Procedure when applying for German citizenship

Has anybody lately applied for German citizenship. They gave a paper that has a title "Information und Erklärung zum Einbürgerungsantrag". They informed me that they will ask these questions from me when I will deposit my papers? Does anybody has experience with this? Do you have to remember these questions and their answers

Hi Lovelybug,

I am also from Pakistan and living in Munich-Germany for last 18 years.
I have gone through the nationality process and it was very smooth and easy...but took about 6 months.
In case you need some information and clarifications... I will be happy to help.

please let me know.

Rainman -(Zafar)
0172-8121755

Hi. I'm new to this forum and I would like to ask for advice regarding my situation. I am both German and Filipino by blood, my father was German and my mother is Filipino. Currently I am holding a Filipino Citizenship only but would like to become a dual citizen (German-Filipino).

Here is the problem. My father was born and raised in Germany, I still possess his original birth certificate from Germany, but due to reasons I am not aware of my father acquired an Australian passport after moving to Australia when he was an adult. By the time I was born (year 1979) he was already carrying an Australian passport. From 1984 to 1988 I lived with my family in West Berlin Germany before moving back to the Philippines.

My research tells me its almost impossible for me to claim German citizenship even though all my descendants from my fathers side were German. I still possess documents from my grandparents which can prove they were German.

Can anyone give some advice as to help me find a way to claim my German citizenship? Would repatriation be an option here, if it is how would it work?

You usually (if not always) can't claim German citizenship through a parent if that parent got naturalized by another country prior to you being born, as AFAIK back then was no way to request to keep German citizenship when getting naturalized elsewhere (there is such a procedure today).

Aren't you an Australian citizen then? If so, and if you really want to come here you can do so on a Holiday Visa.

Thanks for your reply.

I was afraid you would ask me that question. As of the moment I have not pursued my Australian dual citizenship. You see Australia has just recently changed their laws on citizenship (last 2007) which would allow anyone born from an Australian parent to apply even though they reside in another country. But I am also aware of the German law which states anyone who willingly pursues another citizenship loses all rights to claim German nationality. Now my roots are from Germany and the idea of taking up Australian citizenship does not appeal to me.

My four years in Germany were some of the best years of my life. This is why I can't help but feel so alienated by the German laws regarding citizenship. It is as though it was my fault my father decided to get an Australian passport and in turn they are depriving me of my right to be German. Why can't these laws be more flexible like in Ireland or Greece were lineage and descent bear more weight in these matters.

It is like being punished for mistakes you did not commit.

From what you posted and my understanding of the law, it sounds as if you don't have a claim to German citizenship if your father was not one when you were born, so I don't think you would be giving anything up by taking on Australian citizenship (a great benefit in itself). Maybe the nearest German diplomatic mission can confirm all this for you if you want a second opinion (always recommended to get it from an official source, of course).

Yes, under the current law it seems impossible for me to retrieve the German citizenship which my family has enjoyed for generations. I am hoping Germany will soon adopt more lenient laws that will mirror other EU countries who have opened their doors to those of legitimate descent and origin from their country.

Just a follow up question, would my German descent in any way help hasten my naturalization if in case I do decide to live in Germany again?

It's not supposed to. I would imagine, however, that having a Germanophone name and speaking excellent-to-fluent German would not hurt.

HAD enjoyed... and gave up before you ever existed. This isn't something which was taken away from you, it's something you never had. Blame your father if you must but he apparently felt his life -- and by extension, yours -- would be better being Australian than German. By your... erm, "logic", the following countries all owe me rights to immediate citizenship: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Russia, and possibly a few others to boot.


And I'm hoping for a pony but I'm not holding my breath. It's exactly this sense of entitlement you feel which is so pathetic. Germany doesn't owe you anything. You are Australian. You were born there to Australian parents. You were raised there. You eat Marmite. Why should events which occurred before your very existence matter?

woof.

Only if they went out of their way to larger branches of Coles they would. And even then it would be called "Our Mate".
Otherwise... the other stuff.

BadDoggie,

If you did some good research you would be aware other EU countries are more accomodating (e.g. Ireland, Greece, Italy..) when it comes to citizenship claimed by descent. Logic has nothing to do with what I said. Your lethargic statements in no way shed any light to what I was trying to say, except expose your own narrow minded attitude which you seem to try to sugarcoat with "reason".

