Ask HN: What's your experience getting a German work visa?

3 pointsint_hdlr4y ago2 comments

A few years ago, I signed a contract withA a German company and proceeded to request a work visa. The visa was denied on the grounds that I did not have a college degree at the time. My salary was going to be >55k and I was told that, as a programmer, I wouldn't need a degree and would be fast tracked.

Fast forward a few years, I got my degree and accepted another job with a >65k salary. Again, I requested the work visa. Again, it was rejected. This time on the grounds that I didn't submit proof that I was at B1 level in... English. Yes, that's right. English. I don't know if I have the energy to appeal this nonsense.

What's been your experience getting a work visa for Germany?

2 comments

Cryptonic4y ago

In my company (a big one) we have devs from 58 countries including Pakistan, China and so on. I never heard of problems.

What is your origin country?

Why do they want B1? This is something you usually only need for permanent work permit. 2 Years should go without and then it's usually easy to prolong.

int_hdlrOP4y ago

South America.

Why they want B1 in English? Good question. Why they didn't ask for that in any documents and/or while the papers were being submitted? Another good question.

I feel like I'm trapped in Kafka's The Castle story.

With the amount of remote work available pos-covid, I don't think I have the energy to appeal any of this. I hope this is not the experience for most IT workers that want to work in Germany.

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