Plan of Chen and Robert to live together in 2012.
Language learning in spring 2012
Before Robert travels to China there should be much work for Chen to study English and Robert to study Chinese. When Robert comes to China it would be very good if everyday communication would be possible without translation! Studying Finnish can be done as well but English has better possibility of getting fluent soon. There will be time and better possibilities later in Finland to study Finnish.
Travel and VISA-arrangements as planned below should be started in April 2012. At that point Robert and Chen should estimate how well conversation will work. That will affect what is the best time for Chen to come to Finland to Robert.
1. Robert travel to China to Chen.
Chen has high school final exam 2012-06-18. She needs some time after that for arrangements.
Robert plans to travel to China 14.7. (having holiday with his boys before that). Back to Finland via England 27.7.
Tourist Visa for Robert to come to China: http://www.chinaembassy-fi.org/eng/lsfw/chinesevisa/t835519.htm
Robert will stay about 2 weeks in China with Chen.
- Rent a car or use train?
- Stay in Hotels or in Chen home as well?
- Travel to Anhui?
2. Chen travel to Finland with Robert.
Robert will return to Finland approximate date 2012-07-15.
Chen can come to Finland immediately 2012-07-15 with Robert if language skills are enough for everyday talk in Finland. If Chen feels she needs more time to study English then she can come later in fall 2012 when feeling ready.
Tourist Visa for Chen to come to Finland.
- VISA application can be submitted earliest 3 months before date of travelling.
- Beijing consulate will process VISA application within 15 days from getting it.
- VISA application must be submitted in person by the applicant.
- Information on Schengen tourist VISA from Finnish Beijing consulate. Requirements are following. Information has been added from emails with the consulate (Visa.PEK@formin.fi)
- Valid passport
- One photo less than 3 months old with white background.
- Shengen VISA application: Schengen_Visa_2010_EC109_English.pdf. Robert will help Chen to fill this!
- Air Ticket reservation. No paid air tickets are needed: reservation is enough and consulate recommends reservation so that there is no loss of money if VISA cannot be approved.
- Statement of money.
- Consulate writes: Chen does not need statement of money if Robert makes a statement for his money. Robert states in VISA application and invitation letter that he takes care of all expenses. Robert demonstrates his wealth by attaching to VISA application his bank-statement and salary-statement.
- Travel insurance for Schengen-area. Insurance should cover expenses up to 30 000 euro, all medical expenses and cost of return for medical reasons including death. Accepted insurance companiens in Beijing
- Copy of all pages of living permit (Hukou)
- Original invitation letter made by Robert in Finnish / English. Invitation letter should include full name, duration of stay, copy of Roberts passport.
- Letter from employer
- Consulate writes: As a student, Chen can instead get a document proving her attendance in her high school. For unemployed people (not students or employed) a statement about living address is required from local police.
- Proof of place to live in Finland and flight ticket reservation for the duration of the travel.
- All documents should be provided as original versions and as copies.
Consulate writes: the requirements above might change slightly during spring 2012. Changes will not be dramatic. But requirements should be verified again before making the application.
Tourist Visa gives 3 month time to stay in Finland. Before the end of the 3 months Robert and Chen get married. It is better to get married early so there is time to apply for residence permit.
3. Robert and Chen get married in Finland.
Requesting an examination of impediments to marriage when one or both parties are foreigners
Information from Helsinki Register Office:
In general In Finland, the examination of impediments to marriage can be requested at any register office. Civil marriages are performed at the register offices.
Required documents
- Request for examination of impediments to marriage
- Information about foreign fiancé/fiancée (not registered in Finland)
- Certificate of marital status issued by the authorities of his/her native country. Certificate has to be original and less than 4 months old.
The certificate should be legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in question and at the local Finnish Embassy or Consulate. It can also be obtained at the embassy of the country in question, in which case legalization is not needed.
Helsinki Register Office accepts certificate of marital status in Finnish or English. In other cases, you should get it translated into one of these languages. The translation should also be legalized if it is not done in Finland.
All the documents have to be originals (+translation if needed). Documents should be delivered personally to register office with both parties present. Identification must be clarified (valid passport or EU identity card).
Documents may also be delivered with just one party present or by post in which cases request should be signed by two witnesses and a certified copy of foreigner's passport or EU identity card must be included.
Examination takes 7 days and the certificate of no impediments to marriage is valid for 4 months.
Reservations for civil wedding ceremony at the Helsinki Register Office can be made in present or by telephone. The numbers are: + 358 71 87 31 244
Wedding
- Marriage in Helsinki Register office.
- Reception for small number of friends and family in Roberts and Chens home?
- Robert to wear black suit. Does Chen have some nice Chinese dress? Or rent a dress?
4. Chen applies for permanent residency in Finland.
After getting married, Chen applies for residence permit from interior ministry to live permanently in Finland based on marriage. Then there is no need to return to China when VISA expires.
From Finnish immigration service webpage:
When Finnish citizen is married to a non-Finnish citizen, the spouse can arrive to Finland without obtaining residence permit beforehand. Before the ending of her visa-period she must apply for residence permit from local police, who decides on the permit. If the first residence permit application is made in Finland, she can stay in the country legally during the processing time of the application even if her visa expires during the time. Marriage certificate must be displayed.
NOTE: Beijing consulate writes that the rules of residence permit application change slightly from beginning of 2012. Confirm the new rules from the immigration service in spring 2012.
Life in Finland
- Introduce Chen to friends and family slowly and in small groups so she does not have to be nervous. Later with more courage and language skills, take her to bigger parties.
Services and Help in Helsinki
- Information for Chinese immigrants for Helsinki in Chinese
- Helsinki City Immigrant services
- TE-toimisto (Employment and Economic Development Office) should be contacted to make integration plan for Chen. Email helsinki.kamppi@te-toimisto.fi
- Uudenmaankatu 16 B, 2. krs, 00100 Helsinki. Open monday-friday 9.00-15.45
- Väestoliiton Monikulttuurinen osaamiskeskus tukee maahanmuuttajaperheiden, -lasten ja -nuorten kotoutumista ja hyvinvointia.
- Familia Club ry edistää maahanmuuttajien kotoutumista Suomeen ja heidän oikeuksiensa toteutumista. Duo-projekti tukee kahden kulttuurin perheitä.
- Monikulttuuristen perheiden liitto ry tukee ja neuvoo perheitä arjen haasteissa mm. neuvonnalla ja konsultoinnilla sähköpostitse.
Plan for Chen to study in university in Finland.
1. Study Finnish language in autumn 2012 and spring 2013.
- Finnish language skills required: Aalto Bachelor of arts program can take persons speaking Finnish. Finnish is the teaching language. People not having Finnish as their mother tongue are required to pass a standard Finnish language examination scoring in mid-range skill level 3-4. These exams can be taken on certain dates.
- Finnish intensive courses are available cheaply at https://ilmonet.fi
- Basic A1 course: 4 days per week, 3 hours per day, 2 months, 128 lessons.
- Persons who have their integration plan in force, should contact Employment and Economic Development Office before they enrol to the course. The employment office may regard the course equal to integration training.
TE-toimisto saattaa myöntää kurssin ajalle rinnastamispäätöksen, jos opiskelijalla on voimassa oleva kotoutumissuunnitelma. Ole hyvä ja ota yhteyttä omaan TE-toimistoosi ennen kurssille ilmoittautumista.
2. Apply for University in Spring 2013
3. Start in university in September 2013
