Visa extension for Americans (Aufenthalterlaubnis)

I live for almost a year now in Munich. In Mai we have to get a new visum (Aufenthaltserlaubnis). The problem with us is that my husband won´t have 3 last payslips. He´ll only have two. I will have all three and I also got an unlimited wokring permit. DOes anyone know if that is going to be a problem???

I can't answer your question, but my own experience is that they weren't interested in when I last got paid, but rather if I was going to be paid. I had to show up with a letter from work and a provisionary verson of the next contract. I think these are much more important.

Incidentally, if you don't have your last pay stubs, there must be some office somewhere that can vouch that you got paid.. could you chase them down and ask them for a stamped verification? Shoud do the trick...

You don't need the actual pay stubs. A copy of your bank statement showing the money going in will do.

Thanks guys. Does anybody know for how long will the next extension be??

my situation was thus: first residence permit listed for one year because i had a job thereby meaning i had said work allowance. 2nd year, residence permit given for another year. work permit only 1. 3rd year, residence permit for 2 years. work permit still only 1. residence permit expires in july. am going for the big U! unlimited. work permit still only yearly.

hi, anyone know how many weeks before a visa expires before you need to go to the office & renew it? and did anyone move here from another (German) town? did the authority already moved your files here or you had to wait? how long was the wait?

You should do it as early as possible, as they like to make people quiver by telling them one week before they're supposed to start working that they'll have to wait a minimum of 6 weeks. (Even if it actually should come within the next few days) If you argue, it goes into the "make 'em wait even longer" box

It's possible to start the renewing process 2 months before your current visa expires. If your next permint is going to be the unlimited one then I'd make it 3 months, cause they can take forever to get...

Do this as soon as possible!!! If not, it is up to the casual treatment of a beamte if they want to make this difficult for you. They could even inform that police if you wait too long. This happened to a mate of mine!! Do it ASAP!

Hi, I was at KVR München yesterday, one month before my visa expires. Everyone except the groundfloor grouches were so friendly and helpful! Unglaublich! The guy who processed my visa did not even ask for proof of financing my stay here, and gave me a new visa that last over a year! PHEW!

sounds kind of slow down there in muncho. I have my 4th renewal coming up, I go a week or so before the due date and it takes an hour or so waiting around in the berliner auslaenderbehoerde. They want 3 months of bank statements or similar, health insurance contract and it costs 50 euroren for the stamp. They even sell coffee or beer to you while you wait.

ok...so just wondering about this...

does it make it harder to get a new residence/ work permit if you change jobs? Aupair for a year (which is all that is allowed), would want a different job if I stayed and have ot get a new work permit to do it. Has anyone done this? (just want to know all my options)

soooo what do they do to you if your visa expires and your still here. Say you have a job and everything is in order...but you havent done the paper work and you relazied when you woke up in a panic in the middle of the night realizing that your previous visa probably expired the day before. When you go in to get your new visa what happens? anyone anyone?

this is purely hypothetical... I mean really...who would be THAT stupid!

actually that sounds really holly golightly. i mean, who would misplace their own telephone?
go apply for a new one and pray you don't have to pay any fines. this is munich. they ain't so nice to strangers in these parts.

How far in advance can you renew --- I think mines up in late January but Id like to get it done early December. Thanks peeps...

@Holly, in the hypothetical case you mentioned, it would not be the first time that this happened to someone here. My quess is that the authorities would give the hypothetical person stern looks, furrowed eye-brows, a couple "tsk, tsk, tsk"es, and maybe a small fee. This would of course depend on the nationality of the person (guess is that eastern europeans get more hassle). that said, there are quite a few people working in munich without the proper papers and the authorities can be hard on them, but it seems that The Man doesn't worry too much about au pairs.

my last one i did 8 weeks in advance. they didn't look at my funny. i actually got a kudo.

ooh thanks

How early can you apply to renew permits?

30-90 Days from the exp. date.

What happens if you are a few days/weeks late at renewing?

Not much.. It only becomes a problem if you "Forget" for several months
or more. And no AFAIK there is no fine/penality.. (I've been down this path twice)

ssshhhh!

HI y'all:

I'm going in tomorrow to get the Unlimited. Have renewed already 4 (or even 5) times.
I don't have a clue as to what I need, how much it costs, or whether it's even a big deal.
Do I need any photos this time, for example? I never had a problem to do a normal extension, and in fact, I always end up with the same Sachbearbeiter, who is super nice, but strict about the paperwork, as you would expect.

If any of you have some pointers for me - would be much appreciated.

Thanks folks!

-WS

So Whoasnap, what was the result? i plan on doing the same this week.

i did this 2 years ago. i think it cost me €50 (?). they already had a recent photo, so that was not necessary. all-in-all, pretty painless.

i did have along a copy of my work permit & contract since that was the basis of my unlimited residence permit.

