Expert tips for your next appointment at a German immigration office

Among the challenges of living in Germany as a foreigner is navigating appointments at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).

Being confronted by immigration officers who seem all too eager to dismiss your case if your German is less than fluent, or if your paperwork is not perfectly in order, is a ubiquitous part of the foreign experience in Deutschland.

Unpleasant as it may be, however, there’s really no way to avoid at least a few trips to your local immigration authority. Especially in your first few years as a foreigner in Germany, you’ll need to secure a residence permit there, and likely also change or renew your residence permit a couple more times before you become eligible for a less temporary solution (like permanent residence or citizenship).

READ ALSO: What's the difference between German citizenship and residency?

To make your life easier, you'll want to do your best to navigate appointments at the Ausländerbehörde as efficiently as possible and hopefully secure your visa in just one visit.

Of course, that’s easier said than done.

The Local spoke with an immigration lawyer about her best tips for managing appointments at the immigration office. Here’s her advice.

Rita Lieder is a Berlin-based criminal defence and immigration lawyer.

“I help people apply for residency permits and also German citizenship,” she told The Local.

Lieder has had her share of frustrating experiences at Berlin’s immigration office (Landesamt für Einwanderung - LEA). 

She recounted a recent case in which she helped a client apply for a residence permit for self-employment / freelance work. The client was a black man from the US who had previously had a decision on his visa deferred for a year despite being eligible for the residence permit. He was allowed to stay in Germany on a temporary stay permit (Fiktionsbescheinigung), but the residence permit he had applied for was withheld for reasons that were unclear to him.

One year later, Lieder accompanied the man to a follow-up appointment with the goal of securing his residence permit.

Lieder described sitting down with an immigration officer who seemed like he was immediately opposed to moving the case forward.

“The officer looked at me and he looked at my client, and just immediately said ‘no, no, no,’” Lieder told The Local. “My feeling was that he wasn't willing to look at the documents we had brought.”

According to Lieder, the officer tried multiple times to claim that something was missing from his application, whereas she was sure that her client met every requirement and had all of the documentation to prove it.

READ ALSO: 'Traumatising' - Foreign residents share stories from German immigration offices 

“I did my best to be polite,” she said, “Because getting into a heated discussion is not the best strategy there…”

Lieder highlighted a document showing that her client had a good work contract lined-up. She knew that the work offer was solid and that his other documents were in order – there would be no good reason, in her opinion, to reject his application.

In the end, the officer did grant the client his residence permit, but not before pushing back about multiple requirements, each of which they had prepared documentation for.

For anyone with an upcoming appointment at an immigration office in Germany, The Local asked Lieder to share a few best practices that may improve your chances of success.

Tips for your next appointment at the immigration office:

1) Bring support

The experience Lieder described won't come as a surprise to many of Germany's long-term foreign residents, but it does highlight the value of having someone on your side who speaks fluent German and knows the rules.

“My perspective is that it’s always better not to come alone,” Lieder said. “I don't think everybody needs a lawyer, but bringing a friend or someone who speaks German is very important if you don’t speak German yourself.”

Newcomers in Germany might expect personnel at a German immigration authority to speak English or another language at a practical level, but that’s not always the case. 

Having a German speaker with you can help avoid complications due to misunderstandings, or even wasting an appointment due to the language barrier.

If possible, attending with someone who has a good understanding of immigration law is even better. Sometimes simply having someone who can push back, based on an understanding of the rules and your rights, is all it takes.

Lieder added that if you aren’t sure about your rights, the best case would be to bring a lawyer with you.

2) Be prepared 

It should go without saying that you’ll want to double check you’ve got all of your documents in order before your appointment. 

EXPLAINED: How to apply for a residency permit online in Berlin

And in Germany, an extra paper or two never hurts. Along with the documents that the immigration office tells you to bring, you may want to bring anything else that supports your case. You can check the ‘preconditions’ or Voraussetzungen for the specific residence permit you are applying for here, and bring any documents that show you meet each of them.

“The law allows immigration officers to decide on things like the length of a visa depending on the case,” Lieder said. So the more evidence you can present as to the strength of your case, the better off you may be in the end.

It’s also advisable to bring records of your correspondence with the immigration office, such as the invitation to your appointment that you received in the mail, or any official notices that contain details about your case.

In the aforementioned case, the immigration officer had asked Lieder's client to produce a printed photo despite a note on his appointment invitation which explicitly said not to bring physical photos. In this case, showing the letter helped them confirm that they had done everything as instructed.

READ ALSO: 'Machines don't work!' - The problem of getting digital ID photos in Germany

You may also want to bring a notebook and a pen in case you need to write something down. This has the bonus of making you appear more prepared, even if you don’t end up needing it.

3) Be on time

This one goes for just about every meeting in Germany, but the stakes are higher at the immigration office.

“Be 15 minutes early so that you have time to find the right room,” Lieder said.

READ ALSO: Q&A - What are your rights while waiting for a German residence permit?

4) Appear professional

Think of your appointment at the Ausländerbehörde like a job interview – at the very least you want to look put together and professional.

You don’t need to wear a suit, but a nice shirt and slacks as opposed to a t-shirt and sweatpants is a good best practice.

“No shorts, no jeans with holes in them…don’t wear hats inside or chew gum,” Lieder said.

She added, “It might appear superficial but those small things actually do matter I think."

5) Speak respectfully

Being mindful that the officer across the desk from you has a fair amount of influence over your fate in this given moment, you'll want to make an effort to address them respectfully - or at least avoid coming across as disrespectful or argumentative.

As a final tip, Lieder pointed out that the officers often have their names on a sign on their desk.

“It might help to read their name and address the officer respectfully by name,” Lieder said, “Saying things like ‘Herr Müller, thank you’ for example.”