Any Finnish/American Couples?

[Kaljukotka 5]

13 minutes ago, JCB86 said:

We never were contact by them, I always contacted them. During the shutdown, I'd email just about monthly regarding K1s. If the case status is ready, I would follow up asap. Get medical, vaccines, police certifications in the mean time, at least.

Thank you so much! This part has been the most unclear so far. Even my friend who received instructions from the embassy couple of years ago couldn't remember whether she was contacted first or if she had been proactive in this step. I just didn't want to proceed with medical/interview booking if there are special instructions I am supposed to receive and documents that I need to gather that I am not yet aware of. For example, in the instructions she sent me they said that you would need 6 passport pictures for the medical appointment but I am not sure what the amount of pictures is nowadays. I also don't know if that is supposed to be American or Finnish sized photos etc... 😓 In any case, I have now contacted the embassy and asked what my next steps should be. Thanks for your reply, I have been very stressed out about this step because most embassies send a packet 3 to the applicants once they receive the case from NVC.

[molehills 67]

28 minutes ago, Kaljukotka said:

Thank you so much! This part has been the most unclear so far. Even my friend who received instructions from the embassy couple of years ago couldn't remember whether she was contacted first or if she had been proactive in this step. I just didn't want to proceed with medical/interview booking if there are special instructions I am supposed to receive and documents that I need to gather that I am not yet aware of. For example, in the instructions she sent me they said that you would need 6 passport pictures for the medical appointment but I am not sure what the amount of pictures is nowadays. I also don't know if that is supposed to be American or Finnish sized photos etc... 😓 In any case, I have now contacted the embassy and asked what my next steps should be. Thanks for your reply, I have been very stressed out about this step because most embassies send a packet 3 to the applicants once they receive the case from NVC.

In my recollection, he needed a lot more photos that what was on the embassy's website for both medical and interview. And I think they were American size. 

[Kaljukotka 5]

If you get a chance to ask him what type of passport photos he had to take to the medical that would be very helpful! I am talking about the 6 color photos for the medical appointment. When I booked the time the lady didn't know at all and when I asked the embassy about it they just answered that they require the 3 + 1 US sized photos, which I would have to take with me to the interview. 

[molehills 67]

3 hours ago, Kaljukotka said:

If you get a chance to ask him what type of passport photos he had to take to the medical that would be very helpful! I am talking about the 6 color photos for the medical appointment. When I booked the time the lady didn't know at all and when I asked the embassy about it they just answered that they require the 3 + 1 US sized photos, which I would have to take with me to the interview. 

It's 6 for medical. 

[Kaljukotka 5]

4 minutes ago, JCB86 said:

It's 6 for medical. 

Thanks, that part was clear but I was wondering about the photo size. I guess he took the US size and not the Finnish size pictures to the medical? The lady who scheduled my appointment for the medical was assuming that the pictures should be in Finnish passport size but I don't want to take any risks. Maybe I would have to bring both sizes, just to be sure.

[Kaljukotka 5]

I have an interview scheduled for July 1! 🤩  They would have given a time for June 10 but my medical is booked on June 14 so I asked for a later date.

[molehills 67]

On 5/21/2021 at 9:47 AM, Kaljukotka said:

Thanks, that part was clear but I was wondering about the photo size. I guess he took the US size and not the Finnish size pictures to the medical? The lady who scheduled my appointment for the medical was assuming that the pictures should be in Finnish passport size but I don't want to take any risks. Maybe I would have to bring both sizes, just to be sure.

He said for the medical, he had the Finnish passport size. And apparently they only needed 1 picture at the embassy for the interview, too. 

[molehills 67]

On 5/25/2021 at 5:13 AM, Kaljukotka said:

I have an interview scheduled for July 1! 🤩  They would have given a time for June 10 but my medical is booked on June 14 so I asked for a later date.

Congrats on interview. Helsinki is chugging along. 

[Kaljukotka 5]

58 minutes ago, JCB86 said:

He said for the medical, he had the Finnish passport size. And apparently they only needed 1 picture at the embassy for the interview, too. 

Thanks! I just got 10 US size pictures so I wonder if I should go and get the Finnish size now 🤦🏻‍♀️ I wish someone at the hospital would have been able to tell.

 

1 hour ago, JCB86 said:

Congrats on interview. Helsinki is chugging along. 

Thank you! And congrats for the approval! 🥳

[TiiaChris 0]

You need 5 passport photos that are the Finnish size to the medical. It says 6 but she actually only needs 5. You should ask her if they could use your American size ones. 
 

We just got approved on Wednesday too! 😍🥳 https://www.eiransairaala.fi/fi/Palvelut/Todistukset/Viisumitodistus

[molehills 67]

Visa Issued with 2 days of AP over a holiday weekend to boot!

 

So happy. Crying. Lol. 

[Lenny&Sanna 114]

On 6/1/2021 at 8:08 AM, JCB86 said:

Visa Issued with 2 days of AP over a holiday weekend to boot!

 

So happy. Crying. Lol. 

That's wonderful news. Happy to see you moving along finally

 

On 5/28/2021 at 5:05 PM, TiiaChris said:

You need 5 passport photos that are the Finnish size to the medical. It says 6 but she actually only needs 5. You should ask her if they could use your American size ones. 
 

We just got approved on Wednesday too! 😍🥳 https://www.eiransairaala.fi/fi/Palvelut/Todistukset/Viisumitodistus

YAY Congratulations    

[Lenny&Sanna 114]

On 5/25/2021 at 5:13 AM, Kaljukotka said:

I have an interview scheduled for July 1! 🤩  They would have given a time for June 10 but my medical is booked on June 14 so I asked for a later date.

 Not to far away!!! Will be here before you know it! Let us know how it goes!!!

[Kaljukotka 5]

On 6/5/2021 at 9:12 PM, Lenny&Sanna said:

 Not to far away!!! Will be here before you know it! Let us know how it goes!!!

Approved! 🥳 They said it currently takes 2-3 weeks to process the visa but it seems I might be able to leave before the end of the month. There seems to be some flights with convenient connections available, at least for now, so let’s hope they don’t get cancelled. 

[molehills 67]

1 minute ago, Kaljukotka said:

Approved! 🥳 They said it currently takes 2-3 weeks to process the visa but it seems I might be able to leave before the end of the month. There seems to be some flights with convenient connections available, at least for now, so let’s hope they don’t get cancelled. 

Congrats! We flew direct with Finnair from Helsinki to JFK. I had some minor thoughts that the flight would get cancelled because not enough seats to fill, but it didn't (despite being 10 people on the whole plane). I guess to retain their gate, they have to run planes, regardless of passenger level. 

 

He said CBP was the easiest he's ever done, CBP officer was literally saying "welcome and good job" through bites of his dinner lol.