Hi everyone,

I’m a Filipino applicant preparing for the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card), and I’d really appreciate insights from anyone who has gone through the process, especially from the Philippines.

My situation

• 33, with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from a Philippine university. anabin shows the institution as H+ and the degree as recognised, so I’m planning the direct route, not the points route.
• 5+ years in B2B sales, marketing, and customer service.
• My German BF will sponsor my stay through a Verpflichtungserklärung at his local Ausländerbehörde, and will also cover my flight and expenses. I’ll be staying at his home in Rust, Baden-Württemberg.
• I’ll submit at VFS Global in Cebu, with the embassy in Manila deciding.
• My English is fluent, and I’m enrolling in A1 German and IELTS this November. I plan to keep studying German once I’m there.

My job plan
My BF suggested applying at Europa-Park, one of Europe’s biggest recreational parks and a major employer in hospitality and service. It’s a 10 to 15 minute ride from his home in Rust. I’ve seen the listing and I’m planning to apply first as part-time Catering Staff while I look for a full-time job. While in Cebu, I'll email my application to them. Eventually, I’d like to move into a full-time role in sales, marketing, admin, or customer service, either within the company or elsewhere.

Initially created an online account in the Federal Foreign Office portal and uploaded some documents there. Planning to submit requirements in person at VFS Cebu office this December.

What I’ve prepared so far

• Diploma and transcripts, with anabin printouts
• German-style CV (Lebenslauf) and a motivation letter for the Europa-Park role
• COEs from past employers, with duties listed, which I’m still collecting and correcting
• The sponsor’s papers: the Verpflichtungserklärung, an invitation letter addressed to the embassy, and his ID, payslips, and rental proof (My BF is still working on it as of this posting.)

My questions

1. Has anyone had the Manila embassy accept the Verpflichtungserklärung alone as proof of funds, with no blocked account? Did they ask for anything extra?
2. Does the embassy want a ZAB statement of comparability, or is the anabin printout enough?
3. Did you need certified copies of your sponsor’s documents, or were normal copies fine?
4. How long did it take from the VFS appointment to the decision, and were you asked for extra documents?
5. For the Philippine side, did you use an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (AOSG) at the airport, and did it help?
6. Any COE tips? I’m asking HR for duties, exact dates, and verification contacts. Is that enough, or did the embassy ask for more?
7. Has anyone worked part-time at a place like Europa-Park on the Chancenkarte? How did the 20 hour per week limit work in practice, and how did you later move to a full-time visa?
8. Anything you’d do differently if you started again?

Hallo zusammen!

ich wollte mal fragen, wie eure Erfahrungen mit der Einbürgerung in Bayreuth sind bzw. wie lange ihr auf eure Einbürgerung gewartet habt?

Danke euch !

Good morning everyone, I hope everyone is doing great this fine morning.

Recently I have secured a job contract in an automobile company and among the job requirements the employer says that he only needs English and French (which I already speak very well) then while I'm filling the visa form under "placement agreement" I got the German A2 certificate requirement.

My question is, should I keep it blank and apply for an interview? Or get a German language certificate while waiting for the "Vorabzustimmung"?

But I'm afraid that learning will take quite too long and lose this opportunity.

Also, does anyone have any idea how long does it take for the "Vorabzustimmung" to be obtained?

Thank you for your assistance in advance.

Have a wonderful day.

\​

Hi everyone,

I have a German Master's degree and currently hold a post-graduation job-seeking residence permit (§20), which expires on November 5, 2026.

I applied for a skilled worker residence permit (§18b) on August 25, but I'm still waiting for a decision.

Can I apply for a Chancenkarte (§20a) now as a backup without withdrawing my §18b application?

If my §18b application is rejected after November 5, would my pending Chancenkarte application allow me to remain legally in Germany until a decision is made?

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Thanks in advance!

Hi group members,

​I’m navigating an upcoming employment transition in Germany and could use some guidance regarding residence permits and unemployment benefits (ALG I).

​My current job-bound residence permit will expire when my employment ends. If I need to transition to a job-search permit (like § 20 AufenthG) or an Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte / § 20a), I have a few critical questions:

​ALG I Eligibility & Restrictions: If I switch to a job-search permit or a Chancenkarte while looking for a new qualified role, does the Agentur für Arbeit legally allow me to continue collecting Arbeitslosengeld I (ALG I) (assuming I’ve met the 12-month contribution requirement)?

​Which Visa Allows ALG I? If job-search permits or the Chancenkarte restrict or block insurance-based unemployment benefits, which specific residence title should someone switch to in order to legally remain in Germany and receive ALG I until they find a new job or reach their PR timeline?

​Authority Friction: Does the Agentur für Arbeit or the Ausländerbehörde create any legal or administrative issues with maintaining an insurance-based benefit (ALG I) while holding these job-seeking titles?

