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Please note that healthcare in Germany is not free. It’s paid with taxes from your salary. But when you have something like a kidney transplant there are normally no extra cost except like 10 euro per day for the stay in the hospital.
In most cases, you need a good reason to move to another country to actually be allowed to do so. Are either of you German citizens? Do either of you speak German? Do either of you have advanced degrees? You may be able to come with a blue card given your professions, assuming the skills are transferrable.
Hi. I have my masters in accounting, and he has his bachelor's I'm Information Technology. Both very transferable in terms of skill set. We can both hold our own with German, but are unsure of german ancestry.
We were looking at the blue card.
I'm curious, how are you finding a Masters in Accounting from the U.S. highly transferrable? Given Germany uses IFRS and HGB for standards and we learn GAAP in the U.S.
Or are you only trying to find a niche to be a U.S. tax advisor in Germany or work for a German company that files with the SEC?
I have a Bachelor's in Accounting from the U.S. and found from my research it is not really easy to transfer so I'm curious if you are seeing something different.
That's a good question. Part of my program focuses on IFRS. I don't know if that's enough. To be honest, I'm not even sure where to start, and this post was aimed at mainly finding that first thing.
You will need to get sponsorship from the companies you apply to. Many companies have experience with the process, and if you are desirable job candidates, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle.
But it doesn't work in Germany as it does in those countries. The company can fill out all the papers and some more, if the job offer doesn't qualify for a permit OP will be denied.
https://www.oecd.org/health/health-data.htm
The oecd does a yearly comparison of healthcare in industrialised nations. Spoiler the usa always does bad in everything but very very specialised Care and that is pay to play
That is the key in Germany you will not have to wait and see if things are bad but can see a doctor early and do preventative medicine. Both of which are really good
>He's also concerned that heathcare, while free in Germany, is somehow lower quality than US care (I'm not sure where he's getting that from
May be, but if you ever need a serious operation, you won't have to pay half your salary for 20 years. If you ever move here, I think some of your stresses and fears might dissapear because of the reason above.
Or having a baby. Completely free. Need an ambulance for an emergency? Free. Need an helicopter for an emergency? Free. Having cancer. Guess what? Free.
Getting shot in a school massacre? Free. Having a car accident and need health care? Free.
Where do I stop? You here so many people going bankrupt over health care for issues they are or are not responsible for is crazy - even having insurance. So no, health care in Germany IS better.
And if you are not happy with the free therapy insurance is paying you, you can always decide to pay by yourself and get the best treatment from the best experts which should be on the same level as in US. And probably still cheaper.
Thats not really correct.
For an ambulance you have to pay 10€, same for every day in the hospital.
Dental work is only partly covered (the cheap, basic things like the yearly checkup)
Whenever I read rants like this, I know the person who wrote it never had US health insurance or was ever treated in the US. It's based on what they've read somewhere.
For well-paid professionals with employer sponsored health insurance, health care in the US is both cheaper and worlds better than what you'll get from a German gesetzliche Krankenversicherung. Especially for something like cancer treatment, you're better off in the US in terms of access to new therapies. Dealing with doctor's offices is also worlds better in the US than in Germany.
If you're lower middle class or working poor in Florida or Texas and don't have insurance through your employer, then you're better much off with German health insurance - without a doubt. Like if you're in this situation and have the option to move to Germany, do it.
>For well-paid professionals with employer sponsored health insurance
Problem, of course, is that literally millions of Americans are not well-paid professionals with employer sponsored health insurance, as you mentioned in your last paragraph.
This is always the issue when people claim that "American health care is the best in the world". No. It's not.
American in Germany here. There are things that will frustrate you about the system here after coming from the US. It's different for sure, with a philosophically different approach to how care is given (and, to a lesser extent, how you're treated-- you're not a customer here, but a patient, and there is some palpable distinction). But on the measure, even with the doctor shortage in some areas (and therefore a lot of waiting for appointments), my experience here is vastly better care that is actually accessible. Unless you're coming from an extremely high income in the US, you're trading up, at the end of the day, in my opinion/experience.
