18-year old planning a move to Germany

Currently I'm 17 (18 within 1.5 months) and I can't take living with my family anymore. I know as soon as I turn 18 I'm getting kicked out. My parents already wish to kick me out, but they are still liable for anything I may do. I don't have any relatives either that I can go to. Anyways, I'm German by birth, American by education (dual citizen). So I guess I should just start with my questions.

- I have 1 year left in high school (senior), will I be able to attend some sort of program to finish out high school?

- I have around 7-8k saved up, should this last me 2-3 months in order for me to get a job and get settled in?

- What would be an ideal job for an 18 y/o fluent English speaker? My German is alright, above average, but still not the greatest. I was thinking of joining the military for the time being. How does that work? Do they have a similiar program like the Army Reserve?

I think thats all my questions.

Thanks, Ayrs.

You are German, just take advantage of what the system can offer you. Move to Germany when you are 18 and apply for social help and go to the University and study something.

good advice, and dont bring all the money with you. if you have it on a german bank, you will be denied social help.

What a lovely attitude you have towards your parents who have loved, raised, nurtured and paid for you the last 17 odd years. Honour thy father and thy mother... you might find the big bad world out there quite a shock. Do you realise you get sent to war in the military?

Maybe the tortured, abused and neglected him for the last 17 odd years. You're assuming a lot with your post there. We simply don't know.

Sounds like a smart move Ayrs. You don't say if you are male or female or what you are good at but off the bat as a suggestion I would say get a bar job, perfect your German and continue your studies. Keep your bar job going while you continue your studies - I think the University is free here - much cheaper than the States anyway.

I came here for information, not to be preached. You don't know my situation, my parents, or even me so take your thoughts of "ideal, proper, and respecting" kid and shove it. I didn't even say one thing about my parents and you automatically assume I don't appreciate what I have been given, and that I'm just some punk kid. Also, with all your wisdom of life, you should realiZe that there are other branches of the military that don't go to the front lines? Jeeze, don't waste your time posting senseless garbage. All it's going to give you is responses like this.

Don't join the military if you're unsure. I think it's pretty tough to quit once you're in.

And yeah, his parents may have been complete asses. At least he's exploring options.

Ayrs, keep your knickers on. You're going to get a lot of posts that you might not like. You have to learn to deal with it or you'll have a real hard time. Take whatever good advice you can and ignore anything else.

Ayrs - you sound just from that 1 posting that you can get your shit together. You know what you want to do, and you have a plan and some cash saved - you will be fine over here. Remember in life, it doesn't ever need to be a perfect plan, just executed with a degree of purpose - which you clearly have. Good Luck.

p.s. But dont get chopsy with the peeps here 'cos nobody ever agrees on nothing. Just ignore the posts you don't like.

Good advice from Krieg & angelbeast, but also, don't do anything rash.

The grass always seems greener on the other side of the ocean when you think that life, as you know it, at home, is finished. If you have friends you could talk with about your decisions, it would be good - or someone you trust at any rate. Thoroughly research before making a final decision.

Have you ever lived in Germany?...and by that I mean in the past say, 5 years where you would have some idea of what to expect? Do some research about a Uni or College in the place where you think you wish to live in Germany and see what you can achieve. Don't go walking too fast on this one - it's very difficult being a teenager, but problems do pass.

What about moving some place else in the States and getting a job there instead of half a world away?

If you heart is set on Germany, don't forget that if things didn't work out for one reason or another, you'd have to figure out...what next?

Take it slowly, you don't have to quit the States as soon as you reach 18 - nothing magic happens when you 'come of age' - but, some miracles do happen if your heart is at the right place at the right time.

Don't forget either that your mum and dad were your age once - albeit aeons ago perhaps (!!!), talk with friends or someone else you trust...the right things will happen when the time is right for you. :-)

Good idea. It just really irks me. I have been through a lot in the past 6-8 months and then to have someone tell me I'm an unappreciative kid really gets to me. Just tired of being stepped on. Sorry for being rude feather. =\

Well if he comes over and keeps his German citizenship he could do his year of complusary military service anyway.

I reckon you are better off finishing school first though. It will make life a lot easier later on. It would probably be hard to finish oer here and getting into University without having finished school will take a bit more time and effort.

War? In the German military? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! HA HA HA!

My arse. The German military does absolutely fuck all apart from threaten me with fines for walking my dog on their training grounds, and needlessly waste taxpayers money.

