Hi, please could I ask for your advice on my situation? I have looked on official and non-official websites, called the embassy.. all of them either conflicting info or too vague. I'm now in panic striken mode! Any advice is really appreciated!!

This is my situation. I am a South African woman, obviously a non EU country. My fiancee, who is American was transfered to Germany in July, for a 2-3 year work post.

We would obviously very much like to be together. This means I have to move to Germany.

I'm just not sure what visa to apply for with the most sucess and of course, to get there fastest? (Long distance relationships are terrible..)So thank you for reading this long mail. I really am desparate for advise. I have to get back to our partner company a.s.a.p and I know it'll take months before all this is processed. The time aspect makes me ill to think of how long till I see my fiancee again. So I really appreciate any help.

I work in the field of energy management. I am in an executive position in a smallish company here. it is quite a specialised field, we help companies find ways to save on enrgy costs, with the help of consulting and technology. I don't think there is much of this in Germany, and would love to expand my company there. What are my options? Could I get a self-employed work visa? What are the requirements for this? Or if I said we want to open a branch there? This is something we could train germans in and create potential jobs. I should mention that I have no formal technical training certificates to give them. Only on the job experience.

My other option work wise is as follows: We have a partner company with 3 branches in Germany. None near where we will live. They might be able to help me with a work visa, but how? Could they create a consultancy position for me? Would this allow me to work and live in separate areas? What does a company have to do to aquire a work visa for a non EU citizen? They have asked me to supply the relevant information.

My only other options would be not to work. How would I be able to secure a residency visa without a work visa? My finacee is luckily quite able to support me. Could a declaration of liabilty do?Should I apply for a language course visa?

Also, I have been told that you can apply for a "tourist visa", which is 90 days, then leave the country, get stamped and re-apply. I know I sound stupid (feeling it right now) but how does this work? Would i just have to cross a European border? Not go all the way home? Is it actually possible?

Thanks again...

Hi,

please check these links from the German Foreign and Interior Ministry:

http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/en/index_html

http://www.zuwanderung.de/english/index.html

Here you will find many usefull information. If you decide to open up a branch in Germany... trust7 provides all necessary services:

http://www.trust7.com/en/services/representative_offices

and

http://www.t7office.com/index.html

A business visa for 6 month is relatively easy to get and a good first step to get a self dependant permission.

Good luck
Detlef

Thanks so much for the info -I appreciate the speedy response! I have been going through it all and trying to see the best options.

I have just a few questions before I can move forward with my proposal.

What is the minimum wage that the company needs to offer, that those considering my visa will be happy with?This is if me if they offer me a job as a consultant? Could they say they are giving me a very very low basic and that the rest would be commsion based? Would we have to specify the amounts to be earned?

Thank you again for your quick response!

In the work contract the company will need to specify a salary thats the minimum requirement.

On commissions,gifts etc...i doubt if it will be evalutated.

This said, This forum assits folks, like u and me and thousands of others. VPMK lawyers are pretty conversant with this. Please work with them to resolve as your case will need a judicious paperwork and you are away !!