 Does Germany want Aliens to Enter and even Stay Here?
Everybody has his or her special situation, everybody would like to get in as easy and quickly as possible. Do you believe that especially this presentation will even all paths to your permit? Wake up! There is no one clear-cut path to Germany! There will always be more or less red tape to overcome.
One great ease has come true: the one-stop agency. You only need to visit the foreigners office to apply for a residence and work permit. While the labor agencies (= Arbeitsagenturen) make the decision to grant or refuse the working permits. The Ausländeramt (foreigners I immigration office) will only decide on the residence. However, the foreigners office will communicate both decisions to you. Another exciting detail is that every residency permit must clearly either permit or forbid (self-)employment. Investors are so dearly needed that local chambers of commerce have started to open "Business Immigration Services".
The general rule for any and all kinds of a residence permit is: The more you bring advantage to Germany the better status you shall receive from the beginning. Best heads will receive red carpet treatment; specialists are free to have a job after privileged persons have had a chance to accept it. Petty qualified are not at all attracted to live and work in Germany. There are already more than enough low educated persons existing and not having a job. "Other reasons" will get a chance.
The most outstanding change in the requirements for permanent residency is “integration”. The previous law (prior to 2005) did not even know the word “integration”. This does not only stress a prominent wish of the German government but also places a demand on the foreigner to integrate or leave and on the German government to promote integration. While preparing this presentation, a neat pun showed up. First, it seemed German law was demanding or in German “fordern” the integration but then after a second look they were also fostering “fördern” the integration. This pun exactly describes the situation. Germany expects you to integrate but also helps you to do so. How does Germany help you integrate? Integration courses are the name of the game.
Before entering Germany, you need to know if you need a visa to enter or not. Stop, for a moment please! In order to correctly understand this presentation, you must know two terms form German legalese: “Visum (= visa)” and “Aufenthaltsgenehmigung (= residence permit)”. Visa is a permission to remain in Germany a short-term period while a residence permit is for an indefinite permission, which will qualify for permanent residency. It is just like the difference between “visit” and “stay”. If you are not from a buddy country, you must have a visa prior to entering Germany! A visa legalizes your entry into and your stay in Germany for up to three months per half year. It is not really intended to be extended any further. You can only get an exception if you are hospitalized, incapable of traveling, or summoned to court or an administrative office. These exceptions are handled very strictly. This time you will have to leave — but next time apply for a national visa if a longer stay is foreseeable and reasonably explainable.
Pursuant to a visa waiver program, citizens of buddy countries may enter without first applying for a visa. Some special buddy country citizens may apply for a residence permit from inside Germany without first having to leave and apply from home. The rules for obtaining and prolonging residency depend exclusively on thereason you are here. The new law explicitly but not exclusively names some reasons:
|
