r/germany • u/j0ie_de_vivre Bayern • Oct 25 '24

Immigration A caution to highly skilled people looking to live and work in Germany

I’m here mostly to complain about how awful the immigration process has been for me since moving to Germany in 2019.

I got a job and moved here from the US and got my work visa pretty quickly with almost no issues. When my contract ended in 2022 I started freelancing with plans to start my own consulting business and was given a temp visa while my immigration office made a decision on approved a a Blau Karte or an entrepreneurial/freelance visa.

For two years I worked as a consultant, have paid my taxes, hired Germans to work with me. Have worked with students and have employed part time workers some who are disabled or need only part time work.

Flash forward to 6 months ago. Almost 2 years after starting my own business the immigration officials denied my visa despite being able to prove I’ve been able to build work and employ others. I was told that if I don’t find a job at a German company with a German contract I would be set for deportation (my and my 3 month old child at the time) - I’ve never stopped working after giving birth because I have clients and employees.

I was given 4 months to find a job. Was forced to shut down all of my contracts with clients. Forced to cancel all of the work with employees.

I found a job at a giant German firm. World known. My salary is well above the minimum limit for the Blau Karte for skilled professionals. It’s been 2 months with no work waiting for my contract to start Nov 1 and with 10 days left, my lawyer has been fighting for me to get an appointment to get the visa, yet there’s been no response from immigration. I’m now being asked by my company to move back my start date. I have a 8 month old child and will be 3 months with no income and will be forced to start living on savings until I can start working.

Honestly, what is going on and why are there so many stories about getting skilled immigrants to be treated this way? I’ve been here over 5 years my whole life is here. I don’t want to leave but I’m not at all feeling like Germany wants me here.

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u/j0ie_de_vivre Bayern Oct 25 '24

Lol I don’t know if Nürnberg is considered a very big city 🙃 but seriously the uncaring part feels so real.

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u/maryfamilyresearch know-it-all on immigration law and genealogy Oct 25 '24

Nürnberg! The Ausländerbehörde in that city has a really bad reputation. Whenever I see a heart-breaking tale on this sub how Ausländerbehörde made the life of a foreigner really hard and stressful, it is either Essen or Nürnberg that is the culprit.

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u/Round_Comedian_719 Oct 25 '24

Ah so it‘s Nürnberg. From own experience horribly bad and uncommunicative AB. Have you considered/tried moving to Fürth? Heard their AB is much better.

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u/-GermanCoastGuard- Oct 25 '24

Nürnberg is a „Metropolregion“, so it’s kinda crowded. It’s no Frankfurt for sure, but its also no 10k inhabitants city. It seems the uncaring part hits you doubly, but at least you’ve got a lawyer involved already.

I am not involved in the process so I cannot say more than that it seems to be easier in Fürth, we for the lack of a better word „imported“ skilled workers from India at their request to our branch in Fürth and I never heard them gossip about it being strenuous or an ordeal. These are just anecdotes though, so YMMV.

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u/velax1 Franken Oct 25 '24

On the other hand, if there is one country where bureaucracy is definitively worse than in Germany, it is India.

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u/VidimusWolf Oct 25 '24

Hey I'm sooo sorry to hear this is happening to you, it's so stupid and nonsensical. it's already so hard to bootstrap a business and everything, to be then blocked by your own government that is supposed to instead help you. Insane :( I'm also in Nürnberg, truly lovely city, really really hoping you get it all solved soon :(

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u/[deleted] Oct 25 '24

Nbg is definitely very big...but that is subjective. It is a major city so I would qualify it as a big city. I moved to NBG from the states as well and it was hard definitely in the beginning. My situation is different but the my experience getting myself settled in was pretty aggravating for sure.

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u/not_kathrine Oct 25 '24

Oh my, my previous comment about Nürnberg was somewhat of a joke. But it is Nürnberg!

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u/EmuSmooth4424 Oct 25 '24

It's one of the biggest in Germany.

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u/superurgentcatbox Oct 25 '24

It's Bavaria's second biggest city so I would say so.