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Why wouldn't I just look for jobs in the city i want to live in and then move there?
The situation with IT jobs in Germany is very bad right now, for everyone. A lot people were laid off, just like in the US, and not many companies are hiring.
You are not everyone though - presumably need visas before you can work, and you cannot speak German to a professional level. The second one rules out most companies, outside of international hotspots like Berlin or Munich. Actually a plus point for Bremen is that you could commute to Hamburg which also has more international companies.
So I would advise you to prepare yourselves for the reality that initially you may have to take whatever you can get rather than hunting after "gorgeous architecture" and cities that people "rave about".
Actually, it should be way easier for you to get a job as a mail carrier than in IT, at least if you are happy to deliver packages rather than letters. The delivery companies will take anyone with a pulse who is happy to spend all day driving around and lugging parcels up and down stairs, and it's not a problem if you speak barely any German.
I guess im a little confused now. Everywhere I read online says us citizens do not need visas. But the rest makes sense, thank you
You don’t need visas for traveling. You DO need a work permit.
Ok thank you
A 90-day tourist visa is automatic for US citizens upon entry. Beyond that, you'll need a residence permit and also a work permit.
Thank you, this is exactly what I thought. But for some reason I'm still getting down voted.
I don't understand. Like other people have said as a us citizen my 90 day visa is automatic. I need a work and residence permit.
Yes, and the only way to get that is with a job offer.
Then it is a waiting game - how long will it take for immigration authorities to process your request for a work permit? How long will your potential employer keep the position open, waiting for you (or rather your husband) to obtain a "residency permit for the purpose of skilled work"? Will they be done in 2 months or will it take closer to 6 months?
There is a reason employers are very reluctant when it comes to hiring non-EU citizens who do not speak a lick of German.
Finally, does your husband even fulfil the minimum criteria for getting a residency permit for the purpose of skilled work? He needs either 1) 3 years of work experience and a job offer with a salary above a certain threshold that is difficult to get or 2) a bachelors in Computer Science.
Your own work permit for running mail will be in-built into the residency permit for the purpose of family reunion.
You haven't told me a single thing I didn't already know. I never said I don't speak a lick of german.
You should do a lot more homework and research on your plan if you think you can just move to Germany and start a job as a US citizen. Of course you need a permit, this is Germany after all. And prepare yourself for the fact that bureaucracy is basically a religion in this country. You’ll have to do a lot of paperwork.
Also, Hannover is indeed one of the most boring major cities in the country. Hamburg or Bremen are much better choices in that part of the country.
What am I missing then. Please enlighten me. Im aware of all the paperwork and the bureaucracy (I have done my homework and lots of research). And don't say learn german because I am aware and currently doing that. I'm also aware of work and residential permits.
You’ve aware about that work permit because people told you about it earlier in this thread.
You also think that Hannover is in the middle of Germany. No German would agree to that statement and it shows the lack of homework you did.
Neither city is known for large IT companies. So finding a job will be quite hard, as only the big companies will even entertain the notion of hiring people who don’t speak fluent German. Those big companies are in Berlin, Munich, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Hamburg. But not in Hannover or Bremen. Hannover used to be important for the it industry cause of the Cebit fair, but those days are over
You also seem to believe that it’s trivial to commute between Bremen and Hamburg. Those cities are 100km away from each other. That’s a daily commute upwards of 3 hours.
All this tells me that you guys haven’t thought this through very well.
You also think that Hannover is in the middle of Germany. No German would agree to that statement and it shows the lack of homework you did.
Hannover is close to the Harz mountains and has great connections to cities like Berlin, Hamburg and the Ruhrpott.
You also seem to believe that it’s trivial to commute between Bremen and Hamburg.
Where did you read that?
I have never said i was commuting between those two cities. That's just made up on your end. This post was solely about the difference of life between those two cities from people who lived there! And holy fuck i didn't mean it was directly in the middle what is wrong with you. I've been staring at the map of germany for almost a year now. I also know it was a major trade city and has trains going in almost every direction, that's what I meant by middle! And I was aware of the work permit before even starting this post on reddit! I have fucking thought this through what is wrong with all of you? You do nothing but assume! I just wanted to know opinions on those two cities!!!! That's fucking it!
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2mo
Oh ok. I've seen a good amount living in hannover. Bugger cities are just way more expensive.
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2mo
Thank you i appreciate the help!
Also I've read the more south you go the more conservative it is. But let me look into those
More conservative, yes, but not that significantly. It's....maybe 2% of the difference you'd see between California and Texas. Much of former East Germany is more conservative in the sense you're likely concerned about (ie, being overtly concerned about how others look/dress/act/speak, particularly if a foreigner).
Thank you I really do appreciate this.
Hannover is triple the size of these undoubtedly prettier cities.
