I’ve noticed over the past couple of weeks that waiting in line has become a real drag at the Ausländerbehörde. Take a number, and you might be waiting for the better part of a day. It’s always a relief to have an interpreter with you, and it’s important they get paid for their time, however, after a few hours of sitting and waiting, it’s hard to stop fretting about how much money you’re giving out. Fair enough. Here’s my solution.
Tag Archive: interpreting berlin
I Can’t Get An Appointment to Register My Address in Berlin?!
There have been lots of changes in the way Berlin public offices operate over the last few years, months, and even weeks. In the good old days, you arrived in Berlin, rocked up to your closest Bürgeramt and registered your address. It might have been a bit of a wait, but you usually left after an hour or two with that coveted piece of paper in your hands. Those days are over. There is such a massive demand for appointments in Berlin, many of the Bürgerämter in Berlin have now changed their status to “appointment only”. If you show up without one, you often get turned away.
The Elusive Permanent Residency
Permanent Residency – two words that might sound like magic to many third country nationals in Germany. One day, once you have dedicated many years of your life to living in Germany, paid lots of tax, paid lots of visits to the Ausländerbehörde, and donated a good chunk of money into the German state pension system, permanent residency will be within your grasp.
Here are the prerequisites for Permanent EC Residence:
Leaving Berlin Behind?
Red Tape Translation recently helped some clients leave their German lives behind and start anew. Though we’re always sad to see a friendly face move away, we were ready to take on the task of tying up all the loose ends before the family skipped the border and settled down in the Netherlands. It certainly wasn’t simple.
WikiHow Praises Red Tape Translation
An article posted on WikiHow recently sang the praises of Red Tape Translation and covered the process of getting a residency permit for qualified workers seeking employment most thoroughly. Read it if you’ve got a degree and you are looking for an uncomplicated way to stay in Berlin.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Germany-Job-Seekers-Residence-Permit
Getting a Kindergarten (Kita) Spot in Berlin
Berlin families with kids might need to stay on the ball when looking for a kindergarten spot (Kitaplatz) in Berlin. While some European cities have fabulous online systems for registration and streamlined administration processes, Berlin does not fall into this category. There is no centralized system. In some parts of Berlin, there is a severe shortage of Kita spots available, and the waiting lists are up to 2 years long. In other areas, or just by coincidence, you might find a place within weeks.
Should I make enquiries in Berlin before my child is born?
Renting an Apartment in Berlin: Problems and Disputes
Unexpected Rental Increases, Early Termination, and Other Problems
Finding an apartment in Berlin is hard work, so when you’ve found a place, you’re probably feeling grateful to even be able to sign the lease. Sometimes it can be hard to resolve problems or disputes with your landlord or housing administration in Berlin, especially if you’re not familiar with German tenancy law and your German language skills are limited!
How to Register Your Address in Berlin
Beware of Paying Too Much for your Berlin Artists Visa
There are consultants in Berlin charging between 750EU and 900EU to prepare your paperwork and talk you through the process of getting an Artists Visa (Freelance Visa) in Berlin. Red Tape Translation was surprised to discover that some consultants will offer to fill out your paperwork for you, potentially influencing your answers on the application form to ensure that you will be defined as an artist, and issued a work permit on the spot.
While Red Tape Translation can certainly understand the appeal of avoiding bureaucracy, I find the practice concerning for a number of reasons:
Visa Loophole or IT Glitch? Booking Appointments at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
Red Tape Translation received an interesting question about booking appointments at the Ausländerbehörde (LABO), and we thought we’d throw it out there for discussion.
An American citizen was not able to get an appointment before his current permit expired. Those pesky appointment times go like hotcakes, and sometimes, there isn’t one available for 6-8 weeks.
Luckily, that’s not such a huge problem. If you can’t get an appointment before your current permit runs out, your current permit will remain valid until the date of your appointment. Whatever working conditions currently apply to you will also apply until your appointment. All you have to do is print out the appointment confirmation and carry it around with your passport, should anyone ask. You can read that on the official LABO website here.
Buying an Apartment in Berlin
Red Tape Translation just finished an interesting project, interpreting for a meeting with a foreign investor and a real estate developer in Berlin.
The potential for growth within the real estate market in Berlin is major, and investors are flocking to the city to make the most of wonderful acquisition opportunities in popular metro areas of Berlin. Not only in the thriving centre but also beyond the city ring in leafy residential quarters, there are some very special investment opportunities: apartments in wonderful old buildings that are being refurbished, as well as brand new modern style housing complexes.
I Lost My Passport in Berlin: Now What?
Red Tape Translation just helped British and Australian tourists in Berlin at the police station in Prenzlauerberg, after they lost track of a very important carry-on suitcase containing passports, a laptop, and internet banking passwords. This discovery was accompanied by several heart palpitations, as the tourists had flights booked to London the following evening, and weren’t having any luck communicating with anyone, let alone solving their suitcase mystery. They had less than 24 hours to recover the missing suitcase, or there would be emergency trips to more than one embassy very early the next morning. Here’s what happened.