Game Changer?

Just when I thought I'd figured out a small portion of the Belgian bureaucracy that effects me, I find out the rules have changed.

As we have every year, Jim applies for a work permit renewal and we wait.  It finally arrives! Good news!

Then with valid work permit in hand we apply for a residency visa renewal.  Like we have every year. So we can stay here another 365 days.  This year was to be no different . . . until we get to City Hall and find out it ain't so easy now.

The rules have changed.

Yes, despite having a job, a good job, there's no guarantee we (and by "we", turns out it means just "me") can stay.  The nice lady at the City Hall said "if you have a job (meaning Jim), they usually leave you alone".

She said "it usually takes about a week" for an answer from Brussels.  So we wait.

But for me . . . whoa Nellie, not so fast.

Belgium has typically been a haven for immigrants and apparently has opened its doors to every family member imaginable as long as one family member actually has a job.  Not anymore.  That door has closed.  And for good reason.  Some people will bring over enough extended family to start a religion or at least a restaurant.

Now, proving you can support one, two or more family members is a requirement and even then, there is no guarantee.  The nice lady at the City Hall said "those decisions are made in "Brussels" and she had nothing to do with the decision".

Brussels - where all decisions are made.

So Jim's application is off to Brusselswherealldecisionsaremade and she provides me with a laundry list of documents I need to bring back to accompany my application.

This was a Friday, of course.

On Monday, I take a file full of all the required documentation she (I mean Brussels) requires and she copies them all and says again "it usually takes about a week".

Well, about two weeks later, we receive notice that Jim has been approved!  Good news!

But for me?  Good question.

After three weeks into the "usually takes one week" and ten days until my residency visa expires and I'm officially a tourist.

I'm thinking - I have always thought Belgium is overlooked and undersold as a tourist destination.

But in the interest of being legal, we head down to City Hall to retrieve Jim's legality.

He asks the nice lady if she might be able to check on the status of my application with "Brussels".  She said "Yes I should because it's been three weeks and we have no answer yet".  Bingo.

One phone call, one fax and I'm legally an American in België for another year.  :)

Brussels - where all decisions are made . . . eventually.

That says

Honorable Mayor, 

Person concerned has the right to permanent residence.

For a few weeks there I kinda felt like a Mexican.  Say what you will - it's true.