Hello!

Has anyone had experience (good or bad) with the highly skilled migrants (kennismigranten) program (more information here)?

Did it affect the way you searched for a job?

Yes there are many skilled migrant around on this forum and as far as experience is concerned with this program, it is good overall. But keep in mind this program is not like High Skilled Migrant Professional program of UK for KM of NL you need to have job first that means only a registered company at IND can process your application.
But looking at your profile and after reading your keen interest for Dutch citizenship I think this will be good for you and see if you also qualify for 30% ruling; to get the best out of this deal.

Cheers,

it is my understanding that time under the km program does not count toward permanent residency

I am not sure about this part and as a KM here I am not thinking about permanent residency; but isn't it correct that when you get KM status you also get Residency permit and pay taxes and IND site says that for a dutch passport you need to complete employed 5 years in Netherlands without a break.
Then how staying under KM program will not count towards permanent residency.
After all every country would like to have High skilled people as their citizen. And for that reason they have 30% ruling for attracting High skilled migrant to Netherlands; Isn't it MVN.


Cheers,

Thanks, royalblood. I think you've confirmed what I thought, which is that it doesn't make too much difference when you're searching! The program would be a great option for me, but I guess I will keep searching with the hopes that I find a job with a company that participates in it.

I am looking for permanent residence, as my partner lives in the Netherlands (he doesn't meet the requirements for me to get a residence permit through him), but right now I'm a lot more worried about finding a job so I can move. Of course, I'm having the problem that everyone has -- I need a job to get a work permit, but no one wants to hire me when I don't already have a permit! So maybe the highly skilled migrants program will be a way for me to get over that obstacle.

Comments like this are why you should not believe everything you read on Internet bulletin boards.

How rude. Just say you think I made a mistake. I think for the most part I have provided pretty accurate info and good insight, especially compared to you with your mixup with the EU permit and such.
In any case, there was a thread mentionning the issue I brought up. Now I re researched it and see that it was later resolved in favour of the KM. At least I am a mature enough to say it was a mixup and not be so quick to point fingers to make oneself feel better.

If you have lived here legally for 5 years straight - no breaks, you are allowed to apply for a Dutch Per. Residence permit or/and a Dutch passport. It doesn't matter that you are here for work or for a partner - you can apply.

The Dutch passport will require that you give up your home country's passport (unless you are married to a Dutchie) so most of us just get the Dutch perm. permit .. which now doubles as an EU perm permit. This means you can use this permit to live/work in any othet EU country.

Oulovit I just said I guess I got it wrong. However I DO remember that at one point that was what some people were saying. And that was all I was saying that I had heard it to not count. When bag of hammer made his comment, I decided to research it. He is usually very inaccurate and tends to incite rather than inform but despite my lack of confidence in his knowledge I double checked. So why are you belaboring something I already withdrew? You want to know my thinking on the matter, I will give it to you. I agree logically it wouldn't make sense for KM time to not count toward perm residency but there is nothing straightforward in the Netherlands as far as I am concerned.

So dude, you blew it. (As a student time counts by half. BTW) If you're working, it's five years, but the automatic work/live isn't straightforward. NL to Germany may be OK, CZ to A, nope. RO to most anywhere, double nope. I've done it, and execution may be somewhat different than theory.

"regels zijn ...rules!" and the implementation of those silly rules will depend on the morning mood of the civil servant whose "burden" it is to examine your application in between his cups of terrible coffee...

I'll keep all of that in mind... Honestly, right now I'm so worried about finding a job, I'm not even thinking beyond that! My partner is Dutch and we plan to marry after I move, but right now he doesn't meet the income requirement to sponsor me for a residence permit. So I have to find a job the hard way. I don't mind paying fees or waiting five years for a passport anything like that... just as long as I can move in the first place!

Its a pity that most of the companies are not interested in the candidate who don't have work permit yet because it usually take long time to do the processing. You can find some consulting company who may be interested in bringing you here. They will do the processing and then you can work for their clients.
I am sorry you have to google but some companies like Huxley also process the application.

Cheers,

Have a look at www.buitenlandsepartner.nl. They've got some experience with the kind of situation that you now find yourself in...

Also, while it is true that in order to get a RP the company that hires you has to be registered with IND, it is also worth mentioning that if the company is not registered, and wants to hire you, they can still register with IND. This process usually takes 2 weeks, or I should probably say is SUPPOSED to take 2 weeks. We know how fast IND can be I have a friend who went through this with 2 different companies here. So don't limit your job search because of this.

