Job Discussion Forums

jasonconga · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 36 Location: the black forest

As someone who works in this country as much
as anyone, I was shocked by my experience at the Amt der
Oeffentliche Ordnung, aka work permission office. This
is mostly of note for Americans on this I
would assume but maybe...

And it goes like this:

I was just by the "Amt der Oeffentliche Ordnung"
office to today for what should have been an ordinary
2-year work extension. Well, things have changed a
bit.

They wanted me to get two "Arbeitgeber" to fill out a
Stellenbeschreibung with all sorts of interesting
information like what are the qualifications of the
job you have. How much is it paid an hour and how
many hours a week? These forms are to be signed and
stamped from two employers and shipped off to the
Arbeitsamt for "about three weeks" where they will be
evaluated on some level and then sent back to the Amt
der Oeffentliche Ordnung. I'm not sure I'm
notified when it comes back. All I know is that I
spent 20euro for a 3-month extension today when a
2-year extension costs 30euro.

2 years ago it was like this:
Bring some work contracts, bank account information
that shows that money is coming in, current health
insurance and 25euro,you get the passport stamped,
thank you have a nice day.

I feel offended by this change. I have already been
to the Buergeramt two times now. Clearly stated: I've
had to cancel work to deal with the situation of my
work permission. It's ridiculous. When did we move
to the Soviet Union?

My first "Arbeitgeber" said "We're not going to sign
and stamp that thing. You're not "angestellt" with us,
it's just with a contract and honorar. Yes I know, I
told her apologizingly, embarassed to be wasting her
time at 4:10pm on a Wednesday. I walked back over to
the Oeffentliche Ordnung (mind you, my second freakin'
time today!) and the hallway was packed with people
who can't do my job and of course my "Berater" is on
holiday and the substitute is sick and so this woman
who "helped" me this morning was the substitute for 4
people. When she saw me in the hallway at 4:35pm
today, she was curt and to the point as we walked down the
packed hallway: If you can't get two Arbeitgeber to
sign and stamp those things, you can't get a work
permission from us.

Hello lady, I have 9 freakin' employers in 5 different
cities. Why on earth are we having this discussion?
Who do I need to talk to to make this go away? She's
a beamter. She has rules and she follows them to a T.
But hasn't she probably seen quite a few English
teachers in the past 15 months since this new rule was
enacted who have the same situation and frustration?
How did we get work in the first place? You have one
employer say, okay, I'll give him a job, a couple of
hours a week and then bam, you're in. Well, okay, I'm
in now. We can leave each other alone, I want to tell
the Arbeitsamt and the Buergeramt. If I move or want
a driver's license, I promise I'll come right by but
what happened to 2004? 2004 was easy. 2004 was nice.
It's like we're regressing...

poro · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 274

Jason, I really sympthize and wish I could give you some encouragement.

But unfortunately, you hit the nail on the head: German officialdom is all too often like that, and can be a severe rectal discomfort.

One day it might occur to them to be helpful, but then, one day pigs might fly Crying or Very sad

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Come and join us in Saudi Arabia. At least the bureaucracy here is friendly !

Then you can do as I do ! Spend your holidays in Germany using the petrodollars you have earned here !

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

jasonconga · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 36 Location: the black forest

okay

When did we move to the US?

And I will never live in a country that doesn't allow me to get riproaring drunk every now and then!

jasonconga · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 36 Location: the black forest

Well, I just wanted to let you all know the situation here in the Black Forest. After teaching English all over this goddamn state, I was just informed that my work permission and residence permission will not be extended. Apparently there is a new law that makes this sort of thing more difficult and I just wanted to let you guys know before you got all happy about Germany that if you are not from the EU and plan to try and get a job here without having been invited first, be careful. I have to meet an immigration lawyer tomorrow and it will cost me 50euro just so he can probably tell me that I should marry my German girlfriend and this won't be a hassle. Please email with more questions:

[email protected]

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

schminken · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:46 am Post subject:

Beaucracy is a witch around the world and I can certainly relate.

Austria is also the same. If you don't live in Vienna, often the Beamte/beamtin at your friendly local neighborhood Magistrat in the Dorf of your choice will really have no clue what the actual rules are-even if that is their explicit job to know.

For instance, the town I live in has one woman responsible for ALL forigner visa issues. She's worked there since oh say- 1973. Every two years I go to get my Aufenthaltsbewilligung renewed and we argue over everything and she acts like I am the lowest of the low and that I know absoulutly nothing. She'll ask me how I like Austria and I try to be all diplomatic and say how nice the quality of life is here and that will send her on a 30 mintue tirade of how life USED to be good here until the Eastern European countries were opened and Romania is now the bane of our existance!!!!!!!! How culturally sensitve of her.

So then after she tries to make me feel totally like a Volltrottel, I then call Vienna who informs me I am in the right. Sends me forms with all the legal stuff in plain German. I then take it to said woman and she gets all embarressed and says something like "Ach ja, D'Leut in Wien sagen mir nix und ich bin nicht schuld und was kann ich dagegen. so is das Leben blablalblabalb" And then it's over and I come back in two years and it's like she's never seen me before and the cycle starts again.

jasonconga · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 36 Location: the black forest

well, it's been more than 10 weeks since all this started and more than 2 weeks since I gave my letter to the Auslaenderbehoerde and still no response.

Have any other Americans been getting their residence permits extended as a free-lancer?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The word in English is WORK PERMIT, not 'work permisssion'.

jasonconga · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 36 Location: the black forest

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

You just failed the test to get a work permit as an English teacher !

jasonconga · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 36 Location: the black forest

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I ain't the one applying for a work permit !