3 ms·

You cannot work on a Language visa in Germany[0], and artists in Berlin are special as the country wants to promote it as an art capital of Europe[1]. In almost

You cannot work on a Language visa in Germany[0], and artists in Berlin are special as the country wants to promote it as an art capital of Europe[1]. In almost every case, a non-EU/Schengen citizen needs to show ability to support him/herself when moving to Germany; that person must already have a job offer, which must pay at least 37(STEM) or 47,500 (others) EUR[0]. Non-EU folks in Germany as well, for example, don't get the equivalent of a "green card" out the gate either. Looks like it's 5 years in Germany, which happens to be the same for the United States. As a manager/executive with your company, I'm surprised there weren't EB-1 Visas available, which is exactly the tool meant to support the case you were looking at. Or EB-5 visas, because interestingly, there actually is a Visa (and Green Card track) for entrepreneurs in the US [2][3]. US immigration policies are indeed crazy sometimes. Your friend probably moved to the US around/not long after 2001, I'll bet? Everything ground to a half around then as DHS was getting set up. But if you're listing all of these failings and I'm finding the opposite to be true with 20 minutes of Googling at a time, I'm suspect of the quality of support you got from your lawyers. Again, I feel a great deal of empathy for what sounds like you guys getting screwed by poor representation. I've had many friends enter the US to work and start businesses with little undue stress. [0]: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/working/guide-to-working-in-germany/visa/#citizens-of-other-states http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/working/guide-to-workin... [1]: http://www.bbk-berlin.de/con/bbk/front_content.php?idart=1954&idartlang=2136&idcat=145&changelang=5 http://www.bbk-berlin.de/con/bbk/front_content.php?idart=195... [2]: http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-job/green-card-through-investment http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-job/green... [3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EB-5_visa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EB-5_visa

nitai 13y ago
Thank you for your comment. As a fact I know 10+ US citizens that have had no problem coming to Germany and live and work. All self employed and sufficient to provide for themselves for some time. It might have changed, but the last time I've checked it was way easier then getting any Visa in the USA. Speaking off, yes, we tried to get a B* visa but the 67000 visa they issue per year was filled within 3 days. One can apply again in June/July (not exactly sure).
- mattlutze 13y ago
  As a fact I know 10+ European citizens that have had no problem coming to the US to live and work... you're a techie, we both know anecdotes are not data. No one challenges that US visas are difficult at times to get. But if it was such an issue, I've gotta ask -- how is your software company's offering and positioning so unique that only you could manage operations from the US? Also, to note, B1/B2 visas are for "temporary" visits for work or pleasure. There were multiple EB-* visas for permanent relocation. Even so, B1 visas are granted by the millions and are valid for Europeans for 10 years...
  - dusanbab 13y ago
    Regarding your second point, why should he delegate that critical task to someone he hasn't worked with extensively before? Why should he prove someone else couldn't do that job? They probably could, but he can do it better and it's his money/equity after all.

nitai 13y ago

Thank you for your comment. As a fact I know 10+ US citizens that have had no problem coming to Germany and live and work. All self employed and sufficient to provide for themselves for some time. It might have changed, but the last time I've checked it was way easier then getting any Visa in the USA. Speaking off, yes, we tried to get a B* visa but the 67000 visa they issue per year was filled within 3 days. One can apply again in June/July (not exactly sure).

mattlutze 13y ago
As a fact I know 10+ European citizens that have had no problem coming to the US to live and work... you're a techie, we both know anecdotes are not data. No one challenges that US visas are difficult at times to get. But if it was such an issue, I've gotta ask -- how is your software company's offering and positioning so unique that only you could manage operations from the US? Also, to note, B1/B2 visas are for "temporary" visits for work or pleasure. There were multiple EB-* visas for permanent relocation. Even so, B1 visas are granted by the millions and are valid for Europeans for 10 years...
- dusanbab 13y ago
  Regarding your second point, why should he delegate that critical task to someone he hasn't worked with extensively before? Why should he prove someone else couldn't do that job? They probably could, but he can do it better and it's his money/equity after all.