Expatcenter Newsletter: July 2011

NEWS

Improved services generates a high rating for the Expatcenter

Friday, 17 June 2011 marked three years since the Expatcenter threw open its doors and started assisting international companies and their employees in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. The results have exceeded all expectations: sincethe Expatcenter came into existence, international companies’ ranking of the provision of services has risen from 5 to 8.7 out of ten.  Read more>

Expatcenter expanding

The number of expats visiting the Expatcenter continues to grow. In April of this year, we welcomed our 10,000th client.  As a result, we have expanded our staff accordingly and are now able to schedule three appointments at one time, every day of the week this summer. 
 

EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bollywood at the Zuidas film event, 6 August

On 6 August  Bollywood at the Zuidas, a unique outdoor film event  will take place at the George Gershwinplein at the Zuidas. As of 19:00 tasty Indian food, sweets and drinks will be sold by various (Indian) vendors. H.E. Ms. Bhaswati Mukherjee, Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, will speak at 19:30. The recent Bollywood movie Ready will be screened at 21:00. A must for all Indian expats and Bollywood movie lovers. For more information and registration, please click here. The event is free, however, you are kindly requested to register.

Welcome to Amsterdam, 28 September

On 28 September we will hold the second edition of Welcome to Amsterdam. This event, hosted by the Mayor of Amsterdam, will offer new coming expatriates an official welcome to the City and at the same give them an opportunity to meet and network with like-minded internationals. For a review of the previous event on1 March, please click here. 

ITT Intercultural Leadership Program for Asian professionals by Nyenrode

Nyenrode Business University will organise the ITT Intercultural Leadership Program for Asian professionals for the third time, after repeated success with clients such as Accenture and IBM. The program advises Asian professionals on how  to unleash their talent in a Dutch working environment. For more information please visit Nyenrode’s website.

EXPATCENTER PROCEDURE

New IND procedure in handling applications for highly skilled migrants needing an MVV

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) has a new order to handle combined MVV/VVR (provisional and regular residence permit) applications for highly skilled migrants. In the past, the IND decided upon the MVV after sending the application to the Expatcenter. They will now, however, decide upon the MVV first. This change will give employers a better estimation of the arrival date for their employees once the Expatcenter appointment is scheduled. We hope this new procedure will decrease the number of appointments that need to be rescheduled due to delays in issuing visas by embassies abroad.

NB: this new procedure means that employers will receive the positive MVV advice earlier then a phone call from the Expatcenter to schedule an appointment.

Not possible to register with municipality if stay is less than 4 months

Please note that only international employees planning to live longer than four months in the Netherlands will need to register with the municipality (gemeente). They will receive a BSN number (personal public service number) as a result of this registration. Employees staying less than four months can not register with the municipality and will need to obtain their BSN number directly from the tax office.

Applications for 30% ruling now part of Expatcenter procedure for highly skilled migrants

In April 2011, the Expatcenter formed an official co-operation with the tax department (Belastingdienst) regarding the 30% ruling. Applications for the 30% ruling can now be made as part of the Expatcenter procedure for highly skilled migrants. An employee of the Tax Department will be present at the Expatcenter every Wednesday to process and decide upon applications for the 30% ruling and answer questions regarding this ruling. Read more>

Please note that European citizens unfortunately are not (yet) able to process their 30% ruling application through the Expatcenter.