Sun, 27 May 2012
| Index | Last | Var.(%) |
|---|---|---|
| BEL 20 | 2119.44 | 0.28 |
| DAX | 6339.94 | 0.38 |
| IBEX 30 | 6543 | 0.13 |
| CAC 40 | 3047.94 | 0.32 |
| FTSE 100 | 5351.53 | 0.03 |
| AEX | 292.76 | 0.23 |
| DJIA | 12454.83 | -0.60 |
| Nasdaq | 2837.53 | -0.07 |
| FTSE MIB | 13154.8 | 0.36 |
| TSX Composite | 11576.47 | 0.09 |
| ASX | 4081.2 | -0.61 |
| Hang seng | 18713.41 | 0.25 |
| Straits Times | 2772.75 | -0.24 |
| ISEQ 20 | 500.94 | 1.55 |
Text size
A foreigner wanting to visit Germany faces some daunting rules and regulations. One American, Georg Behrendt, details his experiences in the second part of his series.After the endless attempts to find a live person at either the embassy in Washington D.C., or the consulate in Miami, I am convinced that they really do not exist nor does anyone really work there. So save yourself the trouble of trying to contact an empty office.
At this point I am asking myself, is it really worth it? Do I really want to live in Germany? On and on, I tried to work through my reasoning and widen my understanding of the obstacles I had encountered up to this point.
As you read this you have to keep in mind that Germany is just slightly smaller then the state of Montana and it has over 82 million people living there. The economic growth rates of Germany average about 2 percent per year and only 8 percent or less of Germans work for themselves. There is a severe lack of entrepreneurs and to get the average German to try anything new - good luck.
The reason I mention these things is to put into perspective what you might have to deal with in Germany - these play a lot into the attitude and proficiency of the system.
I continued to make advances and inquiries when I returned to Germany, to better understand the necessary procedures. Believe me; it is easier to toss cow pies in a pasture than to get a cohesive coordinated answer from local government agencies. Does this sound familiar? Like in the United States?
Upon my return to Germany, I went to the county offices and asked the lady who handles the applicants with last names beginning with the letters "A-D" what I needed to do in order to get a residence permit. After looking up the rules in her many books, consulting with several office associates, she said, no, I could only stay in Germany 3 months every 6 months. This was her final statement.
Well, "no" is not in my vocabulary so I asked again what I could do. She stated there was not really anything; that those were the rules and that is that. I gracefully said thanks and left to pursue the impossible and toss a few more patties.
I went at last to the local town hall, which I had been visiting in my past several trips. I asked the man in the Auslandersburo (foreigners’ registration office) if I could register myself in this town. With my very poor German and his little to zero English, we made it through the paper work which took all of 20 minutes. It was a painless and quick procedure, leaving both parties with what they wanted. I asked the man before I left if he could also issue me a work permit. He said that was handled by a different office in the county headquarters. One hurdle down, one to go.
Stay tuned…
Copyright Expatica April 2008
Well...unless you have a job offer, the Beamtin was correct. Americans are second-class citizens in the EU, and you won't be issued a work/residence permit without a job offer from an employer who has followed strict rules for employing Ausländer.
Well, ... That's right, also I wanted to add that for example in the US it's almost impossible to get a work permit and even if you get one you will probably never get a green card which is not the case in Germany, in Germany if you get a work permit you automatically get permanent residence after 8 years (I know too long but possible) one thing that I really agree on is that doing your own business in the US could be much more easier and worthy than in Germany.
Actually, it's not true that Americans are second class citizens in Germany. It's more like 1.5 class. Citizens of the so-called industrialized nations (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, US) can actually apply for jobs while on a tourist visa in Germany. Other citizens must return to their last place or residence and apply at the German Embassy. This is next to impossible to do in the US.
Look, i spent almost 3 yrs in this god forsaken country. I know that not all German's are Nazis. I started with a real positive attitude in the beginning towards a new country, languague, cultre, etc. I was excited to learn where my great gandparents came from. I was raised in a diverse country, an even more diverse city and learned to treat all people with respect. I was also raised to not say anything of you have nothing nic to say but the below NEEDS to be shared for anybody thinking Germany is a good country. At the end of this journey, I was VERY happy to leave....
Okay, so here i go. Germany is the most racist, xenophobic, class intense or obnoxious (take your pick), dumb people, bad soccer playing country i have ever seen. This country is in for dire conseuences the next couple of year. They way you Germans think your govt and leaders are going to protect you, you are in for a real shock in 2011.
