Integration - information for asylum migrants

The integration starts when the IND announces your right to reside in The Netherlands. The starting date for the integration is also stated in the letter about integration that you will receive from DUO. If that date is 1 january 2022 or later, the Wet inburgering 2021 (Integration Law 2021) applies. If your starting date is earlier than 1 january 2022, please read more about the Wet Inburgering 2013 (Integration Law 2013).

When you have to take an integration course, you receive a letter from DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs). This letter informs you about the starting date and the deadline for your integration. Integration consists of 8 steps.

Step 1  What does INOVA do for you?

In the first 6 months in Velsen, INOVA helps with:

• housing
• finances, health care, insurances, education and work. They help you to fill in forms.
• information about the society and important organizations in Velsen.

Step 2   Your finances

In the first 6 months you are living in Velsen, the municipality pays some recurring costs through your allowance. The costs they pay, are the costs for electricity, gas, water, health insurance and the rent for your house. This is called ‘ontzorgen’. The rest of the money is for daily costs. We provide you with this money.

After six months you have to pay these recurring costs yourself. If needed, we arrange budget coaching for you. During this trajectory, you learn how to pay these costs yourself. And you learn about:

• allowances
• payment agreements 
• controlling your finances.

Step 3   Integration

As a new citizen of The Netherlands, you have to integrate. This means that you have to learn the Dutch language, and that you learn about living in The Netherlands. The goal is to participate as soon as possible, and to find a job. When you have to take an integration course, you receive a letter from DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs). This letter informs you about the starting date and the deadline for your integration.

Step 4   Starting class

The integration starts with a starting class. During this class you learn about living in your municipality. And we get to know you, so we will know what integration course fits best. This program takes up to 6 weeks. The class starts right after your move to Velsen. 4 times a week you will participate in this class.

During class you also learn about the important core values of The Netherlands. This special program is an obligation. It is called ‘participatieverklaringstraject’ (PVT). This program is part of the starting class.

All these components are provided by Danner and Danner. You will receive an invitation.

Step 5    Conversations at the municipality

During starting class, the municipality invites you for 2 conversations. These appointments are called ‘brede intake’. During these conversations, we want to get to know you. That’s why we will ask a lot of questions about who you are, what you can do and what you want. These questions are for example about work experience, education and health.

You will take an examen as well. This examen is called ‘leerbaarheidstoets’. This exam informs us about the method you can learn Dutch. 

After the starting class and the ‘brede intake’ conversations, together with you the municipality decides what integration course fits best. In the integration plan that is called ‘plan inburgering en participatie’ (PIP) we write down the goals and obligations for the integration. 

Step 6    The integration course

There are different courses to learn Dutch. These courses are called ‘leerroutes’.  The ‘leerroutes’ are:

• B1-route: Learning the Dutch language at B1 level and coaching to work. 
• Onderwijsroute: Learning the Dutch language at B1 level preparing to start an education.
• Z-route: Learning the Dutch language you need in daily life. You also learn about how to get a job. And about which activities are available in the Dutch society. 

These courses take up to 3 years. At the end of the course, you can get your integration diploma.

During the ‘leerroute’, you take part in a program that is called ‘module arbeidsmarkt en participatie’ (MAP). During this program, you learn about working in The Netherlands. You will gain practical experience.

In the case that you are taking the onderwijsroute, you will skip this program. You will get help with finding the right education.

Step 7   How is your integration going?

During the integration course, the municipality stays in touch with you. We will check if everything is going well during the course. If needed, we will make new arrangements with you. You are obliged to cooperate with the integration.

Step 8   The end of the integration

When you’ve finished all parts of the integration course, you can finish the integration. The municipality will let DUO know what the results are. DUO will judge the results, and will take a look at the results of te integration exams. They decide if you’ve completed the integration.