Hello, I'm looking for some input / advice on Visas.
I've been here since February 06. I applied for a visa to look for work 1 Aug. It was extended until February 2007, at which time if I haven't found work, I either have to leave or apply for a visa as a selbstandig (self-employed) individual, and my visa forms/file have been forwarded to the Z6 department (whatever that means).
What have been your experiences? I'm intending on taking the CELTA course in January to establish some credentials to stay.
I will also search the site to gather other info.
Thanks,
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Applying for a German visa in Berlin
Info and advice for American citizens
well, honestly. my experiences have been selling everything I own while I've waited 8 months for my work permit to be approved. good luck with everything, and hang in there. I'm not giving up!
Hi. I feel your pain! I spent the first year I was in Germany jumping through various proverbial hoops to get the necessary documents to let me stay legally in the country. Believe me when I say that doing it in Berlin will be a helluva lot easier than in a small town, which is where I was my first year.
I found that in general the authorities just want to make sure that you aren't going to leech off their system, which means they want proof that you can support yourself not only with rent and day to day expenses but, most importantly, with health insurance. In my case, I initially had travelers insurance, which I paid in 3 month increments and so my visa/permits were only good for 3 month periods. They would literally set the expiration date on my visa as the same day my insurance ran out.
I have a friend from Australia living here, who had a significant amount of money saved before moving here and has been able to secure a 1 year visa by showing them her bank account and insurance coverage. It also helps to show that you're enrolled in a German language course. Her visa is a student visa, I think, because of the German course and so she's able to do student jobs as well. However, if you're not independently wealthy, than the TEFL, or CELTA course is the way to go. This is what I eventually did and though it was a bit pricey, it has paid off. The only snag here is that after you've done the course and are looking for work, you may find that many private schools advertise that they only want EU teachers. This is simply because they don't want to deal with the paperwork required for hiring an American. But, I found that the paperwork was minor. All the school has to do is write a letter of intent to hire with estimated salary and employable hours and you take that with a copy of the contract you will sign to the authorities and they should give you a work permit.
Hope this helps...send me a message if you have any further questions about what I wrote. I'd be happy to recommend the training program I did here in Berlin as well.
I found that in general the authorities just want to make sure that you aren't going to leech off their system, which means they want proof that you can support yourself not only with rent and day to day expenses but, most importantly, with health insurance. In my case, I initially had travelers insurance, which I paid in 3 month increments and so my visa/permits were only good for 3 month periods. They would literally set the expiration date on my visa as the same day my insurance ran out.
I have a friend from Australia living here, who had a significant amount of money saved before moving here and has been able to secure a 1 year visa by showing them her bank account and insurance coverage. It also helps to show that you're enrolled in a German language course. Her visa is a student visa, I think, because of the German course and so she's able to do student jobs as well. However, if you're not independently wealthy, than the TEFL, or CELTA course is the way to go. This is what I eventually did and though it was a bit pricey, it has paid off. The only snag here is that after you've done the course and are looking for work, you may find that many private schools advertise that they only want EU teachers. This is simply because they don't want to deal with the paperwork required for hiring an American. But, I found that the paperwork was minor. All the school has to do is write a letter of intent to hire with estimated salary and employable hours and you take that with a copy of the contract you will sign to the authorities and they should give you a work permit.
Hope this helps...send me a message if you have any further questions about what I wrote. I'd be happy to recommend the training program I did here in Berlin as well.
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