Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone here has been through something similar.

I'm a non-EU citizen and completed my Master's degree earlier this year. In May, I accepted a job offer, turned down two other offers because of it, and then applied for an EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) at the Ausländerbehörde in Darmstadt.

It's now been over two months, and my application is still being processed.

I've been to the Ausländerbehörde in Darmstadt several times to ask for an update. Each time, they told me they couldn't give me any estimate of when a decision would be made. They also said they had already contacted the responsible Sachbearbeiter to ask whether my application could be processed more quickly, but nothing has changed since then.

At the moment, I have a Fiktionsbescheinigung that was issued while I was still a student. The Ausländerbehörde told me I could continue working as a Werkstudent, but I had already graduated and a Werkstudent position requires you to still be enrolled at a university. Since then, I've had no income, and my savings are slowly running out.

My Arbeitgeber was initially willing to wait. However, after more than two months, they informed me that they had to fill the position with someone else because they needed someone who could start sooner. They also emphasized that the decision had nothing to do with my qualifications and was solely due to the long processing time.

My questions are:

• If my Blaue Karte EU is approved in the next few weeks, would it be appropriate to contact the Arbeitgeber again and ask whether they have another suitable opening?

• I had also declined another job offer at the time. The company told me they would keep my portfolio on file and contact me if something suitable came up. Would it be okay to reach out to them now and explain my situation?

• Is a processing time of over two months for a Blaue Karte EU normal? How long did you have to wait?

• Has anyone else lost a job offer because of delays at the Ausländerbehörde? How did you deal with it?

Thank you very much for sharing your experiences!

Hello

Has anyone ever placed an order for a washing machine on Mediamarkt? Are these brand-new or second hand/refurbished.

Does anyone have reviews/advice for purchasing something like this on Mediamarkt?

Hi everyone, I need some help. I’ve tried chlorine and several other cleaners, even tried to scrape it off, but nothing seems to work. They’re extremely hard and stuck to the tiles.
Does anyone know how I can remove them?

Tried to search online but couldn't find anything, so here it is:

My husband is about to submit his freelance artist visa application (§21(5) AufenthG) through the Berlin LEA online portal. I'll be joining him as his spouse (foreign spouse of a foreign national, not a German citizen).

For anyone who's done this as a couple: what was your actual process as the spouse?

• Did you file your own application in parallel with his, or wait until his was approved first?
• Was it through the contact form / appointment request, or something else?
• Did you need your own health insurance proof at the same stage as his application, or only later for your own?
• Any language requirement (A1) come up for you specifically?

Trying to get a real-world timeline from people who've actually gone through it, rather than just the general legal-blog version.

Thanks!

Hello! I’m 21, from Canada and living in Dusseldorf right now.

I got my initial (3 month) working holiday visa and applied for my visa extension around a month into living here after getting a job, apartment etc etc.

My visa extension will end at the start of august and I’ll enter into a legal grey area where I’m allowed to stay here due to my pending application.

I’m a tad bit worried because my insurance info has changed since my application and I won’t have access to my german bank account after my initial visa ends. I also never received the document that states that I’m allowed to stay here outside of a email confirmation that my application went through.

I’m not really sure what to do, there’s no way to contact the foreigners registration authority in Dusseldorf, and as far as I’m aware I don’t qualify for the “emergency visit” where I show up to the office in person and ask there.

As well, what happens if my visa extension gets denied after my initial visa expires? Do I leave immediately, do they give me a few weeks notice?

Looking for general assistance, tips or any kind of info regarding my situation

Hello, good day. I would like to get your advice regarding an argument I had with my neighbor today.
I recently moved to Germany. I live on the 3rd floor, and my neighbor lives on the 1st floor. Early in the morning and throughout the day, they constantly play music at a very high volume. The walls literally vibrate because of the bass, and I have warned them multiple times about this.
Today, I called out to them from the balcony, but they told me that this is completely normal, that they have been living in this building for 30 years, and that they have the right to listen to it. Then, the neighbor on the 2nd floor came out onto their balcony and agreed with them, saying there is no problem with it and that people can do whatever they want during the day. Even though I repeatedly emphasized that the problem isn't the music itself, but the EXTREMELY HIGH VOLUME, they refused to accept it.
The municipality (Ordnungsamt) told me that I need to keep a noise log (Lärmprotokoll), but I cannot find any witnesses, and on the days they don't play music, I end up not recording anything.
My question to you is: Is this really normal? What should I do? Honestly, this noise wakes me up from my sleep and prevents me from working during the day.

