THE WORST PART ABOUT LIVING IN GERMANY | GERMANS WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THIS 😞
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- čas přidán 23. 10. 2021
- As foreigners to Germany there are actually quite a number of things we have to go through / deal with not just when we arrive in Germany, but even years down the road.
Look at me, for example, I came home crying my eyes out last week from the Ausländerbehörde… why? Well, I explain it more in this video, however, I, more importantly, wanted to share this video so that Germans get a better understanding of what life is sometimes like as a foreigner in Germany and to help others who are considering relocating to Germany out too.
There are a few tips you’ll walk away with after watching this video and I really hope this helps others make the same mistakes I have. 💛
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSTANT LOVE AND SUPPORT! It means more than you’ll ever know. Seriously.
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MY TIPS FOR LIVING IN GERMANY ✅
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📚How I Learn German: bit.ly/3XtuwmL
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ABOUT ME
Hey there, I’m Jenna! A Canadian who has been living in Germany since 2014. 🇩🇪
Like many, I had a difficult time relocating - all the paperwork, making sure I wasn’t getting scammed, finding a flat, a phone plan, a job, etc. So, I took it slowly, documented all my learnings along the way, and partnered up with expats in every field so that I could help others avoid making the same mistakes I did. Let’s look at it as… PAVING THE WAY FOR NEW EXPATS TO SAVE TIME & MONEY!
I built up www.lifeinduesseldorf.com to help expats make the best out of their lives in Düsseldorf, and then soon realized a lot of the content I was sharing was helpful for ALL expats living in Germany. SO I BUILT AN ONLINE PROGRAM THAT HELPS EXPATS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD RELOCATE TO GERMANY EASILY - WHILE ALSO HELPING TO SAVE THEM THOUSANDS OF EUROS! 🤑
... and now I’m bringing it all to CZcams! ♥️
German here, don't excuse their behavior. I know from my own parents that a lot of people working in a Behörde are pretty overworked these days, but just because in the "Ausländerbehörde" they have to work with foreigners everyday, doesn't mean they can treat everyone like 2nd class citizens. it is LITERALLY their job to work with foreigners and to provide a friendly service. Use their own classical German weapons and write a complaint, a "Beschwerdebrief" ;)
It is a system fail! - But the empleyees should stop thinking beeing an agency.... they are "service" contractors. If they aren't able doing their job, there are ways to quit it. I know it my sector had to send them home. - Maybe Employees are overworked at many places - But that give them no right telling lies and makes things harder/impossible. Friends, my sister in law and even me as a German got that experience often times. - It is still a system failure!
If you are too nice to some of the visitors they will scam you.
"Friendly service" isn't in the German vocabulary.
@@NuGanjaTron Oh it definitely is but a Beamter is a special kind of German who went to a special training to become obnoxious even towards other Germans.
@@adha2913 😜
I’m German and I don’t have thick skin. I would have started crying too 😂 happens to me often because people can be really mean and unfriendly. When you’re a person that is actually sensitive , caring , an empath , etc it’s so so hard. Feel you ❤️ wish you all the best !!
Had a very bad experiacne once with the Arbeitsamt. I am German and I just had my first appointment here. Then they called my grandma (because I was not home) and changed the previous date to a date I could definitly not attend, so I called them back. They told me this: "If you don´t attend, we will cut off your social benefits!" and then the woman hung up....I did not get any social benefits, it was my first appointment after I finished my Ausbildung and I was so young and just wanted to find a job. I was so shocked and embarrased, I cried and my grandfather had to call again, because I did not know what to do with this behavior. I have a huge fear of Ämter now, I never ask for any social benefits, even if I would be entitelt to them. I just can not deal with this behavior and just want to have my peace.
@@insideAdirtyMind Oh :( I am so sorry to hear this ! They might be super stressed, they might have a lot of weird clients , they might just be completely miserable...We dont know. We just have to learn not to let this behavior affect us and our emotions so much. But easier said than done.. I know.
Same. I'm also very sensitive and start crying as soon as someone starts yelling at me. It's not from the administration offices, though😂 It's from two childhood traumas. I got this very German experience in another area - the school. God was it horrible. Childhood traumas for life. I got completely yelled at and embarrassed in front of whole classes twice by two different teachers because of total bullshit. The first time was in elementary (!) school for having tip-exed some crossed-over thing in a dictation that she thought was a word I spelled wrong and it was just literally NOTHING. Just an ink splash on the paper. That witch got so upset that I dared to erase something she corrected, that she embarrassed me in front of the entire class, yelled at me for what felt like an eternity but was probably 20 mins, and called my father in to have a talk with her the next Monday. I obviously had no other choice than tell my dad. My poor dad probably went to my school thinking I had set the classroom on fire or something. That woman was really like Mrs. Trenchbull from 'Matilda'. Ughhhh. Like I get that it was a dictation exam and it wasn't a good idea to erase that small thing before talking to her. Her argument was "it's like a DOCUMENT, just like a school certificate, there you must never erase anything either!!!" Like, ok, but jeeeez, this was a fucking 4th grade dictation!🙈 I'll never forget the embarrassment I felt and the absolute HORROR from her reaction. In my opinion, she overreacted OVER THE TOP. It would've been enough to simply listen to what I had to say and tell me in a calm, yet strict voice to not do this ever again before talking to her and that would've been it. I would've learned for the future and never had done that again. It wasn't like I was one of those naughty kids that annoy their teachers all the time. I was a calm, careful student and genuinely didn't understand why she would mark something wrong that wasn't even part of the text. So there's that. And the other unfortunate situation was at the Gymnasium when I just simply forgot a deadline to hand in money to another teacher for a country hostel stay for a music project, that deadline was at the end of a bigger break that day and I didn't live far away from school, so I quickly rode my bike home to get the money and rode back and actually was back before the bell rang but he was already on his way to a music (!) exam with his next class and we met on the stairs but apparently he was in a hurry, because he completely freaked out but said, come with me, then we went to the class where he had the exam, and he embarrassed me in front of that class even though I had the money with me. Could've just been a quick fast thing of 2 mins but instead he decided to do a circus act out of it and first handed out the exams to the class and then got back to me, everyone was obviously quiet because of the exam, and he couldn't shut the fuck up and lower his voice. He kept screaming at me why I didn't bring the money 5 mins earlier, and that I'm late and he wouldn't even have to take the money.
That guy also had a serious problem with himself I guess. I mean… His class had an exam and he couldn't even behave in front of them so they could simply write their exams? In my opinion, he was doing a crappy job as a teacher. What kind of a teacher yells in front of his exam-writing students🤦🏻♀️ Surely someone who isn't mature enough to contain his emotions. I'm sure there are rules to follow during those procedures.
Of course I was swimming in tears both times 🙈 Literally didn't know what to do with myself or which way to look to avoid all those faces of the classes staring at me. Psychological abuse for sure.
I know they are teachers and it's slightly different, but after all, it's not so different as they are also officials or civil servants. 😂
Since these things happened, you can imagine I always hated school and everything around it in Germany.
This makes me want to work at the Ausländerbehörde and be the kindest, most helpful person ever. I am so sorry you all get treated like that! ❤
I said the same thing ♥️♥️🥰 bring a smile to the other employees face once in a while
depending on the location....some are good....some will make u lose faith in the system.
You also gotta understand that a lot of people are not as organized, well prepared or well spoken as Jenna. However, it’s still the worst Behörde
Had the exact same experience at the Ausländerbëholderamt in my little town. We were very sooooo well-prepared and it was still one hurdle after the next and very rude people working there.
you are auslander, silence.
I heard this a several times. A colleague of mine, a physician with a good safe job here, in the middle of the pandemic, working her a§§ off, was required to go there for some papers (go figure) and she was absolutely terrified.
She made an appointment at 7:30 for just delivering papers, said she would be expected at hospital at Intensive Care at 8:15. By the time she turned up to work (10:30h) she was crying, so livid and she was told that the documents that were sent to her from her home country (Albania) were not the correct one. That for the correct one she had to travel to Albania herself to apply for it.