It is true my family "had" enjoyed German citizenship. It is this very reason why I want to claim mine. Does my fathers decision to become Australian make me (or even him) any less German?? So albeit you are trying to say when a person makes one decision he is forfeiting another persons right to make a choice too?? Tsk tsk... well this is the exact situation I am in right now and which I am trying to find a solution for.

Germany does not owe me anything ofcourse, who said it did? And if trying to retrieve your own true heritage was "pathetic" as you would say then I wonder what kind of person you must really be. I truly do not think my fathers couple of years in Australia (and a passport) is greater than generations of descent from Germany when it comes to heritage.

I have no idea what a Marmite is but you can easily PM me your family recipe so I can feed it to people with your intellect. I never grew up in Australia, you assume too much. I grew up in Germany.

Give my regards to the Gestapo.

yeah111,

If your father is still alive, he may be able to re-claim German citizenship. If that's an option, it may be possible for you to receive yours after he has his. Otherwise, you're unfortunately out of luck.

As far as I know, being of German descent will not lessen the time required for citizenship through naturalization. The one thing I can tell you from experience of having current relatives in Germany (aunts, uncles) and having a German last name is that I've had a much easier time at the foreign affairs offices. As soon as one starts out rude, I mention how it's so nice to be near my family and where my grandparents grew up, and everyone is suddenly so much nicer. Now, this wouldn't assist you in getting a job, but...

Unfortunately he has already passed away. My German last name and stay in Germany will indeed give me an advantage. Thanks for the advice and I hope to be able to set foot again in this beautiful country.

It was his decision - he chose to give up his German citzenship - and yours. End of.

Yes it was his decision, now its up to me to get it back.

It looks like you will have to go through the same procedures as any other person without a parent with German citizenship must in order to get naturalized. I don't know how quickly you can get Australian citizenship, but if you can while still eligible for the Holiday Working Visa, I would try that route if you cannot get here via an employer-sponsored work visa. I don't know if time spent under the Holiday Work Visa counts towards the 7 or 8 years of residency you would need to apply for citizenship (unless you will be married to a German for at least two years and resident in Germany for three) but the point is to get the clock ticking. I have heard that if you are a resident of Berlin, you are guaranteed a decision on your application for naturalization within six months of applying (you obviously have to meet the conditions of residency, language skills, etc.).

I do not see how.

I always thought that even if you are married to a German, the time frame to apply for Citizenship is 5 years and not 3. After 3 years you will get Permanent Residency, and after 5 years (if you are married to a German) you can apply for citizenship.

Though, being an Indian and also aware of the obvious advantages of accepting the German Citizenship, losing my Indian passport is something that I do not wish to do (yeah i am a patriot). But still I would like more information on the subject.
Can you tell me if it is indeed 3 years or 5 years of residence in German soil.

thanks for your replies!!!

There are a couple of exceptions that would allow you to keep your original citizenship. One is that you can not give it up at all. The other one is that you can prove that it is very expensive for you to give it up. You might need a lawyer to help you with it.

As far as I know, if you married a German you are correct about the 3 and 5 years. And it is 5 and 8 if you did not marry a German (it might be reduced to 7 if you take the extremely long integration course).

thank you for your reply krieg!!

These may be of use:


http://www.bmi.bund.de/Internet/Content/Co...tz_englisch.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_nation..._German_citizen

What I meant Krieg is it will give me something to talk about in case I'm at the Foreign Affairs Office. Its better than having nothing.

The recent questions and answers have made me curious about the residency requirement of 8 years. I have lived in Germany for consecutive 4 years when I was younger, will this in any way be taken into consideration or will the 8 year count start after you have applied for citizenship?

You have to have completed the required residence period prior to application. Your previous residency does not count- for the purposes of naturalization your residency must be consecutive and ongoing.

One other thing- I know you didn't like the way BadDoggie addressed you, but the Gestapo remark was gratuitous and absolutely inappropriate.

I apologize if I offended anyone else with my remark. Being addressed in a crude, almost primitive, manner does not sit with me well either.

Thanks for the information again.

It does not count and it does not help. You have zero advantage compared to the random person who moves to Germany without any German background.

Thanks a lot for your positive reinforcement Krieg I will take your opinion under advisement.

Just because Krieg is often a condescending prick and his statement is not what you want to hear, does not mean he is wrong. He is, regretabbly for you, correct.

Never said he was wrong. Just acknowledged his statement.