Posted 24 Apr 2019 For me the "document handover" involved checking all the documents against originals and handing me my originals back. In some cases I "messed up" because my Irish birth cert has a weird format that didn't fit on my scanner so I copied the left and right halves with some overlap, which they said was invalid, so in fairness they went off to find a copier big enough to copy such documents and made the copies for me. They also carefully went through the forms line by line and altogether I was there exactly one hour with 2 people working on my case (one checking the form, the other the documentation). Make sure you have all your previous addresses in Germany on the Erweiterte Meldebescheinigung. I moved from Berlin to HVL and I had to get one from both Einwohnermeldeämter covering my entire time in Germany. I was told they (in HVL) could allow the document submission to take place if only "small" things were missing like the Meldebescheinigungen but "big" things like language and citizenship test results had to be there for the application to be even accepted. But again this will vary wildly I guess. My case worker was complaining that the process is so haphazard actually. Until like 10 years ago she told me the federal government processed all citizenship applications and it's a relatively new thing that this is now done at a state level. I also got the Eingangsschreiben just yesterday. It says that processing time after they start work on the file takes 3-6 months and during the meeting they told me they are currently opening files from Q1 2017 so I expect a very long wait. Sounds like Cologne is also another place with long delays. To be honest it's not the nicest way to welcome new citizens, especially ones that choose to become German rather than doing it out of necessity. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 24 Apr 2019 2 hours ago, Derek said: Did I just get lucky. I just phoned to get a Termin and they said they're currently giving out September appointments but someone had just cancelled one in May if I'd like to have that. So I'm all booked in for 21st of May. As I'm now in week 6 of my "4-8 weeks for your B1 ergebnis" and I'm in week 2 of my "bis 4 Wochen for your Einbürgerungstest ergebnis" that should all be timed nicely. I expect I'll have had both results for a week or two before my Termin. You're so lucky! I hope that I also get the chance to take up a cancelled appointment somehow. I still fear that an earlier-than-November Brexit is on the cards when the Brexiteers take over the Tory party. 2 hours ago, pappnase said: I used a separate sheet of paper and referenced it in the form. See earlier in the thread for the details. EDIT: Oops it was this thread that actually had details of what I did. It's a thread about 'Practical questions on the application' so it might be of help anyone reading this. Thanks for the info and the link. 2 hours ago, Billybulldog said: Yes, same here. Amazed though at the fact people have to make appointments just to hand in documents! Luckily here in Frankfurt you just turn up and pull a number designated for „document handovers.” I think such a flexible system makes sense but I wouldn't want to be among the applicants who are being told at the end of the working day to come back the next morning. 10 minutes ago, murphaph said: Make sure you have all your previous addresses in Germany on the Erweiterte Meldebescheinigung. I moved from Berlin to HVL and I had to get one from both Einwohnermeldeämter covering my entire time in Germany. Thank you for the info about the Erweiterte Meldebescheinigung. I didn't know that. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 24 Apr 2019 If it helps, the Einburgerungstest took a bit over 2 weeks for me to get the result (arrived last week), so you should have at least that before the appointment :) 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 24 Apr 2019 2 hours ago, Chris Marston said: I still fear that an earlier-than-November Brexit is on the cards when the Brexiteers take over the Tory party. 2 hours ago, Chris Marston said: You're so lucky! I'm on a string of good luck lately (two quick appointments due to cancellations and the brexit pushback to end of October) so I'm probably due some bad luck. The no-deal brexit is still a possibility if the brexiteers (e.g. Boris) take over. It's not in the least bit a far-fetched an idea. It's the only thing that can ruin our "Doppelte" plans. A "deal-brexit" is fine, we're still good for 21 months of transition period. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 24 Apr 2019 16 minutes ago, Derek said: The no-deal brexit is still a possibility if the brexiteers (e.g. Boris) take over. It's not in the least bit a far-fetched an idea. Its not impossible, but I cant see how Boris can take over without even more losses to the tory "majority". Losses that I doubt can be made up by members of brexit or ukip. So I understand your concern (and I guess Im also mildly concerned, as a brit in germany) but it doesnt strike me as especially likely. If I were a leaver PM Id make a point of not getting defeated in the commons but rather run the clock down and leave end oct. You could spend your time flying around the world doing deals and whatever else that looks good in the papers and "delivering brexit" there is no need to rush it. