How to hassle German officials about work permits

Here's the story so far: My boyfriend and I are both trying to work as freelance Englsh teachers in Munich. We have both received letters of intent from language schools who intend to give us work. We are both registered at our current address, and everything else is the same with us in a similar manner. We both went to the immigration office at the same time, but spoke to two different people. My boyfriend had no trouble obtaining a residency and work permit, and left with everything sorted out. The man I talked to (PM me if you think you know him) briefly glanced at my papers and told me he would call me later that day or the next day (which is by now yesterday) when my permissions were ready.

I have heard that the time it takes to get work papers varies depending on the individual you talk to. I have also heard some horror stories about people who have waited up to three months for work papers. Since my boyfriend was able to get his permit so easily, I know it is not a difficult process. I called the official who took my application on Friday (the day after submitting the application), and he made it exceedingly clear that I was to wait for him to call me, saying it would be some time next week.

My financial situation at this point is bordering on dire, but I have a job lined up for January 7th. Therefore, I need to get my work papers by then.

So my question is this: given that this guy is German and fairly overbearing, what would be the best way for me to improve my chances of getting my work permit next week? Should I keep calling this guy despite the fact that he told me not to? Would that make him more likely to stall? Should I drop by in person? Should I send him flowers? Should I just wait?

Any advice would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

-Ellen

I think it's reasonable that he needs a few days to process your request. From how you describe it, it's not like he is keeping you waiting for weeks and weeks. Who knows, maybe he has a lot more cases to process than his colleague. If you haven't yet told him that you need it by Jan.7, maybe you can let him know gently and politely. But not the first work day in the new year. Better the second day.

I'd stop by in person, nothing will get done otherwise I doubt. Wait a full week, then go on in. As far as your financial situation, I would hope you came with at least 3 months of cash...

Then again, mine have always been approved in less than 5 minutes.

you wouldn´t have to go to the letter´g section would you?

i have applied for work permits on 3 separate occasions in the past 3+ years and on 2 of those i had a rude grumpy old man who once screamed at me (and i mean scream!!) that i was illegal even tho he had my passport with a valid work permit in his hand!!

on the first occasion he made me run back and forth saying i didn´t have the right or enough paperwork and then he shuffled it for a few months each time telling me to wait for a decision. after randomly calling by to check on my application, he was sick that day and i dealt with his collegue who said to me ´i don´t know why this wasn´t approved 2 months ago, you have more than what we need`!!! she approved it on the spot!!

the following year i was dealing with another person and due to some missing information that i didn´t have on me at the time i had to return and was assigned said grumpy old man, who informed me that no no i was doing everything wrong...etc

so i basically ignored him (what ever he said i just smiled and nodded) and once leaving i went back to the info desk thing and asked when the collegue would be back in the office as i would prefer to continue dealing with them, and that i was very angry and frustrated and do not wish to deal with grumpy old man again. the receptionist gave me a knowing look and said they could refer me to another person straight away, however i didn´t feel comfortable with that (as old man would have seen, who knows could have caused problems) made some excuse about having to go to work and returned the following day, old man was again in my section but the reception/info person recognised me and without me having to ask assigned me someone else!! needless to say i walked out 5 min later with my permit after submitting the one peice of info grumpy old man didn´t accept!!

thank god it was a 2 year permit and i still have awhile before having to go back to the dreaded kvr again but next time i do and i am not happy with the rep with whom i speak to i will not have a problem requesting another person. was also advised to do so by the last rep who approved my last permit!

like NOFXmike says maybe give them afew more days but as you will have the name of the rep you have been calling ask at reception to see someone different if you are still not statisfied that the person is giving you a valid excuse for the delay.

As i read it then Barney, the servce was fine apart from one guy?

Bloody good result when dealing with council dept's i would say?

Thanks for your advice everyone. At this point my plan, if I don't hear from him on the 2nd, is to e-mail him on Wednesday evening to tell him that I need it by the 7th and to remind him of my phone number, so he'll get my e-mail first thing Thursday morning. If that doesn't work I'll go back and ask to speak to someone else. When it's a process that can demonstrably be completed in 5 or 10 minutes, I actually find it to be fairly unreasonable to be kept waiting without a coherent explanation why.

And Barney, I wasn't in the G section, but it sounds like it could easily be the same guy.