Hi Everyone,
My existing employer in India has offered me a role in Frankfurt. I have already booked an appoitment at German Embassy New Delhi for October 2018. But my employer is saying that it is too late.
I read on the embassy website that if I get ZAV binding letter then I do not have to wait for appointment at embassy and can directly submit my application to VFS.

My employer in Germany checked with local labour office and they told my employer that since my salary is above blue card threshold hold and my degree is in H+ category, so I do not need any approval.

But without any such approval letter I will not be able fast forwad my visa application.

Can anyone please advise how I can reach ZAV for binding letter. What is the process for the same. Any contact at ZAV?

Your help is realy appreciated.

Thanks,NS

Hello Team,
Can anyone please respond. I really need your help.

Hi NS

Have you got ZAV bindig letter? I am in same situation. My employer want me join as soon as possible but waiting time for visa appoint in India is 3 months at least. 

Thanks

Hi Pankaj,

Not yet. I am pushing my emloyer to get me that.
Your employer can only get you ZAV binding letter.

Regards,
NS

Hi all
Even I am also stucked in the same situation.. My employer says that my degree is recognized in Germany so there is no need for zav letter but if I see in vfs site to get early appointment they need a zav letter.... 

Dear All,
I am in a similar boat as you all. But you are lucky ones to be residing in Delhi region. 
The applicants from Delhi region can directly submit application at VFS centre. While applicants like me from Mumbai region, have to wait for 2-3 months for the appointment date at Consulate. My employer sent the contract to me in in mid-June. Its been 2 months already and may take longer till I start the actual employment.
I had a similar situation like yours regarding pre-ZAV approval. ZAV says no approval required (could be because salary is on the higher end or university degree is known or I had lived there for 2 years already). Hence, my employer forwared to me the response from Arbeitsagentur (ZAV) by post, which I used as pre-ZAV approval for my appointment at the Consulate. The lady who collected my documents at the Consulate had no doubt about the ZAV letter and rather highlighted the significant part (as per her understanding) for whoever was going to go through my documents behind the scenes for approval process.  
I have been waiting for visa approval since then (about to be 2 weeks after appointment). And I have no clue if there is any problem (if I am a pessimist) or if its the usual waiting period (if I am an optimist). 
So, I keep my fingers crossed and wish you the best of luck.
Regards

Hi,

if your salary will be higher than 52.000,- € per year the ZAV will not give you this letter.

Some caseworkers at the Embassy/Consulate does not know this and ask for this preapproval letter even if you earn more than this.

Here is a text in German which you can use if this happens. It already helped in some cases:

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

ich habe gehört, dass Sie eine Vorabprüfung meiner Bewerbung durch die zuständige Agentur für Arbeit in Deutschland zur Bedingung für die Bearbeitung meines Antrages machen. Mein deutscher Arbeitgeber hat die zuständige Stelle kontaktiert und ihm wurde mitgeteilt, dass eine Vorabprüfung in meinem Fall nicht durchgeführt wird, da ich mehr als 52.000,- € pro Jahr verdienen werde.
Ich bitte Sie also höflich, meine Unterlagen entgegen zu nehmen und zu bearbeiten!
--------
Good luck

Detlef

Thank you Detlef for your post. Please suggest if I did the right thing by submitting the ZAV original letter stating "Approval is not required. Please proceed for EU Blue Card". 
Regards,
SJ

Sure, this is fine.

My text is more for those who do not have such a letter.

Detlef

Thank you so much Detlef for responding.

Does the below mentioned messge on New Delhi Embassy website(https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/-/1803740) means nothing for Blue Card applicants (or people with Gross salary 52.000 EUR)?

