IND: Justitie Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nThe first thing you need to do is consult the IND website and figure out what situation applies to you.\u00a0 Under what circumstances do you plan to come to the Netherlands?\u00a0 They have a handy little section of their website where you can fill out information about your specific situation, and they match you with the process you should follow.\u00a0 It’s not perfect, but you can do it in English.\u00a0 It’s a start.\u00a0 If you have any questions, call them.\u00a0 I’ve heard mixed results from people about how helpful or pleasant the IND administration is.\u00a0 I’ve heard horror stories.\u00a0 I’ve also heard a lot of neutral to positive things, and luckily for me, I (fingers crossed) have had no complaints thus far.\u00a0 But the best thing you can do is have all your ducks in a row.\u00a0 Stay organized.\u00a0 There is a lot of paperwork coming your way, and your best defense is your ability to organize.<\/p>\n
Local Gemeente<\/strong><\/p>\nThe local gemeente is a guaranteed pit-stop on your immigration journey, because you are required to register at the gemeente.\u00a0 Find out how soon after your arrival you need to register, and if it is soon, make an appointment before you even get here.\u00a0 Actually, I generally recommend making most appointments before you even get here if you can, to keep the whole thing moving forward smoothly.<\/p>\n
The gemeente is also a great resource for you once you arrive here.\u00a0 They will have information on where to find language courses and what courses you might be required to take.\u00a0 Which leads me to…<\/p>\n
Integration : Inburgering<\/strong><\/p>\nYou need to figure out if you need to take inburgering courses and pass the civic integration examination (inburgeringsexamen).\u00a0 This is very important. Not everyone is required to do this, but many people are if they wish to apply for permanent residency, and one day perhaps, citizenship.\u00a0 Inburgering is a huge can of worms that I won’t be opening here.\u00a0 But you can find information on the IND website, and the gemeente in your town will also be able to help you as well.<\/p>\n
General Paperwork<\/strong><\/p>\nThere is a lot of paperwork involved in immigration.\u00a0 I can’t stress this enough.\u00a0 Here is a list of a few things you will need to think about.<\/p>\n
You might need to get your birth certificate verified with an Apostille stamp.\u00a0 You need to find out if this needs to be done before you get here, or if you can do it once you arrive.<\/p>\n
If you are coming here to form a family, for example,\u00a0 or you have a Dutch partner but are not (yet) married, you might need to prove that you are not married with official paperwork.\u00a0 Where you obtain this will depend on your situation.<\/p>\n
If you have a driver’s license, find out if and for how long it is valid in the Netherlands.\u00a0 A US drivers license is only valid for your first six months here (as of today: June 21, 2010) under certain immigration conditions.\u00a0 That means that if you are one of those conditions you will need to make plans for either obtaining a Dutch drivers license, or forget about driving a car here.\u00a0 If you come from the US, make sure your license doesn’t expire in the US any time soon.\u00a0 It is not always possible to renew your license from abroad.\u00a0 Many states require you to hold an actual place of residence in the state in order to renew.<\/p>\n
There are different kinds of countries, and depending on what country you come from, your required paperwork can vary wildly from other immigrants you might meet.\u00a0 You might be required to do a lot of work before you even come here.\u00a0 You might be required to do almost nothing at all, for example, if you are an EU citizen.\u00a0 How long is your permit good for?\u00a0 Can you work with your permit?\u00a0 Will you be allowed to work as soon as you get here, or will you have to wait?\u00a0 All of these depend on where you are coming from and your personal situation.\u00a0 Make sure you know the answers to those questions based on your<\/em> situation.<\/p>\nI hope you find this helpful.\u00a0 Perhaps this poses more questions than it answers, but these are all questions you will need to find out for yourself.\u00a0 I can’t say it enough: I am not an immigration expert.\u00a0 If you have any questions, contact IND.\u00a0 Contact your country’s consulate in the Netherlands.\u00a0 Consult an immigration lawyer.\u00a0 But be armed with as much information as possible.\u00a0 The process can get confusing.\u00a0 I wish I had known what questions to ask at all, but now that you do, you should be starting from a better place than I was when it all began.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There are many reasons you might want to immigrate to the Netherlands.\u00a0 Whether it’s reuniting with family, starting a family, following a spouse, trying something new, or getting your education, the entire process can be very confusing.\u00a0 If you’re seriously considering moving here, there are resources you will need to check out first and questions…<\/p>\n
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