Culture Shock in Germany: Real Experiences from Newcomers (Part 2)

In this blog series, Culture Shock in Germany, we share real experiences from people who recently relocated to Germany. These are not horror stories, and they are not fairy tales either. They are honest moments – the surprises, the frustrations, and the lessons families, students, and professionals often discover.

 

All names in this series have been changed to protect privacy. Students and future students – this part is for you!

 

Sarah, 18, had just graduated from an American high school and wanted to experience Europe by studying at a private German university with an English-taught Bachelor program. After researching, she realized she didn’t need a student visa and decided to come to Germany to apply for a residence permit instead. Instead of seeking professional advice, Sarah followed instructions from someone on Reddit. This led her to an unofficial application website. She never received a response and did not follow up, thinking the process was handled.

Once she started her studies, she was offered a student job. During the interview, she was asked for her residence permit. She didn’t even know where her application stood and turned to her university for help. The university referred her to us. We reviewed her situation, organized the required documents, and directed her to the official application path. After a short while, her residence permit was issued, and the matter was resolved.

Lesson learned: Don’t rely on random advice from the internet. Professional guidance can save time, stress, and unnecessary mistakes.

Noor, from Pakistan, applied for a student visa for an MBA program at another private university. This time, she worked with us from the start. The process went smoothly – until the visa interview. It’s important to understand that not all German missions abroad are staffed by Germans. Some employ local staff, who may not always act professionally. Noor encountered a local employee who, despite her documents being in perfect order, attempted to humiliate her with irrelevant and deeply inappropriate questions. She felt pressured to comply because her application’s approval depended on it.

Noor eventually received her visa and moved safely to Germany. While the experience was deeply unpleasant, it highlights a reality students sometimes face: not everyone involved in your application may behave respectfully or predictably.

Lesson learned: Visa interviews can be stressful, and some staff may act unprofessionally. Preparation is important, but resilience and patience are equally necessary.

Arturo, a young student from Colombia, completed his student visa application successfully and arrived in Germany. He knew that to stay longer, he would need to convert his visa into a residence permit. Before the digital process was implemented in his city, Arturo contacted the immigration office for instructions. A case worker responded once, detailing the required documents. Arturo had some questions and replied for clarification. After that – nothing. Eight months of silence followed, with repeated reminders going unanswered. When we took over, we quickly identified the issues. The original case worker was no longer employed, and no one had reviewed Arturo’s file. We organized all documents correctly, submitted the application, and within a month, his residence permit was approved.

Lesson learned: Sometimes, all you need is the right guidance. Persistence, careful preparation, and professional support can turn a stalled process into a smooth success.