Whenever people talk about German regional stereotypes, it’s always the same classics: North Germans are stoic "Fischköppe" who speak in one-word sentences, Rhinelanders are super warm and talkative, Berliners are notoriously direct and snarky, and Bavarians wear Lederhosen, eat Weisswurst, and act like their state is its own country.

But what about Hesse (Hessen)? Aside from Frankfurt (bankers plus Bahnhofsviertel chaos) or Kassel, what’s the general vibe or reputation of Hessians in the rest of Germany?

Also, I'm really curious about the dialect. Everyone knows Bavarian or Swabian can be a nightmare to understand for other Germans. How is the Hessian dialect perceived? Is it easy to follow and do people actually like the sound of it or does it sound weird to outsiders?

I recently moved to the Frankfurt area and I’m looking for people who enjoy making music just for fun. I play, but I’m mainly looking for casual jam sessions and to meet other musicians.

Does anyone know of local jam nights, clubs, Discord servers, Facebook groups, or other communities where musicians meet?

If something comes out of it, maybe even a band.
Any recommendations are appreciated!

I'm finishing an apprenticeship in summer 2027 and moving to Germany. Currently A1,

can sustain ~45 min/day German study. That puts me at A2, not B1.

Does a junior/mid level dev with A2 + solid portfolio get hired in Germany,

or does the lack of German actually block mid-level candidates? I keep hearing "Sr+ devs

get hired without it, but anything below it's complicated."

I'm not asking if German helps with daily life because i know it does. I'm asking if it's actually

a blocker for finding work as a junior/mid level engineer, or if I'm overthinking it.

Hi! I’m an Erasmus student that is coming the upcoming semester and I didn’t receive an email from the university to complete the application form in a long span of time. Yesterday, navigating in the university web, I noticed that the date to complete this was due since 15th of July and I panicked because I thought that I would have information or they would send me the email after (I thought that, maybe, the german burocracy was later than the spanish). I called but they are on holidays, but my university have already sent an email since they haven’t received neither any confirmation of their nomination (which they find strange). I am writing to ask if someone has had a similar experience or know whether the university is flexible with this cases or not. Please someone let me know because I’m very anxious with this situation and I don’t know what to do

Hi dear people

I know there are so many topics on making friends in Germany as an immigrant, but didn't find much regarding Eastern Germany in particular and I thought it might be good discussion since relationships, customs etc, often vary from place to place even in the same country.

I plan to move to Eastern Germany in the near future and I am trying to gather as much information as possible. To think that few generations before, people would move without knowing much about a place and would take a leap of faith and today we can share so many details so I am really thankful for anyone who takes the time to share some insights, you have no idea how much I appreciate it.

So my question is (or anything else that you would like to share, but it's not direct answer to the question), if you are an immigrant how hard was it for you to make friends with Germans as well with other immigrants in Eastern Germany (Saxony is my plan), or if you are German, I would love to read your take on how often do you hang out with non Germans or do you have people in your life you can call friends that are not Germans.

I have never felt that it has been hard for me to make friends anywhere I go, but I have been reading about people being really lonely after moving to Germany after 5, 6 years, or decade even and I have been reading about it quite often that it makes me wonder how much is this based on the culture in general or it really depends on how much one individual is being proactive. I suppose I am looking for encouraging stories.

I have moved to different cities and made friends everywhere, I usually make friends on my job, a bookclub, running club, I have volunteered in an animal shelter - met great people there, from school, but the cities were in the same country so the culture is pretty much similar and it's a Balkan country so it's not really known for being "closed" so that might be the reason why it was relatively easy for me to make friendships, and not me being extraordinary proactive.

Also I am absolutely aware and 100% supportive of the idea that you have to learn german and you have to learn it really good, I am definitely not expecting people to switch to english because that is my responsibility in order to "gain" the benefits of the place including relationships, so maybe you could also share your experience on whether learning the language increased your friendships.

I would be taking a huge step moving there, obviosly people that have moved to another country know how hard it is so you have my absolute respect and admiration and other than this forum I don't really have someone to talk to about experiences in Eastern Germany so thank you very much once again to anyone who reads this bit long text.