Good luck you've got 90days to find a job to get your residency permit if you're planning to come without a visa.
That job then has to be put on hold until you actually have your residency permit because you're not allowed to work beforehand and with the speed out bureaucracy works any prospective employer is going to love that.
You should talk with an immigration attorney because your comments do not sound like you looked into it beside the most cursory of glances.
Oh jesus h christ. I have been only looking into this for such a long time now. But yes I'll need an attorney I am also aware of that. I'm not moving tomorrow, next week, or in a few months. This is for the future.
Move where your husband can find a job. Rest will follow.
Finding a job delivering packages running mail is easy, bc few people want to do it. It is hard work with low pay, shitty work conditions and (often illegally) long hours. It is a common job for immigrants, bc all that is required is that you are able to read latin letters. (Or have enough German that you can lie about your ability to read.)
Thank you
How do you expect to be allowed to live in Germany?
I don't understand your question. I'm a us citizen and I don't need a visa. Just a residence permit after I'm there.
They don't just hand them out.
So having a job and a place to live and speaking german wouldn't get me a residence permit?
Well yeah it probably would. But do you have those things? All I'm saying is it isn't as easy as thinking which specific city you like best. Housing and employment opportunities vary greatly.
Of course, I have definitely been looking at both housing and employment opportunities, especially for hannover. Im not going into this blind. Its more than just i like the city because pretty.
Fair. US citizens need B1 German too, right?
Yes I believe so!
Is your German at that level?
A US citizen with a job offer in DE can get a temporary work authorization and then off the back of that an Aufenhaltstitel (or an EU blue card if the salary and field requirements are met). I live in DE on such an arrangement, and have worked and studied here multiple times prior to this stint, and have never needed to show proof of German language skills.
What are you doing? Look i asked for advise. Not an interrogation. Clearly im aware of what needs to be done, especially with the language. Im not moving there next week. Or in a few months. This is in the future for when I'm able to move.
Have a look at Act on the Residence, Economic Activity and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory¹ Residence Act (gesetze-im-internet.de) especially parts 4 (Residence for the purpose of economic activity) and parts 6 (Residence for family reasons).
Your husband needs to be skilled enough to fulfil the criteria laid out in section 18b and have a job offer.
Thank you
I'd side with Hanover. Haven't been to Bremen in about five years however. Spent a few days in Hanover last summer and quickly became a fan.
American. FFM now around 5 yrs.
Awesome, any particular reason?
Lot of green space, range of college neighborhoods to upper class German, the river is well utilized without feeling too touristy, too industrial or too trashy (as FFM gets from time to time), easy enough to get around. Not a real surprise, but much more German than FFM. Prior to this stint in DE I lived in Hamburg; Hanover has a good bit of that Norddeutsch feel everyone likes about Hamburg but a bit less serious/big city.
I could see how some could view it as a bit boring/basically a giant suburb though. My SO even knows a few profs who commute between there and Hamburg as they prefer to live in Hanover for that kind of environment.
Oh wow, thank you. A lot of what you said is what is attractive to me.
Oh, and now that I re-read your post, yes, it is waaaaaay easier to understand German speakers from that part of the country (although I'm not sure the diff between Hanover and Bremen). It's night and day compared to FFM.
Have you found any expat communities in Hanover that are active ? My wife has been looking for years but it appears there is very little
Live in FFM, so not really sure. Would be fairly certain it's a much less active community than relatively nearby Cologne or Hamburg.
Germans being German in this thread. :D
I've lived in Hannover for quite some time and would recommend it. You've mentioned it all: Lots of parks, lakes and rivers, you can get everywhere rather quickly, good public transportation, and the city is actually quite beautiful (obviously depending on what you like, but the city is way more than just the area around the train station), especially List and Linden are beautiful areas with lovely architecture as well.
Job wise, Hannover has a rather large IT scene, and employers like Continental, VHH, VWN, TUI, Talanx are guaranteed in need for IT solutions as well. Imho it should be easier to find a job here than in Bremen.
Obviously it's not like Berlin or FFM, but has some small town vibes as well. But still, you have lots of options for activities, culture, travel, and so on. The people are sometimes a bit grim, but I guess that's just Germany. With lots of fairs happening in Hannover, there are also loads of events and tourists.
So yeah, rooting for Hannover here.
Amazing, thank you I really appreciate this. This is exactly what I've been thinking. I also heard that it's good for IT jobs.
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2mo
Thank you!!
It will really depend on where you secure a job.
That being said Bremen has a much better quality of life and small town feel imo. I'd also say Bremen is much greener overall.
I'm American living in Bremen so hmu if you have any questions about the process.
Thank you i appreciate it
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Germans look for jobs first, then decide where to live. As such, some pragmatistm is advised.