Grace period for working without permit in Germany

This is a long-winded story but I hope someone can help shed some light or provide a bit of advice on my situation.

I was just offered a position in Frankfurt this past week (first week of November) and since I currently live in New York and do not plan on going to Germany before I move there in January, I told my future employer that I can apply for my work permit here. The thing is, if I start applying for my visa right now, I have to turn over my passport, which means I can't take a flight anywhere and I have a few trips in the coming weeks that have already been planned. I would use my driver's license except I recently lost it when I was out shopping. And I would just get another one except I have a Michigan drivers' license and never applied for a New York one and if I want Michigan to send me another one I have to go to a DMV branch in Michigan and apply for it in person (this is a 2 hr flight that I am planning on going in beginning of December by using my passport). I was thinking about applying for a non-drivers ID in New York but they require a social security card and I lost that one a long time ago and never replaced it. It will take the social security office 2 weeks to send me my new card and then another 2 weeks (or longer??) to get my new non-drivers ID so I can take domestic flights and be able to finally apply for the german work permit. Except I think that that might be too late (probably around 2nd week of december and I want to move by mid january).

I heard somewhere that there's a grace period that the german govt gives to people who already submitted their paperwork but just havent received the work permit yet and are allowed to work, is this true? And if so, can I just apply immediately when I arrive in Frankfurt and be able to work at the same time? And I also heard that it's faster to get the work permit if I am in Germany than if I apply from the US. Is there also a way for me to apply for the work visa without turning over my passport so I'm allowed to travel during the application process but just bring it in when it's approved and they can put the sticker in there?

If anyone can offer some advice, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!!!

Your employer will have to request a work permit for you rather than you requesting it for yourself. When approved, it is bundled with a residence permit.

never been a grace period for me...German's aren't big on grace. Must have proper document before allowed to do anything. Good luck.

Good news is they don't need you passport while they are considering giving you a work permit, all they need is paperwork. Have your employer apply for the work permit now, it will be waiting when you get here, all you have to do is go in, they will put sticker in your passport and you are on your way.

Thanks. So does this mean that I do not need to apply/be there in person in Frankfurt? I can just send all of my forms, photos, etc. to my employer and they can get started on the process already and I can just go there in January to get the sticker put in?

They can also give you a Fiktionsbescheinigung endorsed with permission to work while they process your documents. (No guarantees, but they have the ability to issue such a document.)

Talk with your employer, send them what they need, and let them apply.

Good advice above but have you applied for a replacement US Social Security card ? Especially given how much documentation you've had go for a walkabout, you might want to put a monitor on your credit history while you go overseas to help protect you from credit fraud.