Hi All

I am in a strange situation, if anyone here come across such scenario, please comment or advice.

I was DFG scholarship(in 2008) holder and was doing PhD(which I am also doing as well). In 2010 DFG closed the graduate school and may students like me were forced to look for a job. In my case, I am married and my wife was aspecting a baby so for me securing a good position was the only option.

In 2010 I got a job in Göttingen with unlimited contract and since than i am doing a job.

The problem is:
When I applied for work permit, the auslanderbehorde(ABH) denied the work permit but after that they issued me §16 with a permission that I can work in the company on full time till I finish my PhD(I am partly working for my PhD). However it is also mentioned on the visa that I am not entitled to any benefits. For example, if I loose my job even after 3-4 years, I will not be entitled to arbeitlose geld and so on...

I want to get §18 so that I can be more secure but ABH insists that you are a student and you did not finish. My supervisor says that, for pursuing a PhD, it is not necessary to be a student so you should get a valid work permit.

The situation is really fuzzy for me because in case of any problem related to my job, I can be in deep shit...

I pay full tax and want some security, for this purpose I need and at least I also think that I am entitled to visa §18.

Does anybody has such experience, I know a person who was in the same situation and got work permit but he was in Berlin.

Can anybody advice me...

Regards
Gul