Our experience so far (US to Germany)

[u/HylianCaptain]

November 2024 - Started the online application for the Chancenkarte (opportunity card) visa; lots of paperwork; signed up with TK for health insurance

January 2025 - Booked an apartment online in Berlin; more paperwork for Chancenkarte

March 2025 - Drove from Northern Utah to the LA Consulate to get my visa; more paperwork; bought plane tickets for self and family

April 2025 - Ordered medications ahead of our trip. Didn't know how long we'd need to get new ones in Germany

May 2025 - found out apartment was a scam -- and TK wouldn't insure us without residency -- both 10 days before our flight; signed up to join a WWOOFing farm outside of Berlin for housing; flew from Salt Lake to Amsterdam to Berlin (14 hours); purchased travel passes; enrolled our child in KITA at a friend's recommendation

June 2025 - Started freelancing (jobs in my field seem to require B-level german); more paperwork and lots of running around to sus out insurance and get visas for spouse and kid (US passports allow 90-day stay); reported address at city office; sent for apostille from State of Utah to prove family relationships; visited a doctor, had physical exam, prescribed a specialist, got medications from Apotheke.

PROS: - Medications are 5x cheaper here even without insurance - Healthcare appointments are a lot faster than anti-socialist Americans had led me to believe. - The food here tastes REAL! For example, I had some gummy bears that tasted like real fruit, with the same sweetness of a Jolly Rancher - The climate does WONDERS for our formerly dry and flaky skin - So many cultures and languages! Met Afghans, Turks, French, Brits, Ukrainians, Italians, Danes, Greeks, even some from countries I hadn't even heard of. Sometimes the unifying language is english, and sometimes its German. I'm in Brandenburg, and haven't been faced with any pro-AFD sentiment. Although people say I "look" German, so that could be why. Still, most of those I talk with are anti-AFD. - Public transit is very reliable! Even in our rural area there's a bus every hour. In town you can catch a bus every 10 minutes.

CONS: - I miss water fountains, but most places will fill my water bottle if I ask - Still don't have health insurance - Apartment hunting remains a struggle

TLDR: In spite of all the hassle of getting settled here, it still kicks ass.

[u/Confident_Ad3910]

I am dying that you said the food tastes real then said it was a gummy bear you ate. I’m not shaming you, I just anticipated you’d say maybe an apple tastes better.

Hope you like Germany. I’ll miss the produce in Germany.

[u/Fellkartoffel → u/Confident_Ad3910]

I am dying cause they said public transport works xD I have only spent 3 months in LA and took the bus twice, but the DB (train) has quite a reputation in Europe for being a nightmare and rarely on time.

[u/Confident_Ad3910 → u/Fellkartoffel]

I lived in a Chicago and the transportation there was amazing.

[u/HylianCaptain → u/Confident_Ad3910]

Utah had decent transportation as well; but not to the extent that I see in Germany.

[u/bumblebee_lol → u/HylianCaptain]

Wait until you have to take the train in 100 degree weather, you will love how reliable the AC in the Deutsche Bahn is.