Important Information for Master, doctoral and post-doctorate Students, scholarship holders and certain highly skilled professionals!
Certain applicants can now submit their application for a German National Visa directly at the Service Provider VFS Global, thus skipping the wait time for an interview appointment at the German Mission.
If you hail from the jurisdiction of the German Embassy in New Delhi or the German Consulate General in Mumbai, and you
- want to pursue doctoral, post-doctorate or Master studies and have a binding, unconditional admission letter from a German University or
- have been awarded a full scholarship by an official German Institution for higher studies in Germany or
- have a binding contract for a highly qualified employment in Germany and a binding approval letter issued by the competent German labor Authorities -“ZAV-Zustimmung”- (applicants and dependants from the New Delhi Embassy jurisdiction only)
you can schedule an appointment for the submission of your visa application and submit it at the Visa Application Centre in New Delhi or in Mumbai.

Regards,NS

Hello sir, 
My self from india and completed 3 years of diploma in mechanical engineering. Earlier i worked in germany between 2008 to 2015 in IT industry as a design engineer. 
Recently my visa application got rejected saying that dont have degree which is equivalent in germany. 
Could you please let me know what is alternative way to get Germany work visa? 
If i have offer more than 52000 euro salary per year can i get visa with my diploma certificate? 
ZAV approver required if i have offer 52000 euro per year? 
Please reply. 
Thank you. 

Hi NS

Any success? Have you got zav approval? If not how you managed your visa processing?

Regards
ps2931

Hi Pankaj,

I did not get ZAV approval. The agency helping me with my visa processing has had a word with German embassy in New Delhi, and they have confirmed that I need to submit my application in person at the embassy.

So now I am waiting for my appointment date to visit embassy and submit my application.

Regards,
NS

Any solutions u got ?

Hi,

Incase you get a feedback letter from ZAV stating that in your case pre-approval of ZAV is not needed, in that case the appointment can be taken at VFS or still needs to be taken at embassy? 

Sir,
Is there any reference where I can read about this condition because I have the same issue and I dont find any official ZAV site where it has been reference so that I can give reference to my embassy

Thanks

If your have printed letter (and not email) from ZAV, you can very well take appointment at VFS.

Hi Kapil ,
My case is simillar I have appointment on 31 jan and have ZAV letter physical copy stating pre approval is not needed as I am eligible for BLU Card. 
Can I still visit directly VFS office ? as Embassy appointment is available after 5 months

Hi Mr Khan,
Did you get the appointment in VFS and they accepted your documents ?
Thanks
Ravinder
Hello , Please reply I am still struggling to find the answer.

Anyone can you please reply whether I can Visit with ZAV mentioning "pre approval not required and eligible for Blu Card" in VFS New Delhi office?

Hello SJ,
I am in the situation where my employer had informed me that they have sent my visa documents (including educational certificates and Contract) to the German Immigration Authority and authority will send their result to employer office as well as German Embassy New Delhi.
Now, yesterday they informed me that they got positive feedback from the German Immigration Authority and asked me to attend the appointment which you had booked earlier.
So shall i ask my employer to share the copy of that approval which they got from German Immigration Authority.
Is that required copy of approval at the time of attending appointment as they already informed that German Immigration Authority will send it to German Embassy New Delhi.
Please reply.
Thanks in advance.

Hi,

you will need the original letter. This is stated on the letter itself and your employer should know.

Your employer should send the document as a copy ahead by mail and then by courier to you, that you can present it at your appointment.

Good luck

Detlef

Hello Detlef,
Many thanks for the reply.
I asked for pre approval letter from the employer and they sent me the scan copy over the mail and told me original letter will be sent from German Immigration Authority to German Consulate New Delhi.
Now I hope having original pre approval letter this should not be a matter of issue.
Please reply.
Thanks again.

Hi Sachin.
Did you give your original qualifications certificates (Post gradute/graduation certificates) to your German employer for the application of ZAV letter OR did you give to your german employer only the scanned copies of your qualification certificates?/
Regards,
Aman

Scanned copies are sufficient!
Good luck

Detlef

Only this link asks for ZAV from people applying for Long term Work visa,
https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/-/1803740

I did not find mention of ZAV in any of the official German Visa sites. Is ZAV really needed for people with matching educational degrees with German universities and more than 53k salary?