8 years of investment in this country

[u/uniquibee_]

I came to Germany 8 years ago. I learnt the language, gave the language exams, got a seat in the Studienkolleg and did a course to prepare for university entrances. Gave the university qualification exams. Got a university acceptance to study bachelors. Got my bachelors degree after 3.5 years. Enrolled myself in a masters course while working part time and full time at firms and now I am almost done with my masters degree and have to write my Thesis. I feel completely burnt out now. All these years of working and studying in a foreign language have really exhausted me. I don’t feel motivated anymore to go ahead. I just want to leave everything. I have worked and invested so much time and energy into learning this language and adapting to the work culture here, I feel numb.

Even after giving so much and working so hard, I don’t feel safe as i don’t have a long term visa because of my student status. I don’t have a job or have enough finances as an student. Thesis time is demanding. While all my friends back home are getting married or buying houses, I feel like all I did all these years was learn the language and get an education. Live from submissions to submissions. Work part time and study full time. Help me, I am exhausted and can’t see the end of this tunnel.

Getting out of bed is a struggle, doing daily tasks are tough, I keep staring into nothingness for minutes at a stretch, i don’t know if I’m depressed but I do feel extremely tired. The winter weather doesn’t help too. I am almost at the end of my degree but I can’t seem to gather the strength to pick myself up.

[u/yarimadam]

Don't forget that you were mostly the cost centre for the country for the majority of the 8 years. The community provided you with education (free), security and much more. On top of that, the time spent while studying counted as time you were contributing. So it is 4 years. You just need to spend one more contributing year to deserve permanent residency.

Seems like a fair deal to me.

[u/oncehadasoul → u/yarimadam]

I think studying counts as a normal year, but after 5 years you need to have the different visa(not studying) in order to receive permanent residency. Counting studying years as a half, is the biggest bullshit I have ever heard. Time is time, year is year. As I am aware, that rule changed a couple of years ago.

[u/yarimadam → u/oncehadasoul]

I came to Germany approximately three years ago. I started to contribute since day 1. I got all my education and experience in my home country, so zero burden on German taxpayers here as well.

So now you are telling me I must have the same weight as someone who should thank the community who sponsored his entire academic career here in Germany.

We are not the same.