I'm looking for experiences and advice concerning the "Sofortige Niederlassungsbewilligung," which is a special-case immediate long-term residence permit for highly-qualified foreign workers (in case you didn't already know that). Basically you get to jump the line by four-plus years if the government considers your contribution to the country (and tax base) important enough. This was created specifically to make Germany more competitive with the US, where there's a clear path from H1B to Green Card for high-tech immigrant workers, particularly Indians.
I'm currently exploring the possibility of a relocation to Munich, and I believe I qualify for this greencard-like provision because:
- I am highly qualified in a strategic industry (software).
- I would have the backing of a large multinational company's German office.
- I would meet the income requirements, though I might not be far over the line.
- I speak, read and write fluent German (though this may or may not be a requirement).
- I have enough family (cousins) and friends in Germany that I would count as "socially integrated" which is a requirement for a normal Niederlassungsbewilligung and might help even though it's not technically a requirement, for obvious reasons, for the instant version.
My reason for trying to get this is that while I intend to stay in Germany for the long haul, I work in a very volatile industry, so switching jobs or even going self-employed for a stretch is pretty normal stuff, and I want to minimize the bureaucratic burden of such moves should they be necessary.
I'm a US citizen by the way, around 40, and have lived in Germany before (as a DAAD-sponsored student) and elsewhere in the EU, legally, through my own company at the time.
If anyone has experience with that particular class of permit I would love to hear about it.
Thanks in advance!