Common immigration liaison for authorities to New Delhi in July

Press release 164/2011
10 June 2011

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Finnish Border Guard, and the Finnish Immigration Service will jointly deploy Senior Border Guard Jussi Rautio as immigration liaison to New Delhi, India, from 1 July. During his two-year assignment, he will be posted at the Finnish Embassy in New Delhi.

The immigration liaison is tasked with wide-ranging prevention of illegal immigration and human trafficking, investigation of documentation, processing of residence permits and related interviews, training, and issues concerning border security.

In addition to India, the liaison’s area of responsibility includes Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. People are travelling or attempting to travel more frequently from this region to Finland and the Schengen area. The region can also be considered a relatively important area of departure for illegal immigration.

Deployment of a liaison receives financial assistance from the European External Borders Fund.

Additional information: Counsellor Vesa Häkkinen, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 55219 or +358 40 726 1379; Major Ilkka Herranen, Finnish Border Guard Headquarters, tel. +358 71 872 1193; Senior Inspector Anna Hyppönen, Finnish Immigration Service, tel. +358 71 873 3397 or 358 50 456 1301.