Hi everyone.

I PMed someone about this but I was using Opera Internet Browser so I think that it did not go through as well as another post I had made. But I figured I should not be shy although some members can be really rude, and just go ahead and post this.

I had my first appointment with the IND. I was not knowing what to expect, so I was very nervous! We brought all the applications and papers we needed. It's just that I was expecting some sort of talk... or questions... or something. But the lady was just very nice, and didn't really ask us much of anything. She just took our papers and stamped them and all that dandy stuff.

She put a stamp / visa on my passport for six months. She said the IND will reach its decision in around three months. And she said "when they decide, you will get a registration paper in the mail which you bring to the Gementee and you will receive your sofi nummer. You are not allowed to have an income until that time.".

So is the six month visa standard (as opposed to a three month visa or something similar)? Was her wording just a poor grip on English, or does that mean she thinks that I will most likely be accepted? Is it looking good or is everything just standard procedure right now? I'm really dying to find out anything I can. I know I can stay for six months now, but not knowing where you'll be in such a short while is kind of making me nervous as I am a normal person!

I believe you can register at the gemeente already if you have not already done so.

Well, my partner and I registered at the Lelystad Stadhuis for the paper we had to give to the IND. But if you mean I can go ahead and register with them for my non permanent residence, thanks.

Sorry to say, it's more likely poor English. The lady behind the counter has no knowledge or input on the decision. She's just a paper shuffler. Your package will be sent to Rijswijk (probably) and then given to a case worker and that is who will make the decision.

Six months is standard because that's how long the law gives the IND to decide. If they don't make the decision within 6 months, you'll have to get an extension and you need to file a complaint.

You can't register what you don't have. Until you get the positive decision, you're still in limbo.

It sucks, I know, but that's how it is. You're physically here but only quasi-legally. That doesn't mean they can deport you tomorrow but you have very few legal rights here until the IND issues that permit. So, no BSN, no job, no benefits.

Be happy they seem to be more efficient. I was in limbo for 2 years.

That's really terrible. I don't think I'm special or anything, but they should really have zero reasons to deny me. My partner and I made sure everything was correct, and that we had everything we needed according to the rules, as poorly laid out and difficult to find as they can be.

I guess I'll just try to keep my head. Thanks.

Oh yeah, and that registration paper, you actually have to have it to do what I am doing. So therefore I couldn't have submitted my papers to the IND without that paper because the only reason I am being allowed here is for family formation. So yes, I guess I'm having to wait until / if my registration comes.

I know. I came here with my Dutch husband and child. I had to register here as his partner but until I got my decision, that's all I could do.

I'm not trying to burst your bubble, but I know first hand how the IND can be. They really had no cause to deny me either but they lost things and it was a horrid mess. Having a minor child that is a Dutch subject wasn't a guarantee either.

What I'm saying is, hope for the best, prepare for the worst. I've been there, I lived it. I have a stack of papers 6 inches thick that reminds me of what I went through.

Don't work yourself up over it. Easier said than done but getting worked up over something you can't change right now is pointless. If you didn't bring a hobby with you, find one.

Where are you located? I'm older than you but I'm willing to lend a sympathetic shoulder when the waiting gets to you. And I've been known to have Rice Krispie treats laying around and if you like American football, I can hook you up.

Yeah she's gonna make me dinner

I think Tareshen's case is an unfortunate but exceptional one; if you've ticked all the boxes your application should go through smoothly.

Oh the IND hate me, no questions. I live to make them miserable.

Actually, when I decided to finally marry my Dutchie, the IND tried to deny me permission to marry the man they gave me permission to live here with. I can't wait to turn in my passport application.

Care to bet how many hoops I have to jump through to get that? I'm betting money I have to contact a MP to intervene.

I was really surprised how inhuman of a process it is. They don't care about you, your partner, your situation, nothing. Just give us your papers so we can be robots and decide when we know nothing about anything of your situation. -Deep sigh.-

Well, I'm living in Lelystad. It's kind of far from everything else, even though it's really in the middle of the country. And I said in another post, although my life is comfortable here, my Dutchie is in the red from my IND appointment cost (now €830) so money is pretty tight. I have an older lady, the mother of my Dutchie's best female friend, on my side. She is going to get me some of her old crocheting and knitting stuff, so I have something to do... But for the most part, I live the life of a secluded housewife. o_O;; It's a bit different for me, being only 21, but you can't just go outside here and say hi to people and make friends; that's not how it works here.

I have a friend from Lichtenvoorde who sometimes travels here to see me, he goes to university so his train fare is free on weekdays. I always look forward to it a lot, seeing my OWN friend instead of just my Dutchie's'. Not that I have any problem with his friends, but it's nice to have someone of my own.