It was the middle of the first lockdown. And they told her if she would not bring the correct one within a month she would forfeit her right to live and work in Germany. As a doctor.
So, in the middle of the pandemic, she would fly to Albania, get that document and fly back, catching covid in the process and getting severely ill for 3 weeks. When she turned it in literally the last day of the deadline, the employee there smugly said: "ah, look who has finally turned up. Was not so hard was it?"
Seriously, what happens to my friendly and polite countrymen once they enter in Behörden paychecks? I feel so awful for all who are put through this.
The document? It asked for her adress in Albania, which she had not, because she lived in Germany for 5 years. They simply wanted an updated proof of that.
Feel that. I’m trying to move to Germany to study. I worked for this very hard for the last 3 years. I needed 10k euros + B2 certificate + tons of other stuff in order to apply for my visa.
I missed 2 deadlines already at 2 unis I really liked. And it’s only because one Ausländerbehörde keeps ignoring my papers and never answers the embassy in my country. It’s been 11 weeks since I applied for the visa and still it doesn’t seem like I’ll be getting my visa any time soon…
Albanians are such kind people. They struggled too much
@@pb542 I know foreigners who managed to apply at German Universities quite smoothly?! How come?
WTF. Unbelievable!
@@BezalyFan1 We have a kind of chaos .... at the moment it happens, foreigners queing several hundered meters in front of the Ausländerbehörde. Students, refugees,... . I don't want to do their job. It must be terrible for them also. Our politicians are naive... they have the idea to save the world.
I am so sorry you had this experience in the Ausländerbehörde!! As a German I feel really embarrassed that it is like that!
It's like that everywhere! Like you need to have an 'Steuerberater' = tax consultant for everything, for they make a lot of rules, but they will not give you answers about how to apply them. Sadly most consultants don't know it themselves. They make SO many mistakes. Which cost you a lot of trouble and money. For our small company only the sixth (!) knew what to do. Try schools and try working in youth care. Now you are in for some serious shit. Half of the social workers are among the most asocial people on the planet. They LOVE their power abuse. They LOVE to dictate you what to do. They LOVE slander. I abhor germans. I detest Germany to the very core of my being. I pray daily God will bring them to justice!
I am so glad that you are german and you see this thank you for that i got depressed because of my experience in Germany 🇩🇪 i actually always loved Germany 🇩🇪 it was always my dream to come here and since i came i was sooo disappointed well everybody’s situation is different but mine was terrible i went through alot of stupid things i even had to sue the Ausländerbehörde to the Verwaltungsgericht and i won the case because the employee there wanted to kick me out from Germany even that i had an unbefristetenarbeitsvetrag and i worked full time and i had c1 in german even that i was just for 1 and a half year there and i had the Leben in Deutschland course done just because she didn’t liked me so i had to sue them and they paid a lot of money as a Strafe because they did something illegal which is discrimination and i hot my Aufenthaltserlaubnis back but even though its so sad that i had to go through all of that for more than 4 months and i paid a lawyer 3,800€ to be able to do this it’s crazy to be honest there is a lot of people who is living here for more than 20 years they don’t speak german they don’t work the take pur taxes to live for free and eat chips relaxing on there couch and they are allowed to stay here they have everything health insurance everything its so unbelievable and thats just 1 %from what i went through here in Germany i am so sad that a beautiful country like Germany its getting like this
Could you report this to anyone?
Glad to see here Germans with a heart and a soul 🙏
@@elimartin4038Some Germans are naturally jealous and narcissistically envious. If the process you had needed you to declare your pay slip like I did - then it's enough to stir up envy.
But i say you case was extreme.
As a Korean Canadian living in Germany, I have been to the foreigner's office both in Canada and in Germany. Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with you. The Ausländerbehörde is the worst thing in Germany. They expect everyone to speak perfect German , even if you have a Termin, you are still expected to wait for 15-30 minutes in the waiting area (their time is important but ours is not?), they don't even care if their mail with my Fiktionsbescheinigung to me got lost during delivery (how would I know if they have sent me something or not), if the person responsible for my application is on vacation for two months, no one else takes over my application until the person comes back from vacation (literally happened to me). They also lose documents even though I submitted everything online... like how??? One time, they even said I'm not registered in the city, and when I emailed them with my Anmeldung document, they just disappeared without apologies.
And they always make so many excuses! "Oh, because of Covid, oh because of Ukrainian refugees, oh because of this and that, blahblahblah". Seriously.. then hire more people?? Germany always says they're lacking skilled workers, but if it takes 6 months for them to get the visa, how would it bring more workers from other countries?
The problem is, it is impossible to hire personal. This jobs are done by civil servants. Civil Servants can't be fired. That means the state can't fire them if not needed if a crisis is over! Got it! Stay in small towns, countryside... and relaxed civil servants will serve you!
@@AltIng9154 Then at least they should implement a system so that people can check their application status online. Waiting indefinitely without knowing what's going on (in my case, I wasn't even aware that the mail got lost during delivery, and Ausländerbehörde never reached out to me about it) is the most frustrating thing that can happen to foreigners because then you're on the verge of becoming an illegal immigrant or getting kicked out of the country.
@@YounghaAn Don't worry, we do not even kick the most ugly guys out.😉 Do you have millions of foreigners? I would not wonder it would not be nice at your Ausländerbehörde. Right?
The comment about loosing documents submitted online was hilarious :P. Made my day. Living in Poland, I thought Poland is ridiculous. Then I moved to the UK, and missed what I had before. I am scared to move to Germany 😂.
@@Anna-bq8glGermany is a Shithole
As a German, I spent a significant part of my life in Ireland. In Ireland I have never had the feeling to be a foreigner. Irish people are very friendly. English native speakers are in general very patient with non-native speakers. I am currently in Germany. But I need to get used to live in Germany again.
This is the thing right.. wherever Germans go they get treated well..
Why portion of foreigners are not respected in Germany .. what is the problem.. Issue with common sense?
@@VS-yk3gu nazism still alive in Many of geermans. Why do you think the nazism spread so much? Because many germs still beleive that they are superior race than others.
It's their mentality. They don't like themselves and they are impatient and perfectionists. There are exepctions of course.
Well, yes. Try to bring a German partner with you whenever you have to deal with any German authorities and government agencies. Even German hate to go there - for a reason. Whether it's the immigration office, the tax and fiscal office or the office for digging a well in your garden ( i.e. the "Untere Wasserbehörde").
You took the words right out of my mouth thanks for the help😯
I agree. My German husband goes to every appointment with me.
This is absolutely the best advise one can give. Preferrably take somebody with you who knows the corresponding laws. In my experience in the immigration office there are way to many people who love to push people around, but with a German around they can actually be rather friendly and helpful.
@@j3nn3s this means those officials are a) bullies b) racists and c) cowards
Germany is light years behind the rest of the developed world in regards of digitalisation and administration. They cannot renew a simple prescription without you taking a day off work for sitting around and waiting in the doctor’s office, and prescriptions are paper versions and one time only. Don’t even get me started on motor office, tax office and online banking. In my native country, we have access to all information online and most transactions can be performed online. It saves so much time and money.
What an ordeal - how frustrating - we feel for you - especially as you are always so positive about Germany and your life here - hopefully this will remain a rare exception…
Don’t despair - fingers crossed you will be able to put this behind you, get your residence papers - and live here in Germany happily ever after ❤️
"Live in Germany happily ever after"... such a weird concept. I'm living in Germany for over a decade already. Bound financially, alas. I've been through severe abuse by Germans SO many times, that I am truly traumatized. Germany IS incompetence, indifference, injustice and power abuse. It's HORRID here!
I am sorry that you went through this. I am married to a German, and my process was much easier. I went in, applied, and got my residency for one year. We had moved during that year, so my next appointment was in a different county. I was given two years because I could not speak at B1 level. At year three, I was given two more years. I have never interacted with anyone who is rude. My husband goes with me to my appointments. They aren't given an opportunity to be rude. I did experience rude behavior in my face-to-face German course. My teacher yelled at the learners and made rude comments about our cultures. My husband was quick to point that out when I renewed my residency. He told them that they need to spend some time in those classes and see how the courses are taught.
