Regular immigration law

Where there is no need for protection against problems in the country of origin, regular immigration law applies. This covers, for example, people who wish to come to the Netherlands to stay with a partner or other family member, to work, to study etc.

The starting point in such a regular procedure is a temporary visa ('mvv') which must be applied for through the Dutch diplomatic representation in the country of origin.

Most people already in the Netherlands have not obtained an 'mvv', and in these cases application for a residence permit is usually denied. In consultation with the client we decide on a strategy to overcome this obstacle; such as a temporary return to the country of origin to obtain the 'mvv', or an appeal against the rejection of the application.

Residence permits may also be withdrawn, for example if an immigrant has been brought before judicial authorities as a result of a breach of public order. Public order offences can also lead to being declared an 'undesirable alien' and being denied entry to the Netherlands for a number of years. We work closely with our criminal department to handle these kind of procedures.

Regular immigration law also applies where, having been legally in the Netherlands for a certain time, someone wishes to acquire Dutch citizenship through a formal request for naturalisation.

This area of immigration law is also relevant to people who are denied asylum, but are unable to leave the Netherlands because they do not possess identity documents. Being unable to prove their identity, the authorities of their country of origin often refuse to issue a travel document for their return. We can help find a way out of these difficult situations.

The immigration department of BFKW can provide the necessary legal assistence in all immigration procedures.

• Asylum
• Regular immigration law
• 'Alien detention'

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