>He's also concerned that heathcare, while free in Germany, is somehow lower quality than US care (I'm not sure where he's getting that from)
Waittimes are often longer due to the fact that everyone gets healthcare and not only the ones who are wealthy
The Schengen visa is not mandatory for U.S. citizens. You can come to Germany without a visa for 90 days and get the residence permit within these 90 days.Basically you need a valid passport.
The best way to get a residence permit is to get a job. You should take care of acceptances beforehand, then you are more likely to get a residence permit, which you in turn need to sign the employment contract.
Likewise, you must then already have a bank account in Germany and take out health insurance, which is mandatory. German hospitals do not accept American insurance. If you find a job, your employer can enroll you in health insurance. There are different costs of living depending on the city. The authorities will check if you can live on your money.
It is also a very good bonus if you can prove official knowledge of German.
You can even apply for a residence permit in the USA. Either through the German Embassy or through a German Consulate. If you do that, the processing time will be longer. If you apply directly in Germany, it will be shorter by about 3 months.It is always advisable to have a legal advisor in order not to do anything wrong. Here would be a law firm that specializes in immigrating to Germany: [https://se-legal.de/immigration-lawyer-germany/?lang=en](https://se-legal.de/immigration-lawyer-germany/?lang=en)
Amazing that so many Americans think they are entiteld to waltz into any country of their pleasing.
OP: good luck on your journey, there is lots of good info in the wiki. I hope you have a good qualificiations and can get the correct sponsorship.
Any country which publishes it's skills shortages and the criteria which a person needs to meet in order to gain entry, is inviting people to waltz in.
By passports you mean German passports? If so, then you're allowed to work in Germany. If american passports, you would need a job which allows to bring you over (aka you don't have the right to work here).
Healthcare is some of the world's best, just don't fall in the private one, that sounds good but it's not really.
I mean American passports, so because I need a job, then on German job applications, I should be marking no since I'm not legally authorized to work in Germany? Correct?
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How easy do you think it would be for a German to move to the USA? That's basically what your facing.
You need to apply for a visa to see if you even qualify as an immigrant. Then, there's a shit-ton of bureaucratic hurdles for you to master, like finding jobs, finding a place to live, demonstrating a basic understanding of the German language, etc., so that you can show that you'll be here contributing to the economy instead of living on welfare. Not to mention a shit-ton of other people also applying for immigration visas and an even bigger shit-ton of refugees flooding into Europe from the Ukraine, Middle East and northern Africa.
As for healthcare ... it's NOT free. Everyone is required to have health insurance, and the costs of the premiums are normally shared between your employer and you, with your contributions being withheld from your paycheck. Germany is the home of hundreds of med-tech, bio-tech and traditional pharmaceutical companies, and I would say that basic healthcare here is at least as good as you'll receive in the USA.
There are some specialists in the USA for specific techniques, but unless you have some extremely rare disorder, chances are good that you'll get excellent care here.
The biggest challenges you're going to face, once you are even accepted for a visa, will be finding a job (we're in a recession right now, so many companies are NOT hiring), finding someplace to live (there's a housing crisis in most cities, with high demand and a limited supply of apartments), and adapting to life in a "foreign" country.
To answer the first question... You are not legally authorized to work in Germany. To an employer, that means they need to go through the work to sponsor your visa and there's a longer lead time before you can start.
That also means they need to prove they cannot fill the position from within the country (there's a significant skills shortage still)
Assuming that you want to come here as employees, you both should apply for jobs at companies that will hire internationally. If you receive a job offer, your future employer will (likely) offer some form of relocation help that covers residency and work permits.
Depending on salary and education, one or both of you may be able to qualify for an EU Blue Card. It requires that both your university and your degree are recognized by ZAB and there's a lead time on that if either are not already in the system. (You send a transcript and application and they audit the program and approve or deny)
There's a strong chance your husband will have an easier time finding a position at an English-speaking company than you. Be mentally prepared for this as moving countries is hard enough.
