Extended visa for a non-working fiancée

Can anyone help me with some advice?? I need it desperately and quickly.

I work for a German company in the U.S. They are transferring me to Munich for a project duration of about a year and a half. Problem is, I am engaged.

My company headquarters are in Munich, they are willing to pay for our Apartment and Cover us both under their insurance plan. We also have sufficeint funds to prove that neither of us would be dependent on state social assistance. I speak fluent german, but she speaks none. We are not so concerned with her working in Munich, but we just want to be together over there for the year.

Will she be able to stay with me for longer than the normal 90 days allowed as a U.S Citizen?

We've done a lot of research and it seems we've read many different opinions that this could and could not work.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is there a special fiancee Visa? Can she just apply to a language school at a VHS and get a visa? Since she is dependent on me and has health insurance already covered in Munich, do you think we have a good shot at her getting a year long residence permit?

Any insight would be very helpful. I am hesitant to sign a contract without my fiancee being able to join me.

Thanks!

IMHO there are no special arrangements for fiancees...

I don't think there are special visas for fiancées, but I also don't think it should be too insurmountable to get your fiancée a residence permit. Your company should be able to help. Even if not, as a US citizen, she doesn't need to apply for the residence permit before arriving. I would advise applying for the residence permit right after arriving in order to give you time to work something out if you are denied at first. You would probably have to fill out a form guaranteeing to support her.

Things you may need:
-Proof of resources, income
-Proof of health insurance
-Proof of relationship/wedding (wedding invitation, etc.)
-Copies of diplomas/degrees

Had the same problem, as am engaged to a german. I was told the following: find employment or leave the country. You can remain in germany for three months out of every 180 days. No exceptions and fiancee visas do not exist.

It is possible to make a visa for Deutsch als fremdsprache (full time program only, which is more than 25 hours a week) for 1 year, 2 years if she has the intent to study at German univeristy. Proof of funds, insurance, and registration to a German apartment are all required. Not cheap.

Good Luck.

I agree that this is really at the discretion of the KVR officials, however, I think that here the fact that they are both US citizens, might actually make it more likely for a residence permit to be granted to the fiancée given that eurodibbs is on temporary assignment to Germany. Given that the company is based in Munich, I would see if someone from the company could talk to someone from the city.

I'm not sure how things work down there in Munich, but I was in the same boat as your fiancee when I first arrived in Germany.

I had just turned 18 years old, received my high school diploma only a few months prior to my visit to the Auslaenderbehoerde (therefore I had no college degree or specialized skill to show), spoke no German whatsoever except for "Ich spreche keine Deutsch" and had no job offer whatsoever. Things looked pretty crappy for me at that point. Things started to look up, though...

My fiancee's step-dad was so kind enough to sign a letter which stated that he would support me for a year's time. Since you will be working, it is possible that you could do the same, granted that you make enough to support the two of you (I believe the minimum is 700-750 per person on a monthly basis). You would need a couple of paycheck stubs to show for this, most likely.

Your fiancee's "anmeldung" papers (registration of residence) will be needed to hand in to the officials, as well. I'm not sure if they cost anything in Munich, but here in Schleswig-Holstein, it didn't cost me a single cent. This is fairly easy to do and with your German knowledge, it shouldn't be a problem at all. All in all, it took us about ten minutes to get the papers (and a copy of the "abmeldung" papers for later use, as well).

I would get your girlfriend enrolled in a German language course as soon as possible because it is one of the requirements to be met for a permit here. I was able to speak enough German to the officials here and get my paperwork done on my own, so I didn't need to show a certificate of sufficient German knowledge (Level A1 basis). If she tries to speak even just a few words, I can almost assure you that the officials will be much more leniant with her.

Also, she will definitely need a letter from your health insurance provider, stating that she is covered. If, for some odd reason, the paper is declined, I would get in touch with Mike Woodiwiss from Spectrum International here on Toytown and have her covered by him, even for just basic coverage so that you are given a letter of coverage. I was given a letter by Mike and this was eagerly accepted by the Auslaenderbehoerde without a problem, nor even a single moment of hesitation.

Letters of coverage from your future employer would be most helpful, as well.

