Saatavilla myös suomeksi.
According to today's news the Finnish Immigration Service has canceled hundreds of residence permits issued on the basis of study, and a couple hundred more cases are still to be processed. This is a direct consequence of the implementation of automated review last year. Depending on how you count, this means that somewhat less than 10% of permits reviewed as of this September have been marked as suspicious, and around half of those have been canceled so far.
The message to international students is clear: your right to complete your degree in Finland is always in question, and you aren't actually wanted here. Although most students pass the "test", the mere existence of automated review creates a chilling affect for those currently living in Finland on a student residence permit — more and more, foreign students will have to live as if they are always under the figurative magnifying glass. Regardless of how Migri treats a particular student's case, this is a source of unnecessary stress for frequently-already-overwhelmed students, especially if the student in question belongs to a racialized category and knows that they are most likely already being watched more closely than others.
A student's path from matriculation to degree is also often not without complications, even when there is no need to think about retaining one's right to residence. I know multiple people who have gone on medical leave for several months or taken a year (or years) off before returning to the university to finish their degree. An immigrant student suffering from similar difficulties deserves the opportunity to remain in their home even if their studies are progressing more slowly than usual.
In addition to all of this, Finland is currently suffering from a serious labor shortage, and foreign students — who will hopefully stay and find jobs in Finland — are an important part of the solution. We need them far more than they need us: Finland is a small country where the weather, the dark winter, the language, and the social atmosphere are often perceived as less than attractive, and our proximity to Russia is not reassuring. The recruitment of a new generation of workers and entrepreneurs must be a central aspect of our immigration policy if we want to succeed in the world of the future.
Thus, automated review needs to be abolished. A student who unofficially switches from studies to employment or other activities does not put us in any danger, and it doesn't hurt anybody to be flexible about the official basis on which a residence permit was granted. A truly dangerous or otherwise problematic actor would also be unlikely to be caught by review, but would appear as a totally normal student to all forms of monitoring. As someone who once lived in Finland on a student residence permit, I can confidently say that students should be left alone so that they can concentrate on their studies without constantly being watched.
It would be all of our loss if they were to decide not to come to Finland anymore.