IDs for former asylum seekers
Former asylum seekers who do not have a passport and have applied for regular residence will from now on receive a document with which they can prove their identity. The ‘W2′ document includes the identity, nationality and residence status of the immigrant, according to the letter sent by Dutch Justice State Secretary Nebahat Albayrak to the National Ombudsman Alex Brenninkmeijer, a copy of which has been submitted to the Lower House of Parliament.
The introduction of the document was one of the recommendations made by the Dutch National Ombudsman. He wanted such a document for all foreign nationals who, pending a decision on their application, reside legally in the Netherlands and who could not identify themselves in any other way. The State Secretary is not willing to go that far. Foreign nationals who have no asylum background can only obtain a W2 document under special circumstances. This relates in particular to immigrants who have been exempt from the passport requirement.
To prevent any abuse of the system, the IND Immigration and Naturalisation Service will check to see if applicants have met the MVV provisional residence permit requirement. If they have not met this requirement and they are not exempt, then the application will immediately be disregarded. The government expects that as a result of the general pardon arrangement and the eradication of backlogs within the IND the number of foreign nationals that are still eligible for a W2 document will be limited.
Source: Ministry of Justice, 16 November 2007