1. Did he really say "du"? That's not allowed. Just for that, you can demand to speak to his superior.
2. If you make photocopies, try to find out in advance if they have to be notarized. And if you can't find out, you best get them all notarized, just in case.
Yes, they have to say "Sie" und Frau.... Everything else is mean and disrespectful.
I am German and I am very sorry to hear this.
As engineer and project/site manager I had to work and live in many foreign cauntries, like USA (many times since 1995), Italy (7 years), China (many times for long time periods), Mexico, Russia, India, Canada....
When people talk about foreigners in not so a good way, I always say: "well I have been a foreigner myself for a very big part of my life".
Fortunately I nowhere, never ever made this kind of experience in meanwhile over 30 years of doing this job.
It also happened, that I did not have all papers in the correct way, but most of the times people tried to help and get things done as much as possible anyways.
Once, when I came back to China from a Germany holiday, I didn't recognize that my permit was expired (how stupid can one be?), the officers at the boarder tried everything to get things right in short time to not have to send me back home.
It didn't work out, but instead of treating me like an idiot they felt like sorry for me in this situation.
Regarding, what you experienced I ask myself, why such people choose to become an official at the "Ausländerbehörde".
They should rather go to work at construction sites, where rude behaviour does not bother anybody.
That’s exactly what I wonder to!
You really had the best possible case with your story entering China! I wish all examples were like this. Even if they aren’t and they say “I’m so sorry, you have the wrong paperwork, you have to do A, B, and C before we can let you enter” … at least they’d be giving you next steps, right?!
In the case of most German authorities they simply and rudely say “NO.”
I am so sorry for you and everyone else who had to go through the same experience. I have so fremdgeschämt right now.
I‘m a german and I’m shocked. Like you said we germans will never have those experience. It‘s a shame how the „Behörden“ in general treats their „customers“. I had similar experiences during my unemployed phase at the „Arbeitsamt“. Also there you were treated like garbage most time. The real problem I guess is, that their jobs are safe. They are „Beamten“ what means they can‘t be fired. So no matter what they do…their job are safe. So they can treat you like a beggar. You want something from them and it‘s in their might to give it to you. That produces unfortunately lots of narcissists. They bath in the sun of their might. It‘s really a shame…
💯 true.. power trippers and very bad rude, racist customer service simply because of their huge ego and job safety that they think you’re a garbage as a foreigner begging for their “exceptional welfare”. If it wasn’t for my husband’s job, i’ve been begging him to leave ever since. I just developed anxiety as well as ill feelings to those locals who treated me so bad in the past.
We Germans will get that treatment in literally every other country that is not Germany.
@@Zedek highly probably true. But not always in the same way.
But also to mention that even germans often were not treated in a better way in german „Behörden“.
And that is a nazi mentality
this shit people should be punished by government. anybody who speak English German any Language should be able to work in behorde
I used to live in Düsseldorf and can really understand what you‘re saying. Every visit to the Ausländeramt war extremely painful. The classic experience was having to go 3 separate times because they required an additional different document each visit. My experience in a small Southern German town has been completely different. I also experienced the process from the beginning with an African friend of mine. A lot nicer. That said, the Düsseldorf Office has to process a large amount of cases. So my advice for internationals would be to move first to a smaller city. Btw. Even with the permanent residency you still will have to go to the Ausländeramt, for example when you renew your Canadian Passport. Glad someone finally addressed this issue!
Wait. What?! Won't someone just need to renew their passport at the Canadian embassy? Why does the ausländeramt need to get involved?
@@rivenadeshizzle the Aufenhaltstitel is tied ti your passport. You get s new passwort, you need to get a new Aufenhaltstitel (Right of residency).
Ruhrpott and Berlin is tough anyway. Foreigners should go to the countryside, small towns.
And don't forget..... not all foreigners are nice people. 😉
I completely agree. I moved and live in a small town and I haven't had a single problem like this
Hope you at least got your new appointment there and it is not 1.5 years again.....fingers crossed....greetings from Austria. Plus you are a strong woman, Don't let them get you down!!!🙃🙃
I moved to Germany two and a half moths ago, and my colleagues mentally prepared me for the visit to Ausländerbehörde. But when I went there, it was totally fine. The guy was super nice, he didn't ask for any additional papers, answered my questions and even gave me card with his phone number. Probably I was in the lucky 10%..
Or he is just simp..
@@alesto3779 Or on happy pills. 🤪🤣😂
he was simp
Which city 😊 ?
You white
Believe me Jenna, they treat us the exact same way. So it isn't because you are from a foreign country. Having an appointment at one of our public office isn't much fun at all!!!!
I'm living the UK and with all our problems here, Brits are known to be very polite. I was shocked when I was in Germany, was. The rudeness and coldness is unbelievable, almost surreal. I asked someone for directions (in a shop) and I received a rather rough response, like as if I asked for money! This happened a number of times and it is not really regional thing (as proven in your case). I can understand how shocking it must be for Canadians and Brits who are generally known for being polite, even in our job centres, Immigration offices (in which you find MANY brown and black employees, even in top positions), etc.. My skin colour is similar to yours, I don't want to imagine what actual brown and black people go through in Germany.
A tip: You can easily pass as Middle Eastern, both Turkish and Arab. They don't like us Muslim people, so they might treat you extra bad. Stay strong.
I'm from the UK and atm it is a complete mess here from top to bottom, yet it sounds like paradise than probably having to deal with the Ausländerbehörde.
as a German I'm sorry people can be really distrustful here(especially the older generation), especially toward foreigners. From my experience the younger generation is much more open and friendly, so I'm hopeful
Same experience with Germans, and I am not a Muslim or black. They are like that to all non Germans.
They often treat each other like this .
As an African I go there expecting the worst , read the constitution regarding to my case 100 times ,have facts right, have originals and copies beglaubigte where necessary and I flow with their attitude towards me .
I am so sorry hopefully next time things will work out
When dealing with Behörden it is always a good idea to have all of the originals and copies with you. I even bring documents that aren’t on the list. Just in case.
Even as a German dealing with German authorities I have learnt to think of the unthinkable and as you said always take more documents with me than required. From birth to death certificate and everything in between. Sad but true!
That sucks. Being most developed country but still having this old decrepit documentation system. Looks like Germans still hold sense of superiority to this day.
Moin... I don't know how to apologize for these rude persons...
Bin sprachlos, wütend, traurig.
Kleine Lichter, die sich mächtig fühlen, wenn sie andere schlecht behandeln... So sorry - my english words leave my brain
absolutly correct, a german
Ist System
Damn that sucks! I (Jen) can totally relate. Although, weirdly enough, the last couple of appointments that I had was with a very nice guy 😅I'm so happy I don't have to go back. So hopefully you get that permanent residence soon! 🤞🏼
Sorry you have to go through this, and you are right, as a German I don't have any experience with the Ausländerbehörde in Germany.
BUT, as a German who has lived and worked in Northern America, the US to be specific (in NYC), I can give you a brief run-down of what it means to be a foreigner in the US, when you want to prolong your visa and have actually hired two lawyers to help you with the process, to avoid what usually happens, but ... it happened anyway.
I can assure you that the INS in the US is no more friendly (forget everything you every heard about customer friendly service in North America, you are a piece of shit there anyway, and will be treated as such) or helpful than the Ausländerbehörde in Germany. So what it comes down to, I was denied a new or prolonged visa, I was "friendly" escorted by the police to leave the country immediately. Which means: you cannot get your belongings, you cannot even go to the bank to get your money, or sell your car or dissolve your rental agreement or go back to your place of work to let them know.
