Anyone live in Germany or know anything

[cantthinkofanything]

My stepson visited Germany a couple of summers ago and then last summer had a friend from German stay with us. So he has it in his head that he wants to move to Germany and live there. But he does not want to go to school. Just wants to find a job and work.

However, it's not as easy as it sounds. You have to apply to some local board to get the residence permit. And from what I understand, they usually don't give this to non-skilled workers.

Does anyone know anything about the process and if it's even possible for a non-German (unskilled) to get some permit that allows him to live for over a year there?

I'm thinking his best and maybe only option is to get in an exchange student program for the first year. But like I said, he doesn't want to go to school.

[boutons_deux]

google "usa germany work visas residence permits"

[bus driver]

let him work in your meat market

[Drachen]

If he is under 18, there might be a way. You will have to do the research, but I remember something to the effect that if your family emigrated to the US before 1948 (or some date) that you can choose to take the citizenship of the country from whence they came. If that happens to be an EU country, you can then immigrate to Germany as an unskilled worker (unskilled worker immigration is not available for Non-EU citizens). I remember there was some statute of limitations... look into it. The program may not even be in effect anymore. It was obviously a while ago that I read about it. This is probably his only chance. Otherwise, school is probably the only route.

[cantthinkofanything]

google "usa germany work visas residence permits"

I've done plenty of Googling. And talking to real Germans. From everything I've read/learned, a local agency makes the final decision so there is no definate answer until one gets over there and applies. I've been told that there are things you can do that make it more likely they will approve the move. One is to learn German which he is now doing. I just threw this out to Spurstalk to see if anyone had any experience in the matter and if there were other tips/shortcuts to give him better odds.

[cantthinkofanything]

If he is under 18, there might be a way. You will have to do the research, but I remember something to the effect that if your family emigrated to the US before 1948 (or some date) that you can choose to take the citizenship of the country from whence they came. If that happens to be an EU country, you can then immigrate to Germany as an unskilled worker (unskilled worker immigration is not available for Non-EU citizens). I remember there was some statute of limitations... look into it. The program may not even be in effect anymore. It was obviously a while ago that I read about it. This is probably his only chance. Otherwise, school is probably the only route.

Thanks. That's interesting. This hadn't been brought up before so I'm wondering if it's still available. But I'll look into it.

[rascal]

Tell him he isn't going anywhere until he finishes high school.

[cantthinkofanything]

Tell him he isn't going anywhere until he finishes high school.

Done that. It actually worked out well. I told him that they would look at all his information, including transcripts, before they made the decision. So far, it's cured his Senioritis.

[cheguevara]

2LCggmsCXk4

[4>0rings]

Join Army

Ask to be stationed in Germany

Go AWOL


You're welcome.

[CubanMustGo]

Does your son sprechen sie Deutsch? If so, he should look at this site:

http://www.info4alien.de/

All about working as a foreigner in Germany, but it's all in German. He'll also have to get a work permit, which isn't easy because:

To qualify as for a German work permit, the basic requirements for the employee and the German company are as follows:

The potential employee has to be employed on equal terms as a German employee.
German or other European nationals are not available to fill the position.
Usually the employee must have a university degree or comparable qualification. For some positions there are special requirements.
The German company must be registered at the Labor Authorities in Germany and apply for a Corporate Registration Number.

See http://www.workpermit.com/germany/employer.htm. About 75000 permits are issued yearly, half of which are in IT.

Good luck to him, it's a great country. Really would be easiest if he went to study.

[CubanMustGo]

Also this: http://www.bund.de/EN/Working-In-Germany/Work-Permit/Work-Permit_node.html

[cantthinkofanything]

Does your son sprechen sie Deutsch? If so, he should look at this site:

http://www.info4alien.de/

All about working as a foreigner in Germany, but it's all in German. He'll also have to get a work permit, which isn't easy because:


To qualify as for a German work permit, the basic requirements for the employee and the German company are as follows:

The potential employee has to be employed on equal terms as a German employee.
German or other European nationals are not available to fill the position.
Usually the employee must have a university degree or comparable qualification. For some positions there are special requirements.
The German company must be registered at the Labor Authorities in Germany and apply for a Corporate Registration Number.
See http://www.workpermit.com/germany/employer.htm. About 75000 permits are issued yearly, half of which are in IT.

