Moving to Germany on an Opportunity Visa

@jai anth You have come to the right forum: Most of your questions and concerns were already answered in detial in other discussion threads,which I encourage you to read. If you then still find topics that were not addressed, you are welcome to return and post them here - some of our forum regulars (possibly me) will probably answer soon.

But it makes no sense (and we also don't have time for it) to regurgiate all te information you ask for. Success is with the resourceful, who can help themselves!

Just a few points in short:

1. As you suspected, language will be your single most deciding factor in finding a job. A2 is too little for most jobs - and also to find a good social life and feel comfortable here. B2 or better C1 will increase your chances here!
2. International schools, besides costing a lot, are usually used by expats here for a limited durationand help kids to settle in easier after returning home (or moving on elsewhere). If you want your kid to integrate well, send him/her to a local school (free of charge and not worse in quality)!
3. As for income, the answer is not about how much you need for your lifestyle (which we don't know here), but how much you are worth to a potential employer. Research salary surveys to find out your market rate!
4. Only the biggest German cities have an "Indian community" worth mentioning. If you want to hang out solely or mostly with fellow countrymen, better do not come here!

One should check the internet to see what jobs are available, what requirements and salary levels are to be expected BEFORE coming. You should have done this before even applying for the opportunity card, which can honestly be a waste of time effort and resources. And I suspect that a minimum B1 or B2 level will almost certainly be needed in this field. Would be MUCH better to already have this. First impressions are important. Better to show up and have all the requirements than to be turned down. They might say they can reconsider you once you have improved your language skills but it is already a red flag for trying without them. 

But if you find a job on the opportunity card then you do not have to return home and apply for the work visa. That is the major advantage. Your spouse should be able to join you on a family reunion visa but likely will need an A1 level of German. The spouse of one on a blue card is exempt from the language requirement but not sure about one on an opportunity card. And the child should also be able to come and without having a language test. As long as you are earning enough to pay the living expenses and they have no serious criminal record, the spouse and minor children, but NOT other relatives like parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts or cousins etc. can come. Your spouse should be able to work as well upon arrival but it will depend on abilities and language skills if they can find a job.

Education has been covered extensively on this site. Unlike in India, German public schools are usually very good and are free but instruction is always in German. At some point English will be introduced as a secondary language. This might mean a year lost academically for some as they are put into a program to get their German skills up to par. For a 4 year old it should not be an issue. Some private International schools exist that use English as the primary language of instruction but expect to pay 12 to 15 thousand Euros a year. And they will push German as a secondary language from the start.

As far as Indian communities I can’t say much. There statistically are few Indians in Germany but the ones that are, are often bunched together in certain locations due to working at places like SAP. One can just do an internet search for such communities; they likely might have a Facebook group for example.

Another tip for Indians is that the vast majority of Germans live in rented apartments. Having one’s own house is usually way too expensive. And few Germans have hired servants or hired help. Expecting to have a girl live in your place to do your housework is not affordable for all but the real rich and poses many legal restraints. Rules about age and working conditions are strictly enforced. An exception can be an au-pair. But a foreigner is NOT allowed to have one! This is because an au-pair should be getting exposed to German culture and language, and I suspect, many foreigners have such people in their home countries and have completely different expectations of their duties.