I have to say, I pretty much dislike any sports. But I'm always up for chatting about politics, style, the Web, shopping, food, groceries, cars, anything but sports mostly! I like gaming... but not hardcore. It would be really great to get to know some people I can identify with culturally, because this is getting pretty isolating, having to explain everything all the time!

You said knitting. I saw that. You said KNITTING!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a hardcore knitter and semi-core spinner. I'm also a housewife but I have a 9 year old so, he can keep me busy. But I tell you, knitting saved my life. It was finally chilly enough today to pull out a pair of my socks. mmmmm Lekker warm.

We're over in Alphen aan den Rijn, which is a bit of trek from Lelystad. And trust me, I understand tight. Been there done that.

I'm also a hardcore Pittsburg Steelers fan and the team manager for my son's Peewee team. But no worries, I have enough people to babble with about football.

So, in a nutshell, I'm a mom, wife, knitter, spinner, football fanatic, Southern cook, who just happens to live in the NL. And now, I gotta finish this pair of socks I'm working on because they have to go to the US and I need to get started on baby sweaters for my neighbor. She's due in October and I know the pattern says 5 hour baby sweater, but patterns lie.

How I wish I could follow patterns! I am the kind of knitter who likes to do very simple projects, think scarves. I keep forgetting how to purl every time I pick up knitting again, as silly as it sounds. I love making granny squares in crochet though.

I love cooking! I think I mentioned this in another thread/post, but it's difficult to cook with a two burner countertop stove... and no oven... LOL. But my man is picky anyway. Everything he eats can be done easily on a two burner stove.

Does anyone on here have MSN or anything? I'm woefully bored most of the day and none of my friends from America, understandably, are online when it is three in the morning over there.

If anyone wants to add me, my s/n is hoke@suscom-maine.net.

I'll add ya, give me someone to yap to at work
What kind of games? And yeah Lelystad is a bit...meh... I lived in Almere for a while, and I think it's a cultural beacon compared to Lelystad.

Almere sucks.

And at the football club we call Lelystad, Lelijkstad. But we're mean like that.

Ohhhhh yes!

I've visted a few places, including Harderwijk, Zwolle, Amsterdam (duh!), Biddinghuizen, Zeewolde, Almere, Emmeloord, Emmen, etc. Most places like Harderwijk or Zwolle are your typical Dutch city/village mixture. Yes they're beautiful but it loses its beauty if you are around it all the time.

Everyone says Lelystad is the ugliest city in the Netherlands. But to be truthful, I really love it a lot. It's a little more modern, but not ugly (I think Almere is kind of cold and heartless looking...), and also there is a forest and lots of greenery around which I love. I feel right at home here. My town I am from in America is actually kind of like Harderwijk. A traditional fishing village. I felt comfortable there, but like I was walking through a living museum, afraid to touch anything! Then again that was when I first got here.

I love the beach here, I love living in the city centre, I love my apartment and my friends from Lelystad and the communications tower in the distance, and its blinking red lights at night. I love everything about my city and I wouldn't change it for a thing.

That's cool!

For me, I never want to leave Amsterdam centrum. There's going to be a massive fight between girlfriend and I soon, over Utrecht vs Amsterdam and Where The House Will Be.

Heel leuk.

For me ... I love Den Haag centrum.

I live in a monumental (old building), so I love the architecture in the area, I am right near the restaurants, museums, a huge park, the pleins, the theaters, jazz and salsa joints and am a bike ride from the beach which is beautiful early Saturday morning ... before it gets too busy.

It'd be nice to be able to afford to go out to eat, tee hee. My guy and I don't live a typical Dutch life of drinking coffee in outdoor cafés much, we kind of just hang around most of the time due to not having much extra money right now. But we enjoy ourselves all the same.

I'm in a canalhouse near Leidseplein (wonky and everything), with a roof terrace. It's so great to eat breakfast up there in the morning and watch the wackyness of Amsterdam. Love it! Well have to make the most of it before the crappy weather makes its return.

I went through all this earlier this year. Although, luckily for me I decided to come here using the working holiday scheme first, and changed my purpose of stay into the spouse visa, so I wasn't restricted with work etc - I already had my BSN and a job.

The IND were also rubbish and unhelpful, and I was stressed to the max about possible denial, but in my recent experience, the only thing they were concerned about was that my partner was earning the required amount of money and that all of our paperwork was in order. And, even though they told me it takes up to six months, I got the sticker in mid-December, and then the letter that my residence card was ready to pick up in the first week of Feb. It took only about 6 weeks in total, and that's including the Christmas period. But, I might have just been blessed How long have you been waiting for a decision?

If they were emotionally invloved in taking such decisions, they should have chosen for artistic or priestly careers. They behave like robots because this is what the law expects of them: to take decisions based on facts, ignoring their emotions about the case. In fact, there was a TV show about a judge (woman) who handles immigration issues (in court) and she expressly said that she cannot allow emotions to interfere with her judgments. This is professionalism, not heartlessness.