Good luck to him, it's a great country. Really would be easiest if he went to study.

Good info...thanks. Looks like the work/residence visa is a long shot at best.

A suggestion made to me by an German who is a U.S. attorney was for him to enroll for a class or two at the German equivalent of a community college and try to find work while he's there. Ideally some sort of internship. But I don't think he'd make enough $ to live there. He has a couple of friends (also 18 or so) who said he could stay with them but I'm not comfortable sending him over on the word of another teenager whose parents are paying for their appartment.

The more I look and hear, the more I'm convinced that the student exchange is really the only way it's going to happen for him.

[cantthinkofanything]

Also this: http://www.bund.de/EN/Working-In-Germany/Work-Permit/Work-Permit_node.html

Yeah, I'd come across that as well. I guess I've been hoping that there was some sort of backdoor way to do it and that the local agency had a lot of flexibility.

There's also some kind of language study visa but again the issue at that point is him earning some money to live off of.

[Cyrano]

When I lived in Berlin in the mid and late 70's, there were a large number of unskilled foreign workers referred to as "gastarbeiter", or guest worker. These tended to be Turkish, and could commonly be seen doing street construction and kitchen work. With the reunification of Germany, there were suddenly many, many former East Germans looking for work, and Germany began paying gastarbeiter to go back to their country of origin, figuring that it was cheaper in the long run to pay relocation expenses than to pay welfare benefits. The only jobs really available to unskilled "auslanders" are menial labor type jobs that German citizens don't want to do, since current law does not allow a foreigner to take a job that a German citizen wants.

[Drachen]

When I lived in Berlin in the mid and late 70's, there were a large number of unskilled foreign workers referred to as "gastarbeiter", or guest worker. These tended to be Turkish, and could commonly be seen doing street construction and kitchen work. With the reunification of Germany, there were suddenly many, many former East Germans looking for work, and Germany began paying gastarbeiter to go back to their country of origin, figuring that it was cheaper in the long run to pay relocation expenses than to pay welfare benefits. The only jobs really available to unskilled "auslanders" are menial labor type jobs that German citizens don't want to do, since current law does not allow a foreigner to take a job that a German citizen wants.

They can't kick all of them out though. Germans need their Doener Kebabs.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Good info...thanks. Looks like the work/residence visa is a long shot at best.

A suggestion made to me by an German who is a U.S. attorney was for him to enroll for a class or two at the German equivalent of a community college and try to find work while he's there. Ideally some sort of internship. But I don't think he'd make enough $ to live there. He has a couple of friends (also 18 or so) who said he could stay with them but I'm not comfortable sending him over on the word of another teenager whose parents are paying for their appartment.

The more I look and hear, the more I'm convinced that the student exchange is really the only way it's going to happen for him.
Pretty much. If Germany is anything like Canada immigration wise (their governments are similar in many other aspects) then they'll welcome an educated young American who looks like he has something to offer (I know this because I'm strongly considering moving to Canada and the people I've talked to said I'd have no problem getting legal status once I'm done with school).

Right now though it sounds like an 18 year old kid who doesn't have a clue what's good for him.

[cantthinkofanything]

Pretty much. If Germany is anything like Canada immigration wise (their governments are similar in many other aspects) then they'll welcome an educated young American who looks like he has something to offer (I know this because I'm strongly considering moving to Canada and the people I've talked to said I'd have no problem getting legal status once I'm done with school).

Right now though it sounds like an 18 year old kid who doesn't have a clue what's good for him.

You hit the nail on the head. He's been to Germany for one month and he's convinced that it's better over there than here. In reality, I think he went over and spent a lot of time partying with his friends and saw some cool historical sites. But I'm not going to stand in his way if he really wants to move over there. But I'm also not going to fund some wild goose chase of a dream if it's not realisitc.

Me and his mom have told him we'd pay for his ticket over there but he's got to give us a legitimate plan of what he's going to do. My hope is that he comes to the same conclusion that your post and all the others have confirmed. So maybe if he really wants to do this, he will go the education route. In which case, we'd (me and his mom) be more supportive.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

You hit the nail on the head. He's been to Germany for one month and he's convinced that it's better over there than here. In reality, I think he went over and spent a lot of time partying with his friends and saw some cool historical sites. But I'm not going to stand in his way if he really wants to move over there. But I'm also not going to fund some wild goose chase of a dream if it's not realisitc.

