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Residence Permit: Finland Turns Down 60% Nigerians
November 20, 2009 14:02, 719 views
By Tokunbo Olajide
As much as 60 per cent of Nigerians gaining admission to Finnish educational institutions are now being denied residence permit.
Between January and October this year, most Nigerian applicants who secured admission to schools in Finland had their residency request turned down.
The Finnish authorities cited increasing cases of document forgery and insufficient income for their action.
“Forgeries have been encountered in personal IDs, study and work certificates, as well as bank statements and health insurance statement,” according to a statement by Paulina Helminen, Head of section, Immigration Unit, of Finland.
In Finland, prerequisites for a student’s residence permit include having valid health insurance coverage and a minimum of 500 euros per month or 6,000 euros per year, available for the duration of the student’s residence in the country.
The new policy of stricter vetting of residence permit application by the Finnish immigration has also affected other African countries like Ghana and Cameroon with up to 70 per cent of their request being turned down.
The Finnish immigration authorities have since this year substantially increased its vetting of residence permit applications by African students.
For instance, more Finnish immigration staff have been sent to its embassy in Nigeria to interview applicants and review the authenticity of their documents since forgeries are easier to detect when viewing the original documents rather than the photocopies.
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James Nwadibia
20 November 2009 14:18Why are Nigerians not doing their research before travelling? Fineland was ravaged by the U S led economic melt down & they do not want any foreign destitutes in their country because they cannot afford to look after them, period.
Bell-Mac Howard (UK)
21 November 2009 14:58We are daily praying for Nigerian youths whose future our so called corrupt leaders have mortgaged to every nation on earth. Who would have thought of going to finland to study if we had respnsible president, Governors and legislators? They are only out to steal for their families and destroy the nation since they all have houses abroad to settle their wives and children. God will surely intervene in the fullness of time. Nigerians are even struggling to reside in Chad, soon they would want to live in Somalia, just anywhere outside the failed state called Nigeria..
mustyville
21 November 2009 17:58@ james: and who told you those leaving for Finland want to stay there permanenetly. It is you who have your hypotheseis wrong. Albeit, they all want their papers and spread out to other EU countries since it’s free movement.
adesina adebayo
22 November 2009 11:13James you cant even spell the Finland very well who told you the economic recession ravaged the country obviously you dont know much about the country .iTS A SAD NEWS AS EDUCATION IS FREE ,Nigerians exploited them well for along time until last year when they found out about the idan
Jpenny
22 November 2009 11:30@James, according to the UN human development index Finland rank amongst the best in the world, Finland like other countries in the world is feeling the meltdown but she is coping well.
I sincerely don’t blame the Finish authorities for the tight measure, you need to be here to witness and see how some few Africans turn their homes to admissions and registrar’s office by forging documents and results, they are frequently caught by the poliisi. This off course hamper the chances of applicants with legal documents.
Finnish universities have a broad and good curriculum.
Adedokun from USA
22 November 2009 19:46This Finaland Government should take a clue from the American Government. Those Nigerians or other Africans who are studying or have finised their education and qualified should not be treated like crooks. Afterall it was the Finnish embassies overseas that granted them their entry permits to come over to Finland. Is the Finland Government telling the world that the staff of their overseas embassies are not qualified to do their jobs. Whatever Finland does now would definitely tell the world the type of people they are. Finland should remember that no country could live in isolation. If immigrants are mal-treatred by the Finland Authorities there may in future be a counter treatment from other countries. Does Finland want to live in isolation? The world is now a small village.
An exmaple is what is happening in America today despite the huge number of illegal immigrants the American Government is careful in dealing with the issue. Finland should remember that these immigrants could contribute to the progress and greatness of Finland just as immigrants have contributed to make America the Greatest Country in the World Today.
Adedokun is writing from the USA
chike c. okoli (USA)
23 November 2009 03:21I amnot surprised that these things are happening to our citizens because our role models, fathers and those runing our country first class forgers. They have brought shame to our dear beautiful counrty.
Gwandu in Holland
23 November 2009 10:55I support the their action (Finland)!! When shall we NIGERIANS learn from our mistakes?. Its a known fact that many Nigerians travel out claiming to have gain an admission to study overseas without full financial support to cover the period of their studies. They’re there only to secures residency and later pledge for refugee. GOD SO KIND! AMONG ALL YOU CANNOT PICTURE OUT A NORTHERNER! All are Igbo or Yuroba scandalizing the image of Nigeria.
wally
23 November 2009 17:09this@gw