Yup. I am affected. I am waiting for three weeks now for processing my visa request. But it is not all the problem. Professors see the situation and they are unlikely to give admission to Iranian students because of their shaky visa issues...The effect of the new policies are not limited to now or number of cases which are in process now. It affects all Iranian's even in the future. Once, I applied to a position in a Dutch university and they replied me although nationality is not barrier, we cant wait three month you get your visa and permit. You see. Nationality is barrier. And in this sense Iranian nationality in Netherlands is double-barrier I would say....

Nice article & good news. Why should The Netherlands be the only European country to have such extreme interpretations? This was a collective punishment for Iranian researchers and PhD students who are contributing to the Dutch industry and academia. The only outcome of such moves will be immigration of skilled people to other countries.

I have found a job in Rotterdam in April and in the same time I received two other offers from other companies in UK. I cancelled that offers and accepted Dutch company offer for some reasons. Now I am waiting for about 2 months for my Visa. My life is badly affected and in better words damaged due to this decision! What is my guilty or negligence that I have Iranian parents and just working in oil and gas sector. I have not been involved or in support of Iranian government policies!! I am leaving Iran because I am not happy with what's going on here. Why me and my family should confront to such huge punishment?

It is very surprising that Netherlands is the only EU member who has made this decision .This is the worst interpretation of EU law .Nobody can rely on Netherlands in any cases anymore .

I'm doing my PhD in Netherlands! I have 2 major companies as the sponsors of my project. Considering the current situations caused by IND, me, my university and the companies participating in my project, are all frustrated and worry about the future of the project. I can not risk it remaining in my position in my university till the end of my residency permit, hopping that they expand it, so leaving to a new university in another European country is a very likely option. But what about this project and all the time, money and effort that had been putted on it??

The key sentence in this article is "Some are looking to move to other European countries, as most aren’t placing the same restrictions on Iranians." Why did the Netherlands see fit to wildly over-react to EU sanctions that contain no mention of restricting residence or work permits? Clearly the sanctions aren't to blame, otherwise other European countries would be doing the same. This whole situation stinks of discrimination against non-Western immigrants. As an employer of some Iranian nationals, will I be compensated for the lost productivity resulting from the incredible stress placed on my employees as their entire future and career was placed in jeopardy? Will someone be punished for the tactless and poorly-executed implementation of the ban?

At the time I chose TUDelft to continue my PhD in Petroleum Engineering I had fellowship offers from 2 American universities, but I chose Holland cause there was a highly anticipated job opportunity after graduation. With all of these uncertainties, I have a feeling I made the wrong choice no matter what happens from here on. That's really unfair, I have wasted my time in this country.

I have my application on hold for two months as I have a job offer in Oil and Gas sector; I feel that Dutch government is discriminating by putting this sanction on ordinary people who came here to study or work as they didn’t have any opportunity in Iran. If you have a minimum technical background you can understand that this interpretation from technology transfer sanction is not logical at all. If I cannot get my visa in one month, I should go back as I am unemployed and paying my cost of living. I hope that they can understand the effort that I made for two years to get this point and now I am loosing it.

I hope that the IND do the process of our application as faster as for compensation.

I'm wondering why iranian students/people should be punished? what have we done wrong? we are just a group of -mostly young- people seeking better academic education in Europe. we don't have anything to do with our government. even usa has not put these restriction on iranians.

It is really stupid from IND. most iranian students come to NL for 4 years pay tax and then get a good job and stay here. accepting brains from iran will actually close iranian government hands to use them now.As you see US it self also Canada and other countries are accepting iranian brans as usual. Dutch government is just trying to cover they shame on ING bank-Iran story.

I have been effected by my culture and country being over run

I have a Phd position in UMC St. Radboud, because of new restriction I could not start my job from 1st of April and it caused me alot of stress and problem. But fortunately, today I was informed that IND approved my request. It was quite difficult time until today. I hope that the Dutch government decide in more wise way next time and consider that their bahvior change my feeling about the Netherlands to a negative direction.

I am one of the applicants who applied for a PhD position in institute MAASTRO CLINIC. Although my major is not related to sanctioned sector at all, because of this decision my application was rejected by the Human resources of the university and it was not reviewed by scientific reviewer. I was rejected due to my nationality!

Regularly Iran suffers from lack of talent skilled works especially skilled oil and gas experts. During past years before the sanctions become functional, the government outsourced these services to foreign companies. But now they have very limited number of professionals who should be assigned to required services. Iran regional competitors with shared oil and gas reservoirs such as Qatar and Saudi started to employ these professionals with much attractive offers. In this situation, IND decision to abstain Iranian knowledge workers to immigrate is most favorable action to Iranian government. I wonder that how IND forces these people to stay in Iran and work for Islamic regime with the aim of harming the regime!

Restricting some people because they have been born in a specific land!
What do you call this? The only word I can put on this action is racism! Put sanctions on the Iranian government NOT ordinary people!

The main part of EU sanction resolution which NL government interprate to put iranian Highly skilled immigrants visa, MVV or residence permit on hold is: Training, transfering technology. Now our questions are:
1- It is about technology related / or dual usage in Atomic weapons not oil and gas
2- Many Iranians more than 4 or 5 years working in Oil and Gas sector as a senior engineer, now they are fully expirt and trained and sending them to Iran means they will transfer technology!
3- What is the guarantee the other nationalities same as Iranians in Nederland do not work for Iranian oil sector. I know many EU engineers would like for good income everywhere.