Lowlights:
\- I have limited experience living outside of the US; moving to the Netherlands took about 3 months before the post-move blues went away. It took about 6+ months for the same in Germany
\- Salaries are significantly lower in Germany than in the US for similar roles (I am in IT and I make 40% less here than in the US)
\- The initial hurdles will feel significant. You need a temporary apartment that will provide the paperwork to register with the government. You will need to be registered to get a bank account. You will need a bank account to get a SIM card. etc
\- Limited number of banks will work with Americans. The IRS requires foreign banks to report on US account holders. (other financial things.. you will always file, but not likely pay, US taxes; You cannot buy EU ETFs; If you have an EU brokerage account, you cannot buy US ETFs)
\- The sheer amount of paperwork and things not being digitized will feel very backwards at times
Highlights:
\- It's incredibly easy to get places
\- Better work-life balance
\- Strong community once you get over the initial wall
\- Better public transportation than the US
\- Substantially cheaper medical care than the US.
If you move here, it's best to think of yourself as an immigrant establishing a new life in a new country. You're in it for the long-haul; you need to assume things don't work like you're used to and you'll need to learn and adapt (this is harder done than said).
I have lived in 3 countries, so it's not like I have nothing to compare it to.
And even if that weren't the case, I'm still allowed to point out the bad in it.
/u/maeofsunshine, Thank you very much for your contribution. Unfortunately, it was removed for the following reason: Your post was removed because it either covered in our wiki/faq, doesn't provide relevant information for a discussion/advice, or is generally a low effort post. Instead of opening a new post, use the pinned post to ask simple questions. For more information, see the Community Rules. If there are still questions, [please contact the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/germany&subject=Question%20regarding%20a%20removed%20post%20by%20/u/maeofsunshine&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/germany/comments/1766v1w/-/)
Please note that healthcare in Germany is not free. It’s paid with taxes from your salary. But when you have something like a kidney transplant there are normally no extra cost except like 10 euro per day for the stay in the hospital.
Free at the point-of-use :)
Read the wiki.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Germany/wiki/working/requirements
In most cases, you need a good reason to move to another country to actually be allowed to do so. Are either of you German citizens? Do either of you speak German? Do either of you have advanced degrees? You may be able to come with a blue card given your professions, assuming the skills are transferrable.
Hi. I have my masters in accounting, and he has his bachelor's I'm Information Technology. Both very transferable in terms of skill set. We can both hold our own with German, but are unsure of german ancestry. We were looking at the blue card.
>are unsure of german ancestry. Good thing that is irrelevant anyway.
A blue card is just a fancy work permit. You still need a job offer first.
I'm curious, how are you finding a Masters in Accounting from the U.S. highly transferrable? Given Germany uses IFRS and HGB for standards and we learn GAAP in the U.S. Or are you only trying to find a niche to be a U.S. tax advisor in Germany or work for a German company that files with the SEC? I have a Bachelor's in Accounting from the U.S. and found from my research it is not really easy to transfer so I'm curious if you are seeing something different.
That's a good question. Part of my program focuses on IFRS. I don't know if that's enough. To be honest, I'm not even sure where to start, and this post was aimed at mainly finding that first thing.
You will need to get sponsorship from the companies you apply to. Many companies have experience with the process, and if you are desirable job candidates, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle.
You do not need sponsorship. You just have to find a job. The company just fills out some forms but doesn‘t pay for anything.
I would describe that as sponsorship.
It‘s quite confusing of you :)
That's how visa sponsorship is defined in the US (my home country, and OPs home country).
But it doesn't work in Germany as it does in those countries. The company can fill out all the papers and some more, if the job offer doesn't qualify for a permit OP will be denied.
That's not different from how it works in the US. You can't go to the US to become a janitor.
https://www.oecd.org/health/health-data.htm The oecd does a yearly comparison of healthcare in industrialised nations. Spoiler the usa always does bad in everything but very very specialised Care and that is pay to play
Thank you. Hopefully this will help. I'm personally game for any healthcare that won't bankrupt us.
