So, as a US Citizen, you can stay in Germany for up to 3 months just with your passport. However, if you stay longer than 3 months, things change. I got a letter in the mail after 3 months asking (basically) What am I still doing here? The letter included an invitation to come visit the Immigration office. Having gone through the immigration offices in the US with my husband when he moved there, I can tell you that the German process is quite different. For starters, it is much friendlier, more personal and way less expensive. To begin with, we have 1 person who we deal with for the whole process. She is reachable by phone or email and has been very kind and helpful. Regarding the cost; when my husband came to the US, we spent well over $2,000 on immigration forms. Not all at one time, but every time we mailed back in a form, it was another $300, or $500, or $1,000. One time, they even sent him his identification card with the wrong name on it and we still had to pay to send in the form to have it corrected. Here, we paid $100 for me (for the whole process) and $50 for our daughter. We both have our identification cards and are totally legal.
During the process, I was informed that I would be required to take 600 hours of integration training. The daughter is exempt because she is going to High School here and will get the information that way. The immigration worker was almost apologetic about the need to attend the class, telling me all the benefits and that she thought I would enjoy it. However, I didn't need any encouragement, I was very excited to have the classes available.
I am in my third week of class now and I am feeling more integrated already. I think the classes are such an awesome idea and I wish we would do something similar in the States for our immigrants. A big part of the integration is making new friends. I had forgotten what a nice feeling it was to go out in town and run into someone you know. There are about 22 people in my class. In such a small town as Memmingen, when I go out into town now, I almost always see someone I know. Even if it is not someone from my own class, I often see one of the teachers or ladies from another class. Also, while I am walking back and forth to class, I stop in shops along the way and have become familiar with some of the shop keepers. Luckily, Memmingen is a friendly little town. People are very helpful in communicating and overlooking my lack of ability to speak German (or Bavarian) fluently.
During the process, I was informed that I would be required to take 600 hours of integration training. The daughter is exempt because she is going to High School here and will get the information that way. The immigration worker was almost apologetic about the need to attend the class, telling me all the benefits and that she thought I would enjoy it. However, I didn't need any encouragement, I was very excited to have the classes available.
I am in my third week of class now and I am feeling more integrated already. I think the classes are such an awesome idea and I wish we would do something similar in the States for our immigrants. A big part of the integration is making new friends. I had forgotten what a nice feeling it was to go out in town and run into someone you know. There are about 22 people in my class. In such a small town as Memmingen, when I go out into town now, I almost always see someone I know. Even if it is not someone from my own class, I often see one of the teachers or ladies from another class. Also, while I am walking back and forth to class, I stop in shops along the way and have become familiar with some of the shop keepers. Luckily, Memmingen is a friendly little town. People are very helpful in communicating and overlooking my lack of ability to speak German (or Bavarian) fluently.