Waiting times for work permits for Germany

Hi all,

I applied for a work permit from Australia and found out yesterday that the foreigner's office had contacted my location of employment. This is obviously good news as it means something is happening, after 6 weeks.

I'm wondering if anyone can share their experience as to how long they had to wait after this first momentous occasion, of hearing back on a decision? Obviously it will be different for everyone but the fact they have started looking at the application means that it can't be too far away? Can it?

My experience is 24 hours, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks, but I am here, not in Oz. To my knowledge the employer was never contacted. Good Luck!

I figure how long you wait also depends on your company. For me it was 3 weeks. But I work for one of the companies that employ the highest number of foreigners, which means good relations with arbeitsamt, ausländerbehörde etc.
Also important is how much your company wants to support your application. It has happened to good friends of mine that there has been a problem in the foreigner's office and the company showed no interest in standing behind the application and the permit was a no go.

In my first case - 2 days as I used an agency to do the leg work (company paid). Second time was during the mass redundancy phase in 2003 so they held off granting the permit until they had advertised the job my company had already offered me for 4 weeks in the Unemployment Office job database, just in case a German could fit the profile. I don't things have improved much since then. I strongly recommend you get an agency to do this for you as they know the staff there, and can turn things around a lot quicker. The one I used is called TM-Relocations and they have done all my permits for me over the years. I believe Swift relocations is also good and they can help you find an apartment too.

TM Relocations

Good luck with it all.

God, I didn't have to go through much processing. First, I was in Germany, second - I was the first American to work for my company. I filled out the paperwork myself, gave it to my company (a small one), they stamped it, signed it and put in their tax number, etc. Then I trotted my butt down to Arbeitsamt and it was approved within 5 minutes of walking in the office. My boyfriend, who went with me, was extremely surprised. I didn't have to wait at all because, once you make over a certain amount of money, they can approve it on the spot because they assume that if you're making that much money, then you are highly qualified (cough, cough) and they won't find anyone within the 4 weeks that will be able to do the job.

Of course, all this was 4 years ago...so that probably makes a difference. Also, I was told "you're American, no problem". (shrug)

So my husband is German, I'm from the US (hopefully his German-ness will help speed things up!) -- what would you ballpark for a wait time to jump through all the hoops?

side note: We'll be depending on my income once we get to Germany since he'll be back in school. I'm just wondering how many months we should plan on spending down our savings acct until I can legally work (assuming I can even get a decent paying job!).

thanks!

Topics merged by admin

If you are earning over €85k you will get a permit almost immediately. If not, count on 4-10 weeks although your marital situation should put you closer to the 4 week mark. Good luck, stay patient.

Edit, YSL is right My comments were assuming you are a professional with someone to offer you work. If you just want to serve pints, well, all bets are off.

The question might not be "how long" more "if" you will get a work permit. It's not guaranteed, and unless you have special skills, or a company who need you enough to sponsor you, it's not an easy journey...

My advice, get a good relocation agent!

Its good to have a job offer first, all I had to do was wait for work permits and that barely took 10 days for me with merely a bachelors degree.

I think its all luck of the draw maybe...

In need of some up to date information - what is the general waiting times theses days??

What makes you think anything has changed?

wishful thinking i guess..

I saw an update to this topic and so since I am the thread starter, thought i would update my own status.

I have been in Frankfurt now for a little over 12 months and to say that getting the visa to be here was a challenge, well that is quite the understatement.

I ended up using a relocation agent and passed the expense on to my company. I tried doing it myself at the beginning but i just came up against wall after wall. My situation was far from standard and it was just not possible to explain it to anyone in English (everyone I spoke to did not know English, or refused to speak in it).

Also the documentation required though the relocation agent was suprisingly much less than what was requested when i tried it myself. It seems to me that, like usual, it is a case of who you know, not what documentation you have.

Cheers,
oz_troy

Hi Freinds,
Need Help!

I am an Indian,working in a Software company at India.
3 weeks back I came to Germany on dependent visa ,as my husband is working here.
I am on a long leave and my company promised me that they will get me work here in German branch of d same company.
Today i got a call from the German office of my company that they have vacancy for me and i can join dem asap.
but now problem is i dont have work permit.Though my company is same I cant work here.
Another option is I have to resign from my Indian branch and again join the German branch,but again I have to apply for work permit and dey wer saying it will take more than 3 months!!!
They are more than willing to take me as soon as possible and I too m willing to join ASAP.
Ne suggestions!!!
Any shortcut or way...even client is ready to help...

What if I wana join another German company?how long wil it take to get the work permit in that case?

Topics merged by admin

Congratulations, you have the ideal situation. Call up your company's German Human Resources person and ask them to go with you to the bureaucracy and fill out the forms. That's the only way to get the real information you need and make sure the process is as speedy as possible: go to the source.

Try to get an appointment at the office. Waiting for a number is a real pain.