Citizenship application dilemma, where to go from here?

Member since 12 August 2020

TrabantloverActive member24 January 2025 21:56:07

Ok, this is going to be a long post but I need to get this off my chest.

I'm 30 years old, I am a dual Canadian and Bosnian national so I have two non-EU passports. I was actually born in Germany in 1994 when my parents came here as war refugees but we were expelled in 1998 and settled in Canada where we were naturalized in 2002.

In October 2019, I came back to Germany and settled in Berlin. In January 2020, I started working in my high-skilled field and worked full-time non-stop up until December 2024 when my company declared bankruptcy and gave me my Kundigung. In August 2024, I was given an appointment to get Niederlassungserelaubnis (Permanent Residency) in December 2024. Obviously, because I lost my job right at that moment, I never got Niederlassungserelaubnis, the Auslanderbehorde refused to give it. From March 2024 onwards, I was given a Fiktionsbescheinigung due to the issues within my company, the Fiktionsbescheinigung will expire in March 2025. I did not ask to get Fiktionsbescheinigung instead of the regular work visa card I got every year from 2020 to 2024 but that's what was given to me.

Having worked full-time and paid taxes for 58 out of the 60 months required, I now find myself in a situation where I have no job since December 31st, I'm on a Fiktionsbescheinigung that's about to expire soon and I have no idea where and when I'll be working again. I was 2-3 months shy from applying for citizenship. All of this is happening right before the upcoming elections where the CDU could potentially form a coalition with the AfD and reverse the dual citizenship law just as I was about to submit my documents. If you don't believe me, feel free to read this:

https://www.msn.com/de-de/nachrichten/p … r-AA1xMTAP

So where do I go from here? I don't know when I'll be working again or where. Going back to Canada or moving to Bosnia is not an option for me and I also don’t want to stay in Germany forever. I fulfill all the requirements for naturalization and there is no way I'm going to work in Germany and wait another 3-4 years before I'm able to apply should the CDU go back to the previous 8 years of work and residency in Germany rule which is my main concern right now. I have an immigration lawyer already but I don't even know what to tell him at this point. All of this is happening at the worst possible moment for me.

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

Member since 08 August 2010

Germany & Singapore Expert

beppiGermany/Singapore Expert25 January 2025 06:25:08

15445

This is altogether bad luck. I am sorry for you!

Here are some things to think of:

You see Germany as temporary stopover ("I also don’t want to stay in Germany forever"). Citizenship is simply not meant for such cases.
You do not fulfill the requirements to get cititenship right now (58 months is less than the required 60 months), but you don't want to wait until you fulfill them.
You rule out a renewal of your temporary visa ("Fiktionsbescheinigung") as well as going back to Canada or Bosnia.
So it looks like you should look for yet another country to move to. This site has forums for many places, where you can get information about job market, visa rules, living conditions, etc.
Good luck!

Trabantlover Active member

Member since 12 August 2020

TrabantloverActive member25 January 2025 08:29:17

This is altogether bad luck. I am sorry for you!Here are some things to think of:You see Germany as temporary stopover ("I also don’t want to stay in Germany forever"). Citizenship is simply not meant for such cases.You do not fulfill the requirements to get cititenship right now (58 months is less than the required 60 months), but you don't want to wait until you fulfill them.You rule out a renewal of your temporary visa ("Fiktionsbescheinigung") as well as going back to Canada or Bosnia.So it looks like you should look for yet another country to move to. This site has forums for many places, where you can get information about job market, visa rules, living conditions, etc.Good luck! - @beppi

Yes I will eventually move to a new country and there is nothing in German law preventing a German citizen from moving to a new country once he or she acquires citizenship. For a while I'd like to live in other countries in Europe which I cannot do without a German passport, it's not my fault that the system is made this way.

I never said I don't want to wait until I fulfill the requirements. I will wait, I just don't want to wait (and waste) many more years, that's all.

I never said I'm ruling out a renewal of my Fiktionsbescheinigung, either way it will have to be a work visa (Aufenthaltstitel) once I find a new job.

TominStuttgart Germany Expert

Member since 19 March 2012

TominStuttgartGermany Expert03 February 2025 13:56:52

2768

Sounds like the bottom line is getting another job. This would be required to get citizenship anyway but sucks that one is unexpectedly forced into the situation with a timeline hanging over their head. Only thing I can say is get out there and do your best to find a job. You have the advantage over foreingers based elsewhere that you can checks things out here and hopefully set up in person interviews.

True that Merz of the CDU recently tossed out the idea of backtracking on some of the new immigration rules but I only heard about him wanting to reinstate the requirement for (most) non-EU citizenships to be renounced to get German. Didn't hear about wanting to put the residency requirement back up to 8 from 5 years. But this is not done by dicate anyway; has to be proposed, debated and get passed. Could be some years, if ever, that it happens... If you manage to get a job in time then you should be well on your way.

Trabantlover Active member

Member since 12 August 2020

TrabantloverActive member10 February 2025 02:14:33

Sounds like the bottom line is getting another job. This would be required to get citizenship anyway but sucks that one is unexpectedly forced into the situation with a timeline hanging over their head. Only thing I can say is get out there and do your best to find a job. You have the advantage over foreingers based elsewhere that you can checks things out here and hopefully set up in person interviews.
True that Merz of the CDU recently tossed out the idea of backtracking on some of the new immigration rules but I only heard about him wanting to reinstate the requirement for (most) non-EU citizenships to be renounced to get German. Didn't hear about wanting to put the residency requirement back up to 8 from 5 years. But this is not done by dicate anyway; has to be proposed, debated and get passed. Could be some years, if ever, that it happens... If you manage to get a job in time then you should be well on your way. - @TominStuttgart

I fail to see how that is an advantage, at the end of the day I am a non-EU national with a muslim name and B1 German.

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

Member since 08 August 2010

Germany & Singapore Expert

beppiGermany/Singapore Expert10 February 2025 07:27:28

15445

@Trabantlover Companies think twice before inviting an applicant from abroad for an in-person interview, not least because of the additional effort and expense. If you are already in Germany, your chances to be invited are much higher. That is obvious and Tom meant this!

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Trabantlover Active member

Member since 12 August 2020

TrabantloverActive member12 February 2025 10:44:00

@Trabantlover Companies think twice before inviting an applicant from abroad for an in-person interview, not least because of the additional effort and expense. If you are already in Germany, your chances to be invited are much higher. That is obvious and Tom meant this! - @beppi

Fair enough but companies also think twice about hiring non-EU nationals who's work visa they have to sponsor.