Runners in Bruxelles: what do you do when it rains and/or snows during autumn and winter? Which areas and gear do you suggest for outdoor running during this time or do you go to gym or not run at all?
Wondering if anyone has any advice on my situation. Both my husband and I are from an African country but only married by religious rites. My husband is also half-Italian, half-Belgian (but born in South Africa). He unfortunately lost his Belgian citizenship because he did not declare he would like to keep it before a certain age (he was unaware he needed to do this at the time). I received a job offer from a company in Belgium and moved here earlier this year. My husband came over to the EU on his Italian passport. He has a Belgian ID number at the commune but doesn’t have a residence card or passport. The commune told him he can regain his Belgian citizenship if he lives here for 12 months, but when he tried to register for residence at the commune, they told him that he cannot register without a health card. When he tried to get health insurance, they told him he needs to get one in Italy as he is on an Italian passport. He also does not have work here yet (he has been applying but no luck yet) so he cannot apply under a work visa (and cannot apply as my spouse as we do not bot have a civil marriage). He also cannot get a health card in Italy because he does not have a residence card there either (but he has a tax number, although even if he files his taxes, it will be a 0 return because he has never worked there).
So basically he cannot get a residence permit without a health card but also cannot get a health card without a residence permit.
At the moment, we are living apart, with him in Italy, and he visits me in Belgium every few weeks. He was going to try getting a lease in Italy so he can apply for a residence permit there, but it’s extremely expensive to maintain two leases on one salary, although he is continuing to look for work in both countries.
I am wondering if there is any way for him to stay in Belgium and get his residence permit so he can regain his citizenship. Anyone know if there is a way around this endless loop?
I have been applying for remote positions on Indeed, Glassdoor, and similar sites, however, I’ve now received two responses from applications where I am told the decision is down to the last few candidates but, unfortunately, the company wants someone who can work in-office.
While I’m not opposed to the idea of going in to the office, and I would make it work if I did get the position, is this common practice for jobs in Belgium? It just seems odd that they would advertise for remote positions then tell candidates they want in-office employees.
I initially thought maybe my skillset or resume was lacking, but the fact that it’s happened twice now—for a position in Antwerp and for one in Brussels—is strange.
For context, the positions I applied for were in graphic/visual design. My previous roles have included being an art director across multiple magazines and I also had my own creative agency in another country prior to moving to the EU.