So you are back in Germany, everything you own is back in the US, you go to the American embassy to apply fo a visa to go back and bring your affairs in order, but you don't get that visa, as they deem the risk that you go back and vanish in the country as too high. But they tell you, that as soon as you can show them that you have a contract that shows you are employed in Germany, 25.000 DM (this was in 1991, so before the EURO) in the bank and a lease to an apartment or own a property, they will grant you a 1 week tourist visa to go back and get your affairs in order. All the while you still have to pay the rent for your apartment in the US so they don't throw out everything, and you still pay insurance for your car and all the good stuff! I was extremely lucky, that my parents had enough money they could transfer into my German bank account, a friend who owned his own business who wrote me an employment contract, and produce a lease agreement for renting an apartment.
So finally I did get the 1 week tourist visa, and mind you it is no fun getting all your affairs in order, selling your car and most of your belongings that you cannot take back to Germany, all in 1 week! Say goodbye to work colleagues, friends, boyfriend ... everything. Mind you, as horrible as this was, I can consider myself lucky. I was in a good position, I had work, I earned a decent living, I had my family and friends in Germany who could help with everything so I could actually go back and get everything in order. Not everybody is that lucky.
So unless you made THAT experience I would say, yes, it is a bitch having to go through everything at the Ausländerbehörde, BUT you are still here, nobody has grabbed you and deported you immediately (and you have to pay for the flight yourself, of course). Believe me, you don't want to go through THAT feeling. And there are many foreigners (mostly those who fled their countries, refugees) in Germany, and other countries for whom this is a reality and it can happen to them, and it does.
Maybe look at it this way: the Ausländerbehörde (in any country apparently and not only in Germany) is not the nicest thing in the world, but there is worse for (too) many people.
P.S. (edit) After reading my comment a second time, I want to say: Please don't get me wrong, I don't want to diminish what you were going through, I just got very emotional thinking back on what happened to me in a similar situation. I wouldn't have thought I still felt that way so many years later. I guess it was just a real shock, when it happened. And apparently it still resides in me. And by no means do I think that this kind of treatment you received should be "normal" anywhere.
"We have it good in Germany." In comparison. I could imagine how it works in a LDC (less developed country): Without some persuasion, i.e. bribes, you won't get the correct information nor the results you are theoretically entitled to. Next!
Dear @wmf831 I feel for you. And that was the end of your American Dream. Treat you as a criminal, expell the country. Might you share the reason, or did you ever know why or was it all random?
@@Mayagick Luckily I never had an "american dream", I had no intention of staying indefinitely. I just wanted to live and work in the US for a couple of years. I had been living and working on my visa already for 3 years and it was to expire about 3 or 4 months later. I simply wanted to either prolong it or obtain a new one and my company hired - and paid - two lawyers to help me with the issue. My application was denied and even though I still had some time left on my visa they feared that if they would let me go I would "vanish" into the country and live there illegally. Which is absolutely stupid. If I wanted that I would have just not gone the legal route. I neither had the intention, nor the need to do that. Germany is not a bad place to live and work 😉I would have just left when my visa expired, or if I had been granted an extension or a new visa I would have stayed another 3 or 5 years. I never intended to stay "forever". I just never thought they would "remove" me "forcefully" from the country instead of letting me stay for the remainder of my visa. I would have had enough time to get all my affairs in order, including my taxes, getting a new job in Germany and plan my return. Also it was quite a shock for my employer, I was supposed to be there only in the morning and then return to work.
But as they thought it was necessary to remove me immediately this all became a lot harder. I had to fulfill a couple of requirements to eventually obtain a tourist visa for one week. Quite stressful to deal with everything in such a short time. However, I managed somehow.
It just so happened that my employer asked me to continue working for them in Germany, and to this day I still do (now 30 years). I have been back to the US as a tourist a couple of times, without any problems. It isn't the fact that I had to leave, I knew that I had a visa for only a certain time period. My employer just asked me if I was willing to stay longer and I was happy to. The thing that "shocked" me, was how I had to leave and how difficult they made it for me to get all my affairs in order. I haven't thought about it for many years, it just came up now, when watching this video. Which is not at all meant to diminish anybody's and/or Jenna's experience here in Germany. I think that is still a very bad and unnecessary experience, and I can relate to it. I think - and the country doesn't matter - it could all be handled a lot better and more civilized. I mean where is the respect for another being?
@@wmf831 thanks for sharing your experience. The German Ausländerbehörde treats people well and very fairly in comparison to the militarised and aggressive USA.
@@Mayagick Because it was the United States. (Where I am from, and where it’s horrible for anyone from somewhere else.)
so glad i got to hear this story and hopefully go prepared emotionally ugh
I've met incredibly kind people at the Ausländerbehörde where I live in Hessen, and my German language skills are atrocious. I'm so sorry to hear about your experience in Dusseldorf. I moved here from California two years ago, and I'm not qualified to apply for a permanent residence yet, but I intend to apply for it in the future when I am qualified.
If something like this happens to me, I would probably be ruder than they are at the Ausländerbehörde. That's not to say I would raise my voice or call people names, as that is not really my personality, but I definitely would make the employee's life very difficult in those moments. If I have an appointment in writing and they don't have any record of this when I arrive, I do not care what their excuse is, it is not my problem. What I've learned to do in these instances in my city (at a doctor's appointment for example) is to stand there calmly, do not react with any kind of emotion, and tell the employee that the evidence of my appointment is in writing and it is their job to honour it. Stoicism seems to help a lot when dealing with Germans in these situations, especially the older ones. It especially helps me when I am dealing with a male employee. Of course, I realise that a doctor's office is not the same as the Ausländerbehörde, but I feel I would handle them in the same way. I guess I will find out when and if this happens to me in the future.
You are absolutely right - this is truly the right way to do it. I observed fairly early that the person who loses their cool "loses" the altercation! The first time I experimented on my Hausmeister (who tends to be very prickly/snotty) and sure enough, he eventually started yelling and puffing up, trying to be intimidating...and I knew I had won :D And truly I had - it was utterly delightful. I've followed this rule since then (in spite of being very very comfortable with getting loud if needed, as a NY woman) and it has not failed me yet!
Present the facts as dispassionately as you can, as many times as you need to, and you will always have the best chance to succeed in any dispute, here. It really is the German way. And honestly I think this is a great thing, as people are incentivized to be civil.
Not only in the Ausländerbehörde the civil servants are rude.
Ask somebody who lost his job how it is to fill out the Hartz-IV-Antrag.
Ask somebody who wants to renovate a house and want to use a credit from a Landesbank how ridiculous it is to fulfill the requirement to get this fu....g application.
Ask a farmer how difficult it is to get some grants to which he is entitled.
The Germans say that civil servants should serve the citizens. After all, they are paid for by the citizens.
In order to get the job in an agency, you have to skilfully ignore this fact.
I know 😣 unfortunately!!
Auslanderbehörden are definitely high up for being the worst, but I’ve been to a few you mentioned & totally agree!!
@@lifeingermany_ I have to say the rudest officer I met was in the Ausländerbehörde. This topped everything.
It is sad to hear it, but unfortunately it is like this, for every public office, in most of the world. I was a lawyer in Brazil, the land of the "nice people". Try going to notaries, prefectures, public offices, IRS, court, every day! It is exactly what you are describing. Thank God I changed careers. I am cheering for your PR soon!
Canadian immigration services have been nothing but polite and respectful to me. I was very pleasantly surprised considering I’m from France, where all administrative services are terrible and foreigners are treated similarly to Germany if not worse (I’ve never had to deal with French immigration services but I’ve heard horror stories). I don’t think I could have handled being geduzt/tutoyée with grace, such rudeness.
Must say my experience moving in and around the USA I have had similar experiences where I have the benefit of speaking the language fluently. It was to my surprise that on the last occasion the staff were extremely friendly and helpful and when I mentioned this to American friends, I was told they had had so many complaints that they had gone through a big shake-up of all their systems.
