court did not even hear the case. I am sorry for writing this much and telling you my stupid but sad story. My only purpose is to get your opinions on my situation nothing else. Thank you so much for your time.

[Upphew]

We have now heard the other side of the story. Which sounds quite innocent imho. On the other hand courts don't issue restraining orders just for fun. Either way you haven't broken the restraining order so you haven't committed any crime.

[Rip]

What does the case look on papers (that is what migri would look)? You can not get citizenship with a current restraining order, the law is not very clear how much weight they give to an older one.

[rinso]

I don't know if the restraining order will be a crucial factor, but it will certainly be looked at.

To respond to your story:
- 3 mails, 2 letters and a visit within 6 months can certainly be interpreted as unwanted contacts. Even if your intentions were innocent.
A restraining order is to protect the rights of your ex. It is given if it seems that you do not voluntary respect her wishes. It is not that your behavior was criminal.

The high or the superior court did not even gave me the chance to be present in the high court and without having any further hearing they just kept the ruling from the lower court.

If a case is clear and no new evidence is filed or existing evidence disputed, the court of appeal can rule without hearing.

Later my lawyer told me that in his 15 years career and especially dealing with these similar cases this was the first time that the high court did not even hear the case.

Which in my opinion says more about the lawyer than the court. I.e. he wasn't able to present beforehand a single fact in your favor. (or he forgot to file it)

I was punished for being a foreigner.

The fact that you're from a different culture, might indeed have been taken into account. But it would not have been a major factor. Your actions were the main reason for the decision.