Hey kids

I actually made my trip to the Ausländerbehörde on the second of February, but since I didn’t have my insurance papers, all I got out of the deal was a Fiktionsbescheinigung. What’s a Fiktionsbescheinigung? Well, I’ll tell you: it’s a simple certificate that essentially states that my case is undecided, and that I may continue my current activities until it expires, which in this case is on the day of my next appointment in early March. So basically, I have to go back and show them my insurance papers, and then I’ll be allowed to stay for another two years.  What’s the moral of this story? Make sure you have all of the papers required beforehand, since otherwise things could get a little sticky!

I’m just about to go into my Ausländerbehörde phase again… I’ll likely call LABO on Thursday, so I’ll let you all know how long I have to wait to talk to a Sachbearbeiter, just in case I break any records.

Seems like a happy ending so far:

Hi Matthew!

So we went to the Auslander this morning at 7:30am and went out at 9:00am with a temporary resident permit for me valid until March 10. My 3 months no-visa period was ending by January 1st so we were in a bit of a hurry to get a temporary resident permit and avoid having to go back to Canada for 3 months.

That leaves us some time to breathe until we get married even if it’s a bit short. Then we have an appointment on March 11 to go back there with the marriage certificate and get the regular resident permit.

There was not too many people waiting there this morning surprisingly, maybe due to Holidays. They just grabbed all my stuff and then give back the temporary resident permit so I can’t tell you if something new is required compared to what you required previously.

As we add a lot of troubles reaching someone by phone or mail I would tell you to start early bugging them.

 I’ve just received a message from a reader:

Hi Mathew Michael,

thanks a lot for the blog, a lot of interesting stuff.  I’m from Quebec, my girlfriend is German and we go to Auslanderamt next week as we want to get a temporary resident permit until we actually marry next year and get a regular resident permit.

Any trick to get an appointment at the Auslanderamt?  E-mails are bouncing, nobody answers the phone, etc. So we decided just to show there and try to get someone.

Thanks,

Pepito (names have been changed to protect the innocent)

Here’s what I had to say:

Hi Pepito ,

It’s always nice to hear that my blog is reaching people out there. I can’t think of any particular trick to get an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde - I have always just called and re-called and stayed on the line until someone responsible finally takes the initiative to book me a meeting. Emails will not work. I do know that they have special hours for phoning though, so you might want to take a look at the LABO site to see when those are (they have really crap hours, like every other day before 1 p.m. or something, and I guess nobody answers the phones on Tuesday or Wednesday, period). It’s a bit of a test, but eventually someone will have to listen to you.

By all means, let me know how it goes. I think I will actually add this info to my blog right now

Cheers and good luck!
Matthew

PS: I recommend NOT just showing up. Usually, the place is a mess and it is full of people who don’t speak German, which is pure chaos. You will invariably have to wait a minimum of an hour. Plus, they will typically just give you an appointment, and you will not be able to see someone directly, which means you will just have to come back another day (waste of time).

Time flies when you’re having fun.

In Feb 2010, I’m due for another trip to the Ausländeramt to have my Aufenthaltstitel and Arbeitserlaubnis extended. At the moment, everything looks rosey. I’ve been steadily increasing my income since the last time I visited, paying tax, the whole thing, so I shouldn’t have any problems. I’ll let you know what documents I prepare to take along when I go so that you can prepare a similar package.

Part of what I need to renew my visa is a Bescheinigung (document) which certifies that I am not receiving any social services… I found this page

It has information for every Kiez in the city and a handy map which you can click on to locate the local office which is responsible for your PLZ (Postleitzahl - post code).

Okay, so I got through to my friendly neighbourhood Ausländeramt, and this is what they want from me:

30 euros,

2 Lichtbilder (pass photos),

Krankenversicherung (private health insurance),

Arbeitsvertrag (employment contract),

Anmeldebescheinigung (residency registration certificate),

Mietvertrag (apartment rental contract),

Valid passport,

and a “proof” from the Arbeitsamt that I am not using any social services, i.e. I am supporting myself (not like 10% of the German population, which is drinking on my tax dime).

Well, the time has finally come. After being in Germany for almost 20 months, I have to go to the Ausländeramt / Ausländerbehörde to get my work and residency visa renewed. In case you need to go and get your Aufenthaltstitel (residency permit) or Arbeitsgenehmigung (work permit) renewed or you are applying for the first time, take a look at the following links to the Berliner Ausländerbehörde (LABO):

Visa FAQ (German)

Fixing an appointment (German)

More info about the LABO (German)

Well, you’ve made it this far, why not keep on truckin’? The next step is to head down to the local Aliens’ Authority office, or ‘Ausländeramt’, to pick up your residency permit (Aufenthaltstitel) and or your work permit (Arbeitsgenehmigung). Work is a subject for another post, but I’ll cover the permit now because it’s kind of part of the whole moving process. You’ll probably get you residency permit and work permit at the same time like I did, but if you haven’t found work yet, then you can at least apply for a residency. In fact, while you’re down at the office you might as well apply for your work permit for ‘Selbstständigkeit’, or the independent/freelancer permit.

On to the aliens…  They aren’t exactly green, slimy or ready to suck face with you, though they do remind me a lot of the Vogons. Find them lurking at:

In Berlin, the Aliens Authority is located at

Ausländerbehörde (ABH)
(Abteilung IV)
Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24
13353 Berlin.

Look here for more detailed info..

The wonderfully talented and enthusiastic individuals lucky enough to enjoy the not boring and often challenging work at the Ausländeramt can help you with a number of exciting issues, including, but not limited to those in this list.

Great! So you know hat you want, now you just need to go and get it. Start by going down to the office and getting a feel for the atmosphere. The sites and sounds (and smells) will pique your desire to aid in the efficiency of the office and accelerate the process, I promise.

Start by getting an appointment. Once you have the necessary paperwork, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT OVER THE PHONE. Or have someone comfortable with the language do this for you. If you do not make an appointment by phone, you will spend an eternity getting one at the office in person.

Once you have a case worker, PESTER THEM. Call them, write them, send them flowers or death threats, but whatever you do, don’t leave the work at hand up to them. It will be filed and forgotten. This is the rule.

I hope the process goes smoother for you than it did for me- I was lucky to get a great job at an office where they were willing to pay me as if I was an independent. You might try this approach, too, since basically it puts the legal onus upon you, should you be sniffed out by German Shepherds and sent packing. But don’t do what I did. Look for a job, get it, and do it all legally. This will save you wrinkles and grey hairs.

As a matter of fact, having a letter from an employer is key to getting your permits in most cases, even if you aren’t going to work there. I managed to get my permits with a combination of letters from various would-be employers, and I ended up getting a residency, license to work as an independent AND a permit to work at a software company all in one shot. These were extraordinary circumstances, and I’m proud to say that it all happened because of my mastery of the language, powers of reasoning and logic, and big mouth. If the gods have graced you with any of these talents, I suggest you put them to use when confronted by the German bureaucratic machine.

Your mantra: The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease

Soon: Banking, etc.