Emily and Carbon
- Thread starter Cath
- Start date
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Very impressive, are there no end to your talents, an amazing girl x
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Great choice of words!! ??
- Location
- East Sussex
Well done clever clogs ??????
Naya
Moderator
- Location
- Bristol, UK
Well done Emily ???
- Location
- Canberra, Australia
Oops, sorry ??
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Heh, heh... I really wish the German government thought like you do!
Yes, this is for permanent residency. Five years of temporary residency is required prior to applying for permanent residency and 8 years total residency is required prior to applying for citizenship. It's been a long slog to get where I am - I had a French visa for one year that they wouldn't let me renew, then a German visa that was meant to be renewable but like the French visa turned out not to be. Then I went back to France and got another (renewable) visa but when I got cancer and couldn't travel to the visa office in person I was denied a renewal. Then the Germans gave me a 'medical refugee' visa, which is what I have now. Anyway, all that to say that is is NOT easy. I get heart palpitations just walking by the foreigner's office in town, let alone having to go in and talk to them.
But hey, one step at a time and MAYBE I'll get there!
Well done Emily!!! And I do understand about the awful bureaucracy - I had to do all the tests as well, to take out German citizenship recently. Gosh, it was a long and expensive journey... though as I understand it the process is similar, or even more complex and more expensive, in most countries (such as the UK). So - hang in there! x
Beanwood
Administrator
Well, I for one had no idea how difficult and stressful the journey to citizenship in another country could be! Hats off to you both @MellowYellow and @Emily_Babbelhund 
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Congratulations for making it through! It's my understanding that the language and law/government test is the same for permanent residency as for citizenship, so at least IF they don't change the requirements in the next three years I'll already have those two things out of the way.
On the bright side, it's also forcing me to beef up my German, which I've been needing to do for years now.
It is also turning out to be incredibly expensive for me due to some unique circumstances caused by having US citizenship. But oh well... as you say, my understanding is that it is even worse elsewhere...like in the USA. I have a SA/UK friend who battled for years to get her green card and is now giving it up to come back to live in France. She just couldn't take the hurdles over there any more. Another Aussie friend in Ireland who has been fighting for residency for six months now...and she's married to an Irishman and has lived in Ireland for over 8 years! All countries have their foibles, it's figuring out how to make the bureaucrats happy and move through the process while keeping as much as your sanity (and savings) intact as possible!
- Location
- Canberra, Australia
Friends of mine in Australia did not become eligible for citizenship until 17 years had passed. They were both American. They’d bought a house, had a daughter and were on their fourth dog by that stage. So, yeah, it is really tough everywhere, unfortunately. The bar is very high.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
A previous Trainee of mine is from the US. She did a science degree first in Scotland before doing her medical degree here. She has roots over here both workwise and family wise and married a Scot 2 years ago and has only just been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK (not sure if that involves even any citizenship).
Her sister was not so lucky - a bit older and has both medical and law qualifications from the UK but was "deported" for 6 months or so before being allowed to return here, which she has now managed to do. I don't know her details, I just know how stressful (and expensive) it has been for both of them.
If you don't pass, Emily, I'm sure we can smuggle you into the UK...........
Her sister was not so lucky - a bit older and has both medical and law qualifications from the UK but was "deported" for 6 months or so before being allowed to return here, which she has now managed to do. I don't know her details, I just know how stressful (and expensive) it has been for both of them.
If you don't pass, Emily
, I'm sure we can smuggle you into the UK...........
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
You have amazing tenacity- you’ll get there ?
My son got his German citizenship relatively easily but we were (still) part of the EU. Heaven knows how travel will be (or anything else) when we leave
His friend is from the US and having exactly the same problems as you. He’s got a new German girlfriend (a trapeze artist in the circus in Berlin!). I suggest he marries her - problem solved!
Can I find you a nice German fella while I’m there in August Emily?
.
My son got his German citizenship relatively easily but we were (still) part of the EU. Heaven knows how travel will be (or anything else) when we leave
His friend is from the US and having exactly the same problems as you. He’s got a new German girlfriend (a trapeze artist in the circus in Berlin!). I suggest he marries her - problem solved!
Can I find you a nice German fella while I’m there in August Emily?
.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I'm pretty sure the UK is actually tougher than Germany to get into and stay but I DO appreciate the thought.If you don't pass, Emily
You can give it a try! But you do realise that I'm pretty much surrounded by nice German fellas at the moment and no one is biting, right?Can I find you a nice German fella while I’m there in August Emily?
Hey, if you are here in August does that mean I get another chance to chase you down and kidnap you for lunch? It's my turn to treat!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
This is completely off topic, but yesterday I saw my oncologist for my regular exam and he gave me a new letter that should allow me to extend the temporary residence permit I have. If I can get that sorted, it gives me more time to jump through all the extra hoops required for permanent residency. It's a baby step, but takes a good deal of the immediate stress off as now I'm fairly sure I won't be booted out on my ear in the near future. Schritt für Schritt.
To get back on topic, Carbon had a second by-chance meeting with his new friend Merle, the Aussie girl. They played and played and played... and even did some water retrieving together. He also greeted a very large and macho American bulldog without nary a growl or hackle being raised, then played with a Ridgeback puppy and a Frenchie. He's been a bit dodgy on his greetings lately with larger dogs, so I was really proud of how nicely he handled all this interaction. I was especially impressed with how good he was with the bulldog as that boy was massive and very in his face. I was afraid I was going to spend the afternoon trying to superglue one of Carbon's ears back on. But no...and whew!
Now Carbon is dead to the world in his crate (it's his fave snooze spot) and I can study my German this afternoon guilt free. A tired dog is a happy dog!
To get back on topic, Carbon had a second by-chance meeting with his new friend Merle, the Aussie girl. They played and played and played... and even did some water retrieving together. He also greeted a very large and macho American bulldog without nary a growl or hackle being raised, then played with a Ridgeback puppy and a Frenchie. He's been a bit dodgy on his greetings lately with larger dogs, so I was really proud of how nicely he handled all this interaction. I was especially impressed with how good he was with the bulldog as that boy was massive and very in his face. I was afraid I was going to spend the afternoon trying to superglue one of Carbon's ears back on. But no...and whew!
Now Carbon is dead to the world in his crate (it's his fave snooze spot) and I can study my German this afternoon guilt free. A tired dog is a happy dog!
Sounds like a good morning!
Sorry @Emily_Babbelhund - just catching up - very good with the languages and stuff - but back to the important things - did someone mention CIDER ???
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Yes, indeed. Turns out CIDER helps you study German. Who knew???