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dprombaum
Joined 2001
Posts: 57

12 years ago

New point-based residency permit

12 years ago

A new law went into effect today. Here is a translation of the article published in "La Repubblica".

INTEGRATION
Test of Italian and civics class, point-based residency permits for immigrants
Permanent residency for those who earn 30 points, those with zero will be deported. Effective as of today for new entrants. Maroni: it will put the burden on foreigners
by FABIO TONACCI

ROME - They will have two years to learn how Parliament and the government work, what the constitution says, how to use the subjunctive tense and Italy's civil rules. After that, foreigners with their documents in order who have requested a residency permit will have their credits counted. It's a sort of "immigrants' report card". If they have at least 30 points, they will be promoted and receive permanent residency. With less than thirty, but more than 16, they will be "retested" and will have a year to make up what they missed. With zero points or fewer, which could happen with, for example, a criminal conviction, they will be failed and immediately deported.

These are the provisions of the "Integration Agreement between Foreigners and the State", introduced with Maroni's security package in 2009 and approved by the Council of Ministers yesterday. It affects all foreigners, age 16 and up, who are not illegal aliens and are entering Italy for the first time who request a residency permit for longer than one year. It is automatically signed at the time they apply at an information point in a prefecture or police station. In practice, the state is asking immigrants to study, to learn the basics of spoken Italian, the civic culture and civil life and public institutions, with particular attention to the healthcare system, schools and work and tax obligations. The government will do its part by organizing free courses of five to ten hours within three months from the signing of the agreement. There will also be a final exam.

The key feature of the new system is the "report card". Everyone starts with 16 points. Points are earned by attending the free classes but also by registering with the National Health Service (4 points), proving that they have a business (4 points) or a house (up to 12 points), that they are fluent in Italian (up to 30 points) or that they have an education (up to 4 points for a middle school diploma up to a maximum of 64 points for a PhD). Points can be deducted "if the foreigner has a criminal conviction, even if not final," explained Interior Minister Maroni, the author of the agreement, "or if they have committed serious administrative or tax crimes." One month before the expiration of the two-year educational period, there will be an audit: residency will be granted for 30 or more points. The more meritorious will be given additional "prize" classes. With 16 to 30 points, they will be given one more year to be "promoted". While those with fewer, or zero, points will have no choice: failure, which means deportation. The same will happen if minor children do not complete their obligatory education.

"This is not a punitive tool," stressed Sacconi, the Minister of Welfare, "we will work with foreigners to achieve integration." According to Livia Turco, the Immigration Manager for the Democratic Party, the opposition was against a point-based residency permit, which is used in Canada and other English-speaking countries, "because, first, we need to guarantee reliable processing times for residency permit renewals and provide language and culture courses in public schools."
(July 29, 2011)

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