While you are waiting for her papers to be processed, make sure that she is given a "Fiktionsbescheinigung," which will grant three months' stay longer in Germany from the date that it is given to you. You can have these renewed many times -- I've had mine renewed four times while waiting on my papers to be processed. This may help out a bit while you are gathering the necessary pay stubs to show.

One last word of advice, I would recommend that she looks for a job, most likely as a language trainer on a freelance basis due to the high demand of native English-speakers. Naturally, finding a job in Munich as an English speaker will be much easier than if she were to look for a job here in S-H.

Good luck, and if you need anymore help or information, let me know and I'll help out as much as I can.

Thank you everyone for the replys. We are hoping based on the tips that if we come with the following she will get at least a residence permit to stay wiht me during my project.
-Proof of insurance (Covers us both)
-Proof of her savings accounts and $ amounts
-My paystubs
-Our rental contract
-Proof of our Insurance with my company
-Our passports and my work permit
-My work contract (with anticipated departure date)
- A letter from my company explaining the situation
- An application filled out to a German language school (hopefully an acceptance letter too)
- Copies of diplomas from our Universities in the US
ANY THING ElSE THAT COULD HELP???

When you visit, be sure to take a few passport photos along with you.

Although I'm an American, I had to fill out a application form for a Visa to stay here in Germany. You will most likely need to have your fiancee fill in the same form. These are available at the German Consular and Diplomatic Offices, but I think I could save you that bit of trouble by giving you a copy of that myself. Write me an email at haiduc89@gmail.com and I'll send you a copy of the form as a PDF file.

I think you will be ok with the above, I successfully got a 1-yr residence permit ( to be renewed annually), using the above supporting documentation-I brought along my degrees but wasn't required to show them. I think the main concern is that you need to illustrate she won't be a burden to the German welfare system financially so essentially you will be her sponsor whilst in Germany. I wasn't required to show proof I was attending german classes either (but I guess there is no harm in having this).

Also a tip with the passport photos required for the application-get them taken here and specify that they should be German passport size-they are pedantic about these kinds of things.

As a US citizen she can apply for the residence permit within the first 90 days of arriving in Germany, I did the same and received my 1 year permit at the appointment despite being told by the German Consultate in Australia that my only options were marriage or study visa's-it can be done.
Good luck

Hi All

Each of you have offered some great information and i can't really add value. But I have a lot of friends who have gone through these very issues in Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Russia and the USA. I had some very brief assignments with the dept of State, (not in ciitizen services) only enough to hear and not truly know.

There are often two sets of rules\laws. Those in print and those they actually (actively) enforce.(changing randomly) You can actually phone and get a different answer each time, regardless of consulate or embassy location.

It is best to bring overwelming evidence, even if you aren't likely to need it. The most common problem and headache of a consular officer is applications without most or any of the required items. (sounds familiar ? Remember this isn't the DMV)

Bring Two folders. One with what is required from the list along with the associated forms and one for other potentially useful supporting documents. (organization and neatness can count) Keeps copies or scans of everything, expecting to lose some or all of this in the process or between the parking lot and your appointment. A copy of a certified orignial is sometimes accepted in a clutch. (keep color copies if you can, even black and white docs look more original in color)

To make things sounds less organized, I have even seen consultates with their own forms. (not accepting the national office forms) Different photo sizes, digital or print. One will say something is required when something else is accepted, but only in that one office or city. Overall, you won't see this for US or EU countries. But just be prepared and flexible.

So beyond the supporting docs here is the thing in an interview. Its supposed to be objective but its THE thing.
Reality is its more often subjective (after most objective requirements are met) and how they treat you and tell you is based on their opinion.

Be sure to treat it like an interview, actually know what your sponsor does for work and dress accordingly. (not like a homeless person)
Confidence builds Confidence

I agree with the others who say you'll be okay. There is a visa she can get when you take responsibility for her as your dependent. You must know you aren't the first people this has happened to. I think your company work permit will/should specify you plus one dependent. You are going over on the work visa and your work supports her being the dependent (ie she's covered on your insurance policy). It's not an exclusive arrangement, don't sweat it.

