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Voices on the #ForeignersAuthoritiesQuartet
- Isabelle Manoli
- Dec 9, 2025
- 3 min read
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 everyday life at the authorities, perfectly capturing the spirit of the community. The blend of satirical exaggeration and realistic experience has quickly turned the game into a minor cult classic.
We received countless messages, some with lengthy accounts of experiences, others with short but all the more poignant responses. While we are delighted by this response, it is unfortunately impossible to include all these voices in a single post. To nevertheless give you an impression, we would like to present at least three of the responses – representative of many others that have shown that the #Ausländerbehördenquartett (Immigration Office Quartet) is far more than just a game: It is a mirror to reality that invites laughter, head-shaking, and sometimes even reflection.
The #foreignersauthoritiesquartet as a satirical joke
Many people understandably initially saw the Immigration Office Quartet as a joke. That's intentional, given the game's overall design. Michelle D. from Berlin, for example, writes about the Immigration Office Quartet: “ Greetings from the humble dinosaur - He received two decks of cards and is absolutely thrilled. And at the same time, glad to be extinct. He wants nothing to do with these immigration offices ” (see image above). Michelle is primarily highlighting the humorous aspect of the game. Thanks for your message, Michelle. We're glad you like the game!
The #ForeignOfficesQuartet as a Christmas present
The Immigration Office Quartet will likely be found under many Christmas trees this year. Accordingly, Hannah H. from Aachen writes about the Immigration Office Quartet: “What a great card game! My husband works in the Aachen city administration's citizen service center, so this will be a wonderful Christmas present! ” Hannah primarily intends to give the quartet as a gift. And for that purpose, the game is perfect – after all, it's no coincidence that it's released right at Christmas ;-).
The #foreignersauthoritiesquartet as a transparency mechanism
The game is also well-received on a socio-critical level: Many immigration experts have contacted us to express how great it is to offer a layperson's perspective on migration administration. An anonymous lawyer from Berlin wrote to us along these lines: “Great game, Mirko! Finally, a way to show the public, in an understandable way, what happens behind the closed doors of an immigration office.”
Conclusion: Opinions on the immigration authorities quartet
The numerous responses show one thing above all: the Immigration Office Quartet has found its way far beyond the legal profession and appeals to people from completely different backgrounds. For some, it's a humorous game that satirizes everyday bureaucratic life in a surprisingly accurate way. For others, it's an original gift for colleagues and friends who work in administration or migration. And for many professionals, it's a small but effective mechanism for transparency, making visible abuses that would otherwise remain behind closed doors. Thus, the quartet fulfills several functions at once: it offers fun, invites laughter, creates a sense of familiarity – and simultaneously provides an accessible, low-threshold glimpse into a complex system. This very combination is what makes it so appealing.
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