German Immigration News

There was a lot of rumor and whispering, and now it's finally here: the #Ausländerbehördenquartett - the satirical card game about the everyday madness that prevails in the German migration administration. What is the #ForeignOfficeQuartet? The Immigration Office Quartet is a satirical card game for adults, invented and produced by the lawyers at VISAGUARD – experts in migration law. With affectionate exaggeration and pointed humor, it pokes fun at the processes, absurdit

New Schengen visa process strategy of the Federal Foreign Office Our law firm regularly handles Schengen - related lawsuits , representing clients in appeals against the rejection of Schengen visa applications. These proceedings are of vital importance to many applicants, as a visa refusal can have far-reaching consequences. It is striking that the Federal Foreign Office is now pursuing a new strategy in these proceedings . Instead of substantively defending the rejec

The latest figures from the Institute for Employment Research mark a remarkable turning point: For the first time since the introduction of full freedom of movement for workers in 2011, more Polish nationals are leaving Germany than are immigrating . This trend not only highlights the attractiveness of the German labor market, but also structural challenges that have received too little attention in the migration policy discourse so far. A decade of Polish immigration t

Germany is in an international competition for talent – and is losing. This is demonstrated not only by the latest figures from the Interior Ministry , but also by the federal government's response to a parliamentary inquiry from the Green Party regarding the evaluation of the Skilled Immigration Act . The data reveals a sobering trend: The new federal government under Friedrich Merz is falling far short of its own migration policy goals. In particular, the regulated im

The rule of law stands or falls with the trust that its citizens place in it. This trust is not solely derived from laws, judgments, or administrative procedures. It arises primarily from the people who represent this state. Judges are expected to act impartially, communicate responsibly, and respect the dignity of every individual . This is precisely why the case of an allegedly xenophobic judge in Thuringia ( VISAGUARD.Berlin reported on the case) has far-reaching im

Effective October 1, 2025, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) has once again amended its technical guidelines on the Temporary Employment Act (AÜG) – with significant consequences for companies that employ international skilled workers . The BA is retracting its broad interpretation of the licensing requirement, which was only introduced in 2024, and now stipulates that the AÜG no longer applies if the assigned skilled worker works exclusively remotely from abroad .

According to the Berlin Administrative Court , the granting of a residence permit for study purposes under Section 16b Paragraph 1 Sentence 1 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) depends crucially on the requirement that residence in Germany is essential for the success of the studies . In its judgment of November 28, 2025 (Case No. 11 K 175/25) , the Berlin Administrative Court reiterated that this requirement is not automatically met simply because examinations ca

With the publication of the new study "Labor Market and Immigration in Transition," researchers present one of the most comprehensive analyses to date of the current state of the German labor market. The results paint a picture that is as clear as it is alarming: The structural shortage of skilled workers is worsening – despite rising unemployment . The study shows that short-term economic weaknesses are compounded by long-term demographic challenges. Rising unemployment

Laut einer neuen OECD-Studie verliert Deutschland als Ziel von Arbeitnehmermigration an Attraktivität . Der drastische Rückgang der Erwerbsmigration nach Deutschland in den Jahren 2024 und 2025 ist kein Zufall, sondern Ausdruck einer strukturellen Krise. Während Wirtschaft und Politik seit Jahren betonen, wie dringend das Land auf ausländische Fachkräfte  angewiesen ist, hat sich die Realität in eine andere Richtung entwickelt. Die Zahl der Arbeitsmigranten ist um 32 Prozent

In the IU International University case, Der Spiegel is now also reporting extensively on the controversial distance learning programs . After the TAZ newspaper already described the fates of two Indian students at IU and how they gained access to the private university through expensive placement agencies , became heavily indebted, and ended up in Germany under precarious living and working conditions as couriers and in the restaurant industry, Der Spiegel has now al

Dieses Bild hat uns Michelle D. aus Berlin als Reaktion zum Ausländerbehördenquartett zukommen lassen The #Ausländerbehördenquartett (Immigration Office Quartet) has caused quite a stir in recent weeks . Numerous lawyers , social workers, administrative staff, and many others who deal with the German migration system on a daily basis have shared their enthusiasm for the game. For many, it was a surprisingly accurate, humorous, and at the same time bittersweet snapshot of

With its decision of December 4, 2025 (2 BvR 1511/25), the Federal Constitutional Court sent a clear signal to those affected by delayed visa decisions . The case centered on a constitutional complaint filed by an Afghan judge, his wife, and their four children, whose visa applications had remained unprocessed for years . The court, by way of an interim injunction , ordered the Federal Republic of Germany to process the applications immediately, thus lifting the previ

The German government has decided to further tighten citizenship laws : Anyone who deceives during the naturalization process or intentionally provides incomplete information will be barred from becoming a German citizen again for up to ten years (see also our article on the revocation of citizenship in cases of deception ). This measure is a response to the increasing number of cases of forged language certificates that have been uncovered in several federal states

With the new document collection box at the Reinickendorf Citizens' Office, Berlin is sending a clear signal for administrative modernization . For the first time, identity cards and passports can be collected without an appointment and regardless of opening hours. This creates a service that offers considerable potential relief , especially given the strained situation at Berlin's immigration offices . Use of the document box for immigration authorities Especially in t

On December 2, 2025, rbb broadcast the documentary "Delivered! The Courier Business ." This documentary, a co-production of rbb and NDR, takes an unflinching look at the lives of thousands of Indian students in German cities. Many of them come to Germany with the dream of studying and securing better prospects. But the reality, documented by Fabian Grieger and Jan Wiese after months of research, paints a different picture: precarious working conditions, unpaid wages, and

The planned Work and Stay Agency (WSA) was originally intended to be a central instrument of modern immigration policy: efficient, digital, clearly structured, and designed as an interface between skilled workers and the administration. However, a recent look at the Budget Committee's recommendation paints a very different picture. The WSA will be more expensive than anticipated – and the method of its financing raises significant constitutional and political questions.

The "Immigration Office Quartet" contains numerous cards, categories, and humorous descriptions —but which of these correspond to actual conditions in the German migration administration and which are pure satire? This article explains which elements are based on true observations, which are exaggerated, and where personal experiences of lawyers have been incorporated. General bureaucracy jokes: Fax machines, printers and official logic The game initially features gene

Anyone who wants to work in Germany often has to have their professional qualifications acquired abroad recognized . This process is crucial for gaining access to the labor market – especially for skilled workers from third countries . However, recognition is complicated for many migrants: different responsibilities, complex requirements, and long processing times often lead to uncertainty. To make this process more understandable and accessible, the official "Recogniti

The shortage of skilled workers in Germany is no longer an abstract problem; it directly affects the implementation of key political and...