The Ausländerbehörde in Berlin is a special place. Among other special nicknames, it has been described as “the most miserable place in Berlin”, “the place of shattered dreams” and “inefficient government bureaucracy at its finest”. Above all, though, getting acquainted with its tightly-closed-up windows, flashing neon boards and slightly-off key announcement bells is inevitable. So embrace it and do it right. Here’s how to save time, avoid stress and leave with a shiny new visa or permit.
Book an appointment. (Just kidding).
I know. I promised you an article for people without appointments. Don’t worry, I will deliver. But I just want to make sure you’ve exhausted all your options for getting one. Yes, it is easier said than done. But booking an appointment will ensure
- You’re in the right building in front of the right room
- The office is open
- You’ll be seen
- You’ll be in and out relatively quickly
If you’re having trouble booking an appointment online, take a deep breath. Close your browser. Come back and reload and try again. Rinse and repeat at different times of day and night. Be relentless.
Go to the right office.
OK, so you couldn’t get an appointment and time is running out.
In 2016, the Ausländerbehörde Berlin opened a second building on Keplerstraße in Charlottenburg. Whereas you previously had to visit the office on Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24 to get everything done, there is now a clear division of services.
If you are applying for a study preparation permit, a student visa (permit), a German uni graduate job seeking permit, a language learning permit, a blue card, a visiting academic permit, an au pair permit or a Working Holiday Visa or you’re a family member of someone who is, go to Keplerstraße in Charlottenburg.
If you’re a freelancer, an employee or a job seeker with a foreign academic qualification, go to Friedrich-Krause-Ufer in Wedding.
Go to the right area.
The time at which the security guards open access to the Ausländerbehörde Berlin used to be like the Black Friday sales in the UK or the Boxing Day specials in Australia. The doors opened and people pushed, scratched, grunted and trampled. It was such a problem, security guards now let people in in small groups in Wedding. But the key is that everyone goes to a different area. Here’s (roughly) where you’ll need to go.
Ausländerbehörde Berlin-Wedding (Friedrich-Krause Ufer)
This office is sorted out into nationalities and service types. Here are the ones Red Tape Translation sees the most (updated July 2018):
- Permits for family reunification when the sponsoring family member is an EU citizen: Haus A, E5 on the 3rd floor
- American and Canadian freelancers, qualified job seekers, employees: Haus C, E2 on the 2nd floor
- Australian and New Zealand freelancers, qualified job seekers, employees: this has recently changed and it might be necessary to visit the white tent to get your waiting number. Once you have it, Haus B, E1 on the 3rd floor.
- Citizens of Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan: Haus B, E4 on 2nd floor
Ausländerbehörde Berlin-Charlottenburg (Keplerstraße)
Things are a bit more chaotic here, and there is almost no signage. But at least now, you can pay with cash (yay!).
- If you’re a student, a scientist, a language course student, an au-pair or a Working Holiday Visa applicant, you’ll be seen on either the second or the third floor. The team or worker assigned to your case will depend on your surname and permit type. Go to the second floor to get a waiting number from the machine on the wall.
- If you’re applying for a blue card or need to prolong your Schengen Visa for a very good reason (see this article to find out more about the Schengen Visa), you’ll be seen on the fourth floor. Go to the 4th floor to get your waiting number.
Please note: applying for a Blue Card without an appointment is almost impossible, but you can get advice on the process while you’re there. There is a consultancy service, and there are mixed reviews on its friendliness factor.
Avoid Thursdays
Thursdays are the days when public offices across the country have late opening hours. This means the office opens at 10am. This means that everyone who can’t be bothered getting there at 7am waits until a Thursday so they can sleep in, get their coffee and still manage to get there before the doors open. Thursdays are miserable, particularly bang on 10am. If you can, take one for the team and go for an early shift on a Monday or a Tuesday. Don’t go on a Wednesday or a Friday, either, by the way – Wednesdays are appointment-only and the office is closed on Fridays.
Go As Early As Humanly Possible
My heart bleeds for the students and academics who tell me they needed to get to Charlottenburg at 2:30am on a Monday to get one of the limited waiting numbers for the day at 5:30am. I can’t possibly recommend reloading and refreshing the website for an online appointment more. Even when you get to the office, continue refreshing and reloading to see if a same-day appointment comes up.
