How to find the integration course that helps in citizenship

[Asiddiqui 2]

Hi everyone,

 

I have seen many posts on Toytown regarding integration course that helps reduce the citizenship qualification period. My question is that there are so many courses offered by so many schools that it becomes really confusing to decide which is the right one. I live in Aachen and work in Bonn, and I would be glad if someone can explain me the different modules of integration course and what to look for when registering into one.

 

If someone here, who has done it from Aachen/Bonn region, can suggest the exact courses, that would be of great help.

 

A little background: I have been living in Germany for 4+ years now, I have a German B1 and will soon have a B2 as well.

 

Thanks in advance,

Aarij

[engelchen 13,040]

21 hours ago, Asiddiqui said:

A little background: I have been living in Germany for 4+ years now, I have a German B1 and will soon have a B2 as well.

 

The integration course ends with B1 and based on the experiences of others here, the BAMF is no longer providing the certificate to applicants who didn't attend the integration course. 

[kdak2 54]

18 hours ago, engelchen said:

 

The integration course ends with B1 and based on the experiences of others here, the BAMF is no longer providing the certificate to applicants who didn't attend the integration course. 

Seriously? I was counting on this to be able to submit in time for Brexit.

[Guest]

23 minutes ago, kdak2 said:

Seriously? I was counting on this to be able to submit in time for Brexit.

 

On a B1 language certificate? Go along to your local VHS and sit the B1 test  and citizenship test, pass both, provide the other documents / proof neccessary and bob is your proverbial uncle.

 

Assuming you fit the other criteria of course ( length of time etc )

[engelchen 13,040]

58 minutes ago, LeCheese said:

 

On a B1 language certificate? Go along to your local VHS and sit the B1 test  and citizenship test, pass both, provide the other documents / proof neccessary and bob is your proverbial uncle.

 

Assuming you fit the other criteria of course ( length of time etc )

 

I'm assuming that both the OP and kdak2 are looking to reduce the residence requirement from 8 to 7 years using the clause in §10 Abs 3 StAG. 

[Guest]

16 minutes ago, engelchen said:

 

I'm assuming that both the OP and kdak2 are looking to reduce the residence requirement from 8 to 7 years using the clause in §10 Abs 3 StAG. 

 

Ahhh indeed.

[Asiddiqui 2]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses! What I have understood is that if I already have a B1 or higher I don’t need to take an integration course? I can just go with my language certificate and my time will reduced from 8 to 7 years? Please correct if I am wrong.

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, Asiddiqui said:

Thanks everyone for the quick responses! What I have understood is that if I already have a B1 or higher I don’t need to take an integration course? I can just go with my language certificate and my time will reduced from 8 to 7 years? Please correct if I am wrong.

 

The situation I was referring to above was on a normal 8 year basis. @engelchen should be able to tell you the definative answer to that one,Hopefully she will read this again shortly.

- have you read this thread on this very subject?

[Asiddiqui 2]

I just read the thread you mentioned. It was just sad that it has been made so hard. But anyways I have two questions now:

 

1) Can anyone provide me a link to the correct integration course in aachen or bonn, that I can attend to shorten my application time?

 

2) I was a student in the first two years of my stay in Germany, the question is: How are these 7 or 8 years counted in nrw? Some people told me that study period is counted as half and others said in nrw it is counted as full.

 

Much thanks :)

[engelchen 13,040]

18 minutes ago, Asiddiqui said:

 It was just sad that it has been made so hard.

 

What is so hard? The requirements for German citizenship are a joke. The only difficult thing is finding a way for dual citizenship.

 

18 minutes ago, Asiddiqui said:

1) Can anyone provide me a link to the correct integration course in aachen or bonn, that I can attend to shorten my application time?

 

In your first post you said that you've already finished B1 and are now working on B2. The integration course is only till B1.

 

18 minutes ago, Asiddiqui said:

2) I was a student in the first two years of my stay in Germany, the question is: How are these 7 or 8 years counted in nrw? Some people told me that study period is counted as half and others said in nrw it is counted as full.

 

For citizenship the entire time you were here with a valid residence permit will count. When did you first arrive in Germany?