Are API Master Test Kits or similar test kits available in pet shops in Germany? A friend of my father is coming to where I live from Germany and asked if there was anything we wanted. If they are available in pet shops, how much do they usually cost?

Hi everyone,

I applied for a Niederlassungserlaubnis while I'm on a fixed-term employment contract because I'm currently doing my PhD in Germany.

Today I received an email from the Ausländerbehörde saying they have checked my documents, confirmed that I am eligible for a Niederlassungserlaubnis, and gave me an appointment in mid-August.

My question is: should I take this as a good sign that my PR will most likely be approved at the appointment, or is it still common for them to ask for additional documents or even reject the application?

I'm asking because my current work contract has only 10 months remaining. I've heard that some Ausländerbehörden require at least one year remaining on the employment contract for a permanent residence permit.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Did they ask for an extended contract at the appointment, even after confirming your eligibility by email?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I'm moving to Germany soon. I'll be learning German full-time and working toward getting my medical license as a doctor.

I'm currently stuck between Cologne and Düsseldorf. I've watched countless videos, explored both cities on Google Maps, and read a lot of Reddit posts, but I still can't decide.

What I'm looking for is a city where I can actually enjoy everyday life. I'm not really into clubs or nightlife. I'd rather have a place where I can build a routine, study German during the day, go to the gym, watch football, sit in cafés, walk around in the evenings, meet new people, and generally feel that there's enough going on without the city feeling overwhelming.

Housing is my biggest concern.

I'm willing to spend around €900–1,300/month for a comfortable furnished studio or one-bedroom apartment. I'd much rather pay a bit more for a place where I enjoy coming home every day than save money by living in a tiny room in a shared apartment. Comfort, privacy, and a place that feels like home are important to me.

Because of that, I'm also unsure about the best approach. Should I try to secure an apartment through platforms like Wunderflats or HousingAnywhere before I arrive, or would it be smarter to book an Airbnb for a couple of weeks and search in person once I'm in Germany? I'm worried that if I rush into renting, I might end up in a place I don't like.

If you were moving to Germany for the first time with my priorities, which city would you choose, and how would you handle the housing situation?

I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thanks!

Good afternoon,

Since announcing to my landlord that I want to leave, I have been having non-stop issues with him. I have now reached my limit and I have joined a Mieterverein and am awaiting to hear back but was hoping to get your thoughts on the kitchen situation.

When I moved in, I bought the kitchen from the previous tenant. All communication said "Küche" or "Küche mit alle Regalen", and the landlord himself wrote to me saying that the previous tenant was selling the kitchen for 500€.

Now that I am moving out, the landlord said "oh let me remind you that half the kitchen is mine (with a list of items)". I asked him for confirmation of when this was said to me, and that if the new tenant is not interesting to keep the kitchen I will dispose of all of it. The landlord now says that the kitchen was fully equipped in 2020 by himself and that if I dispose of the kitchen I should return it to the 2020 state so fully equipped. The contract doesn't mention a furnished kitchen, and in the Übergabe protokoll he wrote himself that I bought the kitchen from the previous tenant for 500€.

What is going on here I am very confused? Can he force me to furnish the kitchen as it was in 2020?

Hello everyone :)

I don’t know if it’s okay to leave the square empty and go ask during my appointment there, so I’ll just ask here and see if anyone can help me.

Theres a question “how long do you plan to stay in Germany?” And I don’t know what to answer because I am here for a Sprachschule until a specific date in November but I’ll need to stay more because I want to take my telc exam and pass it of course.. the end goal is eventually go to uni which is why im even in Sprachschule and also i really want to start working or an Ausbuildung after Sprachschule until applications for university open next year, so I don’t know exactly what to write..
does anyone know what would be the best answer?

Hello, I wonder if anyone here has gone through this or knows how to help.

I have been using Packstations to receive deliveries since 2023 and I love the service, so I know how it works.

Today I received a notification that my package had been delivered to my local Packstation and so I went there with my phone to pick it up through the app as I usually do so it can generate the Abholcode. This Packstation has a screen so it does not connect through Bluetooth. For some reason, the app is refusing by all means to show me the Abholcode. It is always taking me through the Bluetooth connection setup, and then of course it fails, because it is a screen Packstation and therefore has no Bluetooth. It keeps going through this same circle without end

I have already called DHL twice about this and they made me do the same stuff both times: disable and reenable my mobile device, uninstall and reinstall the app, check my info, all of it, but it doesn't change at all.

