The administering of the queue of Ingrian-Finnish returnees was transferred from the Finnish missions to the Finnish Immigration Service as from the beginning of December. The transfer does not cause any changes in the application process, nor does it require any measures by the returnees. They will still have to contact the Finnish missions but the administering of the queue i.e. the listing of people who will be invited to a preparation course or an interview will take place at the Finnish Immigration Service.
More than 20,000 people in Russia and some 2,000 people in Estonia are queuing at present.
Since the year 1990 approximately 27,000 - 30,000 returnees with their family members have moved to Finland from the former Soviet Union.
More information: Head of Result Unit Olli Koskipirtti
Helsinki, 7 December 2004