My question is that I am in the middle of my contract and I am wanting to change to a unbefristet so I can aplly for other jobs. I have worked in Germany since 1.1.2002, I read that if you have worked here ore than three years you can apply for an unlimited one. I just did not know if they need new information, applications or if they require it to be near the end of my current aufenthalterlaubnis.

i had to renew mine anyhow, but it is irrelevant when you go. your old one permit just loses it's validity.

if your work contract is limited, then they will more than likely not give you an unlimited reisence permit, sorry. i had a permanent contract, so it was ok.

wait a minute! i just remembered this: after 3 years of work experience i applied for an unlimited residence permit. i paid a more expensive fee to try & get it & they rejected me. of course that "fee" was used for adminstrative costs, so i did not get it back & they did not put it toward the limited rsidence permit i got instead. i threw away that piece of paper but they said something like i did not meet one of 5 criteria. what i remember were: (1) i had not lived in d-land for 8 years or (2) had not worked for at least 5.

then i started thinking if that 5 years had to do with pension payments. you know, you can get them back if you leave before 5 working years?

i got my permanent one in 2004. i started working in d-land in 1999.

What do I need to bring to get my visa extended?? Right now I only have the 90 tourist visa incase that makes a difference.

tourist visa...so you don't work?

right...I'm looking for a job, don't have one yet tho

well, you have to have a job...or they throw your ass out.

Unless of course you have a German that wants to sign that they're responsible for you?

I renewed mine in December 2005 (which is an affront, seeing as I've been here for decades) and found out that if a member of your family living in your household is German then you don't pay a red cent.

Yea, my bf will be responsible for me... we hafta geta verpflichtungserklaerung.

yeah erdbeere, but what will you be doing here which would warrant the man giving you a visa?

look at www.muenchen.de/Rathaus maybe you'll find something there.

Hmm.. I'll be living with my bf and looking for a job...any chance that would be a valid reason? If not then what are some examples of valid reasons for a visa extension?

o yea.. and maybe I should add that I studied here (2 yrs in Germany and 3 yrs in Austria) ...any chance that might help a bit?

start with this post i found by searching the forum with the word "permits" maybe you'll find some case studies that could help you.

@Elfenstar
The unlimited living/work permit requires that you have lived in Germany for 5 years and have held a steady job for most of that time. As long as your job is Good 2 Go, and you can prove a steady income, then you shouldn't have any probs. in getting an Unlimited..

i already have one and no one helped me do it or gave me good advice on how to go about it.
but you're right. you need 5 years of working.

I would like to stay in Germany for another month, unfortunately my Visa expires the third of March, I am an American Citizen and my boyfriend has a company that could give me a work permit any ideas would be great.

Topics merged by admin

I suggest you go with the blue. It compliments your eyes and besides, the green just really isn't your colour.

I agree, though I personally am fond of looking at pinks, purples and reds. I do tend to choose white furniture even though some people suggest you should always bet on black. So yeah, the blue one and while you're at it, take a side trip to Switzerland get your passport restamped and your good to stay for another 90 days and/or start applying for a residence and work permit.

Official rules for US Citizens from the US Consulate

Good luck!

@Linzi--before getting my work & residence permit some years ago, i did quite the same. Drive from Munich to Lindau then took the ferry to Switzerland but most importantly you have to get your passport stamped (There is a building close to the ferry terminal and those germans will give you a stamp upon request)

When getting back from Switzerland towards EU, you have to ask for the stamp again at the custom where you head for that EU country. After doing this, your passport will have additional 90 days.

P.S. I did this in 2002 so not sure if this is the same

You can probably also get cheap last minute fares. Oh and to be clear, you can choose any non EU country to visit. The only key is getting your passport restamped. I choose Switzerland because I like their chocolate and the cleaners do such a nice job with my money. I think its the extra starch that give it such a professionally laundered feeling.

@ Jml---I Choose Switzerland because after that i can go Milan for shopping ...oh...my Favourite shopping site ...Duomo at milan.

My current favourite chocolate is from belgium hmm used to love Godiva (after trying their ivory collection chocolate (White chocolate one day i almost puke and have gave up (Godiva Bought at the brussel airport) ) but now i like this belgium brand called Leonidas

Hmm some German friends told me that Swiss chocolate contains animal blood!!! is'nt true?

It's been turned into a shopping centre, has it?

nooo...it is like Marienplatz & Maximillian str but more Glamourious

I have done the Swiss thing a couple of times also. Another aspect is this, have you been stamped coming into Germany? My entry was in Amsterdam, and so there is no record of how long I have been in Germany. Be sneaky that is the American way

We're obviously not talking of the same Duomo.

No, that is absolute rubbish.

Most Germans know nothing about any food or drink from outside their local region, so it is best to ignore all opinions or statements they offer on these subjects.

Well in defence of the germans, I have seen candy bars with pictures of animals in front(usually for non-profit charity fundraising or N.R.A). Maybe that is where they got the idea from

no.

Gen would say that.