Friedrich-Krause Ufer is a bit calmer now that all the students have been sent elsewhere. Even if you come here without an appointment, you can generally assume you’ll at least be seen same-day if you get there, say, 2 hours before the doors open.
Make it a once-off trip by coming prepared.
This is where my online marketing manager tells me I am supposed to include a sales pitch.
Red Tape Translation can prepare you for your appointment very, very thoroughly. After a one-hour coaching, you’ll have all your documents ready and you’ll know exactly what hurdles to expect and how to deal with them. Then you can get on with the fun stuff like getting to know Berlin!
Find out more:
Hi Kathleen, I really appreciate your article. I am wondering if you have any advice for me.
My sister and I plan to travel to Europe starting next week. We start from Berlin. The problem is they gave my sister a Schengen visa dated September 3rd – September 30th. She is traveling from Nepal. We get there on Sept 25 late at night. So we won’t be able to go to Foreigners Office super early on Tuesday. We have a long flight. Unfortunately Thursday is our only chance. What time do you think we should get there in the morning? What time do they hand out the tickets? Is getting there by 4 AM early enough? Is it pretty straight forward? Some people said that they were waiting at a wrong location, so they missed their chance. Also, has anyone done this before? According to this website, you can extend visa due to late entry. https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324785/en/
We appreciate any information. Thank you!
Hi Kathleen,
I am an Indonesian and I will be visiting Germany next year with Schengen type C visa. While I’m there, is it possible to apply for Residence Permit for the Purpose of Freelance in nearby Ausländerbehörde?
On the Ausländerbehörde website (formular.berlin.de/xima-forms-29/nextpage/c804651d-4f47-4a0d-887d-469746dd147b), it is stated that “Schengen type C visa always expire with the date of validity. Appointments or an application do not extend the legal stay with a Schengen visa.” I assume that implicitly states that it *is* possible, however it does not explicitly list which nationals are eligible.
I also found these comments on this forum raptcat.com/2013/08/08/how-to-get-a-freelance-visa-in-germany:
1. An Argentinian comments that Argentina nationals can’t apply for Residence Permit for the Purpose of Freelance *inside* Germany. They must apply from German Embassy in Argentina.
2. A Bangladeshi comments that Germany provides freelance visa only for some specific countries people.
Asking for this information from German Embassy in Indonesia is pointless, since freelancer are uncommon and deemed not self sustaining. Worst case is I won’t be getting any visa at all :((
So.. If you could help advise or maybe share your experience on assisting third world country nationals getting their freelance visa, I’d really appreciate it 🙂
Dear Christine, sorry I can’t be more helpful in this case – you’ll have to talk to your embassy to get particulars as they’re the ones who handle your application and send it on. I do know that Indonesia does not belong to the list of countries who are allowed to apply from within Germany.
has anyone been at the Berlin Auslanderbehorde Berlin(Freidrich-Kraus-Ufer 24) at 4a.m.,?
Dear Kathleen,
Thank you for your article. I have a permanent residence permit but need to be transferred to my new passport number. I read on their official website that for transfers, generally one must make an appointment. I need it in a hurry, so I am thinking about going there with no appointment, but wanted to make sure that they take me. If you have any idea, I would appreciate your advice!
Thank you so much!
Hi Kathleen,
Do you know maybe at what time they start giving numbers at kepplerstr on Fridays?
On Mondays and Tuesdays it’s at 05.30, but I’m not sure for Friday…
Thanx!
Closed on Fridays!
I am unsure about when they start giving numbers out on any weekday. I have heard of people getting there at 1.30am recently. I would recommend constantly refreshing the website for an appointment instead :S
Hi Kathleen,
Do you know what time the numbers are handed out at Ausländerbehörde Berlin-Charlottenburg (Keplerstraße) on Thursdays? Is it also 5:30am even though the office doesn’t officially open until 10am?
Thank you!
Hi!
I need to come to the office second time as first time I was missing some documents. I got a letter from them saying to come to the exact office within 14 days. Does it mean I will be able to skip the line?
Advice much appreciated:)
I was a blue card owner for 33 months and recently i got settlement permit(niederlassungerlaubnis)
that was issued by auslanderbehorde Keplerstrase.
