Language

A requirement of inburgering (integration) is learning Dutch, unless you're coming from the EU basically. It must be learned to some degree within 3.5 years of entry, and is also a requirement when applying for permanent residency or naturalization.

There are 6 CEF levels of Dutch: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, going from easiest to most difficult. The civic integration exam tests for A2, which is required to pass.

Failure to pass at A2 can mean a fine if you haven't been trying to learn the language, an extension of time to learn Dutch, or a waiver of the requirement if learning disabled and unable to learn Dutch better. No mention of people getting deported! Yay!

There's another test, the Staatsexamen NT2 (State Examination) for people that need to prove they can speak Dutch well enough to work in certain jobs or study in certain programs, and can also be used for residency purposes. Level 1 corresponds with B1 and level 2 corresponds with B2. The NT2 looks pretty similar to some aspects of college entry exams - showing that you can read and understand, explain what you read, and communicate ideas, as well as listening comprehension.

The official websites describing these tests are all in Dutch of course, except for a main page if you're really lucky. translate.google.com is your friend if you want more in-depth data. Some use frames however, which means the entire site shows the same URL for every page, and clicking on links to frames won't result in getting a translated page, making for mucho cut and paste. I hates frameses. To be even more clever in withholding useful information from non-Dutch speakers, sometimes the relevant information is contained in video clips in Dutch. Google translate doesn't help with those :-(

Dutch courses are available for very cheap. But not until after you've been accepted as a resident. There are also loans available if going to the equivalent of an accredited school, which can be used for related expenses like travel and childcare. Some of the course costs can be refunded to you when you pass the exam. Groovy!

In addition to private language companies, Dutch can be learned at most, if not all, vocational schools (called ROCs). ROCs are somewhat similar to community colleges back in the states, but in addition to providing classes and certifications for adults, also provide vocational training for children aged 12 and up on a vocational education track.

At my incomplete imburgering interview, I was informed that the location where I would be taking classes depends on my Dutch abilities and education level. So it sounds like you might not just end up taking classes at the nearest ROC. I'll find out one of these days. Or weeks. Or months.

A few sites I glanced at indicated that it takes approximately one year of regular classes (5 hours in class per week) to attain the A2 level of dutch, or a year of intensive classes (15 hours in class per week) to get B1 or B2.

I'm tempted to go for B1 or B2, since I'd like work in law eventually. I'd probably be stuck with work involving international law unless I want to go through law school again since the first time was quite horrible, but would probably need good Dutch to communicate with my overlords/employers. The problem is that intensive courses are basically full time jobs if you're studying properly, which is 1-2 hours of studying per hour spent in class. Which would make it difficult for me to work at the same time, especially in a full time job. Well, impossible with a full time job. I don't have the stamina for 13 hour days, not counting travel.

But I need to start working soon, since law school, aside from being horrible and mostly useless, left me with a lot of student loan debt. Unless being in language classes in a foreign country is sufficient to put my loans in deferment. Guess I'll find out!