Where do i start. The birth rate...Okay, you Germans need a 2.11 birth rate to survive as a culture. You have proven you cannot sustain this as its at 1.37. Your country cannot and will not survive in 50 years. Fact! Your have poor integration skills, you have muslims. Guess what. The German Federal Govt even said that "The current trend in birth rates is irreversable, Germany will be an Islamic state in 50 years". In addition because nobody is having kids, your people cannot and will not support the pensioners which are a majority of your poulation. Even with your kindergeld/elterngeld programs. You also dont want to breed with Germans because you have past German guilt, so you want to raise German babies but not with German mothers or fathers. Unsustainable...
The schools, They suck. Most of my colleagues (in Mgmt positions) would hav nothing more than a HS degree. You Germans take a test at age 9 that determines what you do for the rest of your life. Then you go to your genetic schools and then you go to Arbeitur or factory work at age 26 then you work for a few years, then your lazy asses want to collect unemployment or your pension at 35. And the coursework you people teach is all theory based. You cannot survive in 2010 learning theory. It will not work. Unsustainable...
The welfare state...German welfare (yes East Germans included) make up 40% of the population. My taxes in Germany were going to help lazy German men and women stay on Hartz IV and not work. East German towns are dying...Women have left and Nazis are rising...The reunification did not work...Unsustainable...
Brain drain...Because your schools suck and you cant get a promotion at your job unless you are there for 12 years, women are not being hired. You have a female Chancellor to save face but the reality is that women are frowned upon in the workplace. Your labor laws are the WORST in the world and thats why no capital flows into Germany. I was doing NOTHING at a major German company for 1.5 years but it was okay, i could have coffee, a job and a desk near the window. The economy is in shambles there and you still have huge expenses. The exports are not happening anymore but you have huge payrolls to make sure people are "happy". Happiness to me is work and not pretending to work hard...Unsustainable...
Economy...Export only doesnt work anymore...China is the new export King and your economy needs to diversify...You have little consumer spending and this will hurt you in the long run. You dont know how to spend wisely. The Euro is going to collapse due to high inlfation in weaker states of the EU. Its happening already...Germans are looking for "X's" on the euro bills because X's are printed in Germany and therefore better. How stupid do you have to be..Besides with Spain, Italy, Ireland and Greece soon defaulting and the Eastern European countries debt which Germany holds a % of soon to default, your country will yet, once again, pay for other countries problems....Unsustainable...
People...I have Never met any more rude people in all my life. Nobody is happy, nobody engages in thought provoking conversations unless its about cars, futball or politics. Small minds...The German people LOVE to get HOSTILE over nothing. They have major temper problems. Its part of their past not to be mad but boy when they do, its like The Final Solution has awoken...Even if you make friends with Germans, you are still never considered to be a friend. Thats because they are XENOPHOBIC and you will always be the "Englisch" freind or the "Austrailian" friend. So sad that you cant treat people lik eyour own. Again, Xenophobic because you dont have anything against a particular person per say but you do against sub cultures or someone not your own...And the German people are slowly loosing their cultes and identities so they must be rude to foreigners. They hate people from Turkei and they are taught at an early age to hate them but the Turks support a good % of the economy that lazy German or "dont get your hands dirty" Germans wont do. Racism is till present. Amount young, old and everyone in between. Unsustainable...
Your soccer team. Where do i start. Great history but your present teams are terrible. They play horrible team defense. Goalie's are terrible (and nuts). Fans want to be proud but are still scared to be proud. This team will need to beat some great world teams to get ahead next year. The Captain has already said, that he doesnt expect great things from his team. Now their is a soar of confidence...Unsustainable...
Germany is a country that is trying to catch up with the rest of the world but cant. The welfare state is not going to launch this country into the next generation but only drag it down. Germany is loosing its major welfare benefits in 2011 but i wont be suprised if you see mass calamity towards this move because of the vast number of people on welfare. And welfare is good, pays for your car, your kids, your house but that party is over soon. The Euro is slowly breaking up. Germans actually might like that because they can revert back to their Mark. Immigration and integration is still a major problem. And it comes down to the economy. The export only German economy doesnt work anymore. China is the leader from now on. Made in Germany used to mean something....Not anynore. Its a global economy and the country has to catch up. EU laws are even telling Germany to change their laws because they are Bismarkian and outdated. Labor laws are the most ridiculous i have ever witnessed but maybe France is worst, so okay the 2nd worst. The future is looking grim for Germany. Elder population, no kids, taxes being raised in 2011, brain drain with poor schools and jobs, corrupt politicians and business leaders who spy STILL. Germans will have a very hard near future but they have nobody else to blame but themselves. The German solution is unsustainable...