When I asked them to extend residence permit also for my family members(wife and children) they told me that i should go to
auslanderbehorde(Friedrich-Krause Ufer) because of they can not do this.
This it is quite strange, how do you think ?
Hi Ted, congratulations on the Niederlassungserlaubis! It’s a pain, yes, but I have heard of that happening before – a father was issued with a blue card but the other family members couldn’t be processed at Keplerstr. What can you do, except go to Friedrich-Krause Ufer, really?
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you !
I hoped may be the lady who told me this, was wrong … but it seems this it is the truth …
I will go there already, what can I do, no easy way and no relax in Germany 🙂 … I should collect again all documents, prove of income, employer certificate(not older than 14 days) … and so on …
Hi Kathleen,
I have a blue card and a European (non German) wife. I would like to get a residence permit but I found no appointments online. Is it worth going to Ausländerbehörde Berlin-Wedding (Friedrich-Krause Ufer) at 6 AM and requesting to be seen?
Hi Rehman,
Is there any rush? I’d just take the next available appointment online, even if it’s 6-8 months away. I know you said you can’t find any appointments online, but just try reloading the site at a few different times of day or night. (Apparently, midnight is a good time to try). It is definitely desirable to have an appointment.
Here is a question: why don’t they fix the website? I’m an EEA, but my husband is an America. For weeks we have tried to make an appointment at different times of day, from different devices, even different browser software. Their website shows no appointments available for the remainder of 2018 or any of 2019 (we didn’t look past that.) We’ve tried emailing them and have gotten now response. It seems ridiculous that you can’t even make an appointment this many months out. Surely there is something wrong with the website!
Yes, it’s incredibly frustrating. I’ve heard that the wait for EEA citizens with non-EU spouses to get an appointment there is around 8 months at the moment, but your experience sounds even more horrific. It’s especially taxing if you need to travel outside of Germany but are holding off until you have the right permit in your passport. The official answer on the website is that it’s not an IT glitch, but just that there aren’t any appointments available at this time and you should “try later”. Let me know if you get a response to your email!
There are no appointments for the next six years. After that we stopped searching…
LOL. Reload the website as often as you can. I know it’s a pain. You’ll find something. You might also find they don’t load appointments for the new year towards the end of a year.
I went to Friedrich-Krause Ufer in March for a same day appointment for my non-EU spouse to join me, and the current situation is you turn up at a tent at 01:30am to queue for one of about 65 tickets handed out at 04:00am for later the same day. We have an appointment but not until late June. Is my spouse within her rights to stay in Germany for now as she has an appointment booked even if it is not until June?
Hi James, just answered your question on another post thread. She’s fine until the appointment if you booked the appointment before her Schengen time ran out in the first place, but she won’t be able to travel outside of Germany until June. Lucky her. Some non-EU spouses of EU citizens are now waiting 8-9 months to be seen!
Thanks for answering both my comments so quickly! She did get lucky as she ariginally had an appointment for September but managed to find one for June. We just moved here from Spain, and she does have a valid Spanish residence card, so I hope that would get her back into Germany if she travels (Article 5.2 of Directive 2004/38/EC: “For the purposes of this Directive, possession of the valid residence card referred to in Article 10 shall exempt such family members from the visa requirement.”). She doesn’t have an entry stamp in her passport as we arrived from Spain, and the same Directive prohibits stamping a residence card holder’s passport. So panic over I think 🙂 Your blog is very helpful, cheers!
Hi! Your article is very helpful. As you recommended I constantly update the online booking system. However, am I updating a correct website? 😀
It is like formular.berlin. de – and there ‘Online appointment agreement of the Berlin Foreigners Registration Office’? And the free appointment is supposed to be in blue (hopefully I will see it one day ha-ha)?
Hope I’m doing it all correct 🙂
Cheers
Hi Marina, sounds like the right website to me. If you just keep pressing refresh, it might be that your IP address gets blocked after a while, I am not sure. Could be worth starting a new session every now and again. I hope you will see the magic blue box soon!