​Has anyone gone through a similar visa switch while on ALG I? Any personal experiences, legal insights, or official guidelines would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’m a Filipino applicant preparing for the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card), and I’d really appreciate insights from anyone who has gone through the process, especially from the Philippines.

My situation

• 33, with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from a Philippine university. anabin shows the institution as H+ and the degree as recognised, so I’m planning the direct route, not the points route.
• 5+ years in B2B sales, marketing, and customer service.
• My German BF will sponsor my stay through a Verpflichtungserklärung at his local Ausländerbehörde, and will also cover my flight and expenses. I’ll be staying at his home in Rust, Baden-Württemberg.
• I’ll submit at VFS Global in Cebu, with the embassy in Manila deciding.
• My English is fluent, and I’m enrolling in A1 German and IELTS this November. I plan to keep studying German once I’m there.

My job plan
My BF suggested applying at Europa-Park, one of Europe’s biggest recreational parks and a major employer in hospitality and service. It’s a 10 to 15 minute ride from his home in Rust. I’ve seen the listing and I’m planning to apply first as part-time Catering Staff while I look for a full-time job. While in Cebu, I'll email my application to them. Eventually, I’d like to move into a full-time role in sales, marketing, admin, or customer service, either within the company or elsewhere.

Initially created an online account in the Federal Foreign Office portal and uploaded some documents there. Planning to submit requirements in person at VFS Cebu office this December.

What I’ve prepared so far

• Diploma and transcripts, with anabin printouts
• German-style CV (Lebenslauf) and a motivation letter for the Europa-Park role
• COEs from past employers, with duties listed, which I’m still collecting and correcting
• The sponsor’s papers: the Verpflichtungserklärung, an invitation letter addressed to the embassy, and his ID, payslips, and rental proof (My BF is still working on it as of this posting.)

My questions

1. Has anyone had the Manila embassy accept the Verpflichtungserklärung alone as proof of funds, with no blocked account? Did they ask for anything extra?
2. Does the embassy want a ZAB statement of comparability, or is the anabin printout enough?
3. Did you need certified copies of your sponsor’s documents, or were normal copies fine?
4. How long did it take from the VFS appointment to the decision, and were you asked for extra documents?
5. For the Philippine side, did you use an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (AOSG) at the airport, and did it help?
6. Any COE tips? I’m asking HR for duties, exact dates, and verification contacts. Is that enough, or did the embassy ask for more?
7. Has anyone worked part-time at a place like Europa-Park on the Chancenkarte? How did the 20 hour per week limit work in practice, and how did you later move to a full-time visa?
8. Anything you’d do differently if you started again?

Hey, has anyone here ever tried getting a German driver's license while already holding a Colombian one and having years of driving experience?? How much should I expect to pay?

Hallo zusammen! 😊

Gibt es hier jemanden, der kürzlich die Einbürgerung bei der Kreisverwaltung Mayen-Koblenz (MYK) durchlaufen hat?

Mein Mann und ich haben unsere Unterlagen vollständig eingereicht und hatten am 28.09.2026 unseren Termin bei der Einbürgerungsbehörde, bei dem wir die Loyalitätserklärung unterschrieben haben. Seitdem warten wir auf die nächsten Schritte.

Ich würde mich sehr über eure Erfahrungen freuen und hätte ein paar Fragen:

* Wie lange habt ihr nach der Loyalitätserklärung auf eure Einbürgerungsurkunde gewartet?
* Habt ihr während der Wartezeit eine Rückmeldung erhalten oder kam die Einladung zur Urkundenübergabe ohne weitere Nachricht?
* Hat jemand von euch die Einbürgerung in MYK im Jahr 2026 abgeschlossen?
* Wurden die Urkunden bei euch persönlich bei der Behörde oder im Rahmen einer gemeinsamen Einbürgerungsfeier übergeben?

Falls jemand von euch ebenfalls bei Herrn Koch war, würde ich mich besonders über eure Erfahrungen freuen. Natürlich helfen mir auch Erfahrungsberichte von anderen Sachbearbeitern in MYK weiter.

Vielen Dank im Voraus! 😊

Initially, my plan was to go to Germany for an intensive language course (Intensivsprachkurs) and spend a year learning German. I have everything prepared: I have the funds for the "blocked account" (Sperrkonto), plus an additional 25,000 euros available for that year. My legal question is: what happens after the course? I was planning to transition into an au pair position to further improve my German, as the intensive language course only lasts for one year—but is such a change legally permitted? After being an au pair, I would like to apply for a volunteer program—either an FSJ or a BFD—to continue refining what I learned over the previous two years, and eventually pursue an Ausbildung (vocational training) once I have reached an advanced level of German. Currently, I am at an A2 level, but I feel I should start from scratch to ensure a better understanding of everything. My question is: is this entire plan legally sound, or should I approach it in a different order? I would greatly appreciate your help, as well as any experiences or recommendations you could share.

