There are currently two routes to becoming officially integrated in the Netherlands – the state exams which are considered to be more difficult and the six part citizenship diploma (inburgeringsdiploma)
The Volkskrant quoted the example of Iranian national David Azizi, who passed the state exams in 2015 and has now been told he needs to take two of the diploma tests – knowledge of Dutch society and orientation on the Dutch labour market – to qualify for permanent residency.
Even though education ministry arm DUO, which coordinates the tests, told Azizi he does not need the extra tests, the immigration service
IND says they are compulsory.
‘The IND send me to DUO, DUO sent me to the IND,’ Azizi told the paper.
Current rules
A spokeswoman for the IND told the Volkskrant that because Azizi has asked for a new residency permit, he now falls under the current rules. Permanent residency gives more rights than a temporary permit, so it is ‘not odd’ that more stringent rules apply, she said.
People who have passed the state exams do not have to take extra tests when applying for Dutch nationality.
Azizi has since taken and passed the two extra exams. ‘But I am angry about how this played out,’ he said. ‘The big organisations are not working in tandem on this.’
DutchNews.nl has asked the IND and justice ministry for a reaction.
This article appeared first on dutchnews.nl