Hi! Very helpful article! No magic blue box for me yet. So you mentioned that I might be able to do this at the Bürgeramt? I am a Canadian national married to an EU citizen. Already stayed the 5 year residence and ready to extend to the permanent one. Any suggestions? Should I try to go to the Bürgeramt? Otherwise I am planning a 5am trip to Wedding if my magic blue box doesn’t show this week because I have an international trip planned for mid August =(
Hi Cyndia,
Sounds like this is the one you need if you have already been here for 5 years with an EU spouse. No, you have to go to the Ausländerbehörde for that. Sorry! Kathleen
Hi! In this article, you wrote: “Permits for family reunification when the family member is an EU citizen: E5 on the 3rd floor (you might also be able to go to a Bürgeramt – read my article to find out more)”
Do you have a link to the referenced article? Thanks!
Hi Kathleen,
My husband and I are both residents of the U.S. who have lived together in Berlin for 7 years. He received permanent residency at the outset because he is a qualified professional. But I have to renew my residency permit from time to time. We’ve purchased tickets for a trip the the U.S. in August.
I noticed TODAY that this is the last day my residency permit is valid. I have made an appointment online with the Ausländerbehörde Berlin; the earliest one was October 11. From what I see online, my residency is extended until the date of my appointment (I must be sure to attend), BUT I may not travel outside German after the expiry date on my current permit.
So I think that means I need to show up in person for a same-day appointment. I think I’ll go next Tuesday. Do I need to arrive at 2am in order to have the best chance at getting one of the 100 tickets available? Of course, I’ll need all my documents in order. Does my husband have to attend the appointment with me? I appreciate any suggestions which would allow me to travel in August.
Thank you very much!
Hi Kim,
You seem to have all the right information. It is however impossible to say how much time you’ll need when walking in. Also keep in mind that if you walk in and get to the gate keeper, if they see in the system you have an appointment booked in October they might just tell you to come back in October and not let you be seen on that day (depending on staffing, etc). You might have to kick up a fuss and mention your travel plans to the US – take your plane ticket, for example – so that they know there’s a good reason to let you be seen before your appointment. It’s a pain, but it is still worth it for your peace of mind. As for your husband being present, usually yes, but they can also accept a power of attorney statement from him if he can’t attend. But you do need to bring his original passport and all the necessary documents for him as well as yours. Good luck!
Wow, Kathleen, thank you very much for your extremely helpful advice. I didn’t think of taking my plane ticket, and we may use a power of attorney if necessary. I deeply appreciate your help.
Hello Kathleen,
I am a non-EU university graduate living in Berlin. I have just finished my last semester here and got an internship offered in Stuttgart. My student visa ends mid July and my contract starts on August 1st. I have been trying to speed up the process to get my paperwork and residence permit done before my permit expires but it doesn’t seem like it. So my question is, am I eligible to get a temporary permit under the case of university graduate seeking employment? What kind of documents does that require? Another issue is that my graduation certificate can’t be issued till next month, so what kind of document can I bring as a substitute?
Thank you so much!
Hi Sally, yes it might be possible to get a permit as a university graduate seeking employment, assuming you graduate, of course! I would ask the student services center at your university if they can give you another sort of temporary document for this type of permit, e.g. a letter confirming your graduation, and whether that will work – they will definitely know and should be able to help you further. The permit you’re after is here: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/305245/en/ Just be aware, if you move to Stuttgart and register your address before you’ve applied for the permit, you’ll have to go to the Ausländerbehörde in Stuttgart, not Berlin. But if you apply before you move, then Berlin. Naturally.
Hello Kathleen,
Nice Article !!
I have one question. I am from India and I have a blue card and my spouse has her own residence-work permit which includes a clause that she can only work in that particular company(as mentioned in Residence Permit) for the entire duration of her residence permit.
She has residence permit till 2020 but she has to leave this company in the end of July.
1) So does it mean that she cannot stay in Germany once she leaves her current company or she can stay till the residence permit is valid?
2) As I have Blue card, I have also booked an appointment in September to change her residence permit to dependent type. So if her residence permit gets invalid once she leaves her current job, does she need to apply for temporary residence permit until she gets dependent residence permit ?
Thanks !!