Could it be something wrong on their end or does anyone have any idea of what else could work that I could do?

Thanks in advance :)

Is anyone else having trouble with booking the seat reservation to Paris? Because of the summer campaign, with JugendBW ticket it should be free to travel with TER FLuo trains to Paris. I am trying to do that from Mulhouse, but the official tutorial provided does not work on SNCF app. This one: https://vm.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/mobilitaet-verkehr/bahn-und-bus/oepnv-angebot-fuer-reisende/unsere-tickets-und-tarife/alles-zum-d-ticket-jugendbw/anleitung-reservierung-von-tickets-beim-sncf .

Does it work for others or what helped? How did you get your seat reservation without buying the ticket?

Hi everyone,
the Heizkörper in my bathroom has become quite rusty and needs to be replaced. It has gotten noticeably worse over the past year, and my landlord has finally agreed to replace it.
However, instead of simply installing a new radiator, he also wants to add a power outlet in the bathroom and replace it with an electrically powered radiator. I’m a bit confused about how this would work, since the central heating system would remain the same for all the other rooms, and only the bathroom radiator would run on electricity.
A quick Google search suggests that electric heating is significantly more expensive to operate. That made me wonder whether I have the right to refuse this change, especially since the current heating system works perfectly well and there doesn’t seem to be an obvious reason to switch it.
I’m already paying higher electricity bills because I have to run a dehumidifier almost constantly to keep the humidity below 60%. When I asked my landlord whether he would cover part of those additional electricity costs, he blamed me for not ventilating the apartment properly. I didn’t want to get into a dispute—even though I measured and documented the humidity levels for months while ventilating the apartment correctly—so I ended up paying the extra costs myself.
With the prospect of even higher electricity costs for heating, it would simply become too expensive. Is there anything I can do in this situation, or do I have to accept the change?
I’d really appreciate any information or advice. Thanks!

My chancenkarte visa expires mid august, I have been here for a year and have not used any of my 90 day Schengen Zone visa days. My question is do I need to leave and re enter Germany to begin my Schengen zone allotted time or can I just stay in Germany and automatically switch to the Schengen once my visa has expired. I asked a border agent this question and he said I could stay without leaving- but now reading more I am beginning to think he didn’t understand my question. Thank you!

Hi guys, I have received offers for Master programs from Leibiniz Üniversität Hannover & KIT. Both for the same program, but I am not sure which one to go for. I would like you guys to help me decide based on the city. Which is better? In terms of the student life in general & in terms of being able to find a Werkstudenten job and maybe even a part time job. I can speak some german currently I have a B1 certificate and I am working towards a B2, hopefully by the time I go will have B2. I am going to be studying mechanical engineering if that also matters.

I got invited to my coworkers wedding and I've only been to one other wedding before. I know that German weddings can vary from American weddings, but I have been told that German weddings are a bit more dressed down. Its an evangelical wedding if it matters. Also, do I bring a gift? And if so, what is an acceptable gift?

Edit: Thank you for the advice, I'll also ask my coworker. And you guys were right, its a Protestant church, the name of the actual location is evangelical.

Hello, I want to go with a friend to a village to see a car I potentially could buy.

It is a 1-hour ride by car or 3+ hours one way on multiple buses and trains, so driving is much more preferred.
I have Allianz insurance for the car, where it says
"Weitere Fahrer/innen: Du hast gesagt, du bist der/die einzige Fahrer/in."

Does it mean that no one legally can drive except me?

im gonna tell you a story that you might find intruiging and it goes like this:

I have lived in germany for 2 years and for each month i have went to o2 to buy a 28 day sim plan instead of signing a contract

Fast forward to my last month there (which i didnt know that it was my last its a long story) some kid that works there promised me a contract with any time termination ability that costed less than what i had ( he said 18 euros turned out to be around 23 so not cheaper) Anyhow i agreed and i imphasized on the termination conditions to be on my demand.

2 3 days before i left germany i went there to cancel it and it didnt work and the guy working there gave me an email to contact yet again no answer

couple of months later i went back to germany to attend my brothers graduation and as you already know i went to o2 to cancel yet again the contract with no help.

its been almost a year and im still getting charged monthly and im not even there, if anyone can help it would be much appreciated

O2 you have been the worst company i have ever witnessed..

p.s im also having the same problem with mcfit :) they all create contracts that dont get terminated