Hi there, I'm looking for some help in relation to my Working Holiday Visa (WHV) application.
I am an Australian citizen under 30. In August of 2024 I arrived in Berlin using my 90 Schengen Zone days, and subsequently organised all my paperwork necessary to apply for the WHV visa from within Germany.
The process for booking an appointment with the Berlin State Office for Immigration (LEA), Friedrich-Krause-Ufer, changed in August of 2024 to an online contact form, from the previous booking system.
https://www.berlin.de/einwanderung/ueber-uns/kontakt/artikel.1394180.php
https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/305265/standort/121885/en/
I submitted my application on September 27 2024, via the B7 contact form available on the Berlin immigration website, along with all required documentation. Upon submission, I was taken to a webpage that said:
"Thank you for your inquiry. We will try to answer you as soon as possible;" but no email or other form of confirmation.
Now that a few weeks have passed, and I haven't heard anything, I'm becoming anxious about the progress of my visa application, and whether I completed all the steps properly (especially as I am unable to work until I receive the visa).
Additionally, I need to leave Germany for three weeks in November/ December for a University study tour, so am anxious to have a visa outcome before this.
So my questions are:
Has anyone had any success getting an appointment under the new system, and what was the timeframe from application to appointment?
How long did you wait to hear back (from time of application) from the Berlin Immigration office?
Is it worth me trying to call the office to check on the progress of my application?
Thank you so much for your help and advice!
by jess__ryan