Are you thinking about moving out of the United States and over to Germany? If so, there is a lot that you need to know. Moving to another country from the United States is not as simple as picking up and moving from Idaho to California, or even moving across the country from New York to California. There are a few things that you need to know before considering a move to Germany.
The easiest way to move to Germany is through your work. If your place of employment has an office in the Germany, then it is as simple as applying for the job, getting the job and being told when your work visa is ready so you can move. In this scenario, your company takes care of all the paperwork for your work visa, since they are sponsoring your stay in the country, and they take care of all the fees associated with it as well. This is by far the most painless way to get to Germany, especially since your company is not only doing most of the paperwork for you but also paying the fees as well.
If you do not have a job that will, or can, transfer you to Germany, then it is a task that you must take upon yourself. Before you begin the grueling process of gaining entry into Germany, first decide if this is really something that you want to do as there will be many changes from food to way of life to language that you will encounter. Once you are certain that you want to take on this endeavor, your first line of action is to see you need to do to line up a work visa for yourself.
Be prepared for immigration laws and forms to be confusing, as they often are. Because of this, try to get a head start on things by starting paperwork and gathering documentation as early as you can. And remember that some things must be applied for before you leave the US depending on what you are doing an application for exactly.
When you arrive in Germany you will have to register your residence. This needs to be done during the first week that you are in Germany. You can do this at the local residence registration office, the Einwohnermeldeamt. Since you intend on getting a work permit, then you will more than likely be staying in Germany for a period longer than 3 months. Anyone staying in Germany over 90 days is required to obtain a residence permit from the local immigration office, the Ausländeramt. Finally, you are ready to get your work permit once you have the residence permit. To get your work permit, you must visit the local labor office, the Arbeitsamt, to apply for and obtain the work permit.
Be prepared to fill out a lot of forms, which will require stamps and notarizations from multiple offices that you will have to schlep to and fro. You will be waiting in long lines and generally having your patience tested. To avoid any further delays, try to have all the necessary documentation with you that will be needed. You should have a passport valid for the length of your stay, proof of financial means, proof of school registry if a student, an original birth certificate and a translated one, health insurance and proof of any vaccinations. More information can be found at a German embassy or consulate, as the specifics frequently change.
