Good day,

I was hoping that someone could give me some advice, as I have asked almost everywhere and read up as much as my head can handle!
Background: My husband is a British citizen, I am South African and we live in South Africa. We want to move to Germany. Our plan is to learn German, get my husband a job and then move together when he found one.
Problem: Sadly it's not so easy. I found out that I will have to get the family reunification visa. This visa is supposed to be meant for those who want to reunite with someone. I have no intention of separating with my husband.
The family reunification visa takes around 3 months. If my husband is to get a job, he will probably be lucky if they allow him to start only in a month's time, never mind 3 months. This means separation, leaving me alone to sell everything and do the visa things. This was supposed to be a family ordeal.
Yet I keep reading that people just get the 3 month visa, which I believe is probably the spousal visa, and then they get the residence permit after registering. Easy. I have asked the embassy about this, but they said its not possible to do this, even though I read of others doing this. I just can't believe that the only way to go to Germany is to separate. Why can't a family migrate together? By the way, I do not trust the answer I got was necessarily correct, as my husband and I have gone through the embassy's false information before in order for him to stay here; however it seems to be true when I look around for answers. I just want to know what the truth is. Can I get the spousal visa (short term) and then within the 3 months I am allowed to stay in Germany apply for the residence permit? Or must I get the family reunification visa (long term) and then apply for the residence permit once in Germany? Maybe I am even missing something?

Also, I read another forum where a man said that he is worried as he needs a job before he can renew his permit. Must I have a job or can my husband take care of me? Is there a minimum amount of money we must either have in the bank or get per month?

Thank you very much!

Your husband needs an `German income certificate so that he can finance you in Germany.

But you should learn German. German Lession 1 - 22 at youtube, german-lernen.com and learn-german.com.