It is not yet clear what kind of a new law will be approved in the end according to new government of Finland.
The first editions have caused many restrictions against the immigrants living in Finland, newcomers and those who are thinking about coming to stay in Finland.
As an immigrant, lived in Finland for 6 years now, I can understand that we may have many problems with new law. Specially if we want to apply for permanent residence or citizenship. For those families with children or newborn kids there is no possibility to get their national passport earlier than waiting for 8 years to have it!
For those people who are working, they don’t know what will happen in the future. Their job situation will depend on whether they get permanent residence, citizenship -or not.
For those immigrants who are educated enough to pass the needed language test for permanent residence or citizenship, might have, of course, many different ways to show their language eligibility. But the cultural test is a new thing that is coming out according the program of our new government. It`s not clear what kind of test is coming!
In my idea, most of the newcomers, they will change their destination.
Of course, for our new government, it is a good point. Finland will manage immigrants, especially refugees, easier. But on the other hand, Finland will loss big opportunity to compensate for the population and labour crisis.
The last group which I mentioned, those people who are thinking about migration for work and enterprise, will not think to choose Finland as one of their destinations, for sure.
I hope our new Minister who is in charge of Migration, will think more or the coming resultants while starting her work. She has to have more consultation with people and immigration experts to legislate in such a way in benefit of Finland, immigrants and human rights.
Ahad Maroufi
