Applying for German citizenship under article 116

I'm an Australian about to apply for German citizenship under article 116, which allows for the naturalization of descendants of victims of nazi persecution (more info: http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/cons...erung_BVA-e.pdf )

Apparently it's a long and sometimes tricky process. I was wondering whether anyone else had any experience of doing this that they would like to share, and whether they have any advice on how to approach the process.

How's your German?

I don't think Hutcho realizes this, but German language ability is irrelevant for eligibility in these cases. To the OP- which situation applies to your case- are you the descendant of a Jew or other person stripped of their citizenship by the Nazis or is your eligibility derived from some other set of circumstances?

I'm pretty sure I'm eligible. My grandmother left Germany just before the war and was stripped of her citizenship because she was jewish. Luckily she took quite a bit of documentation with her.

I'm really wondering whether anyone else here had done the same thing and has any tips for applying? I've heard that it can take a year or two, and I was wondering whether there's anything that can help speed up the process, or if there are any common problems.

No, I wasn't suggesting that being able to speak German was a requirement in this case. Just with other threads I have read on here in this regard, it seems like quite a draw out process, and it's going to be tough without being able to speak German. If you have a lot of documentation, I'm sure that will make it a lot smoother.

I have been through the process. It's great that you have a lot of documentation, but given the fact that it is your grandmother and not your grandfather (both of my paternal grandparents were German Jews) don't be surprised if you get rejected even if your grandmother lost her German citizenship before taking on that of another country (also a requirement). Since it does not cost anything to apply, you might as well try it. What documentation do you have? Even with a lot of documentation, you would be surprised how many other obstacles and pitfalls there are, but the more documentation the better- an application can be rejected for having too little documentation.

Possibly the most important documentation is your grandmother's naturalization document(s) from Australia saying when she got naturalized and that she came from Germany (if that is what such documents said at the time).

jackus, even if you are successful won't you still have to give up your Australian citizenship?

No you do not have to give up your other citizenship.

I also do not believe you can apply directly as a descendant. First your grandmother's citizenship needs to be restored, then your parents, and then yours. So you have to have documentation showing your grandmother was a German citizen, then documentation showing your parent is her child, and then documentation showing you are their child. If you contact the consulate they will tell you what documentation they need. In New York there are lawyers who will do the entire thing for you.

It should only take a couple of months. Definitely not years. I also think you will first get your citizenship, and then have to apply for a passport.

Here is an article I found on the thing. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-0...270955086_x.htm

Thanks everyone for your answers, I'll let you know how I get on.

Conquistador, what were the main obstacles and pitfalls you mentioned that you found in your application process?

The most likely and most serious obstacles I mentioned above. Other possibles ones are name changes or incorrect information on birth certificates, or even a step-parent being listed as a biological father/mother on a birth certificate. To give just one example, a person born "Beate" in Germany but who goes by Beatrix or Beatrice in the country to which they immigrated and Beatrice shows up on their child's birth certificate. Perhaps the grandchild has gone through a change of name or two (more documentation needed and makes the application confusing).

It is not accurate that a grandparent and a parent's citizenship must be restored prior to the granchild being awarded citizenship, although, yes, you obviously have to prove descent from the person deprived of their citizenship by the Nazis. Many grandparents are deceased, and many of them and their children aren't interested in acquiring German citizenship. My grandmother is still alive but my grandfather isn't, yet I got it through him. The application should not take years, especially if you have clear documentation and all the information they ask for.