Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Can I apply citizenship in Holland if I have A.S ?

Hi there, first of all, I know that this is USA site but just in case someone know how or want to share their experience, Id like to know that.

This is the case, Im 32 years old with A.S, my A.S is not painfull only it limits my movement. So far I have it on my lower spine and neck.

I went to the Netherlands 3 years ago as a student and still live here legally. Back there in Indonesia around 5 years ago the doctor said that theres no cure or medicine for A.S, so I didnt take any medicine (Ps: I got A.S when I was 24)so it had been 3 years I didnt do any treatment.

In the Netherlands I consultate with a group of specialist and they gave me only pantorc (for my stomach) & Diclofenac na ret. 75mg.

About 6 months ago, the head specialist said to me that while my A.S still not that heavy, why dont I take anti tnf?

After few months thinking about it, I decided I will use anti tnf in about 5 months from now.

Now this is the problem. Anti tnf is very expensive, when I have to go back to Indonesia, I definitely cant afford that & Indonesian insurance definitely wont pay for that medicine. Even if insurance willing to pay for that, Im sure Indonesia is dangerous for me to take anti tnf with tbc and stuff still happens in Indonesia.

Thats why the only way is to apply for Dutch citizen but I dont know if Im eligible with this A.S, but without this A.S reason, it will be hard for me to apply for citizenship.

Thanks

The fact that you have AS and need medical assistance will have no detrimental effect on any application for citizenship in Holland or any other EU country. It would be contrary to the human rights legislation they are all signed up to. But I would doubt if having AS and needing treatment that you cannot get at home would help your application either - but I don't know how helpful the Dutch government is in these matters.

Is the human rights legislation you talk about the same for immigration to Canada or U.S?

I know a few years ago when we looked into it Shug was unable to due to him being and I quote "a drain on the countries health resources".

There is a European Convention on Human Rights which has a European Court of Human Rights. Here in the UK the government passed an act which signed us up to it, and often when our government does things which appear to infringe peoples rights they appeal to the european court as final arbiter. If the case goes against the government then they have to amend legislation or change procedures etc. Clearly the US is not part of this.

With regard to Shug, does service with the US army qualify for residency in the UK? I don't know about those things, but I am quite sure they couldn't deny citizenship on health grounds alone.

a dutch study on follow up of a large group of patients on aTNF therapy
is about the best i've read...in a lot of ways the europeans (but not the brits, who have
financial problems) are better than the us about this stuff.

good luck.
love the netherlands, nice place