4 ms·

Another unusual German law is having to register your location with the police, even where you're staying when you travel to other parts of Germany for a few ni

Another unusual German law is having to register your location with the police, even where you're staying when you travel to other parts of Germany for a few nights.

Tomte 10y ago
Foreigners? Probably, but I haven't checked. But how is that unusual? China, Russia and the US all require that. Citizens and everyone else with a residence permit don't have to register temporary whereabouts ("for a few nights").
- marcoperaza 10y ago
  It's not just foreigners, it's everyone in Germany. I'm not that familiar with the details though. No such thing is required in most of the West I think. In practice, an ordinary life leaves an ample paper (and digital) trail, but you can legally live "off the grid" if you'd like. On the other end, the US is pretty unique in that you don't have to notify the government that you're leaving the country. I believe recent laws actually authorize an exit-tracking system, so that might be coming to an end unfortunately.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - Tomte 10y ago
    Wrong. We have to register our place of residence, that's true. But I can visit friends somewhere else for months and not notify anybody (well, I should notify my friends...). Because I'm not taking up residence there.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
    - marcoperaza 10y ago
      I stand corrected.
- pjlegato 10y ago
  The United States has no such system. Neither residents nor foreign travelers are required to register their address with anyone when in the US.
  - Tomte 10y ago
    Strange. Every time I've visited the US I've had to specify at immigration where I'd be staying...
    - pjlegato 10y ago
      Entering the US requires an initial contact address on the arrival form. Once in, you can then go stay whereever you like, without any further address registration update requirement. This is as opposed to Russia and China, where foreigners are required to notify the government of every address they ever stay at.
  - newscasta 10y ago
    Not sure if the law changed, but for the 12 years I was on student (F1) and then work (H1) visa I had to notify INS if I changed of address. If you are traveling internationally frequently there was no need to separately inform them because you would do it on your entry form, but I've had to send a special form once when I moved and wasn't planning to travel for a while. This was about 10 years ago so things might have changed.

Another unusual German law is having to register your location with the police, even where you're staying when you travel to other parts of Germany for a few nights.

Tomte 10y ago

Foreigners? Probably, but I haven't checked. But how is that unusual? China, Russia and the US all require that. Citizens and everyone else with a residence permit don't have to register temporary whereabouts ("for a few nights").

marcoperaza 10y ago
It's not just foreigners, it's everyone in Germany. I'm not that familiar with the details though. No such thing is required in most of the West I think. In practice, an ordinary life leaves an ample paper (and digital) trail, but you can legally live "off the grid" if you'd like. On the other end, the US is pretty unique in that you don't have to notify the government that you're leaving the country. I believe recent laws actually authorize an exit-tracking system, so that might be coming to an end unfortunately.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- Tomte 10y ago
  Wrong. We have to register our place of residence, that's true. But I can visit friends somewhere else for months and not notify anybody (well, I should notify my friends...). Because I'm not taking up residence there.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - marcoperaza 10y ago
    I stand corrected.
pjlegato 10y ago
The United States has no such system. Neither residents nor foreign travelers are required to register their address with anyone when in the US.
- Tomte 10y ago
  Strange. Every time I've visited the US I've had to specify at immigration where I'd be staying...
  - pjlegato 10y ago
    Entering the US requires an initial contact address on the arrival form. Once in, you can then go stay whereever you like, without any further address registration update requirement. This is as opposed to Russia and China, where foreigners are required to notify the government of every address they ever stay at.
- newscasta 10y ago
  Not sure if the law changed, but for the 12 years I was on student (F1) and then work (H1) visa I had to notify INS if I changed of address. If you are traveling internationally frequently there was no need to separately inform them because you would do it on your entry form, but I've had to send a special form once when I moved and wasn't planning to travel for a while. This was about 10 years ago so things might have changed.