State Office for Immigration (LEA)
The State Office for Immigration (LEA) is Berlin's immigration authority. The State Office for Immigration is the largest immigration authority in Germany.
Related legal source: Law on the Establishment of a State Office for Immigration
Related VISAGUARD article: Authorities & Public Resources Migration
Long-term resident
A long-term resident is a foreign national who has been granted, and has not been deprived of, the legal status referred to in Article 2(b) of Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents (OJ EU 2004 No. L 16 p. 44), as last amended by Directive 2011/51/EU (OJ L 132 of 19 May 2011, p. 1), in a Member State of the European Union.
Related legal source: Section 2 paragraph 7 Residence Act
Related VISAGUARD article: EU Permanent Residence Permit (Section 9a of the Residence Act)
Lawyers Verification
Lawyers verification refers to the review of documents and certificates by lawyers. This procedure is common practice in some countries and is required for visa applications (see, for example, information on document verification and the list of lawyers in Pakistan ).
Related legal source: Court proceedings visa
Related VISAGUARD article: Guide to applying for a work visa
Life partner
In Germany, same-sex marriages ("homoehe") are referred to as "Lebenspartner" (life partners). Civil partnerships are largely equivalent to marriage in Germany (including in terms of residence rights). Civil partnerships are regulated by the Life Partnership Act.
Related legal source: §§ 1 ff. LPartG
Related VISAGUARD article: Spouse reunification / Spouse visa
livelihood
Foreign nationals must generally prove that their livelihood is secure in order to obtain a residence permit (see Section 5, Paragraph 1, No. 1 of the Residence Act ). A foreign national's livelihood is secure if they can cover it, including adequate health insurance coverage, without recourse to public funds. The necessary resources usually consist of rent plus insurance plus the standard needs (in 2024, the standard needs for single people will be €563 per month).
Related legal source: Section 2 paragraph 3 sentence 1 Residence Act
Related VISAGUARD article: Securing livelihoods Residence permit
Senior employee
A managerial employee is someone who, taking into account their contractual rights and obligations as well as their position in the company or business, is authorized to independently hire and fire employees or has general power of attorney/procuration or regularly performs other tasks that are important for the existence and development of the company and the fulfillment of which requires special experience and knowledge, if they either make decisions essentially free from instructions or significantly influence them.
Related legal source: Section 5 (3) BetrVG
Related VISAGUARD article: CEO Visa
Head of the international organization
The “Head of the International Organization” or “Head of the Other International Entity” is the person authorized to legally represent the International Organization or Other International Entity in accordance with the Statutes.
Related legal source: § 1 GastStG
Related VISAGUARD article: Diplomats and international organizations
Head of the Consular Mission (WÜK)
Head of Consular Mission (VCMI): "Head of Consular Mission" in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations means a person authorized to act in that capacity.
Related legal source: Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR) of 24 April 1963
Related VISAGUARD article: Diplomats and international organizations
Letter of Intent
A "Letter of Intent" is a declaration of intent for cooperation, which immigration authorities often require in order to grant a residence permit for freelance work. A sample letter of intent is available from the Frankfurt am Main Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Frankfurt am Main), for example (see Letter of Intent (sample) from the Frankfurt am Main Chamber of Industry and Commerce ).
Related legal source: Section 21 Residence Act
Related VISAGUARD article: Freelancer Visa
Declaration of loyalty
The declaration of loyalty is a declaration that the applicant for naturalization is committed to the free and democratic basic order of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Related legal source: Section 10 paragraph 1 sentence 1 no. 1 StAG
Related VISAGUARD article: Declaration of Loyalty/Declaration of Confidence for Naturalization
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