An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
Dec 21st 2018, 7:03 pm
#106
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
Some light! Last week I received mail from our third prospective health insurers informing us that we were now on board. Yay! This information was sent on to the town hall, who emailed last evening that all the required documentation was now in order, and had been sent to ‘head office’ – meaning Brussels. They did say however that it could take up to six months before we are granted ID cards. This is a bit worrying with the (slight, I hope) potential of a no-deal Brexit still out there. 
The project to "officially" exit Switzerland bumbles along, but with a couple of good things going on. The accountant said that if we gave them power of attorney then they could take on the tax authorities on our behalf, saving a trip back. I said that I had to come back for the ‘foreigner police’ anyway, and she replied ‘they changed their rules just before you left, you can do it by post now’ and included the form. It was exactly the same form that I had been working with, but the usage notes had changed to include the postal option. So that’s on the way now.
The Swiss health insurers are being as obstructive as ever, but now pressure is off, so I’m going to change tack, and point out to them that this long, drawn out process was simply down to a huge misunderstanding. On their part.
I do have to return to Geneva next week anyway to shed my car and return the plates to the authorities, I’m coming home by train this time, always wanted to do that, it’s hardly any longer than flying when seen ‘end to end’ and actually cheaper this time around. Christmas has a lot to answer for.
The project to "officially" exit Switzerland bumbles along, but with a couple of good things going on. The accountant said that if we gave them power of attorney then they could take on the tax authorities on our behalf, saving a trip back. I said that I had to come back for the ‘foreigner police’ anyway, and she replied ‘they changed their rules just before you left, you can do it by post now’ and included the form. It was exactly the same form that I had been working with, but the usage notes had changed to include the postal option. So that’s on the way now.
The Swiss health insurers are being as obstructive as ever, but now pressure is off, so I’m going to change tack, and point out to them that this long, drawn out process was simply down to a huge misunderstanding. On their part.
I do have to return to Geneva next week anyway to shed my car and return the plates to the authorities, I’m coming home by train this time, always wanted to do that, it’s hardly any longer than flying when seen ‘end to end’ and actually cheaper this time around. Christmas has a lot to answer for.
Please note WRT the 6 months..... iT should be 6 months from the date annotated on your ‘Bijlag 19’. ‘Bijlag 20’ is the 30 day extension from the date you sing that addendum. Hope you get it now.
Ive just heard I have now been accepted and getting my EID for 5 years. Finally.
Dec 21st 2018, 7:35 pm
#107
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Joined: May 2016
Location: Antwerpen/Anvers
Posts: 7,269
Apr 17th 2019, 1:08 pm
#108
Gloves off
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Joined: May 2016
Location: Antwerpen/Anvers
Posts: 7,269
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
Following my minor rant of a few weeks ago, there has finally been some movement from the Swiss. I kow-towed to the demands of the tax authorities, including paying their guesstimate of tax due, fairly safe in the knowledge that they were well out, and that once they had all the facts – and the dosh – the ‘puters would make sense of it. Sure enough, a letter – again to the Swiss address – confirmed that all was indeed in order for 2017. No mention of 2018’s reckoning, no hint of a rebate.
Zen...
Last week a letter direct to the new address saying 2018 is now sorted, here’s the final position and there’s a huge rebate due. Yay! The rebate landed a couple of days ago, so now just waiting on the ‘foreigner police’ to issue the magic papers we desperately need to free us of all kinds of costly obligations back in Switzerland.
A couple of difficult web-sites and emails later, I received an invitation to download the magic paper. Just mine, obviously, no mention of OH, so I’m awaiting clarification as to whether they trust me or if she now has to navigate those treacherous waters in her own right. Nearly there.
No sign of the Belgian id cards yet, but they’re still within the advised time window.
Zen...
Last week a letter direct to the new address saying 2018 is now sorted, here’s the final position and there’s a huge rebate due. Yay! The rebate landed a couple of days ago, so now just waiting on the ‘foreigner police’ to issue the magic papers we desperately need to free us of all kinds of costly obligations back in Switzerland.
A couple of difficult web-sites and emails later, I received an invitation to download the magic paper. Just mine, obviously, no mention of OH, so I’m awaiting clarification as to whether they trust me or if she now has to navigate those treacherous waters in her own right. Nearly there.
No sign of the Belgian id cards yet, but they’re still within the advised time window.
Apr 18th 2019, 9:39 am
#112
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
Happy days. Say what you may but the Flemish work ethic is great and efficient i have found. Swapping my British license for a Belgian one took only a day.
On a side note - an official ‘Stadsblad ’ ( I think it’s called that) has been published regarding no deal brexit. From what my wife says it boils down to Belgium will treat all registered British with the same rights as now until December 2020. From then I guess we’ll be assimilated?
On a side note - an official ‘Stadsblad ’ ( I think it’s called that) has been published regarding no deal brexit. From what my wife says it boils down to Belgium will treat all registered British with the same rights as now until December 2020. From then I guess we’ll be assimilated?