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 25 Apr 2019 That sounds too reasonable, @zwiebelfisch. With all the soundbites of angry leave voters in the media such as "I just want to get out! Why have we not left yet?", the pressure would be on a new populist PM to move more quickly towards a no deal Brexit. I think after the Eurpoean elections and the constitution of the new European parliament, we might be in calmer water then but before these crucial dates, who knows what happens next. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 25 Apr 2019 13 minutes ago, Chris Marston said: With all the soundbites of angry leave voters in the media such as "I just want to get out! Why have we not left yet?", My understanding is that they think it isnt going to happen at all. I really dont think it would be a hard sell for a new PM to say look its all been agreed we have a final extention to autumn and then we leave no deal. Ill use the next few months shoring up the details to make it work but Im not going to take any of this to the comons to vote on, its finished. 15 minutes ago, Chris Marston said: I think after the Eurpoean elections and the constitution of the new European parliament, we might be in calmer water Really? I expect a surge in brexit party and/or ukip MEPs. That said this might be the first time ever that the uk takes european elections seriously. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 25 Apr 2019 17 minutes ago, zwiebelfisch said: Really? I expect a surge in brexit party and/or ukip MEPs. That said this might be the first time ever that the uk takes european elections seriously. Okay. It might be that Farage and his comrades cause such trouble in the European parliament that the EU 27 want to kick Britain out. On the other hand, I don't think that European businesses would approve of that. So, they probably will look for ways to minimise any harm caused by the Brexit party. Just voting on the Brexit issue is not taking the European election seriously. In my opinion, it is more a British nationalist obsession spilling over into the EU. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 27 Apr 2019 23 minutes ago, Derek said: Woo Hoo !! Well done! I took my test on March 29th and still didn't get the results yet 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 27 Apr 2019 So, @Derek two weeks turnaround time for you? @Dangeross It can take up to four weeks, doesn't it? In the meantime you can listen to Busta Rhymes' Dangerous. ;-) 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 27 Apr 2019 I was told four weeks. To get it in 12 days was a nice surprise. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 28 Apr 2019 OK, how about this for a turnaround: Feb 21 first visit to Bürgeramt -- April 25 Einbürgerung green-lit... 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 28 Apr 2019 31 minutes ago, john_b said: OK, how about this for a turnaround: Feb 21 first visit to Bürgeramt -- April 25 Einbürgerung green-lit... Congrats. Not bad at all. A friend of mine handed in his application on 10 Jan and got the Einbürgerung a couple of days ago. I was already impressed by that. I reckon you had your paperwork in order and are a reliable tax payer. How long did it take you to prepare your application? 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 28 Apr 2019 18 minutes ago, Chris Marston said: Congrats. Not bad at all. A friend of mine handed in his application on 10 Jan and got the Einbürgerung a couple of days ago. I was already impressed by that. I reckon you had your paperwork in order and are a reliable tax payer. How long did it take you to prepare your application? I think several factors worked in my favour - fluent German, married to a German, Eigentumswohnung, based in Berlin for many years, documents submitted a week after first visit, took earliest Einbürgerungstest in Prenzlau (to avoid then Brexit deadline), sympathetic & efficient Beamtin. Process much quicker in Berlin than the sticks. Being a nice white well-spoken charming middle class Englishman didn't do me any disservice either, TBH. Basically the John Le Mesurier advantage. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 29 Apr 2019 We were recently told at Bezirksamt Pankow (in Rathaus Pankow) that they were currently taking two years to process Einbürgerung/naturalization appointments. Our daughter is somewhat flexible as to where she could live in Berlin in the near future, so we were thinking of having her take up residence in a Bezirk with fast naturalization processes so that she could get faster service. Which Berlin Bezirks/districts are currently known to be processing naturalization permits quickly? Or is there someplace closeby in Brandenburg that is also processing applications for citizenship quickly (a long shot from what I understand, but I thought I'd broaden the query in case Brandenburg might be an option)? 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 29 Apr 2019 Woo Hoo again !!. Five weeks and two days for my B1 result (from an estimate of 4-8 weeks). Only the Schriftlicher Ausdruck was a close thing (at 73%). I'm shocked I got full marks on the Mündliche Prüfung. I'd have guessed 75-80%. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 29 Apr 2019 Congrats, Derek! I get the impression that they tell everyone that the process can take a long time, and that there are no guarantees. The lady in Neukölln did mention to me that there had been a surge of applications from Brits in Prenzlauer Berg which had led to quite a backlog, but I don't know if Bezirk shopping would be like changing lanes in a traffic jam.... At any rate, the posts from applicants in Brandenburg indicate that the process is much slower there, but YMMV. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
