The Immigration Act was adopted by German government in June 2019 and that will come into force on March 1, 2020. Foreigners who are going to migrate shall have many questions related to this procedure:
• Will be the procedure for recognizing diplomas simplified?
• Will employers‘ approach to foreign job seekers become more loyal?
• Will be changed conditions for obtaining a work visa and Blue Card?
In this article we will give answers to these and other questions.
NEW RULES FOR DIPLOMAED PROFESSIONALS
The growth rate of German economy has become quite high by 2019, and at this point the unemployment rate has dropped as much as possible. In this regard the labor market in Germany has experienced a shortage of experienced specialists in recent years. The Immigration Act that will provide foreign applicants with greater opportunities in finding job has become a kind of response from German government.
• The main changes in the immigration law require the abolition of Germans‘ advantages in obtaining jobs over foreigners and permission to stay in the country up to 6 months to search for a job subject to the availability of a confirmed diploma (until the law comes into force a long stay in the country is possible only if you have a labor permit). To stay in the country for the purpose of employment you will need a language certificate of level B1 and at least 8 thousand euros in your account. In this case you will have the right to work but no more than 10 hours a week.
• In addition, according to the laws, all foreign applicants will now have equal chances for employment: both holders of a higher education diploma and qualified specialists. • The main condition for employment is the presence of a diploma recognized in Germany, however the verification of the priority of a profession in the labor market will be canceled.
• “Positive list” with an indication of the most popular specialties in Germany will also be canceled for holders of secondary education diplomas. Previously it was revised and updated and according to the approved list the specialties for which employers had the right to take foreign employees were determined. Such cancellation will be introduced for 6 months, then it will be reviewed and finally accepted or removed.
• If German classifier of specialties does not have a profession that matches the higher education you have obtained you can find an approximation to it that corresponds to a secondary education diploma.
• Foreign citizens will have the opportunity to obtain a visa for a „further education“ or qualification experience. For example, you have found your specialty among those ones that are available in Germany but the number of hours of theory or practice in your diploma is not enough. In this case you can come to Germany to obtain there so called Ausbildung (i.e. to „get“ the missing number of hours) and then confirm the diploma.
• For IT professionals will be sufficient to prove at least
3 years of work experience in their field and a contract with an employer with a monthly income of at least 4020 euros. In this case you will not have to confirm the diploma, especially since many specialists in this field simply do not have it.
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES FOR OTHER CATEGORIES OF PROFESSIONALS
For applicants over the age of 45 the monthly salary or pension should not be lower than 3685 euros, only under such conditions they can be officially employed. Immigrants whose work does not require a certificate of degree (such like loaders, yardmen and odd-job men) are not mentioned in the law, respectively, no changes are provided for them. Thus, if you decide to find a job in Germany and are waiting for the new law to come into force you should start preparing right now as it will take time:
• If you do not have an education and you plan to receive it, then do not forget that it must last at least two years.
• If you find the missing hours when checking your diploma for compliance with German educational standards, you should attend a course of Ausbildung
• Start your job search and get a contract.
• Collect documents for obtaining a visa and submit it to the embassy for consideration – this will also take time. You can contact specialists of our agency at any stage of preparation and get detailed advice and assistance on confirming a diploma and completing additional training, finding a job and concluding a contract with an employer, collecting and applying for a visa. We will be able to draw up an optimal action plan and support you not only at the stage of migration but also during the adaptation period in Germany.
