Hello guys,

Just wanted to ask any of you good folks if you would have an answer to this.

Basically, I am a EU-citizen with a valid EU passport and have been with my Non-EU US citizen girlfriend for 3 years now, living in the US.

I have bank/utility bills to prove about a year of living together and that is it. What are the requirements for her to stay and work in France as a non-married couple?

Thanks!

avocado (Feb 1 2011, 08:54 PM) said: > original post
For the time being, Dutch consulates do not yet have a facility for 'pre-verifying' partners of EU citizens. (They are required to issue free visas to partners of EU citizens who need a visa to enter the Netherlands with their partners, however for Americans and other visa-free nationalities they refuse to do this, because they take the standpoint that the visa is not definitive proof of being allowed to work once the partner arrives in the Netherlands-- he/she can only obtain this through the IND procedure.) She can go ahead and start looking for work before or after you arrive, though, because it's a virtual certainty that she will get her residence document confirming her right to work.

And no, she's not exempt from the integration exam as a US citizen-- she's exempt from it as the partner of an EU citizen. She will also automatically get an independent right of permanent residence after five years without having to take the integration exam. However, if she wants to become a naturalized Dutch citizen after five years, she will have to take it (because the Netherlands can make any rules it likes about who gets to become a Dutch citizen-- partner of an EU citizen or no).

Excellent! Thank you once again.

Oh yes I almost forgot. As far as health insurance goes. I already have to arrive with some form of health insurance correct?

great answers and priceless info guys. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much. Hope all of this will help others.

avocado, thank you for clearing up that 6 month partnership req. I thought you HAVE to live in the NL as partners for that duration in order to satisfy the requirement.

So as it seems (dependent on job/housing)

- I can come with my non-EU partner
- Register both of us and prove our relationship where after 4 - 6 weeks my non EU partner can then legally reside and work.
-After 5 years we can apply for Perm residence cards.

Lastly,

- Can the relationship be proven at a consulate in the US, that way she can also start looking for work before we arrive?
- As a US citizen - is she exempt from the integration exam?

Of course we are both studying Dutch vigorously and still have 2 years before we move.

Thanks everyone!

ouloveit1 (Jan 31 2011, 08:27 PM) said: > original post
When you say you are a citzen of the EU - do you mean you have a passport from one of thr EU countries? If so, I would not mention that US passport at all and just come over here and look for work.

All members of the EU community have the right to work and live here at will. You don't need any permits - just that EU country passport.

Yes, you can sponsor your non-eu girlfriend when you get here - you must follow the rules though.

You should come here for 2 weeks on your EU passport (forget the US passposrt as that is a WHOLE OTHER CAN OF WORMS) and look for work. Of course, you can look at places like www.monsterboard.com and line up interviews in advance.

If you can do this in advance - fly over and interview and get a job .. 99% of your concerns will be over as housing etc is a simple thing once you have a job.

The only drawback is for non KM worker type jobs (long story, will not apply to you) you will have to compete with the regular Dutch population and they mainly (the educated ones) speak fluent Dutch and English so unless you are fluent in Dutch .. you will be at a considerable disadvantage.

Everything will fall into line after this as (yet again) you will be holder of an EU country passport which makes alllll the difference.

Thank you very much for the info OU.

I hold a EU passport - Slovakia

Upon my arrival (with a job lined up) do I have to register anywhere at all?

As far as my girlfriend goes. Can she come with me at the same time? Can she work/register for residency? What has to be the period of our relationship to satisfy that requirement?


Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I've been lurking for a while here and gathered some great info concerning immigration issues, but I am still unsure about some immigration aspects in moving to NL since every situation is individual specific. I'd like to see if anyone of you good souls out there can help.

Situation:

- I am a citizen of US and citizen of EU (currently in the US for last 15 years)
- I'd like to start working and living in Amsterdam long term


Upon my arrival in Amsterdam
- register for residence permit (I have to have an apartment ready to register/ask the owner if I can use the address to register)
- I will have a job lined up before I arrive

Is this all I need to do?
- Do I need a temp health insurance? What else?

Bringing my non-EU USA girlfriend with me.
- lived with her for more than 6 months and I can prove that

Can she come in to NL with me and work/reside here based on me being a EU citizen and relationship proof?
- as far as i know she is exempt from the integration exam
- I am assuming there is a fee associated with her applying for work permit/residence based on being with me

Can any of this be squared away at a NL consulate in the USA?

Thank you in advance. This would be a huge help for me and everyone else here seeking this info.