Just to disagree slightly on the above. Sounds like Ayrs is maybe in a bad place at the moment. There are plenty of people here that have also jumped ship from something/someone/somewhere, and moving to another country can be a very refreshing way to restart your life. If at the age of 18 you can't take a risk then when? If Germany sucks you can always get a cheap flight back to the USA and be back in 12 hours.

Welcome to the internet. You don't know the people here and they don't know, and for the most part don't care about, you. Same is pretty much true in the real world too, it's just more concentrated on an internet discussion forum as a lot more people will see and have the chance to respond to what you say.

What a great idea. I say be rash and do it. What better time is there, and what luck that you are also German and won't have to pay for your higher education, should you want one (hopefully you do, it will really help you). You sound like you could handle the change... just make damn sure you know EXACTLY what to expect and what you want from the experience before you buy your ticket.

Ayrs sometimes the grass really is greener on the otherside. Don't let your savings drop and don't give up your studies even if you join the military.

Not for free anymore, but much cheaper than in many countries.

Or get blown up in Afghanistan.

@ Ayrs - You sound familiar. Have we recently been on MSN together?

Here is a link from the U.S. Department of State, regarding U.S. and German Dual Nationality. It states that Germany will require a person with dual citizenship to decide one nationality or the other by age 23:

http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/servi...ationality.html

Edit: whether Germany requires a person to renounce a citizenship of another country or not apperently depends on whether or not the person was born with both citizenships. In this case it may be Germany that requires giving up the other citizenship, per the information from the link above. However, both Germany and the United States recognize the concept of dual nationalities.

A German citizen is *required* to participate in military service or civil protection:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Germany

Didn't Germany decide that this WASN'T necessary? I think the US has lots of little rules and conditions like this, but if the other country doesn't agree, then the US has to back off. The US really seems to get off on making dual citizens renounce one or the other citizenship. It's not legal, though.

Well, I was 21 when I sold my car for a ticket to Germany. So I can understand the temptation.

However, definitely get the high school finished and then look for education/training options here. Well, look for them first while finishing school (which could be this summer?). Getting a spot at a university here will be tough with "just" a high school degree - unless they've relaxed the rules. But there are tons of other training and education options. While registered as a student you get lots of other perks on insurance and public transport and such as well.

Is it 7-8k in €'s or $'s?

It's a big difference. You'll struggle to get through your first 3 months either way - especially as you'll need a flight ticket to get here, a place to live and associated costs (deposit, furniture, etc) as soon as you get here.

Money tends to be spent quickly when you move...

Hold on here , 1st tings 1st , you're a chick right ?

If I stay where I am at now, I won't be finished with high school for another 11 months and there is no way that is possible. I know a little bit on how their education system works, but I don't know if they have a vocational type school. I would like to become a computer programmer.



The good ol' depreciated American dollar. Good thing about me is I'm not very materialistic. But your right the plane ticket alone is 1500 . And all I would be bringing is carry-on luggage and 2 suitcases below.


I'm a male.

Maybe I misunderstand your question, but if you are thinking about quitting highschool in the US and finishing it in germany - that seems like a very bad idea. Getting germans (authorities, potential employers,...) to accept a US highschool exam will already be difficult, but arriving with some unfinished education sounds like career suicide to me. If there is some career advisor at your school, you should really talk to him. Maybe some kind of exchange problem would help you to get a first impression of germany.

People on this board are talking about free education (probably thinking of studying), but you were talking about joining the military, so thats probably not your plan. To study in germany you´d need an exam, good grades and a lot of money (even if there are no university fees)


You can certainly live on that for 3 months, but Im not so sure if you could find a job that pays enough to support you after that money has run out.


There is none. Even the german kids have problems finding a decent job. Well maybe some international trainee program...


I dont really know, but there might be problems for people with dual citizenship. There is still a military draft in germany, but again dual citizenship could be a problem.

It seems you are willing to do some research. Keep that up and use your german skills to gather some reliable information from official german websites. Good luck with your plans.

He is German, he only needs to be here and he can go directly to the Arbeitsamt and register himself for social help. His apartment will be paid and he will get at least the Hartz IV money. The Arbeitsamt can even give him some money to buy basic furniture and will pay for his German classes in case he does not speak German yet.

Actually, if I were him/her, I would find a way to hide the money he already has.