Hi Sam,
I don’t know what nationality your spouse has. Even still, if your spouse’s permit can be changed to a family reunification (dependent) type, she will have free access to the job market. I’m surprised this wasn’t done back when you got your blue card! Maybe you weren’t married yet back then. If you can manage to get this permit change done before she leaves the company by walking in to the Ausländerbehörde even without an appointment, this would be hugely helpful for your ability to sleep at night. Even if it means visiting the office, explaining the situation and having them give you something in writing that just says “come back in September, you’ll be fine”. Or just keep reloading online to see if you can get an earlier appointment.
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for the article!
I want to apply for a permanent residence permit. I have a question, Do I need to send a prove of keine straftaten(no crime) ? It is mentioned as a requirement not as the documents which need to be sent.
Thanks a lot,
Mary
Hi Mary, I don’t know of any requirement to prove you have no recorded offenses and wonder if perhaps the department that makes the decision would have access to that information. However, I don’t know for sure – you would have to contact an immigration lawyer to find out more about that.
Hi..
i have few questions..i have an appointment on 23rd october for me,my wife and son at the labo but unfortunatly i wont be around on october..can they be given a permit without me being around..and if not then what steps should be done as i checked for another apointment its until november..if i go without apointment is there any possibility or them assinting us?..i need advice guys..Thankd
Hi Dennis, sorry I wasn’t able to respond before your appointment came around. I hope you managed to find a solution! There is always a chance that you can walk in without an appointment, but there is also a chance that they will send you away. In some cases, you can give your spouse a signed power of attorney, but she would also have to have access to your original passport and other documents. If you’re travelling and need your passport, that might not be an option.
Dear Kathleen
Thanks for this informative post.
I have a blue card from Berlin and now I have a job offer in Aachen with starting date on mid of September. I am totally confused and stuck regarding changing the employer title:
– there is no available appointment for blue card service till starting date
– and before the starting date, I need the work permit for the new company
How can I handle this situation and what are your hints?
Thanks in advance.
Bests
I’m sorry I didn’t get to answer your question before you started your new job, I have a 10 week-old baby. I hope you sorted it out! For anyone else reading this, a solution might be to either reload the Berlin website consistently to try and get a last minute appointment in Berlin, or to register your address in Aachen as soon as you find a place and before the start date of your contract so that you can get an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde in Aachen instead, which is most definitely not as busy as the Berlin office. Walk-ins for blue cards in Berlin are tricky.
Hi Kathleen! Your article is indeed insightful and many many thanks for this.
I already got an appointment in first week of September for the issuance of Blue Card but my Visa (Type D) expires on 28th of August. I am really really afraid of taking any risk so I have already made up my mind to lineup early morning and try without an appointment (mostly next Monday in Keplerstr.) at least once before my Visa expires.
But your post suggests that its almost impossible to get the Blue Card application approved without an appointment. Does that mean they won’t even see me ? The official website providing information on Blue Card and its requirements used to have a column stating that its possible to lineup for the token but the column is not there anymore.
Do you think I have any chance of getting myself seen for the Blue card thingy ? Let me know your thoughts on this. Thank you very much 🙂
Hi Himanshu,
I’m sorry I wasn’t able to answer promptly, I now have a newborn baby. It’s tricky at Keplerstr. You can try … they sometimes send you away, it just depends how busy the office is, whether they can accommodate you. In Berlin at the moment it’s a bit of a nightmare. But I suspect your situation is resolved by now, anyway. How did you get on? Did you show up without an appointment and were you seen? Please leave a comment to let other people know how it went.
Hello Kathleen,
First thank you for the usufull article!
I have a question regarding permanent residency; Do I need a contract for a minimum of year to apply for permanet residence permit? I have already 8 months till end of my contract!
Thanks in advance,
Mary
Hi Mary,
I need more information. Most importantly, how long have you been in Germany and under which type/s of permits?
Hi Kathleen,
The website does not show any available appointments for the next 6 years, after which point we stopped looking. Is this correct? Is the only way to get an appointment going at 1.30am?
Thank you,
Ilona
Kate Bush says it best. Don’t give up. Keep reloading the website.
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you for a great article and service. Do you know which centre/office a non-EU spouse of an EU citizen (not German) should visit?
Thank you,
Ilona
It depends where your address is registered. If you are registered in Berlin, visit the Berlin office. If you are registered in Saarbrücken, visit the Saarbrücken office.