[Harold Beckwith 222]

Sorry if this comment is out of place, but shouldn't the the the course be done for what it is (info on what may be different here to back hone), rather than what it will allow you to do?

[Asiddiqui 2]

4 hours ago, engelchen said:

 

What is so hard? The requirements for German citizenship are a joke. The only difficult thing is finding a way for dual citizenship.

I didnt mean that way. I just felt that all the acceptable language exams should reduce the application time same way as integration course.

 

4 hours ago, engelchen said:

 

In your first post you said that you've already finished B1 and are now working on B2. The integration course is only till B1.

So technically I have done the integration course, just that I don’t have the certificate with that name. I will talk to the personel in ausländeramt if my German knowledge reduces my time to apply.

 

4 hours ago, engelchen said:

 

For citizenship the entire time you were here with a valid residence permit will count. When did you first arrive in Germany?

 

I first came here in September 2013. Did my masters until January 2016 and since then I am working with a blue card. I will apply for my Niederlassungs erlaubnis later this month.

[kiplette 8,712]

1 hour ago, Harold Beckwith said:

Sorry if this comment is out of place, but shouldn't the the the course be done for what it is (info on what may be different here to back hone), rather than what it will allow you to do?

 

It depends on who you are - you may be a newcomer who needs a start in a new land, all that knowledge condensed into a course to get you off on the right foot. Plenty have been here long enough to pick up the information through other means but need the certificate for a specific purpose.

 

I thought that B2 is needed to shrink the number of years required? And proof of voluntary work or other activities suggesting particular integration?

[LeonG 14,810]

The integration course takes 6 months and ends with a B1 test but the orientation course is often seen as a part of it and that is another month and ends with a test called "Leben in Deutschland".  I don't know when they say you can apply after 7 years if you have completed the integrations course if they mean just the language part or the orientation part as well.  As far as I know, you need B1 anyway, even if you are applying after 8 years.

 

In order to apply after 6 years, you need excellent German and some social engagement such as volunteer work, betriebsrat, school board or something like that.

 

From http://www.eschwege.de/city_info/webaccessibility/index.cfm?item_id=850432&modul_id=15&record_id=13347 : 

 

Anträge mit verkürzter Aufenthaltszeit (7 Jahre) sind möglich bei erfolgreicher Teilnahme an einem Integrationskurs.

 

Anträge mit verkürzter Aufenthaltszeit (6 Jahre) sind möglich, wenn ein besonderes bürgerliches Engagement oder herausragende berufliche Leistungen oder ausgezeichnete Deutschkenntnisse (Niveau B 2 und höher) vorliegen. Ausgezeichnete Deutschkenntnisse werden nachgewiesen durch:

• Realschulabschluss oder gleichwertiger Schulabschluss an einer deutschsprachigen Schule, mit der Note "3" im Fach Deutsch
• Abitur an einer deutschsprachigen Schule
• Studienabschluss an einer deutschsprachigen Hoch- oder Fachhochschule
• zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf
• Zertifikat Deutsch Plus
• TestDaF
• Dt. Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang DSH
• Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung
• MD - Mittelstufe Deutsch
• Prüfung Wirtschaftsdeutsch
• Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung
• Kleines oder Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom
• WD - Wirtschaftssprache Deutsch
• Bulats Deutsch (ab Testwert 60-39, ALTE-Stufe 3)

Zusätzlich zu den nachgewiesenen besonderen Integrationsleistungen sind Nachweise dafür erforderlich, dass die Eingliederung in die deutschen Lebensverhältnisse weit fortgeschritten ist (z.B. im Betriebsrat, in der Jugendarbeit, der Schülervertretung usw.).

 

Anträge mit verkürzter Aufenthaltszeit (6 Jahre) sind möglich für Staatenlose, Asylberechtigte und ausländische Flüchtlinge, soweit der Status weiterhin vorliegt.

 

Anträge mit verkürzter Aufenthaltszeit (4 Jahre) sind möglich bei deutschsprachigen Einbürgerungsbewerbern aus Österreich, Liechtenstein oder anderen deutschsprachigen Gebieten.