1500? Where are you looking? Keep looking around for a cheaper ticket, you're bound to find something, or, you can also go to the airport and be on stand-by.
I agree with the first post that was made right after your question. Come here, get into the system, finish school and go to uni. You're a german citizen so you'll be relatively taken care of.

I would definately try calling German Embassy in your home state to ask a few of your questions in regards to living in Germany on your own. They could give you more concrete answers.

edit: forgot that you still have a year of highschool. i have a friend who came here from the states to finish up highschool. it didn't pose any problems.

It isn´t a problem ... unless he joins foreign armed forces

German nationality law ... § 28 StAG

Most places won't look at you without a university degree. Easiest place to get one of those is in England - if you can swing it so you are in England as a "German", then the uni will get loads of grant money, let you in for sure, and will still graduate you even if you do no work, because of the aforementioned grant they'll get.

I think some TTers are forgetting the boy is German, do not scare him, he only needs to come to Germany.

it is compulsory that he does something if he is male and a German citizen. i think they can "get" you until your 26 or so.

also, if you only have 12 years of school, you cannot study at a university here. maybe a FH, but not a full-fledged university. you'll have to do some extra schooling.

Can you clarify this bit here:

Are you meaning that you
a ) were born in Germany as a foreigner or that you
b ) were Born a red blooded german citizen born to german parent(s) in Germany or somewhere else and you already possess a German passport?

Everyone to this stage has presumed B ) but is that the case.

As far as I know, you cannot claim unemployment or security benefits until you have actually paid into the German system for a certain amount of time... even as a German citizen. I researched this route when I first came to Germany, but no dice.

As for military service, all German males are required to complete either community service or fulfill a year of military training. If you come to Germany and register at the KVR, Germany has the right to "call" on you to fulfill this duty whenever they please. This was an issue when my brother claimed his German citizenship last year, but luckily, he is 30 and past the "desireable" age.

Not necessarily. You need the Allgemeine Hochschulreife (Abitur) which is not linked to a specific number of years of schooling. You need a Fachabitur for the Fachhochschule. Don't ask me which diplomas from other countries are recognized, though, I really don't know.

Yes he can, straight to Hartz IV.

PS. Following your theory, people who never worked in their lives could not claim Hartz IV.

I think what he would need to to is going to Kolleg after learning German language.

Yes, I am thinking of quitting my 12th grade year (which hasn't started yet) and some how finishing it in Germany. Maybe on-line courses? Also I really don't want to join the military, but if cash is limited, and my education is payed for, then its a sacrifice I will have to make.


I live in AK. Thats why plane tickets are so much for me.


I was born in Germany to 2 American parents.

Well, this might change everything. Are you sure you hold the German citizenship? Do you have a German passport? Been born in Germany does not make you a German.

Hmm..under normal circumstances you don't have german citizenship.

I have read it all before, but I'm 100% sure. Gotta search again heh. And if I'm wrong, well bummer.

Why do you think you have dual citizenship then?

The question is easy, do you have a German passport or not? I guess you do not have one and you thought you were German because you were born here, sorry you are not.

That will definitely mean you will have to rethink your plans.

Many of us here know people that were born in Germany and have lived in Germany all their lives but who are not German citizens (ie. because at 18 they chose the different nationality of one or both parents).

These people are not German citizens. Neither are they automatically entitled to become German nationals just because they want to.

They are foreigners and treated as such according to their nationality (ie. EU ones have more rights than most etc).

They (or their parents) thought they were being smart by the child to take the other nation's nationality at 18. They expected some sort of "dual entitlement" in two nations. They were wrong. All it means was no entitlement to the things that Geman citizens get - and treatment as a foriegner.

So different access to state benefits, Uni education etc.

How much German does the OP speak btw? An 18 y.o with no support who can#t speak German may find it hard.

Yup plans will have to thought through again. My parents always just assumed I was entitled to the benefits like swimmer said. Nice catch. Well how hard is to become a citizen? I guess I should start researching that before anything else.

Also I would like to add, do I have any advantage of becoming a citizen over Jon Doe? Or is it like I was just born in states.

"My German is alright, above average, but still not the greatest." (see post 1)

Virtually impossible. Lots of info on it on TT, as well as personal experiences. Read away!

8 years living in Germany working, paying taxes, etc, and some other requirements like basic German language command, knowledge of the country, politics and culture, etc.