The waiting time for persons applying for family reunification in the Netherlands will now be shortened, announced the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
A statement issued by the IND on April 19 stated that to prevent persons travelling in connection with family reunification from having to wait a long time, the IND will be taking more into account the administrative practices in the country of origin, as well as less high demands on the evidence needed to make a biological family relationship credible.
The IND currently takes a decision on one-third of applications outside the legal six-month deadline.
“Many of the applications for family reunification are not complete. Documents from the authorities of the country of origin are needed to process an application. The more complete the application, the quicker the processing. For example, with official and unofficial documents, the identity or family relationship can be demonstrated,”
the statement reads.
The number of applications for family reunification is increasing as the IND accepts more asylum applications by giving them proportionately more often. So over the last few months, the IND has received an average of 250 applications per week.
On the other hand, travel restrictions have made it almost impossible for persons travelling in connection with family reunification to obtain the entry visa required to enter the Netherlands at a Dutch embassy abroad.
Concerning current applications, the IND limits some investigations, and this will have to enable faster decisions on around 9,000 applications. Amongst the measures taken in order to fasten the processing of these applications is also by abolishing the mandatory DNA test if the biological family relationship has become credible.
In addition, lower requirements will be imposed in the event of proof of identity if the biological family relationship can be made credible; this means that an identifying interview will be needed less frequently.
“Another change in family reunification policy will deal with applications for family reunification by minor children with an asylum residence permit for which applications the statutory decision period has been exceeded. Their situation will henceforth be assessed according to what it was at the time of the application. This change will be introduced as a result of a ruling by the Council of State,”
the IND explains in this regard.
The IND has also stated that it will consider more explicitly whether the applicant can be allowed to benefit from the doubt of the benefit. For example, this explains that if minor (biological) children are involved, then the IND can respond to the needs of children more often with a more detailed investigation which means a DNA test or family relationship interview, instead of rejecting the application if it has an insufficient proof.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is provided for information purposes only.
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