Me and his mom have told him we'd pay for his ticket over there but he's got to give us a legitimate plan of what he's going to do. My hope is that he comes to the same conclusion that your post and all the others have confirmed. So maybe if he really wants to do this, he will go the education route. In which case, we'd (me and his mom) be more supportive.
And another thing to point out, as hard as it is to be successful in this country right now without an education, it's next to impossible in socialist countries like Canada or Germany. The poverty threshold in Canada is 40k just to give you an idea. An 18 year old moving to Germany with no education and no money is a recipe for disaster.

[cantthinkofanything]

And another thing to point out, as hard as it is to be successful in this country right now without an education, it's next to impossible in socialist countries like Canada or Germany. The poverty threshold in Canada is 40k just to give you an idea. An 18 year old moving to Germany with no education and no money is a recipe for disaster.

Yeah I hear you. I've done quite a bit of research comparing economies, cost of living, etc. But he's 18 and doesn't think I know anything. And I don't want to be the one that he looks back on in 10 years and blames for not letting him live his dream. So like I said, I'm not going to stand in his way but I'm also not going to be the never ending source of funds.

[Nathan Explosion]

I wouldn't even pay for his ticket. If he wants to act like he knows it all and is an adult, I'd say I wouldn't stop him, but I'm not going to baby him either. A real adult handles his business and gets it done on his own. It's strict but with the promise of freedom. And speaking as an adult, its definitely fair. It's also what's best because he'll need to learn how to take care of himself once he moves out there.

[xeromass]

Does he have any programming skills/experiences?

If so he can try his luck at Bwin. It's an online gambling site with large office in Vienna (Austria, but what's the difference...above the basement level :devil), official corporate language is English and they're not very uptight about formal education.

[z0sa]

dude needs to get his shit straight. One month out internationally and he's a bonafide naturalized citizen? at 18, with no education, no skills, and at best, the most elementary usage of the language?

let him have it straight: you're 18 now, a grown man by most accounts, and if you want to move to DE without an education or skills or (probably) even a working knowledge of the German language, go right the fuck ahead. Just don't look to me/us when shit goes sour.

[cantthinkofanything]

I wouldn't even pay for his ticket. If he wants to act like he knows it all and is an adult, I'd say I wouldn't stop him, but I'm not going to baby him either. A real adult handles his business and gets it done on his own. It's strict but with the promise of freedom. And speaking as an adult, its definitely fair. It's also what's best because he'll need to learn how to take care of himself once he moves out there.

He's graduating high school and the ticket is his main present. At the least, he will want to go spend time with his friends for a month or so. I don't have a problem with that.


Does he have any programming skills/experiences?

If so he can try his luck at Bwin. It's an online gambling site with large office in Vienna (Austria, but what's the difference...above the basement level :devil), official corporate language is English and they're not very uptight about formal education.

No programming.


dude needs to get his shit straight. One month out internationally and he's a bonafide naturalized citizen? at 18, with no education, no skills, and at best, the most elementary usage of the language?

let him have it straight: you're 18 now, a grown man by most accounts, and if you want to move to DE without an education or skills or (probably) even a working knowledge of the German language, go right the fuck ahead. Just don't look to me/us when shit goes sour.

That's easy to say. But hard to implement considering I'm married to his mom who is...well...a mom. If he got over there and was in a serious bind, I'm sure I'd have to help him through it. Like I said, I'm getting him the plane ticket as his senior present. I'm probably going to get it with a 2 month return date so he will have time to come back and get in school here if he wants. If he finds something over there, then great.

The family dynamics with me being the stepdad make it a little more complicated than it might seem.

[RandomGuy]

UT at Austin has a Deutschuebendegesellschaft if he wants to practice. (lit: german practicing society)

IT is a little informal society club thing that meets at Schultz's beer garten, so maybe not for an unaccompanied minor.

If he is serious about immersion in german the University of New Mexico runs a summer immersion course

http://www.unm.edu/~fll/german/summerschool.html

Get into one of those, it helped me immensely. (RG= degree in german from UT)

[z0sa]

The family dynamics with me being the stepdad make it a little more complicated than it might seem.

Which is why you need to lay it all out on the line right now, man to man.

