23.03.11 – I’ve dealt with a number of Finnish beauracracies since moving here and I can honestly say most are friendly and extremely efficient. I recently went to the Immigration Service, located on the outskirts of Helsinki in Malmi, to renew my residence permit and I can honestly say I hate dealing with the process. The people who work there are miserable, the waiting time is way to long and the process is confusing.
Here’s what happened on my last visit. The doors open at 0800 and it’s best to be there early because there will usually be at least 10 to 20 other people waiting outside to queue up. The people waiting to get in are usually spread out in little clusters smoking and/or talking but as the minutes approach to opening everyone starts moving closer and closer to the door until your shoulder to shoulder, pushing and shoving as the doors open.
The next step is the one that always confuses me. You have to pick from one of four options to get a number to be serviced. Returning documents, No EU and EU family members, all other nationalities and Final Decisions are the options. If you choose the wrong number, which I have done in the past, you’re screwed because you have to wait to get in to find out you have the wrong number. There isn’t anyone in the lobby to ask for assistance. On this visit, I read the choices carefully, or so I thought, waited over two hours before I got in and found out I chose the wrong number!!! Urg! The day was over for this visit because now to choose the correct number, there are already 15+ people in front of you which equates to a four-hour wait.
I can imagine why most of the people who work there are miserable because they have to bear the brunt of everyone’s frustration. When I found out I had the wrong number, the immigration officer did take the time to review my current residence status and made a recommendation to schedule an appointment online since I was not in a rush to renew. Luckily I was starting the process well in advance of my permit expiring. I was hoping to take care of one more thing which is on my “worry list” but instead, I have to go back again.
Now, if only I could find the link to schedule an appointment!!!
You’re so right – except that Finnish Immigration Service isn’t located in Malmi (but in Kalasatama). The hell you entered (and my wife too, this very hour), is the Helsinki police station for foreigners (ulkomaalaispoliisi), not the national office. I work in the latter, but wouldn’t like to share the shame of the former just because of popular confusion. Please try to address the complaints correctly!
Oh Malmi! I’m an Australian married to a Finn and I cannot for the life of me work out why the immigration office is located in one of the most depressing areas of Helsinki! And what sort of system is this?! It’s totally crazy that a country which is otherwise so well organised has this weird, small, prison-cell immigration office stuck in the middle of nowhere for all incoming residents to visit.
On a lighter note, love love love your blog! Pics are amazing and it’s a joy to read about my new home town from the perspective of another ‘foreigner’!
Good luck with the frozen yoghurt. I’ve often looked at those cool old kioski’s from the 52 olympics and daydreamed about having a cute little cafe in one of them (with real coffee that is – what is it about filter coffee here??).
anyway, enough rambling. Will drop by again soon.
Meredith
Thanks for dropping in and feel free to ramble. I didn’t know about the old kiosks but I just tried to google some examples without luck. Point me to some if you can. Sounds interesting.
If you want a cool coffee place in Helsinki, checkout Cafe Regatta
Great place no that things are warming up 😉
Oh, completely off-topic:
Do you read Fingerpori?
I get that the puns might not be very funny if you have to find an explanation first, but I think it might be a good way to get some linguistic insights.
I thought Monday’s strip was especially funny.
Not so far off topic. My Finnish friend has encouraged me to read Aku Ankka (Donald Duck) comics to help me learn Finnish.
I have a friend who came here several years ago from Serbia. Her English teacher encouraged her to watch soap operas to learn the language. Maybe that’s why she’s such a drama queen now : )
Reminds me of this comment and a legendary response.
Sounds like our Drivers’ License offices! Man, they are grumpy!!!
That’s exactly what I was going to say! The DMV!! I can just imagine what an INS office in the US is like…. arghhhh!!
However bad this is, I can assure that it is a thousand times worse in Italy. Italian public servants take misery to a new level.
That’s great, Dave? Who is that?
graham nash & david crosby.
Excellent!
Let me guess, you picked “No EU and EU family members”?
What is “Final Decisions”?
Ding, ding, ding, ding. No more callers, we have a winner!
Yes, I chose “no EU… I felt like an idiot. I went back out to confirm it said “no” and sure enough it did.
So, is the logic that you are not “No EU” since you are a resident of EU?