Exaclly. I can absolutlly relate,
the part you said they make you feel you are not worthy to live here. I came to Freiburg and then to Düsseldorf at the age of 21 alone. I think sometimes you really have to have a thick skin and be unfeeling and cold to servive and it is also very hard for me to connect to people and make friends however I speack German very well. Thank you for your video.
Applying for money from the Agentur für Arbeit is just the same. Or getting a building or business licence, a new identity card or passport etc. So germans have to go through this too.
Thank you for being honest and sharing your experience. Today I was trying to register me in a Weiterbildung and the lady, because of my language level, was rude. And then I stopped and calmly said that the way she was talking was “unhöflich“ and that I wasnt really following. My wife told me later that we don’t really say this in Germany. But you now what? At the beginning she women reacted a little bit: “oh, das ist sehr sympathisch“ (ironically). But then changed her tone. And I’m glad I was a bit naive telling “unhöflich”, because it as least worked to solve my problem in the standard that I want that people talk to me! :)
Sorry about what happened with you… so far, I had a good experience at the Ausländerbehorde… maybe because it was in smaller cities (Calw and Herrenberg). But what you did is great, to raise awareness of the everyday life of an Immigrant in Germany.
Thank you for this video! I honestly thought, it’s just me, I must have been so stupid and naive or something. I still feel worried when I have any kind of run in with the system and people who haven’t experienced this kind of treatment (and those thick-skinned Germans!) don’t understand why I get so nervous and worked up about it.
I hate that people abuse their positions of power. It’s awful behaviour. I really admire how you spoke up about this.
Ohhh I know, its the worst feeling .. not knowing if its just being stupid or naive or if you’re in the right or wrong 😖💛
Im so glad this video has helped others too! Even if just for our sanity 🥰💛
Hi, I Know exactly what you mean. I’m German and I had the same Problems, because I live in Switzerland. I had to go to the German Consulat in Switzerland. It was like you told, even with the copys 😂
I am very sorry to hear what you've experienced at the Ausländerbehörde! Two of my friends who are foreigners ( russian and american) always engage an immigration lawyer when they have an appointment there. The lawyer also prepares you for your appointment. This seems to be the only solution for my friends to assure to be treated in a way that is in accordance to the law, which does not include politeness or kindness. Your experience makes me feel being ashamed being german.
Oh, thanks for the tips. On my next appointment I'll look for a immigration lawyer, because it's been a tough time without it...
As an international student, I got admission to study in Germany very early this year but didn’t get a Visa interview appointment date for over 8months.
It is clearly stated on the embassy website not to attempt to contact the consular.
I had to ask for refund of my application fee from the school and cancel the admission.
You have no idea how lucky you were. Germany is VERY uncivil. It's like these people are SO insecure, that they MUST kick everybody down and off the ladder, no matter which ladder. Give a German power and he'll abuse it 9 out of 10 times! Yes, there are also some very nice Germans, which are trustworthy. A handful.
But if you want to be abused, come to Germany. Never knew what an evil sh** hole it is here, until I came to live here. I would love to move away, alas we seem to be stuck here.
Plus they have the most incompetent doctors of Europe! So count your blessing, you dodged a bullet.
We host millions of refugees.... Ukranians for example. So you really have a problem?
You are still here, right?
@@AltIng9154 Ukranians are going through a tough time please help them during this tough times
@@AltIng9154 What a dumb response 😂
I am very sorry for you. What a sad day. I had that experience in the Ausländer Behörde in Italy as a young German living there in the 90's. They treated everyone very badly. We had to stand in a line for 4 hours without private space, 40 degrees Celsius. The staff loved to see us suffering. I imagine every Ausländer Behörde is not a great place to be. You need thick skin o yes!
Totally understand your situation. Unfortunately, this is true at most cities here in Germany. I remember when I first moved to here, I was surprised that the ausländerbehörde of all places does not offer to speak in English. Luckily, I had a relocation agent to help me out as I had not started learning German then. I also had to wait for almost a year to get my resident permit. But in the city I live in, things have gotten better lately. I am able to book appointments online and the processing times also have gotten much better. I hope your next visit there is better.
"I was surprised that the ausländerbehörde of all places does not offer to speak in English" is this a joke??
Native older German here and back in the 1990th (before Finnland joind the EU) I promised to a Finish friend that I will employ his so'n in my company here in Germany. So this was the only time that I Had to deal with our local Ausländerbehörde and gues what, it was a eye opening experience. The First sentence we did hear was something along the line of:"Thanks God not another black head".
I'm currently learning German. Is "Schwarzkopf" considered an ethnic slur to anyone with black hair? Africans, Arabs, Asians?
That's the beauty of moving to a German speaking country, went through the same thing, later on lived in Sweden and France and it was a completely different world, I was suddenly propelled into a kind future 😂
Forgot to wish you all the best, by the way ethnicity should never matter, what matters is what kind of person you are. 🌞
That sucks and I can only imagine how my experience is gonna go in Stuttgart but luckily I’m also pretty prepared and organized. But hopefully I can figure something out when it comes to obtaining my permanent residency when the time comes
I am so sorry that you have been treated like that from the Ausländerbehörde here in Germany. That is definitely not ok. But when I entered Canada and the US for a residence visa I was also treated very rude and without any respect. I was really afraid of the officers there and one shouted at me even if I didn't make any mistake and I also hat all required documents with me. When I was finished one shouted at me "And now go and don't waste my time anymore". I will never forget about that. This was my first impression when I landed in Toronto bevor I got my connection flight to Vancouver where I lived a couple of years. I was really shocked as I have never ever been treated anywhere like that before. So I do not know how bad Ausländerbehörde treats you in Germany but I do understand and feel with you that it feels so bad and annoying as I have been treated like that before when I was a foreigner in North America. Good video! Kopf hoch! You will make it :-)
I had similar issues with a local Behörde in my town as a German.
I had to ge some kind of permission from them and they sheduled me appointments they did not hold, asked me for one document and another and then a third one and I still got not what I was supposed.
So on the hundredth appointment in my feeling I was "You won't play that game with me anymore. I'm gonna play it with you! " and showed up there with a huge backpack containing most of my private office. Folders with any document they would likely require. Any sheet of paper they demanded I just drew out.
On their request on handing them a copy I pointed out their obligation to do them on their own in order to ensure to get what they wanted, and not a potentially falsified version. That game went on for more than an hour, me getting a coffee from my thermos bottle, and finally demanding for a receipt that they had now anything they would require for that case.
Worked out fine, at last got all I needed, had a nice day, stirred up every employee involved, and after that i was never any more treated by them as rudely as before. 😎
this is the way
I should probably clarify to some of you here the actual situation that took place (though this video wasn’t about who was right or wrong but simply about the mistreatment). So here’s the full story:
1,5 years ago they invited me to get my permanent residency permit. With this invitation letter was a list of things to bring with you. I brought them all. I waited 4 hours for my appointment and was then told “sorry your caseworker forgot about you, you’ll have to come back next year”. I argued that I spent my entire day waiting and now have no appointment. They accepted me in and said I was provided the wrong list of things to bring (their fault) and this would only allow me to get another temporary permit until I can get another appt for the permanent residency. Plus I didn’t bring the original copy of my language certificate, so reminded me next time NOT TO FORGET EVERYTHING ONLY IN ORIGINAL COPY.
My new date was 1,5 years later (aka. this month). I had the right list of documents, all in the original copy. I went in for my appointment. And the man immediately said I don’t have an appointment because they changed the way the system works since COVID. That apparently we were all sent letters informing us. Mine never arrived. This is not because I moved (I moved last month and this letter apparently arrived over a year ago). Then he said he’d take all my papers anyway and submit them. And I mentioned “but they’re all originals as you guys requested” and he flipped out at me because they were all supposed to be photocopies. 🙄
The problem with the Auslanderbehörde is that the rules change all the time and some will let things slide. Some won’t. In this case, he actually even saw that I never received this change of appointment - it said so on his computer, but he still refused to help me.
For all those of you who asked, no… he didn’t give me another appointment. He said to come back and wait in the 3-hour line with the rest of “them” (foreigners) for an appointment.
