Anybody here from Germany...I got a question.(or if you know about german immigration)?

Question

I looked @ the things you have to do to become a german citizen. i just have one question...it says you have to give up your previous citizenship. but it also said there are ways around that. what do you have to do and if there are ways around it i would really like to know...

just wondering cuz although i plan to live in germany and be a nurse, i would not be quite ready to give up my american citizenship. help me if ya can.

thanks.

Answer 1

You don't have to give up your present citizenship to live and work in Germany.  BUT, it DOES depend on where you are from.  And it's not that easy to get a german passport, if you are from the "wrong" country (so to speak, in regards to political relationship to your country).

My suggestion:  why don't you try to get a job here, and live the life for a while to see if you like it here first?  This is a challenge in itself, as you need a residence permit AND a work permit (here you should get into contact with the Auslaenderamt in the area in which you want to live).  The german "mentality" is a little different than yours (no matter where you are from).  The unemployment is high here, and the hospitals are NOT looking for nurses to work here, like in the States.  And the jobs are not as well paid as in the US.

It's like a used car:  Take a test drive before you buy.

Answer 2

It probably has to do with the concept of "dual citizenship."  That is, depending on which country you are immigrating from, you may or may not have to give up your original citizenship.  I know that the U.S. does not recognize dual citizenship, nor does Germany with the U.S., I believe.  So, if you are American, you would have to renounce your American citizenship in order to claim German citizenship.

Answer 3

Just go for an Aufenthaltserlaubnis and run it from there.  You renew it after the first, third, and 5th year.  After the fifth year of continual residence the residence permit becomes permanent if you wish to stay ... which negates the problem of needing a German passport, plus you can always keep the US citizenship and return if you get tired of it.

This is what I did ... worked fine, and I came back.  All my German friends asked "why dont you get german citizenship" and I responded "because I don't have to, and why should I give up my right to live in the USA at a moment's notice?"

Viel Glück!