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Status Holders

A status holder is someone who has applied for asylum and has been granted a residence permit by the IND because he or she needs protection, for example, due to war, persecution, or danger in their country of origin. A status holder is therefore a recognized refugee or someone with another form of international protection.

Refugeehelp

Are you a status holder? You’ll find all the information you need on the Refugeehelp website. On this website, you’ll find information about residence permits, housing, work, health, financial matters, integration, education, family reunification, and much more.

Housing

The municipality has a legal obligation to provide housing for status holders. Every six months, the national government determines how many status holders each municipality must house. This is referred to as the target allocation. A status holder does not choose where to live; the COA assigns status holders to a municipality, which is then responsible for arranging suitable housing. The municipality of Moerdijk works together with the housing authority and Vluchtelingenwerk Moerdijk to achieve this. Due to the tight housing market, even status holders in Moerdijk often have to wait a long time for housing. If you are a status holder assigned to Moerdijk and have questions about housing in Moerdijk, please email asielopvang@moerdijk.nl

Integration

Integration is mandatory for status holders. During the integration program, you will learn about the Netherlands. You will learn to speak, write, listen to, and read Dutch. You will also learn how to find a job or enroll in a training program, as well as how we interact with one another in the Netherlands. You will receive a letter from DUO (Education Executive Agency) if you are required to participate in the integration program.

If you are required to complete the integration program, you must pass all parts of the exam within three years of your arrival in the Netherlands.

Are you unable to complete the integration program, and do you have a valid reason for this? Or do you already speak and write Dutch? If so, different rules apply to you. You can read more about this on thewebsite of the Education Implementation Service.

How you integrate into society depends on when you received your residence permit

Residence Permit Effective January 1, 2022

The new Integration Act took effect on January 1, 2022. The municipality offers you a program to help you integrate. Werkplein Hart van West-Brabant is implementing this program on our behalf. A coordinator from Werkplein will contact you. You can read more about this on the Werkplein Hart van West-Brabant website.

Residence Permit Between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2022

Did you receive your residence permit between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2022? And are you required to complete the integration program? If so, you will receive a letter from the Education Executive Agency (DUO). This letter will specify how much time you have to pass the integration exam: 3 years from the date you received your residence permit. This is your “integration period.”

  • You are personally responsible for your integration.
  • You must find an integration course on your own.
  • You must pass the integration exam within the 3-year integration period. If you do not cooperate, you may be fined by DUO. Failure to cooperate may affect your residence permit.

You can find more information onthe Inburgeren website.

Is your DUO loan almost used up?

Have you almost used up your DUO loan? Or do you need to pass your integration exam within a year and have you already used €7,500 of your loan? If so, you’ll receive a letter from DUO. You can then ask your integration school tocontact the municipality to discuss whether the municipality can help ensure that you complete the classes you need within the integration period. We can also explore how you can pass the KNM, ONA, and your exams as quickly as possible. We refer to this as ELIP assistance. ELIP stands for “End of Loan for Integration Requirement.”

Informatie over gezinsmigranten en vrijwillige inburgering

Did you come to the Netherlands to live with your partner? If so, we refer to you as a family migrant. The same integration rules apply to clergy who are required to complete the integration program as to family migrants.

Residence Permit Effective January 1, 2022

If you come to the Netherlands as a family migrant, you have already taken the A1-level exam in your country of origin. The municipality will then offer you a program to help you integrate into Dutch society. Werkplein Hart van West-Brabant carries this out on our behalf. A coordinator from Werkplein will contact you. You can read more about this on the Werkplein Hart van West-Brabant website.

You are responsible for paying the costs of your integration program.

Residence Permit Between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2022

Did you receive your residence permit between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2022? And are you required to complete the integration program? If so, you will receive a letter from the Education Executive Agency (DUO). This letter will specify how much time you have to pass the integration exam: 3 years from the date you received your residence permit. This is your “integration period.”

  • You are personally responsible for your integration.
  • You must find an integration course on your own.
  • You must pass the integration exam within the 3-year integration period. If you do not cooperate, you may be fined by DUO. Failure to cooperate may affect your residence permit.

You can find more information onthe Inburgeren website.

You are responsible for paying the costs of your integration program.

Turkish family immigrants

The integration rules for Turkish family migrants have changed as of January 1, 2022. If you arrived in the Netherlands on or after January 1, 2022, you are required to complete the integration program.

You arrived in the Netherlands on or after January 1, 2022

You must first take a basic Dutch language exam in Turkey. Once you are in the Netherlands, you must complete the integration program within three years. Integration means learning the Dutch language. You will learn about working in the Netherlands and how we interact with one another here.

You are responsible for your own integration, but the municipality will assist you in this process. After arriving in the municipality of Moerdijk, you will receive a letter inviting you to an initial meeting. The Werkplein Hart van West-Brabant handles this on our behalf. A coordinator from the Werkplein will contact you. You can read more about this onthe Werkplein Hart van West-Brabant website.

You arrived in the Netherlands before January 1, 2022

If you came to the Netherlands as a Turkish family migrant before January 1, 2022, you are not required to complete the integration program.

Even if you are not required to participate in the integration program, you may still choose to do so. This is called voluntary integration. That means it is not mandatory, but that you choose to do it yourself—for example, to apply for naturalization or a more permanent residence permit. You can read more about this on theIND website.

You must pay for voluntary integration yourself.

If you would like to participate in the integration program on a voluntary basis, please contact Werkplein Hart van West-Brabant. A coordinator from Werkplein will then contact you. It is important that you clearly indicate that you are interested in the voluntary integration program. You can visit theWerkplein Hart van West-Brabant website.

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