HI Kathelin
Please my i have go to the keplerstrasse office directly without appointment to transfer my bluecard to my new passport ? thanks
Hi Oly… nope, not Keplerstr. In some circumstances, you can get it transferred over at ANY Bürgeramt in Berlin, have a look here. But failing that, you’ll have to go to the Ausländerbehörde Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24.
Hi Kathleen,
First of all great article. And I really admire your patience to reply to each query.
I recently arrived in Berlin last week with a permanent employment contract. My wife has come on a Dependent visa for 3 months valid till Feb 15, 2019. Technically I should be applying for a Blue card + residence permit for me and my wife. But I don’t see any appointment available till March 20. I can book an appointment and get the blue card, but till then my wife’s visa will expire. Can she stay in Germany until then? Please advice me on this.
I don’t know your wife’s nationality. All the same, yes, I believe she can stay in Germany until the date of your appointment but she shouldn’t travel overseas. If you want a concrete answer on that, based on your wife’s nationality, I’d ask a lawyer. But I do know about a year ago, there was a 10-month waiting period for family reunification permits, and a lot of really annoyed spouses who had to stay in Germany until they were granted residency.
Hi Kathaleen
Thank you for the informative article.
I have done my masters in production engineering and management from German university and have been working in procurement department as a Senior Startgeic Buyer for Engineering and Technical goods under normal work resident permit (not EU blue card) from March 2017 .Now my current salary limit has been increased above 40560€. I am eligible to now apply for the EU blue card in shortage occupation category??
Please let me know..
Many Thanks
Hi Varun,
The current shortage occupations: Scientists in natural science disciplines, mathematicians, architects, interior, urban and traffic planners, designers, engineers, scientific engineers, physicians (except dentists) and those with academic qualifications in information and communications technology. I imagine the question they’d ask would be: are you a buyer working in engineering or are you an engineer? That will probably depend on what’s written on your contract. I can’t say for sure, so the best way to find out is to take your work contract to the office and ask. The worst that can happen is they say no, and you keep your current permit.
Cheers
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you for the informative article.
I am currently in one of those situations that I landed myself in a new job here and my work-visa (Aufenthaltstitel) is still tied to my previous employer. Now. to join my new employer I need to get their name on my visa and I went to this office: Fasanenstrasse 85 10623 Berlin, this is where I got my permit earlier, quite weirdly they refused to update my new Employer name on the visa despite I provided all the required docs.
I can’t really get to the part of portal where I can take appointments (please mention that). Also, I don’t know what exactly is the right way of proceeding in such a case.
I would really appreciate if you may have some advice for me.
Many Thanks
Hi Vivek – did you get your original visa through a relocation company or did your employer’s HR department take care of it for you? That address is for the Business Immigration Service – probably a perk made available for you by your previous employer. If you’re doing it yourself, you’ll have to go where everyone else goes – either Keplerstr. in Charlottenburg or Friedrich-Krause-Ufer in Wedding, depending on whether you’re eligible for a blue card with your new job or just an employment permit.
I don’t quite know what you mean when you say you can’t get to the part of the portal where you can take appointments (please mention that). Let me know if you’d like me to coach you through the process by booking a coaching. Cheers! Kathleen
Dear Kathleen,
Do you or any of your contacts happen to know the current waiting times to get a number for a walk-in appointment at Keplerstraße? I’m planning to go this week to apply for a Blue Card without an appointment (a difficult task, but hopefully I’ll get lucky). Is 4am about the time I need to get in line? Thanks!
Joe
hi Joe,
These things change from day to day, I’m afraid. It’s not quite as unbelievable in the winter months. I think 4am is reasonable, but regardless of how early you get there, it’s hard to convince a case worker to give you a blue card without an appointment there. Are oyu sure you wouldn’t rather just reload the website?
Worth a shot, I guess! Good luck
Kathleen
Hi,
Do you have any experiences about going without an appointment to the Ausländerbehörde at the Landratsamt Munich (I live in Landkreis München area).
Just went there to find out more about requirements for a blue card application. They assured me that there’s no way to get a walk in appointment.
