hamish

Scouse: Thanks for all of your replies. Those links were really handy, too.

LaoPo: You're right -- I should get my company to handle this; I could certainly do without the hassle. I'm just not comfortable about asking them before I've even started there yet. They've got their hands full sorting out my accomodation etc.! I'd also like to let that Dutch law firm handle this, but money is tight and we'd like to save as much as possible for a place in Amsterdam. That means doing as much as posible ourselves.

Khun Jean: Thanks for your post, and that link. Very interesting!

Hamish

Here is an update on our situation.

My partner, Pueng, has been in touch with the Dutch Embassy in BKK. Here is a summary of the advice she was given by a (very friendly) lady there .

Pueng must apply here in Thailand for a short-term (7 day Schengen) visa, costing 2740 THB. This will allow her to travel to the Netherlands. Once she arrives, she must contact the authorities there and get a residence card that will allow her to stay longer.

All that's required for this is for us to provide the following:

* My bank statements for the previous 3 months

* A copy of my passport

* A copy of my employment contract

* A letter from me, inviting Pueng to stay.

* Confirmation from her municipality that Pueng is unmarried <== It was unclear as to whether this was necessary.

This all seems too easy! No evidence of our relationship was asked for. The advisor didn't know what Pueng was on about when she mentioned the EEA route.

A few questions:

1) Does this seem correct?

2) Has the advisor omitted anything crucial here e.g. Pueng's bank statement's?

3) How much will it cost when we go to the Dutch authorities to ask for the residence card?

4) Will getting the residence card in the Netherlands be a formality? Naturally, we could do without Pueng having to fly home after 7 days!

As always, many thanks for the fantastic advice!

Cheers,

Hamish

Thanks for all of the replies.

As I've been invited to the Netherlands by a Dutch company, I think the situation for me, at least, is pretty straightforward: No Civic Integration exams, etc.

With regard to my partner's situation, we're really looking to take the path of least resistance, so the EEA route is certainly looking like our preferred option.

To that end, how do we go about initiating an application? How long will the process likely take? What documentation will we need to provide?

Anyone like to share their experiences of this? I'd like to hear of any of the potential pitfalls awaiting us.

Many thanks,

Hamish

Thanks for that, Scouse. I appreciate it.

Do you happen to know what the feasibility would be of my girlfriend coming to the Netherlands with me on a tourist visa, and then changing this to a more permanent arrangement (an MVV) whilst in the Netherlands?

By the way, whereabouts in Liverpool are you from? I'm from Wallasey.

Cheers,

Hamish

Hi,

I'd like to ask for some advice about a visa situation that I suppose is a little more complicated than usual.

I am a UK national who has just been offered a position in Amsterdam with a Dutch IT company.

My Thai partner and I have been together for almost 2 years, and were colleagues at a Thai university before this. We have evidence of a relationship extending back until 2004.

In 2005, she came to the UK to study and spent virtually all of that time living with my family and I.

Her UK student visa expired in January of this year, and she returned to Thailand. She then applied for a tourist visa in order to come and see me again in the UK. This was refused on the grounds that she hadn't been sufficiently clear as to the nature of our relationship, and hadn't demonstrated a reason to return to Thailand. Additionally, although she is performing some freelance translation work, she doesn't have a permanent employer -- nor does she own property.

We'd like to be together permanently in the Netherlands as soon as possible. What we're unsure about is the best way in which to accomplish this. Which type of visa would best suit us? This all seemed difficult enough when I was based in the UK!

Ideally, she'd like to work in the Netherlands. Any good job resources for non-EU citizens?

Many thanks for any advice anyone can offer.

Hamish

Hello,

Although I am currently back at home in the UK, I was an English teacher whilst in Thailand and was considering going back for more of the same.

However, I have a couple of years of experience developing ERP systems and would love to be able to put my IT skills to use in Thailand.

I have knowledge of:

C

C++

x86 asm

Linux

Informix

Basic web technology (XHTML, Apache, PHP, MySQL)

I'd be interested to hear of any opportunities.

Best wishes,

Hamish