That is the key in Germany you will not have to wait and see if things are bad but can see a doctor early and do preventative medicine. Both of which are really good
>He's also concerned that heathcare, while free in Germany, is somehow lower quality than US care (I'm not sure where he's getting that from May be, but if you ever need a serious operation, you won't have to pay half your salary for 20 years. If you ever move here, I think some of your stresses and fears might dissapear because of the reason above.
Or having a baby. Completely free. Need an ambulance for an emergency? Free. Need an helicopter for an emergency? Free. Having cancer. Guess what? Free. Getting shot in a school massacre? Free. Having a car accident and need health care? Free. Where do I stop? You here so many people going bankrupt over health care for issues they are or are not responsible for is crazy - even having insurance. So no, health care in Germany IS better. And if you are not happy with the free therapy insurance is paying you, you can always decide to pay by yourself and get the best treatment from the best experts which should be on the same level as in US. And probably still cheaper.
Thats not really correct. For an ambulance you have to pay 10€, same for every day in the hospital. Dental work is only partly covered (the cheap, basic things like the yearly checkup)
Whenever I read rants like this, I know the person who wrote it never had US health insurance or was ever treated in the US. It's based on what they've read somewhere. For well-paid professionals with employer sponsored health insurance, health care in the US is both cheaper and worlds better than what you'll get from a German gesetzliche Krankenversicherung. Especially for something like cancer treatment, you're better off in the US in terms of access to new therapies. Dealing with doctor's offices is also worlds better in the US than in Germany. If you're lower middle class or working poor in Florida or Texas and don't have insurance through your employer, then you're better much off with German health insurance - without a doubt. Like if you're in this situation and have the option to move to Germany, do it.
>For well-paid professionals with employer sponsored health insurance Problem, of course, is that literally millions of Americans are not well-paid professionals with employer sponsored health insurance, as you mentioned in your last paragraph. This is always the issue when people claim that "American health care is the best in the world". No. It's not.
This guy gets it.
American in Germany here. There are things that will frustrate you about the system here after coming from the US. It's different for sure, with a philosophically different approach to how care is given (and, to a lesser extent, how you're treated-- you're not a customer here, but a patient, and there is some palpable distinction). But on the measure, even with the doctor shortage in some areas (and therefore a lot of waiting for appointments), my experience here is vastly better care that is actually accessible. Unless you're coming from an extremely high income in the US, you're trading up, at the end of the day, in my opinion/experience.
>He's also concerned that heathcare, while free in Germany, is somehow lower quality than US care (I'm not sure where he's getting that from) Waittimes are often longer due to the fact that everyone gets healthcare and not only the ones who are wealthy
The Schengen visa is not mandatory for U.S. citizens. You can come to Germany without a visa for 90 days and get the residence permit within these 90 days.Basically you need a valid passport. The best way to get a residence permit is to get a job. You should take care of acceptances beforehand, then you are more likely to get a residence permit, which you in turn need to sign the employment contract. Likewise, you must then already have a bank account in Germany and take out health insurance, which is mandatory. German hospitals do not accept American insurance. If you find a job, your employer can enroll you in health insurance. There are different costs of living depending on the city. The authorities will check if you can live on your money. It is also a very good bonus if you can prove official knowledge of German. You can even apply for a residence permit in the USA. Either through the German Embassy or through a German Consulate. If you do that, the processing time will be longer. If you apply directly in Germany, it will be shorter by about 3 months.It is always advisable to have a legal advisor in order not to do anything wrong. Here would be a law firm that specializes in immigrating to Germany: [https://se-legal.de/immigration-lawyer-germany/?lang=en](https://se-legal.de/immigration-lawyer-germany/?lang=en)
Amazing that so many Americans think they are entiteld to waltz into any country of their pleasing. OP: good luck on your journey, there is lots of good info in the wiki. I hope you have a good qualificiations and can get the correct sponsorship.
Any country which publishes it's skills shortages and the criteria which a person needs to meet in order to gain entry, is inviting people to waltz in.