Thankfully a few people messaged me after I posted this on Instagram stories and mentioned I can submit these documents via email and then receive an appointment to obtain the permit in response.
I’ve since tried this and am waiting for a response. 😣🤞
FOR MY GERMAN FRIENDS, YOU MIGHT FIND THIS ARTICLE SHOCKING TOO: www.vice.com/de/article/3a8agy/beleidigt-gedemutigt-beschimpft-was-nicht-deutsche-im-auslanderamt-durchmachen
Had a similar issue with them. They wanted me to make 2 separate appointments and book them to process me and my daughter instead of just doing it in 1 go. I then booked 2 appointments back to back so they could do it. However that was a problem for them... 😆
I once had a similar situation. Happens I can be extremely stubborn. Stopped talking to the guy and asked for his boss. Sat down there in the bureau, explained again what I wanted and refused to leave the bureau of the boss. Had a nice chair there. We discussed another fifteen minutes. Then the boss gave up and did what I needed him to do. Maybe because I just started asking for his boss? Or maybe because I was not willing to leave his office without being carried out by the police?
One problem with this kind of bureaucrats is that they are used to be the stronger one in any discussion. I only had to be that stubborn a few times in my life, but it worked every time. But it is important to address their boss, not just argue with them. First the boss will want to back his people, than he will want to get rid of you. If you keep sitting in his room his only way for that is to do what you want to have done. Otherwise he is the one having a problem. Especially if you are ruining his day by sitting in his room and blocking him from doing other things.
I applied for residency in NZ. all documents correct and stuff. they haven't gotten around to look at the application since 18 months!
you can say what you want, but british colonies are worse in bureaucracy.
@@TheMntnG I’ve never applied for residency in NZ (or my home country for that matter) so I definitely can’t compare!
@@TheMntnG I used to live in NZ too and tried to apply for residency and yeah it's crazy there and comparable, but in bureaucracy Germany is even worse, they just love paperwork..... the more the better, that was one of the reason i moved to Thailand.
Same to me, they also treat me as a garbage, and I was thinking probably it is because of my nationality. I also cry every time I go to this office, they are horrible, thank you for talking about this topics.
I'm so sorry you went through that, but I have to say, I found it very funny when you got worked up and your Canadian "Soory" came out. Totally caught me off guard
I am so sorry you experienced this. I came to Germany from San Francisco in 1999 and had to deal with Aufenthaltserlaubnis and all the rest. My experiences were completely different. Also, when I decided to drop my US citizenship and become German, my experiences were very positive. Maybe it is the difference between NRW and Bayern? Maybe Nuremberg versus Duesseldorf? But, I would also say, have you ever tried to deal with civil servants in the USA? To be honest, they are nicer in Germany than in the US. Overall, I think it is a civil servant thing - no matter what country, they can be really nasty people. Hope it gets better for you!
They seem to treat US citizens differently. I once went there with a US American who had to renew his Aufenthaltserlaubnis. First they addressed him in a quite unfriendly way. But as soon as they knew his nationality they didn‘t really ask anything anymore, just quickly got his papers ready and he could walk off in no time. I guess this has to do with our German history.
Hi Jenna, I can really imagine how the guy unfortunately drained you properly. You were not prepared for the situation and did your best with kindness, but these guys are immune to that. As soon as he saw that you didn't have an appointment for whatever reason, the case was over for him. The important thing is, did he really "geduzt" you? If so, I would have gotten his superiors straight to me. Because he is not allowed to do that. As unbelievable as it is, next time your German husband should be there with you, then it is guaranteed to be different.
Hallo Palmyra, dass der Herr auf dem Amt so gut wie gar nicht richtig auf Jenna's Dokumente geschaut hat erkennt man daran, dass er dachte sie sei Türkin. Hätte Jenna blonde Haare hätte er sie garantiert nicht so behandelt. Mit dem "du" ist es genauso. Von ihrem Auftreten her hätte er merken müssen, dass Jenna eine gebildete Frau ist. Wie Jenna erwähnte, er hat sie behandelt wie Dreck. Also ich würde an Jennas Stelle eine Dienstaufsichtsbeschwerde schreiben.
In diesem Sinne noch ein schönes Restwochenende.
LG Alex ☺☺
@@alexanderwalther7302 Im Grunde stimme ich Ihnen zu. Bei manchen Leuten verstehe ich auch die Beweggründe nicht, warum sie ausgerechnet in Positionen arbeiten wollen, wo Sie viel Kontakt z.B. mit Ausländern haben, obwohl sie diese anscheinend verachten. Eine Dienstaufsichtsbeschwerde kann man machen, es ist nur die Frage ob man sich das selber antun möchte, da es mit einem Beschwerdeschreiben vermutlich einfach nicht getan ist.
@@PalmyraSchwarz wir haben es in der Hand solche Beamter permanent aus ihren Positionen zu befördern. einfach mit all den Follower hier schreibt jeder einen brief an die Behörde und beschwert sich über beamte wie diesen Kerl.
@@catmini1 Welchen Kerl? Waren wir dabei? Bei aller Sympathie für Jenna, als Amtsleiter würde ich Beschwerden die meine Mitarbeiter betreffen, deren Substanz die Beschwerdeführer nur vom Hörensagen kennen, direkt in die Tonne treten.
@@PalmyraSchwarz how else can this be substantiated? Are visitors allowed to record them? What recourse do they have if employees like that are confident in their impunity and know that they can treat people they have power over without dignity, because their supervisor will throw complaints to the bin.
I hear you !! I arrived into Frankfurt in the mid-90's.... and it's a horribly cold city, and the people there were horrible!!!!!!! I had to do all the paperwork on my own and be barked at daily, while not understanding how it worked. (Even though I've lived in 2 other countries already). It was only for the job in the Theater that I stayed, but the people were a complete turnoff. You will get through this!!! I completely empathize with you!!!!!!!!
I’m really happy you shared this. Your not alone Germans are often so horrible and I have been through the same many times. It makes me feel so unwelcome and not worthy now after your video I feel a bit better
Many employees have to do the work of 3 to 4 people, Everyday, for years. Most of the people they have to help do not show up, show up unprepared, show up late, try to cut corners.
Also they are trained to be saying as little as possible, clear as possible, cause most people Will not actually understand IT.
That said. It could be done more polite. Sent a letter in german about IT to An official. (It will probably Just add to the load on the people that do the actual work, but maybe IT Will change.)(btw in the Netherlands you would have only one! Place where you could have this appointment. For me that is a 6 hour travel, oneway, if nothing goes wrong.)
Yeah, I agree with the Ausländerbehörde! My wife is South-Korean, I‘m German, so we frequently had to go there for her visum… service is something that is terrible in Germany… it didn’t get easier until we married… good luck! 👍
Oh man, those are the type of people that will make me cry too lol. I’m so sorry you had to go through that, even though you’re speaking German! I hope next time you’ll get a decent person😂
I can feel you … saying that as a German who was going through this with my Indonesian wife. Even at the German consulate in Indonesia people are so unfriendly and rude. They are also asking weird things and wanting strange documents. I guess somehow it has to do something with their unhappiness in their jobs. I don’t think they are trained like that. Sorry for having such a bad experience in Düsseldorf. Greetings from Shanghai
Hi, well the reason about the "strange documents" is because of all those million regulations and laws which are in progress. The case managers demanding them are not asking you because they want to make you feel bad. We have tons of weird regulations in Germany and Europe on top of it. Even we Germans don't get it a lot of the time.
Bad news, this kind of things can happen to Germans as well, I remember similar incidents with people starting to study or experiences with the border patrol when trying to export things. Usually those are situations where the official is used to be always right. These people believe to be in the stronger position because their customers depend on their results. And they are not used to people standing up to them. But I can be extremely stubborn too. I have pressured them by asking for a written statement why they did not/ could not do what I wanted them to do. I have asked for and spoken with their boss and stayed in his office til we had an acceptable solution. I did not do that often but it worked each and every time. Best is actually to take another German with you they can not put pressure on. If you have a friend who is an advocate would be ideal. They will be happy to see you leave for good. Even If they have to do what you want.¡L
You are right. The Germans who never lived abroad are blissfully unaware of those ordeals. I live outside of Germany and whenever I experience problems with Visa etc. and my folks get agitated about it, I tell them to ask immigrants (aka ex-pats) in Germany what they are going through.
