The secretary for immigration and integration calculates that the measure would cost 1.2 million euro, when he has to cut 20 million in legal dues. æAt this moment I do not see any possibilities to compensate this loss of income.Æ But Nawijn also writes that top-level consultations are taking place within the civil service on this issue between the Education and Justice ministries. The association of universities VSNU has urged to introduce a 'knowledge-migrant-status'. The increase in legal dues, of in some cases 660 percent, has led to strong protests.
Last week Nuffic-director Pieter van Dijk repeated his point of view in the daily newspaper de Volkskrant that this is not the moment to scare off foreign study talents with sky-high legal dues.
Earlier this year professor Alan Mark in Groningen refused to apply for a residence permit for him and his family, to protest the in his eyes unnecessary bureaucracy. Groningen University has decided to pay the legal dues for all employees and students from outside the EU.
