Posts Tagged With: Expat

Happenings (Or: On other dutch blog posts)

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Niki

I am tempted to put a “counter” on the top of each blog post, similar to the ones you see at the “Looking Overseas for the American Dream” blog.

Number of days I have studied Dutch: 3

(See? If it’s anything like this blog, that means I will never go a day without studying Dutch. When I first started this blog, I never thought I would go post every single day. But then it gets into my routine, and good luck getting it out again.)

Speaking of blogs, here are some blog posts that I have found interesting lately (note: just a sampling).

1. Six Degrees of Separation, by Journalist on the Run

Guy loses camera while vacationing in Europe. Another person finds camera. Posts pictures to Facebook. Lots and lots of people share said pictures in hopes that the original guy sees it. Guy is found. – That post inspired my blog post.

2. Dutch for Dummies: Or how I am going to bump up my Dutch a level or two this summer, by a Georgia Peach Abroad

Ah, the joy of inburgering. And getting screwed out of getting a good class so you have to work three times as hard to keep up. If you are an expat (or a native Dutchie) with advice feel free to stop by her blog.

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Categories: Daily Dutch living | Tags: | 2 Comments

Reflections (Or: 6 months to go)

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Niki

Yesterday I was idly looking through my WordPress widgets – the things on the right like the categories, search box, signup, etc. I came across the Milestone one and decided to open it. This is the widget that says how many months/days are left until the big day. Currently it counts down to Christmas day, but I will change that once we officially book the plane tickets.

When I opened up the Milestone widget, I found myself chuckling a bit at the message that will be displayed on the day the countdown expires… but I will leave that big reveal until the big day. I am trying to imagine December 18, but it’s sort of hard even though it is so close.

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Categories: Moving, Sports | Tags: , , | 6 Comments

Flight plans (Or: The death of logic)

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Niki

The one thing I will never be able to understand is why the price of a one way airline ticket is more expensive than a round trip ticket by far.

Round trip ticket, EWR to AMS = $1,100

One way ticket, EWR to AMS = $2,300

It’s enough to make one’s head hurt!

Of course then you start to wonder if there is any issue with buying a round trip ticket and only using the first ticket, not the second. (Note: I know there’s some issues with skipping out on an earlier leg and getting the entire flight canceled as a consequence.)

I could always book the round trip ticket for 2-3 months out and then just state, if asked or I contact them, that I wanted to have a backup plan in case the  residence permit is denied. Not that I expect it to be, of course. I would also feel more comfortable having a round trip ticket in my possession when I go through immigration at Schiphol, though it’s not a deal breaker by any means.

There’s also the option of flying Aer Lingus, which does offer some rather cheap options, and no upcharge for one way tickets. The only major drawback is that they do not fly into Newark, only JFK.

It’s fun to ponder, however!

Categories: Moving | Tags: | 7 Comments

Apostilles (Or: No record, no impediment, single status…)

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Niki

December is fast approaching. With this in mind, I decided to start looking at the various forms that Marco and I would need to fill out for me to make the move to the Netherlands. The PDF I looked at was the Regular Residence Permit form (without need for the Regular Provisional Residence form, or MVV). The Dutch do love their acronyms.

As usually happens, I find myself surfing the internet, with time always going faster than I hope. I really need to carve out a good weekend day to wrap my head around all of this stuff. One thing I have found is it is one thing to have the form – but it’s a lot easier to visit unofficial forums hosted by expats for the nitty gritty answers you are looking for.

Case in point: I need an official document which states that I am not married (yet! 🙂 ). This form goes by many names:  Certificate of No Impediment, Certificate of No Record, Single Status Statutory Declaration, and more. Lots more.

The form says “your declaration of unmarried status, originating from your country of origin …” Obviously they did not write the form for Americans, so you must assume that they would be okay with a form from the last state I resided in (New York) versus the state where I spent more of my adult life (Illinois). Though I figure either will do. I just do not want them wondering why I have a single status document from New York but a birth certificate from Illinois.

You also need to get an apostille for these (and other) documents, to provide legal backing to your claims. Apostilles are for documents issued in one country but used in another. For the countries which abide by the 1961 Hague convention, an apostille is enough for the foreign country.

I found the instructions for getting a birth certificate from Illinois, though it expires after 6 months so I will probably wait a bit longer. Unfortunately, for the single status document that I need, the Google results are heavily dominated by the New York City instructions, but I do not live in NYC. I think it’s time I contact the county I live in to get things answered!

Categories: Forms, etc., Moving | Tags: | 5 Comments

Forms (Or: Staring at IND.nl)

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Niki

Some amusing things I learned staring at IND.nl’s Residence Wizard:

  • I need a Regular Provisional Residence Permit (mvv)… oh wait, no I don’t. Americans are exempt.
  • I need a tuberculosis exam… oh wait, no I don’t. Americans are exempt.
  • I need to take the civic integreation examination (on Dutch language and society)… oh wait, no I don’t. Americans are exempt. (At least in the beginning.)
  • Regular Provisional Residence Permit (mvv) is a separate thing from a residence permit (temporary, continuous, or permanent). Couldn’t use a different translation for mvv, huh?
  • Everything costs money. And no, you can’t get out of the fees. (Duh. I have to wonder who is reading this form thinking they actually can.)
  • I need to report to the police in the municipal authority where I am staying within 3 working days of arriving.
  • The first residence permit type I apply for is temporary – within 8 days of arriving.
  • I need health insurance that covers me in the Netherlands if I want a residence permit… I seriously hope I don’t need to get health insurance in that 3 working day window when I first arrive. 😉 Doubtful though.
  • I get a sticker on my passport to say that I am lawfully residing in the Netherlands. Suh-weet.
  • “The IND [immigration office] will assess your application for a residence permit. This procedure may take some time. … The IND can, in principle, take 6 months to make a decision.” Ouch.
  • If I manage to get a temporary residence permit, I need to reapply before it expires at the end of the first year, and the following year, etc.
  • After 3 years I can apply for a continuous residence permit.
  • After 5 years I can apply for a permanent residence permit – if I take and pass the civic integration examination. (Really? You let me hang out for 5 years before you decide to test my Dutch? I would think it should be sooner — but I’ll hold my tongue.)

Also within the document I found a website, though I haven’t peeked at it much yet:
http://www.newtoholland.nl/

Categories: Forms, etc. | Tags: , | 3 Comments

Albert Heijn (Or: Glad I don’t need to ship yellow mustard in)

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Niki

The grocery store of choice near where I will be living is Albert Heijn. Although it’s nowhere near the typical size of an American grocery store (maybe 12 or so aisles) it works for most things. The store itself is on the lower level, with escalators allowing access from street level. When the escalators are functioning of course; one time they were broken for about 5 weeks straight. I considered taking a picture of the negative comments a customer left on the official “We’re sorry” note but didn’t…

Entrance to Albert Heijn via escalators

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Categories: Shopping, The Hague | Tags: | 5 Comments

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