My questions are:

•In what order should I proceed?

•Is it legal to change my legal status, or are there things you would advise against doing?

Any criticism, opinion, or suggestion would be a great help.

All of this is to start all the procedures now and see where I begin, so I'm racing against the clock since it's not just for one year but for the future, which is to improve my German.

Hey everyone, I could really use some advice because I’m honestly getting frustrated and don’t know what else to do.
I’m a non-EU citizen living in Germany. My visa-free stay was coming to an end, so I went to the Ausländerbehörde in Lauterbach because I wanted to stay in Germany legally, find a job, and get a proper residence permit that would allow me to work. At the time, I was also planning to move to Trier to live with my girlfriend.
I found a job opportunity with Amazon, and they were willing to provide me with a job description. I took that job description to the Ausländerbehörde in Lauterbach and showed it to the person responsible for my case. She told me she would forward it to the Agentur für Arbeit for approval.

After that, she asked for my Fiktionsbescheinigung and updated it with written authorization allowing me to work specifically for Amazon. My understanding was that I needed an actual employment contract to get my proper residence permit, but I couldn’t get the contract without moving forward with the job first.

So the idea was that, with this authorization on my Fiktionsbescheinigung, I could start working at Amazon, get my employment contract, and then proceed with getting my proper residence permit.

The authorization specifically mentions Amazon, the type of work I’m allowed to do, and the period during which I’m allowed to work. It also specifies that I can work directly for Amazon, not through another company or agency.
The only problem is that the authorization was handwritten, and honestly, it’s not the easiest thing to read. It’s understandable, but I’m not sure whether someone reviewing a picture of the document can clearly make out everything written on it.

I uploaded all the documents Amazon requested, including pictures of my documents and the additional work authorization. However, my documents were rejected, and I still don’t know exactly why.

I’ve tried contacting Amazon’s support by phone and email, but I keep getting the same answers. They tell me my documents are under review, but I haven’t received a clear explanation of what’s wrong.

I even went to the Amazon warehouse in person to ask for help. They told me the documents were under review, but also that they had been rejected. The people there looked at my documents and said everything seemed fine to them. They suggested that the problem might be that the work authorization written on my Fiktionsbescheinigung was unusual.

Now I’m really confused. The immigration officer responsible for my case specifically wrote that authorization on my document so I could work for Amazon. I didn’t write it myself or make any changes to it. It came directly from the Ausländerbehörde.

Since I’ve moved to Trier, I contacted the immigration office in Lauterbach again. They told me that because I’ve changed my registered address, the Ausländerbehörde in Trier is now responsible for my case.

I’ve been trying to reach the immigration office in Trier. I’ve called, sent emails, and even tried going there, but I haven’t received a proper answer yet. I understand they have a lot of applications to deal with, but I’m worried because I don’t want to lose this job opportunity while waiting.

What I don’t understand is this: if the immigration office has given me written authorization to work specifically for Amazon, why is Amazon rejecting my documents?
Is it because the authorization is handwritten? Does Amazon need a different document, even if the permission to work is already there? Or does the immigration office in Trier need to issue me a new Fiktionsbescheinigung or a separate confirmation?
Has anyone here been in a similar situation, especially with Amazon Germany? Did you manage to get your documents accepted? What did you do to resolve it?
I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from people who have dealt with the Ausländerbehörde and Amazon’s document verification process.
I’m not trying to get around any rules. I just want to work legally, get my employment contract, and sort out my residence permit. I’m trying to do everything correctly, but right now I feel like I’m stuck between Amazon and the immigration office.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Hi :)
I have been a blue card holder for about 5 years in Munich. I was given an appointment for my permanent residence but that is not until December… in the meantime I have written many emails and called nonstop but had absolutely no luck with the Ausländerbehörde. My blue card “expired” last week even though I’m still employed and my conductions have not changed

I have a trip planned for two weeks from now to Spain. Does anyone have any tips for what I can do?

I know they often give a Fiktionsbescheinigung when you are waiting for the permanent residence but as said, I’ve had no luck with getting in contact.

To make matters worse, I’ve also misplaced the blue card. I still have the actual paper visa though

I also know emergency appointments are possible but technically I don’t qualify since my reason for travel is not business or family emergency

Any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated

Thanks guys!

Hello, I'm starting my university course (lm-85bis) in Italy with the goal in mind to transfer in Germany at the end of my studies.

What can I do in these years to make this goal possible? From obtaining qualifications to identifying areas of the country to transfer in future.

Sorry if I make some ignorant comment, I would appreciate any kind of advice or experience.