Is it necessary to say that Germany is so amazing country in terms of opportunities for immigrants from the CIS countries? Each of us has heard about the highest standard of living, medicine, social security and safety. These and many other advantages provoked an incredible stream of immigrants to Germany. And this is good for the country, because the overwhelming number of immigrants are young people who work and pay taxes developing this manner the German economy.
Below we will consider the main methods of immigration to Germany for immigrants from Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the former Soviet Union
Method No. 1 Professional immigration is the most common way to obtain a residence permit. This method is suitable for people who have one of the scarce professions in Germany. First of all, you will need to find a job in Germany, then you should get a national work visa. Upon arrival to Germany, depending on the education and terms of the employment contract you can apply for either a Blue Card or a temporary residence permit with the right to work. After a few years if you continue working and subject to knowledge of German language you will be entitled to apply for a permanent residence permit. This document guarantees the same rights as German citizens, excluding suffrage.
Method No. 2. Student visa followed by employment. Not everyone knows that in most cases higher education is free in Germany. However, the student needs to provide himself with food and housing. In this case, the student can officially earn extra money up to 20 hours a week. The conditions for admission vary from one school to another one. But in any case the knowledge of German (and/or English) is required at the level of B2-C1 and higher. The candidate must pass one of the 4 language exams: TestDAF, DSH, telc C1 Hochschule or Goethe-Zertifikat C2. To get the right to enter a German university an applicant from the CIS countries is often forced to study 2 courses in the chosen specialty at home. The fact is that usually pupils of the schools located in the territory of the former USSR study for 11 years, and in Germany they study 12 or even 13 years, and additional years of study are needed to even the length of study before entering a German university. Another option is to attend a special one-year training course in university studies (Studienkolleg) in Germany. Studying with a subsequent job search as an option of immigrating to Germany requires a lot of time and effort, but allows you to integrate perfectly into German society.
Method No. 3. Investor visa. The immigration procedure for businessmen has been simplified since 2012. There are no more legislative restrictions in the form of a minimum investment of 250 thousand euros and the creation in Germany of at least 5 jobs and the need to hire a German manager. A businessman who has a clear business plan can apply for immigration now. Also in the list of necessary documents, i.e. the charter of the new company, a list of shareholders or partners, a financing and investment plan, a revenue plan, an applicant’s resume showing his successful entrepreneurial experience, diplomas or certificates of professional education, as well as the conclusion of a medical and pension insurance contract in Germany. German officials will closely study all the papers under a magnifying glass, and a project that did not raise doubts among specialists of German Chamber of Commerce and Industry can get an approval. As a rule, these are business models implemented already in other countries, which are experienced and successful entrepreneurs.
Method No. 4. Refugee visa. This method of immigration is quite real, but it needs serious reasons, that is, persecution at home for one or another reason. Representatives of the LGBT community from the CIS countries, political activists, Chechens and immigrants from other republics of the Caucasus who are in danger at home claim often for refugees in Germany. This immigration method has several serious drawbacks:
a) the process of processing documents is very lengthy (lasts up to several years)
b) the living conditions in the process of processing documents (hostel) leave much to be desired,
c) you do not have the right to work during processing of documents,
d) it is not known whether your application will be approved or if deportation to your homeland awaits you until the consideration of documents is finished.
Method No. 5. Family reunion. A proven and reliable method of immigration is marriage or a registered partnership with a German citizen or a person entitled to a permanent residence in Germany. According to German law, spouses in same-sex marriages and partnerships have the same rights as traditional families, and also receive the right to immigrate to Germany. If the newly-married spouse has minor children, he/she also has the right to take them with him/her to Germany. The spouse of a German citizen can apply for a permanent residence permit after 3 years of marriage and then to obtain a German internal passport.
Method No. 6. Late migrants. Germans from the countries of the former USSR have the right to return to their historical homeland, taking with them close relatives of any other nationality. Documentary proof of German origin is required. A surname or a genetic test will not be useful as German officials will need documents where “German” is mentioned in the nationality column. In addition, you will need to pass an interview in German at German Consulate. This means that the language will need to be learned at least to level B1. Failure can be received by people with a criminal past, as well as prominent functionaries of the CPSU and their family members. Applications for recognition to late migrants (Antrag S) can be filed at the Consulate at the place of residence, but documents will be processed faster if you send them directly to the Federal Administrative Office (BVA) in Cologne. The specialists of Blue Card Agency will help you to draw up correctly all the paperwork and organize the submission of documents directly to the BVA. Late immigrants are the only category of immigrants who receive a German passport within a few days upon arrival in Germany.
Method No. 6. Late migrants. Germans from the countries of the former USSR have the right to return to their historical homeland, taking with them close relatives of any other nationality. Documentary proof of German origin is required. A surname or a genetic test will not be useful as German officials will need documents where “German” is mentioned in the nationality column. In addition, you will need to pass an interview in German at German Consulate. This means that the language will need to be learned at least to level B1. Failure can be received by people with a criminal past, as well as prominent functionaries of the CPSU and their family members. Applications for recognition to late migrants (Antrag S) can be filed at the Consulate at the place of residence, but documents will be processed faster if you send them directly to the Federal Administrative Office (BVA) in Cologne. The specialists of Blue Card Agency will help you to draw up correctly all the paperwork and organize the submission of documents directly to the BVA. Late immigrants are the only category of immigrants who receive a German passport within a few days upon arrival in Germany.
Method No. 7. Jewish immigration. Jews from the countries of the former USSR (except the Baltic countries) have the right to immigrate to Germany and obtain permanent residence if they have not previously resettled to a permanent place of residence in another country (for example, Israel or Canada). It’s enough for immigration if only one of your parents is Jewish, and it doesn’t matter if it is mother or father. (For those persons who was born after 1991 it is enough to have one Jewish grandfather or grandmother). A prerequisite is the presence of old documents (issued before 1991) where in the column „nationality“ is listed „Jew“. If you were born after 1991, then this may be an old document from your parents or grandparents. Elementary knowledge of the German language is also required (Certificate A1 and higher level issued by Goethe Institute). Upon arrival in Germany Jewish immigrants receive a permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) and can apply for social benefits.
Each of possible methods of immigration is a large-scale and serious bureaucratic procedure requiring a huge amount of time, special knowledge and experience in the implementation of such processes. First of all you should be meticulously acquainted with all the legislative nuances that matter in your case. But the most effective way to immigrate to Germany in a short time is to seek the professional help of Blue Card Agency specialists who have extensive experience in arranging immigration to Germany. Our prices will pleasantly surprise you.