Today I want to tell you about six mistakes we made when moving.
Let’s go through it point by point.
Choice option moving
Although we considered various options and, in my opinion (and that of my relatives), chose the best one—a student visa followed by university admission (at that time, we already had an offer to study for a Master’s degree at the university)
Oh, everything’s great, we arrived and started learning the language... but let’s say we couldn’t work part-time officially, as there was no permit from the migration service. Also, the child wasn’t able to receive the allowance available to everyone (child benefit = Child Benefit).
Then, when I changed my visa to a student one, it became easier in some aspects (for example, I can work — 20 hours a week, 240 half-days / 120 full days).
However, right now I would advise doing the following (it is definitely worth a try): one family member goes on a language course with subsequent admission (or straight to university as a student), and the other via reunification. This way, the second spouse will be able to work immediately, set up their own business, and the child will be able to receive child benefit and much more.
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More informationStudied less than necessary
Even after moving to Germany, we actively learnt the language at a language school, but when you do that for 4-5 hours at school and then even more at home, you sometimes start to get tired of all that activity. So during the holidays, we allowed ourselves to watch TV series in Russian, read books and actually listen to music. Although, strictly speaking, we could have improved our German more.
Our acquaintance from the language classes skipped A2. She simply devoted more time to German at home during the break between courses (A1-A2), had private tuition at home and took the A2 exam externally, moving straight on to B1. It’s pretty much a one-off case, but it does happen.
The training system is set up in such a way (something I’m still experiencing firsthand) that you get most of it on your own by studying additional sources!
Too late started learning the language
Back in Russia, we started learning German very sluggishly. We listened to a lot of audio and worked with a tutor twice a week. But all that wasn’t nearly enough! We should have gone 3–4 times a week, that way we would have saved a load of money!
The language school course costs 500 euros per person for one level. And my wife and I went together... how much could we have saved? That’s why I give this advice to anyone wanting to move — learn as much German as possible at home!
Document translation
To process certain documents, it was required to translate them into German. I simply went to the nearest notary public, who put me in touch with her translator (they usually work as a pair). That translation was enough for the consulate, but upon arrival, I was asked to have them re-translated by a sworn translator here.
And thank God that a year ago, by some miracle, we decided to get our school-leaving and university diplomas translated directly in Germany. Otherwise we’d have incurred even more expenses.
A lot unnecessary things
I don’t know what drove us at the time, but we managed to bring some things over here that we only managed to wear a couple of times. Of course, I’m talking about our case and yours might be different. For example, my wife brought a fur gilet and never wore it once. And I brought a few of my classic suits, but only wore one a couple of times when I went to an interview. On other occasions, I always wore jeans.
I realise this is an isolated incident, but still, give it some thought — is this item you want to transport really going to be that necessary for you?
We bought cash in 500 and 200 euro banknotes
This is a laugh, of course, but you won’t be able to pay with €200 or €500 notes in Germany. In many shops they simply won’t accept them! Even some boutiques in Düsseldorf refused, asking to pay by bank card instead... or accepted them, but very grudgingly!
And a banal thing happened to me: I couldn’t pay for petrol at a petrol station in Munich. They simply pointed me to their rule — we don’t accept 200 and 500 [euro notes]...
Those were my six moving mistakes that I remembered without a second thought 🙂
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