ENGLANTI ASYLUM SEEKER IN FINLAND

Transcription

1 ENGLANTI ASYLUM SEEKER IN FINLAND Drawing: Panu Puukari

2 This leaflet is intended for those seeking asylum in Finland. The leaflet will inform you about the accommodations at reception centres. Further information will be provided by the reception centre staff and by the authorities and organizations presented at the end of the leaflet. Accommodation When the asylum seeker enters Finland, he shall submit his asylum application to the police or the passport controller. After this, the authorities will house him in a reception centre. Accommodation will be given in a reception centre where there is room. For this reason, the asylum seeker will not be able to choose in what reception centre he wants to live. The asylum seeker can, however, also live with his relatives or friends. In that case, he will have to pay the rent or other accommodation costs himself. Living in a reception centre is free of charge and it is a temporary arrangement. Asylum seekers who have come to Finland alone usually have to share a room with others of the same sex. In the case of families, endeavours are being made to provide a room that the family members can share, if there are vacant premises in the centre. The rules of the reception centres In a reception centre there are people from different countries and cultures. Therefore it is important that all the occupants respect each other s habits, comply with the rules of the centre and follow the instructions of the staff. The reception centre has a common kitchen for preparing meals. The occupants are responsible for cleaning their own rooms. In many reception centres occupants are also in charge of cleaning nearly the whole centre. The rules of the reception centre can state e.g. at what time visitors are allowed at the centre. Observing the rules is important for the comfort of everybody.

3 Staff The reception centre has a director, a social worker, a public-health nurse, a refugee ad visor, advisors and other staff. The staff provides assistance and guidance in practical matters for the occupants. In Finland, the authorities have a clear division of labour. The Directorate of Immigration and the local police are in charge of asylum applications. The staff of the reception centre is responsible for the accommodation of the asylum seekers. The staff cannot affect the rate at which the asylum applications are handled, nor the content of the decision. Services and activities for asylum seekers The services of the reception centre comprise subsistence allowance, health care, interpreting services, counselling and other practical assistance in everyday NOTIFICATION OF THE ADDRESS If an occupant leaves the centre for a long period without notifying his new address, he cannot draw any subsistence allowance, and he will be removed from the client register of the centre. At the same time, the rest of the services provided by the centre will stop. For this reason, it is important to notify the staff of the reception centre of one s new address as soon as possible. Also the police needs the correct address so that they can make further inquiries on asylum and residence permit matters. issues, such as support of hobbies. The services are only available at the reception centre where the asylum seeker is registered. Asylum seekers are also given legal aid in asylum and residence permit matters.

4 Subsistence allowance In Finland, subsistence allowance is granted to persons with no assets or with insufficient income for supporting themselves and their families. The allowance is meant for necessary expenses, such as food, clothes and health care. How to apply for subsistence allowance The application for allowance shall be made to the reception centre in writing. The application form shall include information on all the income, assets and expenses of the applicant and his family. The information must be truthful, otherwise part of the allowance can be withdrawn. The staff of the centre will help the applicant to fill in the form. They will also provide information on the amount of the allowance as well as on the grounds for granting the allowance. Decision on subsistence allowance and appeal The reception centre gives the applicant a written decision on the subsistence allowance in Finnish or Swedish. The staff will help the applicant to clarify the content of the decision through an interpreter. The asylum seeker is entitled to appeal the decision of the reception centre to the administrative court within 30 days from the day the asylum seeker was notified of the decision. The decision shall include information on whereto and how the decision may be appealed. How the payment of the subsistence allowance is arranged The reception centre where the asylum seeker is registered pays his subsistence allowance. The allowance is paid on certain days set by the reception centre, generally twice per month. Asylum seekers residing outside a reception centre have to reach If the asylum seeker gets a child, marries, gets divorced, begins to receive pay, other income or assets, the change has to be notified to a worker at the reception centre.

5 an agreement with a worker from the centre on how the allowance shall be paid to them. At the same time, it must be settled how the need for subsistence allowance shall be checked. Health care Every reception centre has a public-health nurse, who will check the health of the asylum seeker when he arrives at the centre. Asylum seekers can receive necessary health care at municipal health centres, and prompt treatment in hospitals. Medical care or hospital treatment will be arranged by the public-health nurse of the reception centre. Basic health care is free of charge for asylum seekers. If the doctor of the reception centre or the hospital sees that treatment is not necessary, the asylum seeker must pay the treatment-related expenses himself. The reception centre does not pay for visits to a private doctor. Interpreting services The reception centre arranges interpreting and translation services for asylum seekers who cannot speak Finnish or Swedish. If there are matters to be dealt with the authorities, the services are free of charge. Interpreting services free of charge can be used e.g. at health centres and when applying for legal assistance. The reception centre may also arrange interpretation for its own events or for staff meetings. Work and studying activities The reception centres arrange work and study ing activities. All occupants aged should participate in these activities, unless prevented by illness or some other justified reason. The occupant and the staff of the centre draw jointly up an action programme, planning what kind of work and studying activities each one should participate in. Only interpretation ordered by the reception centre is free of charge.

