I've always liked the Netherlands. So when my partner got the opportunity to study there, I enthusiastically joined the caravan and moved there [from Canada] a few weeks ago.
The landing in NL wasn't bad, but as I'm approaching [archi/design] firms for work, the work permit is proving to be a tricky, if not insurmountable obstacle. Almost without exceptions, the firms' initial interest turns into kind dismissal as soon as the work permit issue surfaces... "Contact us when you sort out your work permit." Apparently, the bureaucratic process and paperology are so excruciating that literally no office is willing or can afford to go through it. [OMA is an exception as it has a negotiated arrangement with IND, for the moment] The paradox is that the work permit would normally be applied for and obtained by the firm, and that there are not [m]any other paths... I expected the work permit to be somewhat of a challenge, but not to the extent of canceling the entire NL project.
Have you, by any chance, heard of any a creative ways to solve the work permit problem for north-americans? As that tiny light at the end of the tunnel is fading off, any tips or possible bits of advice would be sincerely appreciated.
Similar question. As I plan for May 2007 - the rest of my life, what is the deal with working in Japan? Jump, you've done it. What is the story? Are you able to work because you married a Japanese woman?
yeah that helps hasselhof, and i used to think it was almost the only way to go, apart from tripping in through school. lots of people i know, if not all, do it that way.
but i have been meeting a fair number of architects lately who are here working for offices and got their visas through them. so it is def possible. much easier if you are a banker though. one good thing you got going for you is that not many natives here speak a lick of decent english so if a firm is interested and they do international work, they shouldn't have such a hard time proving they need you and you alone...
bx92. i went through the same thing in 01, and got nowhere fast. i have a stack of letters from mecanoo and others (not OMA, dammit!) saying interested when i get a visa sorted. finally went to London, and had the same thing, but not as bad, and got a work permit through an office there. that turned out to be not so hard, but not easy either, and cost the office 1000 pounds to get sorted. i guess is the same in NL. ...not much help, am I? i think what you need to do is find a firm that does international work and convince them they need you enough to go through the hastle. must be one or two out there...no?
cool, bx92. sounds good pedigree to get a job anywhere....or at least it should be...
i do have a good precedent for you...a few of my classmates (from manitoba if you can believe it) found jobs in NL. one was with oma, and another was head hunted by a corporate office after working for starchitects in london. they are admittedly future leader types, but from talking to them it didn't sound so hard to get visas sorted (though this was in the late 90's and things could be diffrnt now). from the way they tell it the getting of jobs was mostly about luck and timing...i think talent too, but being there def helped.
if NL doesn't work out, about a half dozen or more of my classmates found jobs in london...so i would be surprised if you can't get something in europe.
not to be a pessimist but I tried this as a student to the NL from the US and I failed basically. as I understand it, there's no such thing as you 'sorting out the permit' yourself. there is no such route as all permits are tied to jobs and as you rightly said, must be applied for by the employer.
i worked in the netherlands a few years ago, so the process may have changes somewhat. my internship was coordinated through a third party - IAESTE (the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience). Its normally oriented towards students (as one might conclude from the name), but I think that they may be able to help in some capacity...they know the business of work permits. You might contact both the canadia and dutch branches in order to get the full picture.
as a canadian (under 30) you can get a working holiday visa wich allows you to work for one year in nl without a working permit.... problem is you have to apply for it in canada
Netherlands Work Permit [ cdn > nl ]
I've always liked the Netherlands. So when my partner got the opportunity to study there, I enthusiastically joined the caravan and moved there [from Canada] a few weeks ago.
The landing in NL wasn't bad, but as I'm approaching [archi/design] firms for work, the work permit is proving to be a tricky, if not insurmountable obstacle. Almost without exceptions, the firms' initial interest turns into kind dismissal as soon as the work permit issue surfaces... "Contact us when you sort out your work permit." Apparently, the bureaucratic process and paperology are so excruciating that literally no office is willing or can afford to go through it. [OMA is an exception as it has a negotiated arrangement with IND, for the moment] The paradox is that the work permit would normally be applied for and obtained by the firm, and that there are not [m]any other paths... I expected the work permit to be somewhat of a challenge, but not to the extent of canceling the entire NL project.
Have you, by any chance, heard of any a creative ways to solve the work permit problem for north-americans? As that tiny light at the end of the tunnel is fading off, any tips or possible bits of advice would be sincerely appreciated.
Best regards, and thanks in advance!
Similar question. As I plan for May 2007 - the rest of my life, what is the deal with working in Japan? Jump, you've done it. What is the story? Are you able to work because you married a Japanese woman?
yeah that helps hasselhof, and i used to think it was almost the only way to go, apart from tripping in through school. lots of people i know, if not all, do it that way.
but i have been meeting a fair number of architects lately who are here working for offices and got their visas through them. so it is def possible. much easier if you are a banker though. one good thing you got going for you is that not many natives here speak a lick of decent english so if a firm is interested and they do international work, they shouldn't have such a hard time proving they need you and you alone...
bx92. i went through the same thing in 01, and got nowhere fast. i have a stack of letters from mecanoo and others (not OMA, dammit!) saying interested when i get a visa sorted. finally went to London, and had the same thing, but not as bad, and got a work permit through an office there. that turned out to be not so hard, but not easy either, and cost the office 1000 pounds to get sorted. i guess is the same in NL. ...not much help, am I? i think what you need to do is find a firm that does international work and convince them they need you enough to go through the hastle. must be one or two out there...no?
luck!
btw, i am also cdn. bed and march from u manitoba. you?
bx, i don't have any advice myself, but if you check on the netherlands forums at expatica you may find some relevant threads.
good luck
thanks jump & p2an! that echoes some my experiences and paths
UK or France are a plan'B, but I'll be patient and try everything possible here before giving up... it would be a bitter pill to swallow
[+] jump :) cdn from mtl... u'montreal and gsd
cool, bx92. sounds good pedigree to get a job anywhere....or at least it should be...
i do have a good precedent for you...a few of my classmates (from manitoba if you can believe it) found jobs in NL. one was with oma, and another was head hunted by a corporate office after working for starchitects in london. they are admittedly future leader types, but from talking to them it didn't sound so hard to get visas sorted (though this was in the late 90's and things could be diffrnt now). from the way they tell it the getting of jobs was mostly about luck and timing...i think talent too, but being there def helped.
if NL doesn't work out, about a half dozen or more of my classmates found jobs in london...so i would be surprised if you can't get something in europe.
not to be a pessimist but I tried this as a student to the NL from the US and I failed basically. as I understand it, there's no such thing as you 'sorting out the permit' yourself. there is no such route as all permits are tied to jobs and as you rightly said, must be applied for by the employer.
i worked in the netherlands a few years ago, so the process may have changes somewhat. my internship was coordinated through a third party - IAESTE (the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience). Its normally oriented towards students (as one might conclude from the name), but I think that they may be able to help in some capacity...they know the business of work permits. You might contact both the canadia and dutch branches in order to get the full picture.
Hope this helps - www.iaeste.org
thanks! [jump] for a dose of hope; [thenewold] for a dose of realism
[walldrug] IAESTE that was a good path, but they were adamant that one must be a student... + the dutch have closed their IAESTE office...
plenty of good architecture to see in the meantime... but this permit crap remains a looming dark cloud... fight goes on
as a canadian (under 30) you can get a working holiday visa wich allows you to work for one year in nl without a working permit.... problem is you have to apply for it in canada
good luck!
33 [thanks dyske]
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