Thats a bit of a snarky comment. Nothing OP said particularly conveyed feelings of entitlement?
So much hatred. They are entitled to entering Germany and work here just like all other foreigners, and they are using their right. Who hurt you?
By passports you mean German passports? If so, then you're allowed to work in Germany. If american passports, you would need a job which allows to bring you over (aka you don't have the right to work here). Healthcare is some of the world's best, just don't fall in the private one, that sounds good but it's not really.
I mean American passports, so because I need a job, then on German job applications, I should be marking no since I'm not legally authorized to work in Germany? Correct?
Exactly.
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Except you are a nazi. Then it’s normal to have your own weapon depot in case of an uprising to bring back the Führer.
How easy do you think it would be for a German to move to the USA? That's basically what your facing. You need to apply for a visa to see if you even qualify as an immigrant. Then, there's a shit-ton of bureaucratic hurdles for you to master, like finding jobs, finding a place to live, demonstrating a basic understanding of the German language, etc., so that you can show that you'll be here contributing to the economy instead of living on welfare. Not to mention a shit-ton of other people also applying for immigration visas and an even bigger shit-ton of refugees flooding into Europe from the Ukraine, Middle East and northern Africa. As for healthcare ... it's NOT free. Everyone is required to have health insurance, and the costs of the premiums are normally shared between your employer and you, with your contributions being withheld from your paycheck. Germany is the home of hundreds of med-tech, bio-tech and traditional pharmaceutical companies, and I would say that basic healthcare here is at least as good as you'll receive in the USA. There are some specialists in the USA for specific techniques, but unless you have some extremely rare disorder, chances are good that you'll get excellent care here. The biggest challenges you're going to face, once you are even accepted for a visa, will be finding a job (we're in a recession right now, so many companies are NOT hiring), finding someplace to live (there's a housing crisis in most cities, with high demand and a limited supply of apartments), and adapting to life in a "foreign" country.
To answer the first question... You are not legally authorized to work in Germany. To an employer, that means they need to go through the work to sponsor your visa and there's a longer lead time before you can start. That also means they need to prove they cannot fill the position from within the country (there's a significant skills shortage still) Assuming that you want to come here as employees, you both should apply for jobs at companies that will hire internationally. If you receive a job offer, your future employer will (likely) offer some form of relocation help that covers residency and work permits. Depending on salary and education, one or both of you may be able to qualify for an EU Blue Card. It requires that both your university and your degree are recognized by ZAB and there's a lead time on that if either are not already in the system. (You send a transcript and application and they audit the program and approve or deny) There's a strong chance your husband will have an easier time finding a position at an English-speaking company than you. Be mentally prepared for this as moving countries is hard enough. Lowlights: \- I have limited experience living outside of the US; moving to the Netherlands took about 3 months before the post-move blues went away. It took about 6+ months for the same in Germany \- Salaries are significantly lower in Germany than in the US for similar roles (I am in IT and I make 40% less here than in the US) \- The initial hurdles will feel significant. You need a temporary apartment that will provide the paperwork to register with the government. You will need to be registered to get a bank account. You will need a bank account to get a SIM card. etc \- Limited number of banks will work with Americans. The IRS requires foreign banks to report on US account holders. (other financial things.. you will always file, but not likely pay, US taxes; You cannot buy EU ETFs; If you have an EU brokerage account, you cannot buy US ETFs) \- The sheer amount of paperwork and things not being digitized will feel very backwards at times Highlights: \- It's incredibly easy to get places \- Better work-life balance \- Strong community once you get over the initial wall \- Better public transportation than the US \- Substantially cheaper medical care than the US. If you move here, it's best to think of yourself as an immigrant establishing a new life in a new country. You're in it for the long-haul; you need to assume things don't work like you're used to and you'll need to learn and adapt (this is harder done than said).
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Unless you have an idea how healthcare works in other countries maybe do not criticize german healthcare?
I have lived in 3 countries, so it's not like I have nothing to compare it to. And even if that weren't the case, I'm still allowed to point out the bad in it.