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For the TLDR; "GitLab has the right to migrate to the Netherlands for qualifying team members. Just added we can waive the 1 year tenure requirement if you are

by sytse 5y ago

For the TLDR; "GitLab has the right to migrate to the Netherlands for qualifying team members. Just added we can waive the 1 year tenure requirement if you are a member of an underrepresented group that is unsafe or if here is a lot of violence in your country" https://twitter.com/sytses/status/1417601595668275201 https://twitter.com/sytses/status/1417601595668275201

temp8964 5y ago
I really don't understand the "has the right" part here. It sounds like GitLab will help qualifying team members to migrate to the Netherlands?
- sytse 5y ago
  Yes, that would be a better way to say it. When I wrote the header for https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/people-group/visas/#right-to-immigrate-to-the-netherlands https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/people-group/visas/#right-... years ago I was still processing that there is a human right to leave your country but that only works if there is another country that will have you, which isn't the case for the vast majority of people.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
- geofft 5y ago
  If I'm reading right, it looks like a company can become a "recognised sponsor," which allows them to sponsor as many of their employees as they want for relocation, provided they meet salary requirements etc. It doesn't look like there is a government-side discretionary approval like the US green card or (at least in the Netherlands) a quota or lottery like the US H-1B. There's a background check but that's it. https://www.eubluecard.nl/dutch-program/recognised-sponsor https://www.eubluecard.nl/dutch-program/recognised-sponsor https://www.government.nl/topics/immigration-to-the-netherlands/question-and-answer/hire-a-highly-skilled-migrant https://www.government.nl/topics/immigration-to-the-netherla... If that interpretation is correct, then I think this is also "GitLab has the power/authority".
  - strken 5y ago
    Anecdata: when I worked at a US tech company, one of our teammates got transferred to the Netherlands because he couldn't get a visa renewal in time. I believe it's a common country to stash anyone who's having visa issues.
    - hguant 5y ago
      My understanding is that this goes back to Rotterdam being a free or open port, since the late Renaissance period. The Netherlands has been a proponent of free trade and what we'd call international citizenship for a very long time
      - xxpor 5y ago
        And, you know, the Dutch East India Company being the largest multinational in world history.
    - DaiPlusPlus 5y ago
      Canada is also popular, especially BC - it's where Amazon, Google, and Microsoft move people who couldn't get a H-1B renewal but want to keep them in the same time-zone. It's only a 2-hour drive from Seattle so having in-person meetings is still possible.
  - chrisseaton 5y ago
    Right, but I don't think GitLab can enforce the right to come to the Netherlands. Presumably if the Dutch security services have a reason to stop someone coming in there's nothing that GitLab can do about that.
    - YorickPeterse 5y ago
      Correct, you're still subject to regular immigration laws and such; some parts of it are just made easier.
  - kyawzazaw 5y ago

by sytse 5y ago

temp8964 5y ago

I really don't understand the "has the right" part here. It sounds like GitLab will help qualifying team members to migrate to the Netherlands?

sytse 5y ago
Yes, that would be a better way to say it. When I wrote the header for https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/people-group/visas/#right-to-immigrate-to-the-netherlands https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/people-group/visas/#right-... years ago I was still processing that there is a human right to leave your country but that only works if there is another country that will have you, which isn't the case for the vast majority of people.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
geofft 5y ago
If I'm reading right, it looks like a company can become a "recognised sponsor," which allows them to sponsor as many of their employees as they want for relocation, provided they meet salary requirements etc. It doesn't look like there is a government-side discretionary approval like the US green card or (at least in the Netherlands) a quota or lottery like the US H-1B. There's a background check but that's it. https://www.eubluecard.nl/dutch-program/recognised-sponsor https://www.eubluecard.nl/dutch-program/recognised-sponsor https://www.government.nl/topics/immigration-to-the-netherlands/question-and-answer/hire-a-highly-skilled-migrant https://www.government.nl/topics/immigration-to-the-netherla... If that interpretation is correct, then I think this is also "GitLab has the power/authority".
- strken 5y ago
  Anecdata: when I worked at a US tech company, one of our teammates got transferred to the Netherlands because he couldn't get a visa renewal in time. I believe it's a common country to stash anyone who's having visa issues.
  - hguant 5y ago
    My understanding is that this goes back to Rotterdam being a free or open port, since the late Renaissance period. The Netherlands has been a proponent of free trade and what we'd call international citizenship for a very long time
    - xxpor 5y ago
      And, you know, the Dutch East India Company being the largest multinational in world history.
  - DaiPlusPlus 5y ago
    Canada is also popular, especially BC - it's where Amazon, Google, and Microsoft move people who couldn't get a H-1B renewal but want to keep them in the same time-zone. It's only a 2-hour drive from Seattle so having in-person meetings is still possible.
- chrisseaton 5y ago
  Right, but I don't think GitLab can enforce the right to come to the Netherlands. Presumably if the Dutch security services have a reason to stop someone coming in there's nothing that GitLab can do about that.
  - YorickPeterse 5y ago
    Correct, you're still subject to regular immigration laws and such; some parts of it are just made easier.
- kyawzazaw 5y ago