Katie B. was born in Germany and always dreamt of coming back one day. She trained as a doctor in the UK and now managed to move to Germany with her family. Brexit, recognition procedures and red tape were stones thrown in her way but in the end her persistence paid off and she now lives with her family in beautiful Bavaria.
Zitat:Team: To get started a very general question: What was your motivation to come to Germany in particular?
Katie B.: I was born in Germany and went to primary school here for a few years. Somehow I was always drawn to coming back. I also went back to Germany for a year during my studies and I really enjoyed that too. After that, I wanted to go back with my own family and share my beautiful image of Germany with them. So, we decided to come here. Even though it wasn't easy, with the recognition procedure and then Brexit. There were quite a few complications to be honest.
Team: What was the biggest challenge for you and how did you overcome it?
Katie B.: The most difficult thing was simply getting clarity, talking to the right people, to find out what we needed to do. There was a lot of back and forth and also a lot of wrong answers - both with the recognition process and the visa application. The most difficult part was simply that we didn't know until the end whether we would make it or not. Or at least I had the feeling of uncertainty until the very end. Do we have everything together now? Will it work? There were lots of questions about the salary for the EU Blue Card and whether there were a minimum number of hours required to work. There were also lots of questions about how I could bring my family with me.
We worked for a long time to get it right in the end. I think I had already submitted my application for the recognition of my credentials before Brexit and then didn't hear anything for months.
Team: The recognition is already big hurdle and you encountered additional problems on top, how did you deal with that?
Katie B.: The recognition process itself wasn't so bad, it was more the process of getting the facts right: How can I prepare for it and so on? I didn't find that easy at all.
Team: You were also in contact with the Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) at ZAV, right?
Katie B.: Yes, exactly, that was a great support. From my two contact persons actually, at the ZSAB and the ZAV. I was in touch with them regularly and received a lot of support. They showed me the right way and helped me a lot. Even though the process took a long time, they kept asking me how I was doing, how everything was going and whether I had any questions. That was always very helpful and, in the end, they also put me in touch with the right people and got the ball rolling.
Team: Would you say it was important to have someone at your side?
Katie B.: It was a great relief to have someone to talk to, to ask questions, to get good information. My advisor helped me with my application documents and gave me tips.
In a situation where I felt very alone dealing with this mountain of red tape and finding my way to Germany, it was really a great relief. I am definitely very grateful for that.
Team: How long have you been in Germany? Have you had a chance to get settled?
Katie B.: We came here about nine months ago and have already settled in pretty well. Although not everything has been easy, of course. Many people told me beforehand that it can take up to two years before we really feel at home. I'm pleased that we're on the right track, but it will certainly take a while before we've really “arrived”.
My husband speaks little German and is always trying to learn more. We have to be patient. Our daughter is now in third grade and could hardly speak any German before, but she has settled in well and is getting on very well. We are very happy about that.
Team: What do you like best about Germany?
Katie B.: We live in the Allgäu and so I would definitely say the nature. It's absolutely wonderful. We couldn't wish for anything more.
Team: What about your work? Have you settled in well there? Have you received any support from your employer?
Katie B.: It was completely new for my employer to hire someone from abroad. I had to find out a lot by myself. However, they were willing to support me and were also in contact with my advisor at ZAV. There were a few questions about the Blue Card and the fast-track procedure. It was a bit more complicated with part-time work, but in the end, we found the right path.
I was also worried that it would take the employer too long and they would find someone else, but they stuck with it and now I'm very happy. The work itself is interesting and my colleagues are very nice.
Team: Last but not least, our most important question: Do you have any tips for others who are interested in coming to Germany?
Katie B.: I would definitely recommend contacting ZAV. I don't know how I would have managed it on my own. You also definitely need a lot of patience; the path can sometimes be very bumpy. It's just important to be patient, in the end it's all worth it to get it right.
Team: Thank you very much for your time and we wish you all the best for your future in Germany!