German Visa for unfavoured countries

As a small business we were pleased that a non-EU business has informed us they would like to visit. They need to be officially invited. My concern is that we seem to have to sign a document (Verpflichtungserklärung ) that indicates we will pay for any debts they incurr while here - should they not be able to do so themselves. This may also mean medical costs should anyone be taken ill and repatriation back to the Motherland.

As we haven't met these people we are very reluctant to take on such a responsibility. Surely in this day and age business people can take out travel insurance etc.and one would have thought a copy of a bankbook (viewed by the German embassy) should prove whether they have any substance or not. Has anyone come across this situation before and is there a way around filling out this declaration?

never heard of this. I only know, that the bosses at our firm need invitations aswell f.e. if they go to Israel (nice destination at the moment ) and also to Russia etc.

But it's more just "blah blah" letters

And I don't think, our firm would have to pay, if a guy from a chinese firm breaks his leg in Germany

oh and yes


I would think so too.
Our bosses are health insured etc. in foreign countries through the firm.

As far as I am aware, the German embassy will not issue a Visa to the applicant unless they provide proof that they have Health insurance...

German Embassy Visa requirements

Just get them to visit with a tourist visa if they need a visa. Citizens of many countries don't.

A Visumverpflichtungserklaerung is required for visitors from a number of countries, whether they come as tourists or on business. The gist of this idea is that if you aren't prepared to risk your money if the visitor(s) abscond, need medical treatment and so on then the German government is also unwilling to take the risk.

The reasoning is that in some countries, it is possible to get almost any kind of document proving income, ownership of a business and the like by paying a few bribes. In this case, it is difficult for the embassy to tell who is genuine and who is not. The idea of the Visumverpflichtungserklaerung is that the embassy will check the details with those on file at the Auslaenderbehoerde who issued it to ensure it's authenticity. Then, if you are prepared to take the risk of whatever your guests may do wrong, the embassy will issue the visa (if the other documents are in order - passport, medical insurance with cover of 30000 Euros, application form, photos and fee).

I have done such invitations three times, for people that I know. I would not invite someone I did not know.

BTW, the medical insurance is something your visitior(s) would have to get - not you.

What country are you prospective guests from?

Russia

This all seems far too complicated than it should be.

To Hannah: Israel and Russia are two different stories. The invitations your bosses needed for Israel would have been for security reasons (without which a businessperson could spend a few hours chatting with security on his/her arrival ) not for a Visa (which is mostly not needed), while for Russia the invite would speed up the thoroughly checked and slowly issued Visa.

To coloniagirl: If your guests do not require a visa to come into Germany, your declarations are not necessary. BTW, I would recommend asking your guests what passport they hold as this sometimes differs from their respective country of residence. If this fails I would follow Adi's advice and just get them to issue a tourist Visa, not a business one. Those are issued quite easily and it would be the visitor's headache to get that issued in his/her respective country. Of course, if their business is really important to you, you might want to rethink signing those declarations

I thought it might be Russia or Ukraine... (my guests came from Ukraine). For large companies, especially multinationals, it is relatively easy for them to send employees on business trips to the West. Employees of smaller companies and independent entrepreneurs need a verpflichtungserklaerung. It is the same story with private visits.

Tourist visas to countries in Western Europe are not easy to obtain for Russians or Ukranians (it is assumed that they are likely to overstay their visa and work illegally). Most are refused - and refusal means having a nasty stamp in your passport, which makes future visa applications even more difficult.

The snag with making the verpflichtungserklaerung for people you don't know is that they might not be exactly what they say they are. The verpflichtungserklaerung almost guarantees a Schengen visa, which has a substantial value in Russia and Ukraine.

Maybe you should visit them first.

Thanks guys for your comments. What I find odd in the Visa process for our visitors is that we have to invite them. Considering the information which I found in this article about an agreement for a simplification of visas between the two countries.
German/Russian Visas agreement

Business trips to Russia and Germany have become easier for citizens of both countries. A bilateral agreement has simplified the bureaucratic and time consuming visa procedures – which is one of the main obstacles to EU-Russian trade according to the recent EUROCHAMBRES’ survey. Multiple visas for business trips can now be issued without a formal invitation for a period of up to 5 years and a cumulative annual stay of up to 90 days in Germany and 180 days in Russia.

Anyway, I suppose it will all sort itself out in the wash...

I think the agreement referred to is for big businesses, where everyone has lots of money and nobody is likely to going missing in Germany during their visit.

The actual process and all the forms in PDF format are here on the website of the German Embassy in Mosocw:-

http://www.moskau.diplo.de/de/01/Visabesti...haeftsvisa.html

Note that they mention that other documentation may be requested, so it's best to drop them an email to check what the exact requirements are at present.

If your guests have not registered their business, then it will be treated like a private visit and you are back to the Visumverpflichtungserklaerung.

If you think all this is bad... One of my friends from Ukraine once queued outside the German Embassy in Kiev for 3 days for an interview for a Visitor's Visa. It's much better now- there is an appointment system (although we had to pay a bribe to the local staff at the German Embassy for our visa application "to be accepted").

Wow! Thankfully times have changed a bit! Anyway, thanks for the links jg.. I am now on the trail of the IHK to get their opinion. There are various Specialists there who deal with Russia and Eastern Europe. I've also done a bit of trawling and also found mention of the need for businesses to register themselves via the Chamber of Commerce in Moscow so this might be a useful route to go but of course this might be only for BIG business.

There also seems to be conflicting information about the paperwork required for the Business Visa as well, not only do we have to write an official invitation confirming our intention to "cover costs",
we also have to supply copies of our Gewerbeanmeldung, plus copies of our passports (which as we are not German and not EU citizens - might also throw a spanner in the works.

As someone has already mentioned it does seem a lot of unnecessary stuff to go through for people whom we have never met and what an impediment to business! Worse still if we go through all this hassle and nothing comes from the visit... Still, I want to be informed and not encounter any nasty surprises.

Thanks guys for your interest.