Why doesn't the US learn from Germany's mistakes? Doesn't it look like we are heading in the same direction that they went? What is Obama doing to us?
I'd like to get in touch with "Schade" if possible, I moved from US to Germany 6 months ago for job reason, first I was really shocked at the income tax rate, it's 50% more than what I was paying in US, then I was very surprised to see how many people live on welfare and how little there is any entrepreneur business, finally understood where my tax dollars (Euros) went and is continuing to go to, 3rd, I see, hear everyday about the derogative comments and attitude German have against Turkish people, which really surprises me at all time.... and the funny vocabulatory everybody is using "integrate", everyone come here should integrate into our culture, the Turks don't integrate well, they are problems to us Germans, this includes the Turks who were born here, this problem is not by nationality, but by blood, I am quite "surprised" to hear all these comments...
I see a lot of the points "Schade" mentiond above after 6 months of living here, on the other hand, I also like my colleagues a lot they are very friendly people, but again I am just really puzzled by this strange social welfare system and attiture towards turkish people... on top of that, I do feel I am ripped off every day by the government, because my husband is still in the states, and I therefore I am not qualifed for "married" tax status, threfore I have to pay 45% income tax rate, this really pisses me off... I'd really like to hear some more thoughts from others...maybe I should go back to US for the simple reason of low tax rates?? thanks
Germany has 10% unemployment so does the usa ..its one of the biggest economys exporter of goods in the world ..now who makes those goods the 3 million turks in germany ???i live in america with my military husband ...and most of my american friends have no health care despite working their kids have to eat cheap junk because their mothers make wall mart wages..when one gets sic they have to go to pay day lenders to not be thrown from their cheap appartments ....you day care is staffed with former disturbed burger king workers and you the biggest jailer in the world ...the result of mothers being on jobs working for tax evading gangsters...and not getting paid .....lol crazy loons..and u call that black president all kinds of rasist ..wthe words hate blacks use hispanics for lave works and pin them and poor whites against each other ...all to divert from the top 2% stealing the country blind...get a live ASS wipes
Germany is a great countiery there schools are better thain the ones in the U.S there govorment gets things done ours does not yes germans might be races but every other countieries are also races but if you speak German than they will be friendly and gues what im not even german I live in the U.S
Hi,
just more comment.re muslims; get a life,muslims are in every country.
I lived for two years in the netherlands and Muslims abound! SO DO TURKISH `the schools in holland are sooooooooooooooo much better than in the US i know my two children studied at the anne frank openbarre school in Den Haag.The transportation is EXCELLENT
I only was a 2 X tourist of germany but I can tell you from those few hours I fell in Love with it~ whats not to love? beautiful scenery lovely buildings and houses,wonderful service at pubs and cafes,wow! I miss it over there.The bier!! is #1 so what if the soccer teams aren't so great Dutch soccer is better anyway! you can drive to the netherlands or take the train...and did I mention that you can NEVER be bored there!It is different, its supposed to be,"why would you want everyone to be the same as US citizens? culture Rocks! They are picky and snooty(I always had to tell everyone i was canadian) it is hard but nothing good ever comes EASY if someone has ANY GOOD information about relocating there let me know but you should know some basic language skills to know what your signing and what people are saying "this is for georg~contact me!!! i'm NOT giving up.
Well...unless you have a job offer, the Beamtin was correct. Americans are second-class citizens in the EU, and you won't be issued a work/residence permit without a job offer from an employer who has followed strict rules for employing Ausländer.
Well, ... That's right, also I wanted to add that for example in the US it's almost impossible to get a work permit and even if you get one you will probably never get a green card which is not the case in Germany, in Germany if you get a work permit you automatically get permanent residence after 8 years (I know too long but possible) one thing that I really agree on is that doing your own business in the US could be much more easier and worthy than in Germany.
Actually, it's not true that Americans are second class citizens in Germany. It's more like 1.5 class. Citizens of the so-called industrialized nations (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, US) can actually apply for jobs while on a tourist visa in Germany. Other citizens must return to their last place or residence and apply at the German Embassy. This is next to impossible to do in the US.