Fortunately we have good relationships with the local immigration office but since Visa application is centralized and online nowadays, this helps at least in day to day issues.
So weird.. I applied for everything, and within a week I got everything I needed.. I’m so sorry for your experience. I hate how difficult they are
Brilliant, as a German I can assure you that it is like this for us not any different. Our Behörden are mostly disrespectful by nature! They act as if their job( with more benefits than others) is a punishment. I understand your complaints and I share them with you. I’d love them to switch for one week with me ( 24 hour shifts as a surgery assistant during a pandemic) that would heal their poor behaviour. Stay positive 🙋🏼♀️👍🏻
They are NOT discriminating, they treat everyone equally like shit, even me as a German partner. But it goes according to rules and laws. If it is your right and you bring all the documents, you get what you are entitled to. There is no corruption and (almost) no wiggle room for their decisions. And that's a *positive* thing, isn't it?
one can deny professionally too. I don't expect them to do illegal things for me....I just expect them to do their job professionally. Help professionally....deny professionally....
Stop being ars*h applies to any human being in general too.
that doesn’t really excuse their behavior, no
Hi! I just found out about your channel. Good stuff.
I come from a culture which can be very warm to strangers, but is also very rebellious and has NO problem whatsoever with getting confrontational, so we don't take shit from ANYBODY (Argentina). I'm very thankful this was part of my growing experience, because I got to show my Argentine proverbial teeth more than once here. An Argentine won't cry, they will get loud and fight back if they have to. I'm not saying you crying is pathetic, quite the contrary! it really saddens me that a kind soul like you had to go through this... and trust me, I've been through the same thing with the Ausländerbehörde. One lady there blurted out to me I have no right to stay in Germany since I was illegal, triumphantly. Like that made her day. I told her respectfully to mind her tone on the spot. You should have seen her face. "Der Ton macht die Musik"... I'll be very good to you if you're good to me, but I won't take shit from anybody. I think this is KEY to having a happy life in Germany, whether you're an Ausländer or not.
So here's me wishing you the very best for your future endeavours, be it in Germany or anywhere else. Oftentimes we don't experience what we'd like. However, I'm convinced we experience what we must. Never stop growing, never stop learning. Blessings and much love!
I have just come from my local Ausländerbehörde (in Kassel) and feel very grateful to have had the opposite experience. There are complaints online about them, but there are also many positive comments. This was only my second time to go (I needed to apply for a new Forschung Aufenthaltserlaubnis (Research Permit), and I was a little nervous after seeing this video, even though I didn't have serious problems when I went the first time years ago. Thankfully this morning, my experience was quite good. I know not everyone has been this fortunate though.
Absolute horrible place ever, I visited for the first time 2 years ago. Now my skin is too thick to even feel their rudeness.
One thing I learned in Germany is that there are "double standards" When its me, I can do whatever I want. When its you, it has to be perfect. They love rules, but only cos they love complaining. Rules give them an avenue for complaining. They just love whining.
Oof, the Ausländerbehörde can be tough but it also depends on the city. My partner and I have been lucky so far. The thing is, that when you apply for a permit (visa) you are always under more scrutiny. I went through this in a couple of countries for work, and it is always the same: you constantly have to proof that you are not a criminal and a good and healthy person. It's exhausting!
After living here for sometime i can tell you, that is an everyday interaction here in Germany. Not only there but almost everywhere, i'm not even exhaugerating, you go to the doctor is also like that, almost everywhere. After sometime you just kinda used to that kind of situation. You are lucky if you got a "hi" back everytime you greet them
Yeah as someone who grew up and lived all his life in Germany: I thought the condescending, cynical and sometimes downright aggressive treatment in Germany is "normal" and "like everywhere in the world". Living some months outside the country (outside the continent even) proved to me that whatever is going on in Germany is absolutely not normal and not a healthy society.
I totally agree with you. Most if them are not able to enjoy life.
I'll never understand why they are so pissed off.
The "Ausländerbehörde" in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein was named the friendliest one in the country several times and even changed their name to "Bureau of Welcome and Immigration".
What!? Haha how cool is this!? I think all immigration offices need to take a piece from their playbook then!
as a German I am embarrassed for their behaviour - in particular as he apparently used the "Du" instead of "Sie"....which is unacceptable and very unprofessional. I am German living in the UK and, after 16 years, often find Germans just too blunt/rude. I thought about if "foreign friendliness" is actually helpful in these encounters. Perhaps approaching them with a stern expression is the 'language' they understand better.
Thank you for frank video like this. I'm thinking of relocating in Germany, but I know how many docs are needed and paper system works not in a best way. In my country all relations with government is done via special web site, where you can find anything you need, book a certain day and time and with guarantee of 90% you will be proceeded by authority at this time. Nobody even thinks to be rude. Moreover, more and more authorities even do not need original or photocopy, everything is done using e-documents.
Maybe it is better not to live in Germany, but visit this gorgeous country as a tourist. This will definitely make you happy!
Jenna, I apologize for these rude officials. I'm sorry that you had this experience and i hope it was the last time. I wish one of them would sea this video and explain to us why it has to be this way... 😒
Funny enough, they’ve invited me there to take a look into the reason! And perhaps interview someone there! ✊ would be interesting!!
I am German-born and this brings me to tears in shame.
Wenn ich deinen Kommentar lese, erkenne ich, dass du höchstwahrscheinlich ein sehr guter und freundlicher Mensch bist. Du bist also einer der Gründe, warum ich noch hier bin und denke, dass ich in dem Land, in dem du geboren bist, glücklich sein kann.
I am leaving Germany for good in a couple of months after 13 years here... Cannot wait for my plane to finally take off...
Where is that plane going to take you if you do not mind me asking?
I have moved back to my home country Russia (to Moscow).
@@olesyaherfurth3016 best of luck to you 🙏
Ich würde mir so sehr wünschen, dass die Menschen, die bei den Ausländerbehörden arbeiten, sich dieses Video anschauen und die Kommentarspalte durchlesen. Es gibt viel zu tun, auf jeden Fall sollte das Personal im richtigen Umgang mit Menschen geschult werden!
Unfortunately, I only understood the case when I listened to it a second time. The authority had an internal change of the system and says that they wrote to you because the originally mentioned date was changed. Now, as far as I know, you've only recently moved, something may have gone wrong. The most important thing would be whether you actually have a new appointment now?
I love how you said you were Canadian and then followed it up with an apology lol
Contact me and I‘ll take care of this. I‘m a German lawyer with migrational background having lived/studied in the US. I get annoyed all the time when it comes to German authorities.
Of course you can apply in the US or Canada much easier for a Green Card ...ah wait, you can't. So you're a bigot :D
You are 100% right.
Awwww Jenna, I feel you!!! I am a German living in South Africa. Same here. 9 years in the country. Still no permanent residence. Paid lots of money. They change the system. They forget about you. And so on and so on.....have cried many tears. It's frustrating. So stay strong. I feel you.
Come connect with me, am a SouthAfrican I'll help you out with people I know at Home affairs
According to the new speak, South Africa is now very racist towards you.
Who needs citizenship to live in South Africa🤣🤣. Just toss your documents in the sea and live to the fullest
First things first Jenna: I'd recommend to edit your video and blurring your adress from the papers you showed in this clip. You never know if someone might misuse it for whatever reason.
Besides this, yes - German bureaucracy ist often just a pain in the a.. , but I'm very ashamed about those experiences, you've gone or are still about to go through. I totally understand why you got upset about this. This is far beyond of just being rude. Treating others such way is not acceptable or excuseable. In case something like this would happen to me, I would check and write an official complaint to the office head about what happened and who namely treated me such way, violating my human dignity.