Apr 18th 2019, 9:52 am
#113
Gloves off
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Joined: May 2016
Location: Antwerpen/Anvers
Posts: 7,269
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
Happy days. Say what you may but the Flemish work ethic is great and efficient i have found. Swapping my British license for a Belgian one took only a day.
On a side note - an official ‘Stadsblad ’ ( I think it’s called that) has been published regarding no deal brexit. From what my wife says it boils down to Belgium will treat all registered British with the same rights as now until December 2020. From then I guess we’ll be assimilated?
On a side note - an official ‘Stadsblad ’ ( I think it’s called that) has been published regarding no deal brexit. From what my wife says it boils down to Belgium will treat all registered British with the same rights as now until December 2020. From then I guess we’ll be assimilated?
Apr 18th 2019, 12:40 pm
#114
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Location: Charente Maritime
Posts: 9,346
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
May 21st 2019, 4:53 pm
#115
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Location: Antwerpen/Anvers
Posts: 7,269
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
Today we received our residence certificates; the town hall said it could take up to six months, the reality was five and a half.
Id cards are an optional (and highly desirable) extra, but those can be obtained locally, no need for Brussels involvement.
Perfect timing!
Id cards are an optional (and highly desirable) extra, but those can be obtained locally, no need for Brussels involvement.
Perfect timing!
May 21st 2019, 4:57 pm
#116
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 0
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
Today we received our residence certificates; the town hall said it could take up to six months, the reality was five and a half.
Id cards are an optional (and highly desirable) extra, but those can be obtained locally, no need for Brussels involvement.
Perfect timing!
Id cards are an optional (and highly desirable) extra, but those can be obtained locally, no need for Brussels involvement.
Perfect timing!
May 22nd 2019, 2:42 am
#117
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,612
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
Today we received our residence certificates; the town hall said it could take up to six months, the reality was five and a half.
Id cards are an optional (and highly desirable) extra, but those can be obtained locally, no need for Brussels involvement.
Perfect timing!
Id cards are an optional (and highly desirable) extra, but those can be obtained locally, no need for Brussels involvement.
Perfect timing!
Jun 14th 2019, 10:08 am
#118
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Joined: May 2016
Location: Antwerpen/Anvers
Posts: 7,269
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
As of this morning we have our ID cards 
which unlocks a whole raft of stuff, such as the right to visit the recycling centre, being able to access 'restricted' documents on various government websites, even filing tax returns online. 
However in contrast to this ...
as we currently have non-EU driving licences, we have been advised that it will take three months to process the exchange. This, even if we were to swap them serially, is obviously a no-no.
OH is well miffed as she obtained her CH licence in exchange for her original Belgian one some thirty years ago. Somewhere
I should have my old UK paper licence (which the Swiss let me keep), so I might give that a try, otherwise we'll stay with those we have for the time being. An extended family member works for the forces of law and order in an administrative capacity, so we'll be picking her brains for any potential fast-path methods.
The next round of building work is now underway, all the external drainage runs are being reworked ahead of the replacing/extending of the terrasse in an 'L' shape towards the rear of the house.
What we really would like now is for summer to show its face...
which unlocks a whole raft of stuff, such as the right to visit the recycling centre, being able to access 'restricted' documents on various government websites, even filing tax returns online. However in contrast to this ...
as we currently have non-EU driving licences, we have been advised that it will take three months to process the exchange. This, even if we were to swap them serially, is obviously a no-no.
OH is well miffed as she obtained her CH licence in exchange for her original Belgian one some thirty years ago. Somewhere
I should have my old UK paper licence (which the Swiss let me keep), so I might give that a try, otherwise we'll stay with those we have for the time being. An extended family member works for the forces of law and order in an administrative capacity, so we'll be picking her brains for any potential fast-path methods.The next round of building work is now underway, all the external drainage runs are being reworked ahead of the replacing/extending of the terrasse in an 'L' shape towards the rear of the house.
What we really would like now is for summer to show its face...
Jun 17th 2019, 10:15 am
#119
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,108
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
Jun 17th 2019, 12:05 pm
#120
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Location: Antwerpen/Anvers
Posts: 7,269
Re: An imaginatively titled Belgian thread...
Not wishing to fall foul of any regulations, it would seem that I must exchange this one, so that should speed things up considerably, but only for me. I thought that we had registered our Swiss licences at the Gemeente, OH reckons not, so we'll book another appointment for later in the week and see what's what.
If I have to end up being OH's part time taxi driver for a few months, then so be it, it is much more suited to our driving habits than the other way round.
What's interesting - but totally irrelevant here - is why the Swiss let me retain the UK licence.
Just about to hit "submit", a ring on the doorbell. It's the police wanting to see the permit for the skip that was placed on the street outside this morning. That's all in order, OH is now grilling him as to how best to speed up her licence swap...