Den Haag, Nederland
Many of you have asked what my visa status is. I appreciate all of the concern and I am grateful for those of you who helped with the visa application. I still have not heard anything, and this is definitely a “no news is good news situation.” Currently, I have a 6 month temporary visa whilst awaiting the decision on my application. We would be able to appeal, should I receive a “NEE!” from the Dutch Immigration (IND). Also, some nice people we met who work at the UN have said we should contact them before I leave the country. We feel like have solid backup plans in any case.
(Here is a longer, Kafkaesque story about applying for a residence permit in The Netherlands)
It's good to be lucky. The Dutch visa process continuously reminds me of that. I won an ovarian lottery long ago. It was not due to any work or risk-taking on my part. This is both funny and sad at the same time. When I attend my various immigration appointments, I remember (and promptly forget) what a luxurious position I am in. The people waiting in queue at these government offices have desperate, tired looks on their faces. I can afford to be annoyed at the bureaucracy. They cannot.
Several weeks ago, I received a registered letter from the city government that said I missed an "integration" appointment and that they took the liberty of scheduling a new appointment. Also, the letter stated I could be fined if I missed this new appointment too. The letter was written only in Dutch and something was lost in the translation that Google provided. It did not explain what "integration" was nor whether or not my application for a residence permit had been accepted or rejected. The letter stated that I had to bring all my documentation (e.g., passport) and that I should not miss the appointment. I hoped that the appointment might shed some light application I filed with Dutch immigration two months earlier.
I arrived, gave the receptionist my appointment letter, and they directed me to the waiting room, where there were a lot of hopeful families waiting in queue for some positive outcome to their own meeting. The female agent who called my name was young, had dyed-blond hair, and had a round face. I introduced myself in pidgin Dutch, she had a quizzical look as if she was straining to understand my accent. I caved and I asked in Dutch if she spoke English. She frowned and said “Yes.”
Once we sat down, she asked me very sternly, in English, why I missed the first appointment, whether or not I knew how serious the Dutch “integration” requirements were, and if I knew what the integration law was. I answered all questions with a sincer “no” and apologized for missing the first invitation. I learned that the Dutch Immigration law, passed in its current incarnation in 2007, requires non-EU immigrants to take Dutch language courses and learn about Dutch culture. “Perfect!” I thought as I must have had an excited look on my face at the prospect of free language and history courses.
She then asked for my “green card.” I replied that I did not have one yet. Her eyes widened and she asked “why not?” I explained that I have a temporary stamp in my passport that allows me to stay for six months while the IND processes my application. She asked where I was from and for my passport and I told her I am “American.”
Immediately, her steely exterior shattered and she became visibly agitated. She stumbled to get out her next request for my paperwork. She then blurted out something like “I am very nervous about my English, I don't normally speak with native English speakers.” I told her not to worry and that she speaks perfect English, like almost every Netherlander I encounter.
She then looked in her database at my records, and she saw that my Dutch residence permit application is still in “procedure”, which means “no decision” from the IND. Then she told me that I was mistakenly sent the letter for this appointment and that it would be unlikely that I would be eligible for the integration classes and that I should call prior to returning, even if I receive an appointment notice. It appeared I, once again, had broken the system as an American. It must be a rare thing that a U.S. Citizen immigrates to the Netherlands in South Holland without a company sponsored work permit or other exception. I feel like an out-lier at all of these appointments.
The whole appointment took no longer than ten minutes. As I walked out I saw some of the people who angst-fully waited in the lobby with me. Perhaps they missed their first appointment too. Their officials still had stern looks on their faces and the discussions appeared tense. I promised it would would take me longer to forget my lottery winnings this time.