Thanks everyone for the tips! We will let you know what happens in July when she comes over and we go to the Auslandsamt. Does anyone know if I can get the Verpflichtungserklarung form early? Or do I fill out for my fiancee right there? I am trying to stop repeat visits if at all possible. We are also going to the Einwohnermeldeamt to register our address first and bringing proof of that as well. We too have called the Germany Consulate in Chicago and they were quite rude and strongly said there would be no way for my fiancee to stay with me. They said, go ahead and try but it won't work. I am not sure if they were just trying to scare us or what. Hopefully they will see we are educated, respectful, and financially independed people and allow her to stay with me while working over there. If not, then I will try to get out of my work contract and go back to the US to be with her until the wedding. Keeping my fingers crossed!

You'll probably be able to fill out the Verpflichtungserklärung right there.
In this PDF you can see what the form looks like (it's multilingual):
http://www.troisdorf.de/troisdorf/system/r...serklaerung.pdf

You may not be able to avoid multiple trips--it's just one of those things.

Hi!
I was exactly in your situation.The fist suggestion is to not stress too much! Because I stress so much without the need that I am already in my second day of migraine.
In my situation, I got here to be with my boyfriend. I am American and my boyfriend is Ukrainian. He got one year contract with an university for his post doctoral fellowship.
So we plan to stay together in Germany while he works so what o do?

- First I got a health insurance by a German company, I pay a whole year for it as it was very cheap. This was before leaving as it also had travel coverage for baggage lost etc, just in case something go wrong during the trip.

-Arrive to Germany as a tourist

-Register in the city we plan to stay and got this registration paper.

- Went to the city office to get the appointment for the resident permit- this day they give me the appointment date ( 2 weeks after) and what we are going to need. In the paper they put 8:30 am first appointment and then at 9 another appointment, in different rooms.
From fiancee they will require:
* 50 euro
* city registration paper
* photo
* health insurance evidence ( just a copy of a paper that you are insured)
* Application form ( you can get it in the office that day)
* Passport
My boyfriend needs to bring
* University contract where it says how much he earns ( to calculate if he can support me)
* Apartment contract
* Gas and energy bill
*Passport

- The appointment day!!! (yesterday)
- First appointment 8:30 - So here they calculate if you can support her using your bills, apartment contract and salary. In our case they also ask for a paper stating the net earnings, we still don't have it so the lady said it was okay just to provide the brute amount. She will ask for passports and will make some papers in the computer. This takes like 15 minutes because they need to make photocopies etc. Then she refer us to the other office and she hand in the papers herself to the other official. At this point we have just sing this papers staying that everything written was correct. This official was kind and speak English. Funny thing the only thing I have said until this point was at the end DANKE and Shuss.

- Second appointment 9:00 am - The official ask for my passport, photo, health insurance evidence and residents permit application. The lady was even kind enough to clarify a part were I have a doubt in the application. Then she print the resident permit and put it on my passport. And that was it!!!

So the only words I said on the 30 minutes I was there were Danke and Shuss.

I was in shock and still in shock, that it was so easy process smooth and organize. So nice officials. I was expecting for sure they will tell us to bring other documents or papers but not in my case.

The funny thing is that when my boyfriend got to change his visa from student to employee (he has done his phd in Germany and is already his 4 year here) it was a very different case. Even tho he had all the papers require, contract, letters from bosses, from university, it took him almost a month to get it!! They where like playing with him, telling every time to come back with another letter. He told me they read every paper and everything on his application. In my case they don't even read the application!! They don't ask for the registration paper!! He says all the time making fun that is just because his Ukrainian passport.
,
My wishes are that you and your fiancee get to have the same experience as I had!!

It is indeed ... there was a very embarrassing (for ex-foreign minister Joschka Fischer) "Visa-Affäre" a couple of years ago connected to the German embassy in Kiev

Thanks , I look over the net for more info, we had no idea this has happen!!

And going back to te fiacee visa, I forgot to add that in my visa second page they state:

" Beschäftigung jeder Art gestattet/ Selbständige Erwerbstätigkeit nicht gestattet"
So seems that I am allow to work! Can someone confirms?

So if they process her permit as mine, she will be able to find a job!

That would seem to allow employment of any type, but prohibit freelancing/self-employment.