Look, i spent almost 3 yrs in this god forsaken country. I know that not all German's are Nazis. I started with a real positive attitude in the beginning towards a new country, languague, cultre, etc. I was excited to learn where my great gandparents came from. I was raised in a diverse country, an even more diverse city and learned to treat all people with respect. I was also raised to not say anything of you have nothing nic to say but the below NEEDS to be shared for anybody thinking Germany is a good country. At the end of this journey, I was VERY happy to leave....
Okay, so here i go. Germany is the most racist, xenophobic, class intense or obnoxious (take your pick), dumb people, bad soccer playing country i have ever seen. This country is in for dire conseuences the next couple of year. They way you Germans think your govt and leaders are going to protect you, you are in for a real shock in 2011.
Where do i start. The birth rate...Okay, you Germans need a 2.11 birth rate to survive as a culture. You have proven you cannot sustain this as its at 1.37. Your country cannot and will not survive in 50 years. Fact! Your have poor integration skills, you have muslims. Guess what. The German Federal Govt even said that "The current trend in birth rates is irreversable, Germany will be an Islamic state in 50 years". In addition because nobody is having kids, your people cannot and will not support the pensioners which are a majority of your poulation. Even with your kindergeld/elterngeld programs. You also dont want to breed with Germans because you have past German guilt, so you want to raise German babies but not with German mothers or fathers. Unsustainable...
The schools, They suck. Most of my colleagues (in Mgmt positions) would hav nothing more than a HS degree. You Germans take a test at age 9 that determines what you do for the rest of your life. Then you go to your genetic schools and then you go to Arbeitur or factory work at age 26 then you work for a few years, then your lazy asses want to collect unemployment or your pension at 35. And the coursework you people teach is all theory based. You cannot survive in 2010 learning theory. It will not work. Unsustainable...
The welfare state...German welfare (yes East Germans included) make up 40% of the population. My taxes in Germany were going to help lazy German men and women stay on Hartz IV and not work. East German towns are dying...Women have left and Nazis are rising...The reunification did not work...Unsustainable...
Brain drain...Because your schools suck and you cant get a promotion at your job unless you are there for 12 years, women are not being hired. You have a female Chancellor to save face but the reality is that women are frowned upon in the workplace. Your labor laws are the WORST in the world and thats why no capital flows into Germany. I was doing NOTHING at a major German company for 1.5 years but it was okay, i could have coffee, a job and a desk near the window. The economy is in shambles there and you still have huge expenses. The exports are not happening anymore but you have huge payrolls to make sure people are "happy". Happiness to me is work and not pretending to work hard...Unsustainable...
Economy...Export only doesnt work anymore...China is the new export King and your economy needs to diversify...You have little consumer spending and this will hurt you in the long run. You dont know how to spend wisely. The Euro is going to collapse due to high inlfation in weaker states of the EU. Its happening already...Germans are looking for "X's" on the euro bills because X's are printed in Germany and therefore better. How stupid do you have to be..Besides with Spain, Italy, Ireland and Greece soon defaulting and the Eastern European countries debt which Germany holds a % of soon to default, your country will yet, once again, pay for other countries problems....Unsustainable...
People...I have Never met any more rude people in all my life. Nobody is happy, nobody engages in thought provoking conversations unless its about cars, futball or politics. Small minds...The German people LOVE to get HOSTILE over nothing. They have major temper problems. Its part of their past not to be mad but boy when they do, its like The Final Solution has awoken...Even if you make friends with Germans, you are still never considered to be a friend. Thats because they are XENOPHOBIC and you will always be the "Englisch" freind or the "Austrailian" friend. So sad that you cant treat people lik eyour own. Again, Xenophobic because you dont have anything against a particular person per say but you do against sub cultures or someone not your own...And the German people are slowly loosing their cultes and identities so they must be rude to foreigners. They hate people from Turkei and they are taught at an early age to hate them but the Turks support a good % of the economy that lazy German or "dont get your hands dirty" Germans wont do. Racism is till present. Amount young, old and everyone in between. Unsustainable...
Your soccer team. Where do i start. Great history but your present teams are terrible. They play horrible team defense. Goalie's are terrible (and nuts). Fans want to be proud but are still scared to be proud. This team will need to beat some great world teams to get ahead next year. The Captain has already said, that he doesnt expect great things from his team. Now their is a soar of confidence...Unsustainable...