6 The activities can be entered into each one s personal work and studying manual. Work activities may include for instance: cleaning and renovation of the reception centre and restoring its environs guiding a club or hobby group at the reception centre assistant tasks in enterprises or municipalities Studying activities may include for instance: studies in Finnish or Swedish introduction to the activities and customs of the Finnish society learning computer skill If the asylum seeker refuses to participate in the drawing up of the action programme or in the work and studying activities, the reception centre may reduce his subsistence allowance. The reduction is 20 per cent at the most, for a maximum period of two months at a time. If there is a justified reason for the refusal, such as an illness of one s own or of a close relative, no reduction is made. Legal aid The Refugee Advice Centre (Pakolaisneuvonta ry.) provides legal aid at the different stages of the asylum seeking procedure. The Centre has offices in Helsinki, Kouvola, Oulu and Vaasa. The staff of the reception centre can help the occupants to contact the Refugee Advice Centre. The occupants of the reception centres participate in the cleaning of the common premises. Jointly with the workers, other work-like activities are also being planned.

7 School attendance, studying and work Children s school attendance In Finland, asylum seekers aged 7 16 are en titled to attend comprehensive school. Initially, the children study primarily Finnish or Swedish and then other subjects. The teaching and the schoolbooks are free of charge. If the children are absent from school e.g. due to an illness, the teacher has to be notified. Studying and hobbies The asylum seekers can study and have hobbies outside the centre as well. For example, local worker s institutes and civic institutes arrange courses, the participation fees of which are moderate. In Finland there are also sports associations and organizations in whose activities it is possible to participate. The reception centre does not fund any studies for vocational diplomas. Working in Finland The asylum seeker is entitled to receive a job when he has resided in Finland for at least three months. In order to work, the asylum seeker must always receive a permit from the employment office. In Finland, all wages are submitted to taxation. OBLIGATION TO OBSERVE SECRECY The obligation to observe secrecy means that the privacy of the asylum seeker and his family is protected, i.e. sensitive information must not be submitted to a third party. For example refugeeism, social welfare, health care and subsistence allowance are covered by the obligation to observe secrecy. E.g. the workers at the refugee centres, doctors, interpreters and the police are bound to this secrecy obligation. Asylum seekers of school age are entitled to attend school. The workers and occupants of the reception centre can arrange other activities for the smaller children.

8 Important connections Refugee Advice Centre The Refugee Advice Centre provides legal counselling services to asylum seekers, re fugees and other foreigners living in Finland. The Refugee Advice Centre has a few offices in Finland, the main office is in Helsinki. All asylum seekers are entitled to contact the Refugee Advice Centre. Lawyers at the Centre are available for assistance and advice throughout the whole asylum seeking procedure. One may also ask for advice about appealing decisions on asylum and deportation. Pakolaisneuvonta ry Unioninkatu 45 B HELSINKI puh. (09) (09) (09) Finnish Red Cross Everybody is welcome to participate in the voluntary activities of the Finnish Red Cross. The Red Cross seeks persons who volunteer to become friends of refugees. It also orga nizes group activities. The Red Cross helps to trace family members with whom one has lost contact. The Red Cross also facilitates communication between separated family members, when other means of communication have been interrupted because of unstable conditions. Suomen Punainen Risti Keskustoimisto Tehtaankatu 1 a HELSINKI telephone (09)

9 Centre for Torture Survivors in Finland/CTSF CTSF helps victims of torture and their close relatives. Sequels resulting from torture are relieved by rehabilitation. Asylum seekers are also entitled to use CTSF services. The duration of the treatment may range from a few visits to long-term treatment. Rehabilitation is free of charge for the client. The client may ask the reception centre staff to make an appointment. Kidutettujen Kuntoutuskeskus Munkkisaarenkatu HELSINKI telephone (09) Crisis Prevention Centre The Crisis Prevention Centre which works under the Finnish Association for Mental Health serves all foreigners and their families in Finland, who are trying to cope with psycho social problems. No referral is needed, but an appointment should be made in advance. Ulkomaalaisten kriisikeskus Simonkatu 12 B HELSINKI telephone (09) (telephone time on weekdays 9 15 hours) Nearest regional office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) UNHCR Ynglingsgatan 14, 6 tr S STOCKHOLM SVERIGE telephone

10 Directorate of Immigration The Directorate of Immigration makes the decisions concerning asylum applications. It is also responsible for matters related to the entry of foreigners into the country, their residence and work permits, their leaving the country as well as matters related to Finnish citizenship. Ulkomaalaisvirasto PL 92 (Siltasaarenkatu 12 A) HELSINKI telephone (09) client needs an interpreter, notice should be given in advance. Ulkomaalaisvaltuutetun toimisto PL 267 (Mikonkatu 4, 6. kerros) HELSINKI telephone (09) (09) (telephone answering service on weekdays at hours) Office of the Ombudsman for Foreigners The Office of the Ombudsman for Foreigners monitors the status of foreigners, including asylum seekers. It also safeguards their rights and has information service regarding the legal protection of foreigners. One may call the office for advice or make an appointment or come in person. If the The brochure is available in: Arabic French English Russian Finnish Orders from: Oy Edita Ab Customer Services: telephone (09) telefax (09)