Info on getting a Temporary visa for Americans in Germany

Hi Raj, my mom 79, just did this 1.5 years ago.

When you get here goto the nearest Ausländerbehörde and show them what you have in the way of comprehensive health insurance,  income, and rental contract.

They'll give you a six month extension and you'll have to update this info every six months. GL John

@iksobarg I do not think it is that easy for the OP. As far as I know, there is no visa type for non-EU retirees, unless they have family here (as is the case for your mom).

And membership in a German health insurance would be compulsory, which can be very costly tojoin if you're above 55 years old (especially if there are pre-existing conditions).

Thanks John and "Beppi"! Appreciate your kind responses. I am paying $800 for my insurance in the US. It can't be any worse than that here, I am assuming! So this office, Ausländerbehörde, is it here in Frankfurt? Any recommendations on a good Health Insurance company? Do I have to open a bank account first? I am staying with a really close friend, but no family members.

Thanks

@rnadimpalli Since, at your age, you can only join a German private health insurer, you should contact an independent insurance broker to figure out which of the many insurers and tariffs is best for you. You have three months after arrival to join one (but will be retroactively charged from the day of arrival in any case).

There is a local foreigner authority in each town, so visit the one where you intend to live. However, they are all inefficient, understaffed, overworked and difficult to deal with. (We are good at making foreigners feel unwelcome. Sorry!)

Opening a bank account requires a registered residential address. But first of all, you have to get an appropriate visa - no registration is possible on a 90-days Schengen visa!

@beppi Thanks for your help!

@rnadimpalli Apart from what Beppi said, you may also struggle to open a bank account, since German banks often don´t want to deal with FATCA reporting for US citizen customers.

There is no retirement visa for Germany, any residence permit you may be able to get would be purely discretionary, so there is a very real possibility of not getting such a permit.

How temporary do you want this stay to be?

If we are just talking about a year or so, you might be able to get a permit via an intensive language program. Only that would mean to actually attend those 20 or more lessons per week.

@ALKB My plan is to spend 6-8 months in Germany every year for the next 5 years at least, and apply for Permanent Residence here after 5 years if I am eligible at that time.

@rnadimpalli So not so temporary at all.

You´d have to maintain your residence and health insurance throughout, assumed that you manage to get a residence permit without a job, close family, or enrollment in full time higher education.

Leaving Germany for a period of six consecutive months or more will automatically invalidate any residence permit - even "indefinite" ones - unless you contact the local immigration authority before you leave and get a Fiktionsbescheinigung- this would  keep your permit valid, but to get one, you usually need a good reason to leave and a good reason to return, like a spouse of a German national leaving for a year because the German spouse is on a temporary work assignment abroad.

I doubt very much that the authorities would give a Fiktionsbescheinigung every year for five years to maintain a discretionary permit.

Even if you do manage to convince the immigration authority to make up a set of whole new rules just for you, I don´t see you qualifying for permanent residence after all that.

@ALKB Thanks for your time and information. I used the word "temporary" only because the immigration authorities use the term "Temporary Visa". Yes, I would pay for the Health Insurance throughout the year even if I don't stay here throughout the year.  I have requested an appointment at the Frankfurt office.

Thanks again!

I have requested an appointment at the Frankfurt office.
-@rnadimpalli

If you are less than fluent in (buerocratic) German, bring along a native speaking friend!

Surprizingly, these foreigner authorities seem to be not well prepared to deal with foreigners ...

@rnadimpalli Apart from what Beppi said, you may also struggle to open a bank account, since German banks often don´t want to deal with FATCA reporting for US citizen customers.

-@ALKB

Difficult as an American. Some banks won't take American clients at all - even if they have additional German or another EU Citizenship. Some will allow US clients with German residency BUT only for a Giro account or savings account - no investments allowed. A Giro account is used for bank transfers which is what is a standard payment method used in the EU, rather than personal checks like in the US. Some might still allow both Giro accounts and investments - but not take new US clients....

I had full services at Commerzbank for decades and then some years ago they gave me a month’s notice that I had to close out my investments because I have US citizenship. A year later I had acquired German citizenship in addition but they made it clear that this was irrelevant as long as I still had US citizenship. I still have a Giro account there though. Luckily, I also had both types of accounts at Santander Bank which they let me keep but said they haven't allowed new US clients for at least 5 years.

I haven't had to go looking for a new bank lately but I suspect some would still allow US citizens, if they have legal residency in Germany, to at least have a Giro account. For investment holding I really don't know but just maybe a US bank or financial company with a German presence would do it. Citi-Bank is in Germany but I don't know where they actually have branches other than Frankfurt. Their website shows international wealth management and commercial banking in Germany but no longer mention personal banking. But maybe they can hold investments and one would have their personal banking elsewhere.

Note: Some (publicly owned) banks like Postbank, Sparkassen, etc. are legally obliged to open basic Giro accounts for any resident in Germany. But other products (and other banks) might be difficult if they don't like you (or your government's onerous rules).