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Civic Integration Act (Wet Inburgering): Court rules fine wrongly imposed
In this case, advocated by Sander Groen, DUO (Dienst Uitvoeringsorganisatie) imposed a fine of € 1,250 because the foreign national did not pas the civic integration exam in time.
The husband of the foreig national had been seriously ill for some time. The husband often had to go abroad for treatment. The foreign national always accompanied him. The foreign national informed DUO in good time that she wished to postpone the date for integration exam because her husband was seriously ill. All medical data and the contact details of his treating doctors have also been provided to DUO.
The court ruled that the foreign national can not be imposed a penalty for failing to pass the civic integration exam on time. The court also ruled that DUO did not act carefully in this case. The court also ruled that the medical advice DUO had requested from its medical adviser in this case was not carefully prepared. The entire procedure took more than three years until this judgment.
No appeal has been lodged by DUO against this decision. This means that this judgment will stand: the fine has been wrongly imposed. DUO must repay € 1,250 and pay compensation to the foreign national of € 1,000 because the entire procedure took too long.
Click here for the court ruling