[cantthinkofanything]

UT at Austin has a Deutschuebendegesellschaft if he wants to practice. (lit: german practicing society)

IT is a little informal society club thing that meets at Schultz's beer garten, so maybe not for an unaccompanied minor.

If he is serious about immersion in german the University of New Mexico runs a summer immersion course

http://www.unm.edu/~fll/german/summerschool.html

Get into one of those, it helped me immensely. (RG= degree in german from UT)

Thanks. Both are probably non-starters for now. With his apathy toward school, I'm not about to send him to UT without him proving himself in a community college. The UNM is for kids with three years of college level German.

He's in beginning German at his high school and it's the only class that he's got an A in. For Christmas, we bought him an online German course. I think how hard he works at it will give us some indication about how serious he really is. If he blows the whole thing off, then I'm not going to spend much more time or effort trying to help him figure it all out.

[cantthinkofanything]

Which is why you need to lay it all out on the line right now, man to man.

I've done that already. I hope I'm wrong but he's going to be one of those that has to learn the hard way. I was the same way but my dad bailed me out numerous times. I'm thankful but I realize that all it did was facilitate my fucking around. It wasn't until he said enough and I was really on my own that I decided I better get my shit together.

[RandomGuy]

He's graduating high school and the ticket is his main present. At the least, he will want to go spend time with his friends for a month or so. I don't have a problem with that.



No programming.



That's easy to say. But hard to implement considering I'm married to his mom who is...well...a mom. If he got over there and was in a serious bind, I'm sure I'd have to help him through it. Like I said, I'm getting him the plane ticket as his senior present. I'm probably going to get it with a 2 month return date so he will have time to come back and get in school here if he wants. If he finds something over there, then great.

The family dynamics with me being the stepdad make it a little more complicated than it might seem.

Erk. I can imagine it is complicated.

Being young and unskilled in Germany is not easy for foreigners.

It is a bit easier for white people to be honest, despite the best intentions of most Germans, there is still a streak of "auslaender 'raus" (foreigners out)

It will be hard and time consuming to emigrate, if that is what he wants, and just as hard to get the right paperwork for going there to work and live, even if you don't want citizenship. I looked into it at one point, and it was intimidating to say the least.

One has to remember that you are competing with thousands of African and other immigrants for the same unskilled jobs. He will be washing dishes, serving french fries, working in a hotel, or something unpleasantly tedious.

A really good place to start is the German consulate (sort of like a mini-embassy) in San Antonio:

http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/03__Consulates/Houston/03/Houston__HC.html


Administrative District/Consular District: Texas Counties: Atacosa, Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Blanco, Caldwell, Comal, Dewitt, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, LaSalle, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Real, Travis, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson & Zavala.

Reports to: Consulate General Houston

OrganizationBuecker, Bernard J. - Honorary ConsulAdministrative District/Consular District: Texas (see above)Address
2201 Tower Life Building

310 South St. Mary's Street, Suite 2201

San Antonio, TX 78205


Contact

Phone:(+1) 210 - 226 - 1788Fax:(+1) 210 - 226 - 2065




Here are a couple of good news sites:

http://www.bild.de/

http://www.spiegel.de/international/

[z0sa]

I've done that already. I hope I'm wrong but he's going to be one of those that has to learn the hard way. I was the same way but my dad bailed me out numerous times. I'm thankful but I realize that all it did was facilitate my fucking around. It wasn't until he said enough and I was really on my own that I decided I better get my shit together.

that's unfortunate... my parents would have laughed in my face had I ever even mentioned the idea (perhaps even pondered); I guess I'm not used to a social dynamic where paid immigration by the 'rents out of the states is a suitable reality..

sounds like you've got mommy issues, in fact (his mommy)..

[cantthinkofanything]

that's unfortunate... my parents would have laughed in my face had I ever even mentioned the idea (perhaps even pondered); I guess I'm not used to a social dynamic where paid immigration by the 'rents out of the states is a suitable reality..

sounds like you've got mommy issues, in fact (his mommy)..

Just to be clear, I didn't have that option either. There's no way my parents would have supported me moving away from the states. My bailouts were mostly involved with them paying for several years of college that I wasted. Eventually, my dad said he was done. After a couple of years in the real world, working 7 days a week, I decided to go back to finish college on my own dime.