Germany is a country that is trying to catch up with the rest of the world but cant. The welfare state is not going to launch this country into the next generation but only drag it down. Germany is loosing its major welfare benefits in 2011 but i wont be suprised if you see mass calamity towards this move because of the vast number of people on welfare. And welfare is good, pays for your car, your kids, your house but that party is over soon. The Euro is slowly breaking up. Germans actually might like that because they can revert back to their Mark. Immigration and integration is still a major problem. And it comes down to the economy. The export only German economy doesnt work anymore. China is the leader from now on. Made in Germany used to mean something....Not anynore. Its a global economy and the country has to catch up. EU laws are even telling Germany to change their laws because they are Bismarkian and outdated. Labor laws are the most ridiculous i have ever witnessed but maybe France is worst, so okay the 2nd worst. The future is looking grim for Germany. Elder population, no kids, taxes being raised in 2011, brain drain with poor schools and jobs, corrupt politicians and business leaders who spy STILL. Germans will have a very hard near future but they have nobody else to blame but themselves. The German solution is unsustainable...
Why doesn't the US learn from Germany's mistakes? Doesn't it look like we are heading in the same direction that they went? What is Obama doing to us?
I'd like to get in touch with "Schade" if possible, I moved from US to Germany 6 months ago for job reason, first I was really shocked at the income tax rate, it's 50% more than what I was paying in US, then I was very surprised to see how many people live on welfare and how little there is any entrepreneur business, finally understood where my tax dollars (Euros) went and is continuing to go to, 3rd, I see, hear everyday about the derogative comments and attitude German have against Turkish people, which really surprises me at all time.... and the funny vocabulatory everybody is using "integrate", everyone come here should integrate into our culture, the Turks don't integrate well, they are problems to us Germans, this includes the Turks who were born here, this problem is not by nationality, but by blood, I am quite "surprised" to hear all these comments...
I see a lot of the points "Schade" mentiond above after 6 months of living here, on the other hand, I also like my colleagues a lot they are very friendly people, but again I am just really puzzled by this strange social welfare system and attiture towards turkish people... on top of that, I do feel I am ripped off every day by the government, because my husband is still in the states, and I therefore I am not qualifed for "married" tax status, threfore I have to pay 45% income tax rate, this really pisses me off... I'd really like to hear some more thoughts from others...maybe I should go back to US for the simple reason of low tax rates?? thanks
Germany has 10% unemployment so does the usa ..its one of the biggest economys exporter of goods in the world ..now who makes those goods the 3 million turks in germany ???i live in america with my military husband ...and most of my american friends have no health care despite working their kids have to eat cheap junk because their mothers make wall mart wages..when one gets sic they have to go to pay day lenders to not be thrown from their cheap appartments ....you day care is staffed with former disturbed burger king workers and you the biggest jailer in the world ...the result of mothers being on jobs working for tax evading gangsters...and not getting paid .....lol crazy loons..and u call that black president all kinds of rasist ..wthe words hate blacks use hispanics for lave works and pin them and poor whites against each other ...all to divert from the top 2% stealing the country blind...get a live ASS wipes
Germany is a great countiery there schools are better thain the ones in the U.S there govorment gets things done ours does not yes germans might be races but every other countieries are also races but if you speak German than they will be friendly and gues what im not even german I live in the U.S
Hi,
just more comment.re muslims; get a life,muslims are in every country.
I lived for two years in the netherlands and Muslims abound! SO DO TURKISH `the schools in holland are sooooooooooooooo much better than in the US i know my two children studied at the anne frank openbarre school in Den Haag.The transportation is EXCELLENT
I only was a 2 X tourist of germany but I can tell you from those few hours I fell in Love with it~ whats not to love? beautiful scenery lovely buildings and houses,wonderful service at pubs and cafes,wow! I miss it over there.The bier!! is #1 so what if the soccer teams aren't so great Dutch soccer is better anyway! you can drive to the netherlands or take the train...and did I mention that you can NEVER be bored there!It is different, its supposed to be,"why would you want everyone to be the same as US citizens? culture Rocks! They are picky and snooty(I always had to tell everyone i was canadian) it is hard but nothing good ever comes EASY if someone has ANY GOOD information about relocating there let me know but you should know some basic language skills to know what your signing and what people are saying "this is for georg~contact me!!! i'm NOT giving up.
Want to move to Germany but haven’t figured out the details? Check out Expatica’s overview of the German permit system.
In part one of our two part series, we cover the driving culture in Berlin, where to park and buy gas and, most importantly, the laws.
Our comprehensive guide includes information on how to find work, recruitment agencies, employment contracts and labour law.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Google+
9