Another point, under the HSM program you now have a year to live and find work here as long as you can provide proof of income to sustain yourself while here. I think this amount is around 750 Euro per month. You also have to live in an apartment where registration is possible.

Highly Skilled Migrant
Migrant that is granted a residence permit as a Highly Skilled Migrant, he/she does not need a work permit (the employer need not apply). You just need to be employed by companies that register with IND for the HSM programe. Below is the list of the companies, from IND website.

HSMhttp://www.ind.nl/en/inbedrijf/wonenenwerken/kennismigranten/organisaties_in_procedure.asp

IF you happened to land a job with a company that is not in the list, they can still register to join the programe and then submit your application as a highly skilled migrant (only after the company is granted to access the HSM programe). Please note that under this scheme, you need to have gross anual salary of at least €47,565, or €34,881 if you are under thirty.

Procedures and further steps to be taken: http://www.ind.nl/en/inbedrijf/wonenenwerk...n_procedure.asp

Employement with Work Permit

Another way to work in NL is by work permit. Unfortunately, you can't apply this yourself, the company that hired you must be the one applying this permit for you. This of course a bit hard as not a lot of company would be willing to pay all the cost of applying the work permit and local Dutch company now must show proof that no Dutch or EU citizens could do the job you applied for. Although I must say it's worth a shot, if you can come here as a HSM, most likely you are able to land a special skill job this way as well. It could be easier as the company doesn't have to pay you with min gross salary (as per HSM) and the company doesnt have to enroll the HSM programe. You could also try to negotiate on the application cost for the work permit, maybe if you offer to pay back (or pay yourself), that'd make it easier for you to land the job (as their main concern is the application cost and all the hassle).

Just try, you'll never know.

If you can come to NL without visa for a max period of 3 mths (depending on your nationality), maybe you should come and look for job during that period. It makes a lot of difference looking for job when you are physically there rather than doing it online, I think

GOOD LUCK!!!

If you graduate from a Dutch University and are under 30 the gross annual salary only has to be €25,000.

Thank you for the information, msfizze.

Under normal circumstances (that is, if I spoke Dutch and had more rare skills), I think that I would qualify for the highly skilled migrants program. In a straight Euro to U.S. dollar conversion, I currently make 15% more than the cut-off amount (and I'm under 30, so that helps ). And I've seen a few job listings that I am qualified for that mention a salary that is higher than the HSM cut-off.

However, I know that my opportunities are limited not because of my direct qualifications, but because I don't speak Dutch (I'm studying, but realistically it will take years for me to become fluent, and I don't think it will ever happen until I'm immersed in it!). Also, my field of work isn't as specialized as some others, which of course is a disadvantage. I actually have an MIS (programming) degree, but the bulk of my job experience is in technical writing/corporate communications (I also have an English degree). So I can't really complete with people who have more IT experience. If only I had spent my career in SAP -- it seems every Dutch company wants that!

I've been applying directly to companies that have job openings that fit my qualifications, but I've received a rejection from all of them. Well, one was an offer of an interview the next time I'm in NL, but don't want to get my hopes up because the company is not currently on the IND HSM list and doesn't currently have an opening; it's an open application because they liked my resume (and it doesn't seem like that works, legally, with the work permit requirements). What's frustrating is that I could continue this method for years and there's no guarantee that I'll find a company that's willing to do the HSM thing or the work permit thing for me. I understand why the laws exist, I just wish they would make an exception for me, haha.



Unfortunately I don't think that will be an option for me, for a variety of reasons that I won't go into. Maybe far in the future, if I still haven't found anything -- but my (overly optimistic) goal is to find something before 2009. I can definitely see how it would be beneficial, though.

Sorry for all the ranting, I'm just really at my wit's end because this endeavor is starting to feel hopeless.

Don't get disappointed I know that there are many things against you; but still where there is a will there is a way. If you already made up goal of 2009 I would suggest you can do two things in that period.
Firstly get some experience in the field/technology that is in demand at the moment in Netherlands and secondly, join some good dutch course that will atleast give you an edge over the rest of the people applying for the job. And also regularly keep checking the dutch job market you never know when something can click for you.

I can imagine your situation but still keep coming on this forums to know the latest happenings in Netherlands and believe me your rant is nothing compared to others of no use here.


Cheers,