Very importend, you leaked yourselve
I think that is her old address, but yes, it should be blurred.
Yes, I knew that before I showed the paper - but this was old paperwork, old address and no other personal info 🙃
@@lifeingermany_ Thank you for confirming, Jenna. I obviously got upset about how you were treated so I wasn't aware of your recent move at that time. Also I remembered informing another guy on YT who forgot blurring his Covid certificate just a few days ago, so everybody could have misused his personal information.
@@Opa_Andre I know 😔😣 better safe then sorry, right?!
Unfortunately, as someone who is self employed in Germany, you actually legally have to have your address on your website 😣😔 … if you don’t have a business office, then your personal home address… which I personally find terrifying, an invasion of private life, and simply terrible. 😣
Officials country Germany, so many people have to go there and have to handle the German bureaucracy,
when i tried to leave Germany for the first time, i had a lot of issues like that as well and
that's why nobody is smiles at you on German streets and let's be honest,
not everything can be that easy like learning the German language.
😉😀☕
Have you ever heard about the famous Passierschein A 38?
I am sorry for what you experienced. The Arbeitsamt is just as bad, I guess they treat everyone, no matter who they are, quite crappy....and I am German.... :(. Please still have that ice-cream and enjoy Netflix, hugs
My husband applied for permanent residency and had no problems what so ever. Perhaps you should move to Rheinland-Pfalz.
I lived 12 years abroad in the US, France, Spain and Belgium and everywhere they had different rules to get a permanent visa.
About 70% of german public servants have no manners, it's one of the worst things about germany.
Well ... I am german and I DO understand what is happening there. It is systemic racism and nationalism at work and there is no excuse for that. Thank you for publishing your experience.
Of cause, you should also be prepared, but if something like that happens to you, you can also:
- inform local newspapers
-send letters of complaint to local politicians (including the name of the person who mistreated you)
- get a lawyer involved
Maybe not all persons at "Ausländerbehörde" who behave like that are racists, but at best they do an incredibly sloppy job and use their power to mistreat other people because they think, foraigners cannot fight back, because they are in a weak position. And that is disgusting and should not remain without consequences.
as a fellow foreigner, I found your comment the most considerate amongst those "Germans get treated like that too" comments (well, hell NO). However, I fear that as foreigner, even with permanent residence permit, reaching out to politicians would bring nothing. Well, we cannot vote unless we become citizen (again, hell NO after getting such treatments). This is why Ausländerbehörde has never improved for decades, it's never prioritized because any politician that would do something about that would not get votes from the foreigners anyway.
Thank you for being an upstanding, empathetic human being. As an Ausländer, it means a lot to me that a German says this and does not relativise or Germansplain our reality.
so sorry to hear this ...
What a horrible system! I'm sorry you had to go through that.
The bureaucrats always feel they are above everyone else in Germany, I say that as a German. They always behave as you described it
That is not only the case in Germany. Unfortunately that is many (not all) bureaucrats all over the world.
Be not to angry. Its part of the game.
And ,believe me, its not a thing that only foreigners are hit with.
In Germany you can do , mostly, everything you want as long you
play by the rules.To find out what , exactly , these rules are can
be quite a quest.
I am so sorry you had to go through all that frustration and rudeness. A good bit of it sounds vert familiar, though from other bureaucratic contexts. We (or rather my husband) have been lucky in that on a personal level, the relevant offices here have ranged from really friendly and helpful to "just" efficient and not rude (which I think is totally fine). However, the organisation surrounding those personal appointments has driven us to distraction on occasion....
I didn’t have any problems at all with the staff at the Ausländeramt in Innenstadt-Köln. They were all very professional and polite. The only issue was that I had to wait for nearly 7 weeks for my Aufenthaltserlaubnis and wasn’t able to work for that time which ate into my savings. In contrast, many of my coworkers at Uniklinik Köln were rude and condescending which is one of the reasons I moved back to the US.
When you have to deal with the German authorities you`ll be really dissapointed. It´s the same when you need unemployment money. You´ll be almost shocked how incompetent they are. They move really slow and of course they are payed really well from public money. This is one of the negative things about Germany.
Man wird überrascht sein, wie hurtig Behörden sein können, wenn sie eine Gelegenheit finden, ihren Kunden Schaden zuzufügen.
You do beaurcrcy wrong. You have to annoy them until they give you an appointment. Call everyday 10 times until the person behind the desk recognizes you from your voice. It's the only way Germans get through this as well. The more annoying you are, the higher the chance you get what you want.
Auch wichtig: zusätzlich eine "beglaubigte Kopie" von offiziellen Dokumenten (z.B. Heiratsurkunde, Geburtsurkunde etc.). Kann in jedem Gemeindebüro der jeweils lokalen Kirche gemacht werden.
I’m so sorry that happened!!! I wish we could shield people from that experience. This should be an effortless online form(s) process. Thanks for sharing your experience and helping us understand what’s going on. I’m American and my child goes to a German international school here. I have only heard rumors of the paperwork in Germany 🫣
I have been close to ten times at different four cities, as you say quite hard experience most of time, especially first few times. Once I lived in Hessen near Heppenheim, the girl at Ausländersamt was very nice. :-)
I have heard SO MANY racist stories about different situation at the Ausländerbehörde... I do not get why these people work with foreigners if they hate foreigners ...
Some people become "racist" over time...I know somebody who became racist after too many "bad" encounters. Not all clients are nice unfortunately.
@@sandygranitza1152 I understand... Sometimes it's the problem of both sides.
it's not just the Ausländerbehörde, Germany is a very racist country but they try to show on the media that they are not so a lot of foreigners go there not knowing the truth about Germany
The Ausländerbehörde in my town, Neubrandenburg, is similar to yours, unfortunately. Last week my boyfriend, who is an Afghan, wanted to apply for the German citizenship. He brought ALL the papers and I explained to him the whole content e.g. of the Loyalitätserklärung, not in detail, but generally, and he TOTALLY understands what democracy means and what the German values are. It was just that he didn't already set his signature on every paper because we were irritated about the two different Loyalitätserklärungen, which are almost the same in their words, with just one difference. It is a short text part about if he once was against the western values, from which time to which time, and that he isn't against those values anymore. It's a crazy part and I don't understand its purpose. Sounds like they want him to admit that he once was a terrorist. Its so crazy! This lady in the Ausländerbehörde denied his application because he didn't sign every paper beforehand (he thought its okay to do it there after an explanation of the weird part) and couldn't explain all the words she wanted him to, like "Recht" and "Volk". I'm a German language teacher and I'm a patriot and TOTALLY know my boyfriend that he absolutely knows the meaning of those words, but he just can't explain them in a proper bureaucratic German. He only has the level B1, not C1. I don't know what she expects! Now he has to learn EVERY SINGLE WORD in the Loyalitätserklärungen to have a chance to be accepted by the lady in the Ausländerbehörde next time. It's so crazy, guys!!!
Wow. They want him to explain what „Recht“(=law) is? I studied law in Germany and I guarantee you, on a philosophical level, most lawyers couldn‘t really explain to you what „law“ really is 😳😅
@@p.s.224 Yeah, you have to become a philosopher to get the German citizenship. This is way too hard.
I had a good experience at the Ausländerbehörde in Münster. The guy was so nice. I missed my first appointment to collect my residence permit and he gave me another one. He was always smiling.
I don't know in which city this happened, but in Hamburg I had a nice experience in Auslanderbehörde.They were so nice and helpful.Very kind and wishing to help
There is no excuse for bad manners. It would be interesting to see if they have a complaints procedure because public service behaviour the likes of which you describe is totally unacceptable. Ive found them here in Koblenz very polite patient with my faltering German and are generally helpful.........not over-helpful but sufficient to get through the task. I do recognise though that dealing with these rules and regulations is very daunting. I don't think that German people would accept this uncivil behaviour without complaining.