days 21-28: ulm

(alt. title: How to get screwed by the German Government)
I've been having lots of problems with getting my German visa situation worked out. I applied for my visa in January from the Atlanta German Consulate and finally got a response at the end of March.

In case you're Googling how to get a work permit in Germany, here's the step by step things you can do to make the whole process much easier:
- Apply early: it can (and probably will) take up to 3 months to hear anything back.
- Since you have to apply in person, make sure you have everything with you when you get there and make copies of everything! Things you need when you go to the consulate:

• An application form (available at the website)
• Two passport photos. I had to go to 6 different passport photo places to get one that would be accepted by the German government. Wolf Camera was the only place that took pictures that fit the specifications. Even those taken by the US Passport office at the Knoxville courthouse were wrong. See the details of the exact requirements.
• A valid copy of your passport
• A bank statement or a statement of how you plan to pay for your stay in Germany. I didn't have one of these so a contract from my employer worked here as well.
• A statement from my health insurance that I will be covered while working in Germany.
• $68 in CASH, $50 for the fee of processing your application and $18 for shipping
• A copy of my background check signed by the Chattanooga Police Department.

Then wait about 3 months and you'll get your visa. But what we weren't told was that this was just an entry visa. I still needed to register with the foreign office in Ulm then pay an additional 50 Euros (~$80USD) to get the visa extension.

But it's all worth it :) And now I can stay until my internship is finished. Hopefully. Otherwise there will be another frustrated blog entry in August.