Annual statistics 2022: number of decisions increased
Across the board, the IND decided on more applications for residency in the Netherlands in 2022 than previous years. This becomes evident from the annual statistics on 2022, published today. Because of unexpected global developments, work increased substantially. The war in Ukraine, delayed migration after corona and a tight labour market had direct consequences for the IND.
The number of applications was much higher in 2022 than what the IND is equipped for. As a result, it is inevitable that applicants have to wait longer for clarity about a future in the Netherlands.
Done more than expected
In many areas, the IND was able to do more than could be expected from the number of staff. For instance, the IND decided on more applications by asylum seekers, highly skilled migrants, students and people with a RANOV residence permit. Issuing 67,900 residence endorsement stickers to refugees from Ukraine also demanded a lot from the organisation.
Careful assessment
More applications bring about more work for the IND. In addition to the number of applications that are submitted newly each year, there are still outstanding applications from the year before. This was no different in 2022. For instance, decisions had to be taken on many asylum applications and objections for short-stay visas from 2021. The boom in applications in the autumn of 2021 is a direct result of the COVID-19 travel restrictions being lifted and of the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. Each application deserves to be assessed carefully. Processing applications also takes up more time because the complexity of legislation is increasing.
Increasing waiting times
Although the number of decisions increased, the number of applications grew even faster. Because of this, the number of outstanding applications is increasing and applicants have to wait longer. The IND realises that this uncertainty is very unpleasant. Unfortunately, there is no short-term solution for this. The IND also asks applicants to be patient in 2023. They will be informed as well as possible about the waiting time, so that they know what to expect.
Pressure on the entire organisation
More applications also leads to more work for staff who are not directly involved in the decision process. More appointments are made at desks, more documents are issued, more telephone calls must be answered and more mail must be processed. In addition, an increase in objections to late decisions and legal procedures puts great pressure on the lawyers of the IND.
New staff
Despite the tight labour market, the IND grew by 426 FTEs in 2022. It becomes clear from this that the organisation is still attractive as an employer. However, the IND is reaching the limits of its growth. It is hardly possible to keep up the capacity currently used by the IND for recruitment and selection, mentoring of new colleagues and training on a structural basis.