Visas to stay in Germany with a boy/girlfriend

Hey fellas and ladies

Im living with my girlfriend of 2 years who is a German. Im Canadian. Im in possession of a youth mobilty visa from Canada and my visa expires at the end of April 09. I really want to stay with her. I know there is a visa or something like it in the UK that is called an unmarried partner visa or the like. And Im wondering if there is such a thing in Germany. Or if there is any other way for me to stay besides becoming a student. Im studying German at the VHS right now. Ive already done 200 hours work of courses and I am continuing. Ive heard that because Im studying the language that my visa can be extended or something like that, anyone know?

Any help you guys can offer would be fantastic

Thanks

m@

That's right, it can be extended upto a maximum of 1 year *total*, you just have to provide evidence that you are still enrolled in classes...and I believe you have to take out health insurance in Germany (a travel insurance doesn't cut it if it's longer than like 3-4 months...this is what the helpful lady at the Student info desk at the KVR told me).

The other option is a Working Holiday Visa. As a Canadian citizen, you can stay and work here for 1 year without limitations, and you only need a travel insurance to cover you in that time..

Is a youth mobility visa a working holiday visa? If it is, then it's non-renewable.

Germany does not recognise unmarried partners for visa purposes. So you'll either have to get married or go another way - possibly through a student visa, as already stated, or you have to get work and get your employer to sponsor you.

Whatever way you decide to go though, make sure you go to the Ausländeramt with plenty of time to spare to apply for a visa. These things take a while to get approved and it's obviously best if your current visa doesn't expire while you're waiting on a new one to get approved

I was able to extend my visa in 90-day increments by simply explaining that I was here to be with her (though she is American here on a work visa). After a check of my health insurance and a form stating that she would take responsibility for me, we were fine. Granted, this is a tiny town, and rules probably aren't as strict here as they are in other places with more foreigners, people in general, or anything, at all, whatsoever, to do.

Great! Thank you so much guys. Its nice to have some people who care and are willing to lend a hand. Ill lookin into these options asap!

Cheers

When I was first here and wanted to stay with my then-girlfriend (now wife), to extend the visa I could either fill out a huge pile of papers (which, since I had a job, insurance, retirement fund, etc...would have been ok), OR she could sign that she's responsible for me and would cover the costs of kicking me out of the country if need be, and then we got the visa to stay another year...and all was good. (the next year, they brought out that form and said, ok, still valid, have another 2 years...)

This was 2004 & 2005, so I doubt much has changed with that, though ya never know I guess.

A language learning visa may very well be your easiest option. You just need the papers saying you're CURRENTLY enrolled in German classes over 20hr/week, proof of health insurance and a Verpflichtungserklärung, which your girlfriend needs to do herself at the Ausländersamt. However, if you have significant funds to last the duration of your stay, you won't need the last form. (I'm not sure how much you need to prove you have, though) You should be able to obtain a visa for around a year, which at least buys you some time.

Yep. Exactly what I was talking about. They made me come bcak every 90 days, but it had the same effect.

My boyfriend and I are american citizens. My boyfriend has gotten a job with general motors germany for one year and has a work permit to work in germany just outside the frankfurt area. we will be leaving in january. I was wondering how difficult or easy it will be for me to stay there. they have already set us up with an apartment and I have done some research online which says i should register my residence within ten days of arriving and then apply for a residence permit or work permit, otherwise i wont be able to stay there over 90 day. so i was wondering, is it difficult to get a residency permit to stay for one year? i have money saved so i dont need to nessesarily work but i would like to. can i stay there if i have suffecient funds or is it very difficult? also if i have to leave after 90 days how long do i have to wait before i can come back? any advice or info would be greatly appreciated! thanks in advance.

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Given the current GM / Opel situation I would hope that you have a water-tight exit strategy...

Student visa might be your best choice, and you learn German out of it.

thanks for the info. as far as the student visa, do i just need to be taking german classes to do so? or apply for a school? id like to learn while im out there. i did look up schools but had a hard time finding things because of the lang barrier.

i did look through lots of posts in the seach engine but had trouble finding any pertinant info...

If you do not need the money and will only be here for a year, I second the idea of signing up for language classes. Choose classes that are as long as possible at the Volkshochschule and get a student visa for that.