Family Reunification Scheme Abused (The Netherlands)

Family reunification scheme abused

Expatica News
28 September 2007

AMSTERDAM An unknown number of Turks and Moroccans brought more than eight “partners” to the Netherlands between 1977 and 2006 under the family reunification scheme.

The Telegraaf reports this on Friday on the basis of the book De Immigratieramp (The Immigration Disaster) that will be presented on Monday. The book examines the immigration policy and the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

Once the partner got a residence permit after a three-year stay in the Netherlands, the relationship was terminated and a new partner was brought to the country, the paper writes.

The book also says that thousands of criminals have been granted residence permits in the course of the years, also under the family reunification scheme.

Since 2005 foreign criminals who want to live with their Dutch partner are no longer automatically granted a residence permit.

The book is written by former IND worker Sietse Fritsma. He also cites confidential IND files in the book, according to the Telegraaf.