It is surprising in a country that International Court of Justice is located there. This is discrimination to separate a group of people because of their nationality, opinion
This is surprising news in a country which government believe in … The government will no longer make policy based on where people come from ... The same rules will apply to everyone. People will no longer be put into groups… “ (http://www.government.nl/issues/integration/integration-policy)
This is not the way to behave with a group of people whom brought knowledge and experience to this country, contributing to this society and willing to settle down here and leave in peace JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR NATIONALITY and MAJOR !

The problem is the mentality of some countries trying to spread democracy using their colonial minds.
Why do not you apply the same standards on Israel? Israel occupied 5 Arab countries and still occupying 3. It is the only country with a (French built) Nuclear Facility for producing nuclear bombs. And what is more shocking is Germany supplying them for free, submarines to carry nuclear missiles. Iran never attacked any country but check its history since 1890 and see how many times the west interfered in Iran, especially in 1952 (Mosadeq).
@Phil I wonder if you had ever read history and stopped at how many countries your culture destroyed by colonization and also still until today through selling them weapons.

Only the petroleum, natural gas, and petrochemical industries? The one's in the nuclear sector and high-tech sector are exempt. The one's studying international law, economics and politics are exempt. The one's attached to the military are exempt. What drivel. Perhaps our politicians need to get an education so that they can make sensible decisions.

I have spent 5 months for find a job. I have notified my current (past) employer and finished my job here as instructed by my new DUTCH employer! Also my wife did the same. Now it is 2 months that we are jobless and waiting for our Visa. Really shameful!! You demolished my whole life. Me and my wife both are extremely nervous and frustrated. We are in the most painful days of our life. You made us to lose our jobs, spend a lot money, sell our furniture, bring commitments to ourselves and many more. OK, Just explain us the reason!!! WHY? What is our crime or negligence? Why we should confront to this trouble?

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop-the-unjustified-embargo-for-iranian-nationals/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=system&utm_campaign=Send%2Bto%2BFriend

@Kairdo: answer is simple - Israel is a friend of Europe, it will not attack Europe, its government doesn't hold European citizens or diplomats as hostages and its government doesn't finance terrorist organization that fight against European allies.

@Karido- Colonization brought great good to impoverished nations, I am proud of my history.

IND simply stopped processing of ALL applications from Iranians?! Seriously IND? What where you thinking? Perhaps somebody thought ok let's stop it all and then think what the description of sanction is. Is this how you deal with things? That is absolutely brilliant!! You know what I think it has to become a model for all the activities. Government is going to cut some spendings? great! Freeze all the governmental transactions and then we will see what the intention was.

@Karido,I am an Iranian immigrant in the Netherland, I don't understand why you are making this issue about colonization.
The decision that IND made can be questioned via different channels such as startin ga court case or using media to get the attention of Dutch public but being defensive is not gonna help our situation.From my experience with Dutch people and Dutch system, I have the impression that they are rather reasonable and fair. Dutch people also have sympathy with Iranians. So instead of provoking them we should seek their support not question why they are doing the things they are doing in their own country.

@Phil: Colonization of countries was done for political power & control of resources.

America's indigenous population was practically wiped out, good?? So long NL & other Western states support America with troops & weapons (The banksters), to get their greedy little mitts on the oil fields & pipelines, expect surges of refugees (More immigrants.)

Ever thought of moving to the Pitcairn Islands, Adam's Town? :)

I am working here as a kennismigrant in the petroleum industry. I bought a house and my kid is born here and now he is going to school. I’ve invested here for a long term. How it is possible that the government send me back to Iran just by doing such a harsh interpretation from the sanction!
Who is going to compensate all the losses!
Moreover, they trained us for few years and now they want to send us back to Iran, isn’t it in contradictory with transferring knowledge to Iran?!

I was happy when I moved to The Netherlands to do a PhD in Petroleum engineering. I do not recommend this country since the output is scaled based on the nationalities. I was in Brussels to attend a conference with the theme “Should I stay or should I go?” organized by European commission. All the key speakers from different European countries clearly emphasized that hosting researchers and PhDs from all over the world is the most important tool to succeed toward the EU 2020 horizon. It seems all other EU members are all aware of the added value of knowledge business except The Netherlands. If this is the case, I would definitely say, I go.

The Dutch government plays a nice game. On one hand, because of budget shortage and financial crisis, they encourage Dutch universities to accept self- financially supported applicants, mostly Chinese and Iranian applicants. One the other hand, the Dutch government does something absolutely in contrast to what he has said before, i.e., suspending the residency of Iranian students. Indeed, IND is able to recognize easily those students who have connections with the Iranian government or are supported by that government.

I have been affected in a bad order. I have been admitted in chemical engineering. don't receiving my visa is not harming my government but my academic life because I do not work for my government.
Also this is argue about human rights because Dutch government is limiting some groups' rights for study for their nationality. Please stop it.

Don't forget when Racial segregation in South Africa began in colonial times under Dutch "Apartheid". Nowadays another type of Apartheid but Nation segregation under Dutch is starting.