 

Anträge mit verkürzter Aufenthaltszeit (3 Jahre) sind möglich bei Einbürgerungsbewerbern, die seit mindestens 2 Jahren mit einem deutschen Staatsbürger verheiratet sind.

 

Anträge mit verkürzter Aufenthaltszeit (unter 3 Jahre) sind möglich bei ehemaligen deutschen Staatsangehörigen.

 

 

[Asiddiqui 2]

Thanks for the detailed reply Leong

[cybil 1,465]

If you have the B1 German langauge certificate, I think you just need to take the 'Orientierungskurs.' This course is offered at your local Volkshochschule (VHS).

 

Contact your Aachen or Bonn VHS, and ask if you, in your particular situation, are required to participate in the Orientierungskurs in person or if you can just get the info about the coursebook, study at home at your own pace, and take the test that comes at the end of the course at the VHS. It was ok to do that back in 2013 but I don't know what has changed since then. Studying at your own pace is nice when you are already busy with your job! 

 

Aachen VHS: We offer a concise consecutive range of German language courses ranging from A 1 to C 2, based upon the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Apart from the intensive and standard German courses A 1 to C2 and nearly all GAFL (German as a foreign language)-examinations ( ZD; DTZ; Goethe- Zertifikat- C1, GDS, KDS) we also offer special courses on different levels, covering the various aspects of the German language. Application is possible at any time, depending on whether you would rather join an existing class or wait for a new course to start.
We will be glad to assist you in finding a suitable course for you. For more information please visit us on every Tuesday and Thursday from 2.00 - 5.00 pm, Peterstraße 21 - 25, Rooms 220 - 223.' from http://www.vhs-aachen.de/vhs/deutsch-fremdsprachen/deutsch-als-fremdsprache/index.htm

 

Bonn VHS: https://www.vhs-bonn.de/programm/deutsch-und-integration.html?action%5B147%5D=category&cat_ID=484-CAT-KAT464#cnt (Scroll down to get contact info). 

 

 

 

[Asiddiqui 2]

Hi Cybil,

 

It seems that I can’t attend the integration course anymore and ausländeramt needs a certificate from bamf which aays that he not only passed but also attended the classes. Bamf can issue a certificate considering I already have B1 but won’t write that I attended the classes because I didn’t and hence the certificate is useless  So the only possibility I see is social integration.

 

I wonder what exactly are the departments where you can volunteer and your certificate will be enough to apply in 6 years. If anyone has any idea, it would be nice to know. I heard that fire department and old age home are two options, but what else?

 

Regards,

Aarij

[engelchen 13,040]

There is currently an interesting debate at info4alien on this topic:

 

http://www.info4alien.de/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1512855213/0#0

 

 

[cybil 1,465]

On 24.1.2018, 08:18:10, Asiddiqui said:

Hi Cybil,

 

It seems that I can’t attend the integration course anymore and ausländeramt needs a certificate from bamf which aays that he not only passed but also attended the classes. Bamf can issue a certificate considering I already have B1 but won’t write that I attended the classes because I didn’t and hence the certificate is useless  So the only possibility I see is social integration.

 

I wonder what exactly are the departments where you can volunteer and your certificate will be enough to apply in 6 years. If anyone has any idea, it would be nice to know. I heard that fire department and old age home are two options, but what else?

 

Regards,

Aarij

You might have to ask the Bamf what counts, but I think any local volunteer work would do. Ask them for more details about time commitment etc. if you like. But if volunteering is the thing to do, here is a link to the Ehrenamt/Volunteer links, where you can browse what might interest you, and get details about what you need to do/how much time you have to give, etc.: https://www.berlin.de/buergeraktiv/engagieren/ 

You can also just probably join a hobby group (Verine). I am not sure where a link is for that in Berlin. CAn someone add a link for that please?

[kapil354 94]

On 1/4/2018, 6:05:29, LeCheese said:

 

On a B1 language certificate? Go along to your local VHS and sit the B1 test  and citizenship test, pass both, provide the other documents / proof neccessary and bob is your proverbial uncle.

 

Assuming you fit the other criteria of course ( length of time etc )

Are there easier B1 tests which are valid for naturalization as well :)?

Or there are standard institutes which need to be considered?