Doubts in RP application for researchers

shab86 · Post by **shab86** » Sun May 24, 2015 9:18 am

Hi all,

I have recently been offered a PhD position at the University of Helsinki . It comes with a work contract detailing my salary to be ~2300 Eur(Gross). Though i have some doubts while filling the residence permit form for researchers. I have a gap year between my bachelors and masters, as i didn't have enough money for my masters. Before that i worked as a research assistant in a university in India, for which i don't possess any work certificate. It isn't considered as a work experience but more of a research experience albeit with no pay.

Now, in the item where work experience is mentioned, do i have to write the above things -
research assistant at some XYZ university
gap year?

Would the person at Embassy ask me to justify that gap year?

Any help in this regards would be welcome.

Thanks

**Sponsor:**

interleukin · Post by **interleukin** » Sun May 24, 2015 1:24 pm

I can't see that a gap year would have any effect on your RP application. The only thing that matters is that your masters is genuine and that your PhD position is offered by a trusted university in Finland. So that they know you are the real thing.

Beep_Boop · Post by **Beep_Boop** » Sun May 24, 2015 3:19 pm

Yup, don't worry. Won't be a problem at all.

shab86 · Post by **shab86** » Sun May 24, 2015 8:44 pm

Thanks @adnan and @interleukin for your replies. Its quite gratifying to hear that the gap year in my CV would not create any problems.
I just need a few more clarifications:

1). I recently traveled to Finland (2th-6th May,2015) for the PhD interviews at the University of Helsinki and i had provided a document from my university itself for proof of studies. Would granting of that visa play a role in decision of RP? I am asking this in terms of recognition of my university, which though is quite well known (The CEO of Microsoft is an alumni of my masters university http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipal_University). But i am a bit worried now after @interleukin mentioned it, that's all.

2). The other issue i had was regarding the research experience i have had. Would that count as work experience? Since, that this not considered as such, as hence i do not have a work experience certificate for that. Where to write this experience? Since if i write in work experience space then i would have to write

3). Another snag is the i was in Germany some years back for some time on a PhD position but had to leave and come back to India because of my mother's health issues. Would the person at Embassy raise questions about this?

Sorry for bothering you all. But a huge thanks for all your help.

Beep_Boop · Post by **Beep_Boop** » Sun May 24, 2015 9:46 pm

Your case officer (usually, the person deciding on your application) only cares about three things:

- Things that are relevant to the type of permit to which you're applying.
- Things related to the likelihood of you obeying the laws and regulations regarding the residence permit.
- Things related to the likelihood of you being a danger to society.

You were offered a job by a Finnish university. The case officer doesn't care about where you studied, he/she doesn't care about your work experience, and he/she doesn't really care where you travelled.

(Of course, let's use common sense here. If you put working with the IRA as work experience, or visiting an ISIS-controlled territory as your previous travels, then yes that's relevant)

interleukin · Post by **interleukin** » Sun May 24, 2015 10:11 pm

As Adnan already wrote, you are seriously overthinking things. Relax.

shab86 · Post by **shab86** » Mon May 25, 2015 4:31 am

Thanks a lot for your replies @adnan and @interleukin. I will go ahead with my residence permit application with less worries now. Will keep updated on the rp progress.

Thanks again !!

Querfeldein · Post by **Querfeldein** » Tue May 26, 2015 7:58 pm

I completely agree with the previous posters. If you need further, authoritative advice on any of these matters, you can also contact the International Staff Services at Helsinki University by email or phone:

http://www.helsinki.fi/intstaff/about/personnel.html

And no, they won't report you to your PhD advisor if you ask them a stupid question (for some reason, new PhD students are always super-deferential to our secretaries - don't be, they are just there to help!)

shab86 · Post by **shab86** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:27 pm

Thanks

I will mail the International staff services for certain queries of mine.I will submit the form this week itself. Hope the residence permit card process takes less time and i get the card soon enough.

shab86 · Post by **shab86** » Wed May 27, 2015 1:18 pm

I have another minor doubt in the residence permit form:

There is an item in the form saying to upload the soft copy -
"Please include the ID page of your valid passport plus all pages with markings."

Does it mean that the first and last page plus all the past Schengen Visa stamps on my passport? OR just the first and last page of my passport?

Beep_Boop · Post by **Beep_Boop** » Wed May 27, 2015 1:38 pm

shab86 wrote:Does it mean that the first and last page plus all the past Schengen Visa stamps on my passport? OR just the first and last page of my passport?

The first 2-3 pages (depending on country) are enough. You don't need to include any other pages. In some countries, the last page has some identifying information as well.
Just keep in mind that you don't need include visa pages.

Oh, also, please read this https://english.stackexchange.com/quest ... n-question
It will do you a lot of good when speaking in English. In short, in English, there's a difference between "doubt" and "question". In Hindi and some Romance languages, the two words are sometimes used interchangeably. So, in your case, it's a doubt that sometimes leads to a question.. once you put as a question, it becomes.. well, a question. So, when asking a question, you say "I have a question" not "I have a doubt".
and don't feel bad about it. Almost every person from India (and Portugal, I think) I've met has made the same mistake. If you google "doubt vs. question", you'll see a lot of discussion on that.

shab86 · Post by **shab86** » Wed May 27, 2015 3:00 pm

Thanks @adnan

I never gave doubt vs question much of a thought. But as i read a bit more on this issue, it seems quite clear there is some sort of cultural influence for this. Thanks for pointing out my mistake

shab86 · Post by **shab86** » Thu May 28, 2015 9:48 am

The form though quite self-explanatory does have its own quirks !! I have two "questions" regarding couple of items within it. Would be happy if anybody can help me out

- How long do you intend to stay in Finland? (dd.mm.yyyy)
- Duration of your stay

Since the PhD programme i have been offered is rotation based, hence the invitation letter is for 18 months. Then once i select a lab then i get another contract for 3-4 years. So, my question is should i write 18 months for the above questions, so that when it gets extended i can re-apply for extension of the residence permit? OR since the expected duration of the PhD programme is 4-5 years, should i write 5 years for both the above items?

Another question of mine is regarding insurance coverage. My invitation letter says that i will be provided with an occupational health insurance by University of Helsinki, so can i take an additional policy (for non-occupational hours) when i come there? Or is it mandatory for me to buy an insurance policy beforehand?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

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