Brockman

I looked at a couple of flats to rent there a few years ago, and we almost pulled the trigger on one (Bernburger Str. I believe). However, the area was a bit desolate and isolated, not very neighborhoody in our opinion. We scoped it out and my wife did not feel comfortable walking from the U-Bahn to where the flat was at night, so we decided against it. It's certainly very centrally located to the main business districts of Berlin, as well as Kreuzberg, Schoeneberg, and Mitte where there is no shortage of things to do, eat, and drink. There was also indeed some good housing stock at a fair price. Just not our cup of tea. Good luck.

I purchased a flat in Berlin a few years ago and I did not hire my own attorney to follow the transaction process. I only hired a real estate contract attorney to read the purchase agreement, and I do not remember how much that cost, but it was very reasonable (considering all they did was say that the agreement was standard and did not require any significant changes). I had legal insurance in case the transaction went south. I also hired a building engineer who verified that the builder was fulfilling the contract obligations within the defined time-frame. Looking back, I do not see what value having an attorney throughout the whole process would have brought to the table since it was a new build from a reputable company, and the Notar acted as a neutral party to ensure that the purchase agreement confirms to the law.   I think 1% of the sales price is too much money, and would probably only be worth it if there were certain risk factors at play that could put the deal in jeopardy. In any case, I would not recommend hiring the lawyer recommended by your estate agent. You and the estate agent may have conflicting interests (i.e. they want to complete the sale and for you to pay up as quickly as possible without you asking too many questions).

If you don't have any luck on Nebenan, you can rent a drill from Bauhaus.

Hi john_b, I used 'Meldebescheinigung beantragen' and my appointment is on Feb. 1st, I'll post an update then.

I took delivery of a new car on January 8th, and I received the notice from the Hauptzollamt yesterday that they would be deducting the Kfz-Steuer from my account in the coming days. The dealer did the Zulassung for me, and I had to fill in a form, which included a Lastschrift for the Hauptzollamt. If you have any doubt, ring the dealer, but if you've successfully registered the car, expect to hear from the Hauptzollamt very soon.

I think it's more of a case of demonstrating the Consular Officer you're child is eligible, rather than convincing them. That looks like it is going to be difficult for you, since the purpose of the requirement is to show the consulate that the US citizen parent has a connection to the US, and you said you have only been back for 2 weeks since age 10. I am a US citizen that lived in the US continuously from birth until age 25, and the consulate in Berlin checked the documentation I provided thoroughly. It seems like there is nothing you can really do until you have the birth certificate, then you can at least do the official interview and try. Of course, the other option is that you go and live in the US for 2 years. Good luck.

It seems you are not eligible to pass US citizenship on to your child. How do you think a lawyer can help you in this case? Why not email the consulate and explain your predicament? If you find that to not be helpful, then try to set up an appointment with them and go in person. In my dealings with them they've been very responsive and informative over email. Also, they've been very inflexible about bending their requirements. Good luck.

  Have you been approached by someone in the upper management of your company, and told that the acquisition is imminent, and that layoffs are on the horizon? If not, I think you can relax. Where on the internets are the 'adverse reports' coming from, and how concrete are they likely to be? In any case, nothing is likely to happen for months after the acquisition, that is, if the acquisition is even taking place. As the other poster said, for added peace of mind, you should take out legal protection insurance (which is a good thing to have, regardless, you'll never find anyone on this forum who has regret paying the <€20, even if they do not need to use it) now so it will be in effect if something something negative does indeed happen. Perhaps it is time to start looking for a new job?

Hi john_b (sorry, can't seem to tag you), hope you're well. See here: https://www.toytowngermany.com/forum/topic/370661-registering-a-new-passport-with-einwohnermeldeamt/?do=findComment&comment=3724648   Seems straightforward. I've made an appointment in Berlin and I'll report back when it's done.

I'm reviving this thread since we're getting closer to the Brexit date. Like 2 of the previous posters @Feierabend and @Tallicame , I am a dual British / Irish citizen. I moved to Germany before I had an Irish passport, and I did all of my official 'paperwork' such as my Anmeldung and registering my marriage, and registering my car using my British passport. Have either of you gone to the Bürgeramt to update your passport 'on file' from the UK to Irish one yet? Maybe it is best to wait until we are summoned by the authorities?   On that note, I suppose we may receive a letter from the Bürgeramt soon asking me to fill in this charming form: https://www.berlin.de/labo/willkommen-in-berlin/freizuegigkeit-eu-ewr-schweiz/formular.770591.en.php

  Where do you play?

  Out of curiosity, what issues do you have with ING? I have been using them for 4 years and I am quite satisfied and never had an issue with them. I even used them for my mortgage and car loan and my very few dealings with customer service have been straightforward and painless.

  You should not need to request your grandparent's documentation. I applied for an Irish passport at the embassy in Berlin (I was born in the USA) in early 2016. My father was born in Ireland. I needed: 1) father's birth certificate (long form) 2) parent's marriage certificate (long form) 3) my birth certificate (long form) 4) US passport 5) proof of residency in Germany. That was it, I did not need to show anything about my grandparents, since it was my parent that was born in Ireland. Since you say was also your parent that was born in Ireland (and your parent was presumably an Irish citizen), you do not need a certificate that your birth has been added to the Irish foreign birth registry. I emailed the Irish embassy to confirm this, and they replied:   If you received the passport through your Grandparent being born on the island of Ireland, you would have completed a process called Foreign Birth Registration and a certificate would have been issued. Since you are applying on the basis that one of your Parents were born in Ireland, you do not need to complete the Foreign Birth Registration process, and subsequently no certificate needs to be issued.   If you are still unsure, email them, or just go to the embassy (in early 2016 an appointment at the Irish embassy in Berlin was not required).   PS, I applied for the passport in February 2016 and received it in April 2016 (it took about 6 weeks).  

If you are no longer in Germany, or no longer able to go to Germany, then: Identify a person located in the German town you lived in Confirm this person is willing to throw away a few hours waiting in public office for you (ie it will probably have to be a good friend or someone you pay) Book an appointment at the local Bürgeramt or Zulassungsstelle with the purpose of de-registering a car (Kfz außer Betrieb setzen) Write an official looking 'Vollmacht' letter including this person's name, and stating they are authorized to complete the car de-registration transaction on your behalf Give this person a copy of your German Personalausweis (front and back) or passport and Anmeldebescheinigung Give the person the originals of the following: Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I, Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II, Original Sales Contract from when you purchased the car, and front and back license plates Tell this person to go the local Bürgeramt or Zulassungsstelle where you booked the appointment and bring all of the documents and the license plates with them, as well as their own Personalausweis or passport When they have successfully de-registered the car, the insurance company should be automatically notified by the authorities, but to be sure, contact your insurance company and show them proof you de-registered the car (it will state this on the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II) Your insurance company should then reimburse you for the pro-rated amount for that year. For example, if you pay the full amount on 01 Jan 2019 and de-register on 01 Feb 2019, you should be reimbursed for 01 Feb to 31 Dec 2019. Good luck!

  Keep looking and when you do find another place, have a qualified person from the Mieterverein or a real estate lawyer read the contract over and give you feedback, not a friend (unless of course the friend is qualified as a real estate lawyer or advisor). If I were this landlord whom you asked about the Mietpreisbremse I'd be thinking to myself 'this person is going to be trouble' and get back to you with some BS excuse as to why I needed to take the rental off the market and therefore I can no longer rent it out to you. Best of luck.