The job I was offered starts early May and there’s no online appointments till July! The company won’t wait till there. So I may be at risk of losing this opportunity and having to leave the country.
I would want to hire your services guys but I don’t know even if I have the chance of having an appointment.
Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Liliana, annoyingly, this office JUST went appointment only just a few months ago. Keep reloading the website to try to find appointments as they come up. They might release new appointments in the mornings or someone might cancel. You’ll get a spot eventually.
Hi,
What do you think my chances of getting my blue card renewed via a walk in? i have a contract and everything with the same company the first issue was tied to.
Most of our clients who have tried to walk in to Keplerstr. without an appointment to get a blue card recently have been turned away.
Hello Kathleen!
We have had the same problem this morning. What did you do after? What are the next steps? The next free appointment is in December 🙁
Just keep reloading the website until a free appointment comes up.
Hi Kathleen, I’m so grateful to have found this article.
I have a new job starting next week and I haven’t been lucky to get an appointment at Keplerstr (closest one I have is Nov 26). My blue card is without a tie to my previous company. Is it possible to get a change of employer via a walk in? Is it illegal to start a job without the permission before?
You might not even need the appointment at all if your Blue Card is not tied to a particular job. Have a look here – I know it says “Standort Friedrich-Krause-Ufer” but have a look at the conditions anyway. Cheers, Kathleen.
Thank you for the response. Just to be clear, would both locations handle cases for change of employer? I’m getting mixed answers from different places, I was going to Keplerstr but if I have a better chance at the other one I’d have to try walking in there…
Blue card – Keplerstr, regular work permit – FKU. But I don’t actually think you’ll have to worry about it at all if your blue card is not tied to your current employer. If you’ve been employed for more than 2 years, you don’t have to change the permit over. You can just start the new job.
Hello,
Can I use the Blue Card online booking for a change of employer (to a different employer after a year)? The change of employer service doesn’t seem to have an appointment booking link of its own. Or is only a walk-in possible?
I would just use the “Blue Card” option in the drop-down menu at Keplerstraße if you do actually have to visit the office. There are some circumstances where you don’t have to, e.g. if you’ve worked in Germany for 2 years or lived in Germany for 3 years. But you know that already if you’ve read that page. Walk-ins at Keplerstraße can be risky – e.g. they will often turn you away. Good luck!
Hello, i enjoyed your article. I was wondering if you could help me. I have a type D visa, my residency permit appointment is in January but my visa expires on December.
I booked travel plans outside the EU for Christmas. How can i extend my visa?
Hi Shadwa,
I would not travel outside of Germany if your visa has expired. But you can also keep reloading the website to try and get an earlier appointment, ie. before you leave Germany. I had a look last night at 10pm, and there were appointments next week. Good luck!
Hi Kathleen,
I’m wondering what the wait time for an appointment at the Berlin Auslanderbehorde is in April 2022, with the refugee crisis and all. Has it increased? My visa expires soon and I will have to apply by email as no online appointments are ever available. Do you have any data in this regard? I’m hoping it’s not something crazy like 6 months. Thanks.
It’s something crazy like 6 months. BUt if you have a current visa and you request an appointment by email, you’ll be fine to stay until they get back to you with one.
My name is bright Ogbomo,
I have 3 years marriage visa .. and it has expired.. I have been looking for an appointment since a month ago but I can’t get any… and I have been working since that time I was giving visa 3 years ago, and I can’t get appointment. Please what will I do? My email, brightogbomo@icloud.com
Hi Bright… have you emailed the foreigner’s office asking for an appointment? If you did that before your permit expired, GREAT. If you didn’t do that, I’d chat to an immigration lawyer about what to do next.
Hi Kathleen,
I am living in Berlin and have a Blue card, my wife and son are arriving in Berlin next week, so I am trying to get a Blue card appointment for them, but I am unable to get any appointment.
My son’s visa will expire by Feb end.
Can I go to the office in Charlottenburg directly and ask for the appointment ?
No, but you can apply for their permits by email/post. I’d be very happy to talk you through this in a coaching.
Hey Kathleen, is it still possible today, to go and wait and get one of the limited appoitments at 5;30 am for a student visa, or is that no longer possible??
thank you!
No. Not since COVID, unless you can convince the security guards that it is URGENT.