I can stay!

Last week I got my residence permit renewed! Instead of being valid for one year, it is valid for 5 years! It went much faster than the first time around- it took less than a month to be approved! I am legally allowed to live here (without more paperwork and money to the IND) until 2013! That seems like so far in the future, hard to believe that it is really only 5 years. Who knows if we will be here still in five years, but at least I'm allowed to be here.

The never-ending process

Well, its not that bad this time, at least I hope not...its time to renew the residence permit! I barely have had mine, and its time to renew. Its been about 4 months since I was approved, but its been almost one year since I've been here. It expires in early March, so have to go through the process again- sending all the forms required, including bank statements, work contract papers, health insurance forms, tax forms, proof of our residence at the same address, an entire copy of M's passport, proof of our relationship (we included old emails, pictures, etc to tell a story)...and other things I probably have no idea, since the directions are in Dutch, and M took care of it, thank goodness. We sent it in last week, and already paid our 188euros. Hopefully it will be renewed for 5 years, and then in 2013 (if we are still here), it can be renewed for 'indefinitely'. So now its kind of a waiting game again, but this time I don't have to worry about the length of time, as I'm already working and making the big bucks, er, euros....(jk, not really). Too bad I didn't take a new passport photo-- I just used one from last year. I look like a monster (you're not allowed to smile in passport photos here- its against the law!) So my card will look the same for the next 5 years. I should have thought about that ahead of time. Oh well!!

In integration news this week...

Yesterday I took my placement test for the dutch language classes. It was five parts. First a general one, to see my initial understanding...the 2nd one was nothing to do with language. It was a sort of patterns test, both with numbers and letters, then shapes and putting things into like categories. It was like I was in elementary school again! It was fun...and I finished in like 5 minutes (first out of the 4 others). Then I had a speaking test, where a cassette tape spoke the situation and then asks 'what would you say?', and I have to say what I would do/ask in that situation..and a 2nd cassette recorder recorded my voice. Since I placed higher from the first test, they gave me the more advanced speaking test. So that was too much for me, and i really didn't know what to say. Sometimes, I didn't say anything and the time I had to answer it was totally silent. Then I asked to take the next lower level test, in reading and listening. I know it doesn't matter how I do, since this just places me somewhere. But I think that is sort of hard to do in a way, when over half the questions are multiple choice. One thing I did learn in the US education system was how to answer multiple choice question by process of elimination and deducting answers. I might not know the word for word question, but I can generally guess well. Maybe this shows I'm intelligent, but doesn't show a lot of my fluency in Dutch...by guessing answers.

Today I went to go pick up the actual ID card, the residence permit. The most expensive ID card money can buy. I went at 930 just to make sure I had a bit of extra time before I had to go to the hostel by 11. Luckily only one person was ahead of me, he walked in when I did. His went smoothly. I just had a feeling that something would go wrong...how could I be this close to getting the card...the IND wouldn't just hand it over to me without a fight would it?

Sure enough, the woman said that in the computer system it said I had two cards, the old one and this new one. The 'old one' being from 2002 when I was a student....the card I never received because I left Holland before I was able to get it even. So there was no way I could have the old one. And who in their right mind holds on to such a card for over 5 years anyways when its not needed for life in the US?

I told her I never got this card. The IND should know that, because I would have to sign for it, and I never signed for it. She said I had to go to the police station and get a letter from someone there stating that I do not have an old card. Then bring it back to her and she can give me the new one. Even thought it is sitting right there in front of her. I'm not used to putting up a fight/argument with city workers here because I feel I will never win, they hardly bend on their rules. But I said that was ridiculous...why should I do that when I never got a card to begin with. Plus i was sent this letter to say I could pick up my card today, so that is what i'm here to do.

I didn't have time to go to the police. I could picture it already- I go there, no one knows what the F i'm talking about, or what desk I should go to or who to talk to. I would get no where. Just waiting more time, when she could just give me the dang card.

Luckily she was nice and decided to just give it to me. So I signed a paper and got the card. Now I am truly certified to work in the Netherlands, and able to be insured under M's plan.

When I left, there were 5 people behind me waiting. Just think- I can go through this all over again in 6 months. My card is only valid for one year...from the date of application! I have to get a new card, pay more money, and wait again (not as long and not as much money)...on my March 2nd application date. I will have to take a picture to show how this expensive card looks and post it on here!

the decision

the news i've been waiting for for the last almost 5 months...the decision from the immigration dept on my application for residence within the netherlands. i returned from my vacation in germany yesterday afternoon (haven't the last 5 months been something of a 'break' anyways?), and as i had thought, it was waiting in the mailbox for me. my application was approved!! and now i have to wait to hear from the city hall as to when i should go pick up the ID card, the actual proof. i can now apply for jobs!! woo hoo!!

Check back tomorrow for a report on our trip to Deutschland and the Bavarian Alps!

Residence Permit update

Well, some news on the residence permit- not what I wanted to hear though. After getting back from the gym, I was riding home, wondering if something could possibly be in the mailbox waiting for me. And to my surprise, there was actually a letter from the Ministry of Justice- the Immigration Dept. It didn't look thick with information or anything, so I was already a bit apprehensive. I went from surprise to excitement to apprehension within 5 seconds.

I opened it and immediately knew it was not the letter I wanted to get. I couldn't understand it completely, but I knew they wanted something to be sent in within 2 weeks from the dated stamp, thus my application was not approved yet. DAMN IT!!

After scanning the letter and emailing it to M, what they are requesting and saying that we did not include in our application (we must have had over 40 -50 pages of information) was that we lived at the same address. So basically this delay is not even our fault. We included both official papers from the City hall (that cost 10 euros EACH) saying that we lived at this address in Utrecht (but on two separate papers, one for each). I registered with the city the day they accepted my application and sent it on to the Immigration. Its weird that they would accept it if I wasn't even a resident at a certain address with my partner in Utrecht.

So to clarify this and make sure it gets back on track again as soon as possible (esp since we're going on a trip for 2 weeks on Wednesday!), we had to do something today. So after a quick shower and hardly a lunch, I met M at city hall at 2. There were tons of people in there waiting. The only thing I can compare the city hall here to is the DMV in the USA. A ton of people waiting around for EVER. You take a number and wait. there are several desks open, but some areas are for different issues. Luckily we were in the line for the citizen service that didn't have a long wait! Within 20 minutes we were out, and 20euros poorer. We each requested a printed out official paper with a stamp on it saying that we are registered at this address, and two people are registered at this address.

Then off to the post office to send it by registered mail so that by Monday they'll get it. We'll call and check on Tuesday, as now my particular case has an actual case number and a person assigned to it. Hopefully this does not put my application back more than 2 days. But I bet if the city had done what they were supposed to, or the IND is just trying to challenge us, I would have the RIGHT letter today- saying I could go pick up the ID card anytime. I hope the REAL letter will be there waiting for me when we get back from Germany.

This is just like all those stupid rebate 'deals' in the US-- some many times you send a rebate in and they send you a letter back saying you didn't buy the object/good in the valid period or send the right UPC thing in or the original receipt wasn't circled...or some stupid arse reason...just to discourage you and steal your money that you should be rightfully getting back. You gotta keep fighting to prove that you're right. I hear horror stories that those rebate fights go on for years. I hope this is nothing like that, although the IND has been known to have several problems like that. Just last week a 4 year old boy finally received his residence permit after 4 years (he was born here)...but with a hang up because of his mom's status (they were illegal apparently), he was never rewarded it and the IND kept putting it off.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/04/europe/EU-GEN-Netherlands-Immigration.php