Modern Migration Policy Act postponed
18 Nov 2010
The introduction of the Modern Migration Policy Act (MoMi) has been postponed. The new Aliens Act was due to enter into force on 1 January 2011 but has been deferred as a result of a delay in implementing a new computer system.
A new implementation date has not yet been determined. The INDiGO computer system used by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) should be capable of linking data from a number of implementing government agencies to IND databases. However, this has not yet proven to be feasible in day-to-day practice.
Act to be introduced as soon as possible
The migration of all IND data to a new computer system is essential system in order to introduce the act. Immigration and Asylum Policy Minister Gerd Leers aims to introduce the new act as soon as possible, but it will have to examine at what point in time this will be feasible. In the interim, higher education institutions that have an agreement with the IND can continue to make use of the fast-track admission procedures for knowledge migrants, academic researchers and students.
Student progress monitoring also deferred
The new act also states that foreign students are required to complete at least 50% of the nominal study load for each academic year. Should they fail to do so, without adequate reason, their residence permit granted for the purpose of study will be cancelled. Now that the act has been deferred, this regulation will not be introduced either as yet.
A number of higher education institutions already monitor the progress of foreign students in a test environment (‘student progress monitoring field test’). However, as long as the act has not yet entered into force, it will not yet have any consequences for students' residency.