How is Afghans’ family reunification proceeding?
an overview of the processing of Afghans’ family reunification applications in Iran:
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Embassy in Tehran have received plenty of inquiries concerning the processing of Afghan family reunification applications in Iran.
Based on amendments to the Decree of the President of the Republic on the Locations of Finland’s Diplomatic Missions, made on 10 December 2021, Afghans are now entitled to use our services both in New Delhi, India, and in Iran. The Decree was amended because, due to COVID-19 and the situation in Afghanistan, travelling from Afghanistan to New Delhi is in practice currently impossible.
Amending the Decree was the first step required in ensuring the availability of our services in Tehran for Afghans. Secondly, we need resources. The Finnish Embassy in Tehran is responsible for a significant number of various entry permit matters, on top of which the mission needs to handle and process matters concerning quota refugees and family reunification of Afghans living in Afghanistan. We need to launch the activities in a controlled manner, and substantial additional resources are needed to be able to handle applications.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs aims to create circumstances where Afghans have real opportunities to submit applications for processing. We base our activities on the same principle as was successfully used in the processing of Syrians’ family reunification applications earlier. Roving consuls and representatives of other authorities have been sent to Beirut, and the processing of applications has been carried out on a one-stop-shop basis in premises rented from an external service provider. However, it is important to remember that public authorities sent to another country also require entry permits granted from the receiving country. With regard to Iran, permit applications are pending.
Customers can be received only in a controlled manner and by appointment. The Embassy of Tehran has clearly informed its customers that, if things proceed according to plan, they will be able confirm appointments in February 2022 at the earliest.
Many sponsors in Finland have contacted us, telling that they have asked Afghans applying for family reunification to move to Iran immediately after the amendment to the Decree came into force. This is understandable as such because of the poor situation in Afghanistan. However, if the applicant’s visa expires in Iran, he or she is not legally resident in the country and may not necessarily be able to leave the country even if he or she has been issued with a residence permit in Finland.
Our missions can receive only customers who have booked an appointment. This is mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic but, in Tehran, also to the number of Afghans applying for family reunification, which is almost a thousand.
In addition, an interpreter is almost always needed in the processing of residence permit applications. Under the Aliens Act, the applicant is responsible for obtaining an independent and competent interpreter. Unfortunately, remote interpretation is not yet possible due to information security reasons.
We understand the frustration felt by family members and sponsors in Finland due to the delays in family reunification. Our aim is to develop an arrangement that would allow the reopening of the processing of Afghan family reunification applications in a controlled manner and in such a way that those who have been issued with a residence permit could also come to join their families in Finland.
Brief guidelines for persons in Afghanistan applying for family reunification in Finland:
1) Contact the Finnish Embassy in Tehran and ask for an appointment.
2) A visit at the Embassy requires an appointment. Applications are processed by roving consuls and representatives of other authorities accompanying them.
3) The Embassy notifies the customer a few weeks before the appointment takes effect. They aim to give appointments in February at the earliest. Getting an appointment depends on when the authorities sent to process the applications have the opportunity to enter the country. Unfortunately, the spread of the Omicron variant may lead to a change of plans.
4) Customers must not arrive at the Embassy or in the country until the time of interview has been confirmed for them.
5) We aim to handle matters so that applicants would not need to visit the Embassy more than once.
6) The decision on the residence permit is made by the Finnish Immigration Service in accordance with the Aliens Act.