Work and residence permit options for an intern

Ok here is the situation... I arrive in germany September 2006. Au-pair one year with au-pair visa good until end August 2007. I find a job to begin September 2007 in germany and do all the paperwork to get my arbeitserlaubnis. I get a aufenhaltserlaubnis or residence permit for the month of September while the arbeitsamt takes care of getting my work permit. Today I find out I cant get arbeitserlaubnis or work permit because I have no university and to be a praktikant you need this or at least be currently studying. Do I have to leave when my residence permit is up?? Can i still stay the 3 months that my american passport allows since i always had a visa??? I am pretty nervous...Thank you everyone!

So your new job is a "Praktikum" i.e. not enough money to support yourself on, I think that is why they are causing problems. If you can prove that you have enough spare cash to support yourself while doing the "Praktikum" it shouldn't be a problem.

Hi Batman

Uncle Nick gives the right advice.
The rules usually apply to any one from another continent trying to live and work here.
The same applies in America.
The authorities wanna see that you can support yourself or have legitimate reasons for wanting to stay, live or work here.
They are trying to cover their ass, so you should yours.

cheers stew.t.

take some online courses, so poof there, you are now studying and working!

The praktikum position paid enough to support myself, paid more then germany asks someone makes to live here. They said it was because of the university. Do I still have 3 months here on my passport though? Or is that gone because I have been here longer?

Did the Arbeitsamt deny you the work permit for a Praktikum because you are not a student? I would find that very strange. There are plenty of Praktikum out there for not students/graduates. For example, I got a work permit for a Praktikum last year without being enrolled in university, and I wasn't be paid above the "support yourself" level. Is there any way to challenge their decision?

Did you have any certificates of any kind?? I was told because I never studied and I currently am not studying I can not be a praktikant in Germany!

I was a recent graduate when I did my Praktikum here. However, I can't remember submitting any proof of that to my employer or to the Arbeitsamt. Maybe that made the difference? But like I said, Praktika aren't just for students. I find your situation strange...but maybe I just got lucky. If there's any way to appeal or at least sit down with the guy and talk, do it.

I heard a lot of problems like yours. I know that here in munich in kvr pocci str. they are making it difficult. They said that appylying outside the city is much easier and faster.

I'm a recent graduate and might be doing a short 3-6 month internship here...What I'm trying to find out is whether I have to apply for the Work Permit on my end or whether my potential employer has to do this.

Last time I did an internship, I applied through the IAESTE in Australia to get my "Beschäftigung im Rahmen eines internationalen Austauschprogramms' from the ZAV (Zentralstelle für Arbeitsvermittlung) and the DAAD. I paid AU$ 250 to get that little piece of paper and found out later that normally it doesn't cost anything to get that form...so since I am in Germany this time, how should I go about it? From what i've read on the related threads, I don't need to goto the Arbeitsamt to get it...did I understand this correctly? I have contacted the ZAV and the DAAD asking them about it, but they replied with wonderfully generic information and did not answer my questions..

In answering my own question (for the possible benefit of others), I asked at the KVR about my situation..

They gave me a 2-page form and advised it was a simple process of my employer and I filling out said form and then applying for an Aufenthaltserlaubnis from the Ausländerbehörde. They will then apply for the Work Permit from the Arbeitsamt (aka ZAV) on my behalf. It was also mentioned that my Australian nationality helps in this situation as I'm from one of the 'privileged countries' where this process is made easy..as such I guess this applies for people from USA/Canada/NZ, etc. also

When I first arrived here I got a praktikums visa without being a recent graduate or earning above what they claim is required to live. I was declined about 3 times until they gave it to me tho. Persistence is the key