Frequently Asked Questions

It’ll either be me (Kathleen Parker) or one of my colleagues. We are all fluent in German and English and have accompanied many many people to their appointments at the Ausländerbehörde, Standesamt, Bürgeramt, Finanzamt, Jugendamt, Mieterverein, rental agency, Kita,  business meeting, IKEA (yes, we can come shopping with you too!), etc. Some of us are court-sworn.

I’ll always choose the interpreter that I feel is best qualified to handle your appointment.

I don’t have that qualification but I work with interpreters who do. Send me the details and I’ll get you a quote.

It’s not a must, but if you can, you will save yourself time and money. Booking an appointment ensures that the office will be open, that you will be in the right place and that we won’t have to stand in line.

If you’re not sure where to go or how to get an appointment in the first place, get Red Tape Translation to help you. I’ll find out which office is responsible for your case and book you the next available appointment. The cost is either 19 EUR or 55 EUR. If it can be booked quickly and easily (e.g. you need to register your address), it’ll be 19 EUR. If it takes weeks or months and requires hardcore website refreshing or 10 follow-up emails, it will be 55 EUR. Appointments at the Standesamt, Jugendamt and foreigner’s office automatically attract a booking fee of 55 EUR. We wish things were different!

Once you have booked and paid for Red Tape Translation, I will send you an email with everything you need to know. Interpreters wear Red Tape Translation badges, and you’ll always have each other’s mobile number in case something goes wrong.

In some instances, I can take care of things for you from start to finish. This is useful for registering your address or getting a parking permit. Call or write for more information.

Read this blog article.

That’s fine. Just keep in mind that there is no guarantee on how long it will take waiting in line. Here’s some good news: Red Tape Translation is currently capping costs after the fifth hour for walk-ins at the Ausländerbehörde.

It’s hard to say… if you have an appointment, it takes somewhere between 50-90 minutes on average for most public office appointments. Without an appointment, it’s anyone’s guess. But I do cap Ausländerbehörde appointments at five hours – if it takes longer than five hours in one day, you stop paying.

You will have no way of knowing when your waiting number will flash up. Plus, you’ll need to speak to someone in German and show your documents just to get a waiting number in the first place. Finally, we need to plan our day out in advance so we can help other people, too. So we can’t wait on stand-by and guarantee someone will be free.

Different types of permits are handled in different parts of the building, and there are two locations in Berlin. Are you and your partner the same nationality? Are you going for the same type of permit? If the stars align and you and your partner’s cases will both be handed by the same team,  a friendly case worker might not mind seeing you both at the same time with one interpreter.

Sometimes your permits are handled in different teams in different parts of the building. You’ll find that information on the appointment confirmation that the foreigner’s office sent you when you booked online. If the appointments are taking place in two separate locations within an hour or two of each other, I’ll probably have line up two interpreters for you.

If you’re not sure, get Red Tape Translation to help you figure out where to go. Book a coaching and I’ll also tell you exactly what to bring with you and what to expect.

No. I am a translator and an interpreter, not a lawyer. I will help you communicate with your case worker, but I don’t influence the flow of information. I can’t beg, plead, coerce, threaten, or convince. I might throw in a joke or a pleasantry here and there though. I can also make helpful suggestions with your permission. And charm is not to be underestimated.