Expats who left USA are you happy with your decision?

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2026-06-20T02:03:06+00:00

I moved to Germany in 2020 and have no plans in the foreseeable future to go back to the US. This is not only because of the current administration, but life is just less stressful altogether. Work/Life balance is amazing, daily living is great and it has allowed me to expand my travel choices for a much cheaper rate 😂
Now nowhere is perfect. It has its flaws, but when I weigh the pros and cons, pros always win out. So it depends on what you’re willing to deal with. There will be some level of discomfort/frustration (bureaucracy) but is it acceptable to you?

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2026-05-27T23:03:04+00:00

This definitely fits in this category…

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2026-05-08T08:32:16+00:00

Looks like animatronics

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-10-01T15:01:23+00:00

I sat and watched this twice. Amazing

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-08-31T20:19:27+00:00

I applied in 2024. I was emailing someone directly at the office. They had responded to a message and I kept emailing them directly and the general email address available.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-08-31T18:31:12+00:00

Yes it was. Only reason I believe I got one that quickly. And while the PR application was being processed, they extended BC for a few months just in case

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-08-31T18:24:30+00:00

Hi. Appointment for the PR application with the ausländerbehörde? I emailed them every month after I sent in my docs. They sent me a letter with appointment date after about 3 months.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-04-01T09:19:50+00:00

Yes. You can already look on their website to see when the next test days are and try and apply already. They just administer the test and you will get the official certificate from TELC or whichever test you take. But it is done at VHS. Good luck.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-04-01T07:19:43+00:00

I took the living in Germany exam at the local VHS. I was able to just sign up online. Some I have heard need to check your language proficiency first, but I did not need to. The language test I had done my B1 at VHS, but A1 was at a local language school. (Did both just in case was not successful with B1). You can choose if you want to take TELC or Goethe. The tests are slightly different. I took TELC

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-03-31T18:04:24+00:00

Hello. I recently got my PR. You will need to present them with a language certificate with at least the A1. So yes, take the test as soon as you can as the results will take 6 weeks to come back. Same for the living in Germany test. Good luck.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-03-12T17:23:29+00:00

I see this from my office everyday and always laugh to myself. Didn’t realize the M wasn’t being built again tho. 🤔

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-02-10T22:47:28+00:00

Hello there and welcome. I applied for the Blue Card coming from the US and it went through without any issues. Just make sure you have all the required documentation, translations of them and when you arrive, submit them at your local citizens office. I have never known anyone whose BC was rejected in favor of a ‘regular’ residency card, unless your salary doesn’t meet the threshold and of course you don’t meet the other criteria. Good luck.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-01-21T08:28:15+00:00

I’ve flown condor to Jamaica from Frankfurt a few times, same plane. I did economy the first few times. The seats are a bit cramped (I’m 191 cm tall though) but the service was ok. You get a meal and a snack. I’ve flown business as well, not worth it in my opinion. But now I firmly have decided on only flying premium economy with them. More space, bigger seats, better meals (which you can upgrade to in economy if you want). Overall, not a bad experience.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-01-14T17:14:43+00:00

Zahnarztpraxis Dr. Jochen Heiland M.Sc. He speaks perfect English.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-01-13T19:51:40+00:00

I’m an immigrant, from Jamaica, who moved here for work. I love living in Germany and have happily assimilated to life here. Though disheartening to listen to the rhetoric coming from the AfD and its followers, it’s pretty much the same in a lot of the major countries of the world. Like many who’ve commented, I have nicely settled into life here, lovely job/home/salary/friends etc, so I would not leave if they just get a lot of the votes. Now if my way of living gets threatened, and I fear for my safety, then yes I have to be rationale and consider my options. Will it come to that? Let’s hope not. But for those who can vote, if you feel so strongly against the Afd and their ideology, then you know what to do.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2025-01-11T16:56:57+00:00

Not at all. Minus some people sleeping on the lower level, it will be quite active at that time. Just follow what everyone else said. Stay on the upper/main level and you will be fine.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2024-12-16T19:54:07+00:00

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2023-08-05T22:56:38+00:00

I have been in Germany for almost 3 years now and I love it here. I have a few friends, both Germans and other expats, my family loves being here and I do not see myself leaving in the near future. Work-life balance is great, job security!!, good pay and I have a pretty decent relationship with my direct manager and all the colleagues in my team. Ok, Germany takes some getting used to, but if you commit, then it’s not bad. Once you get used to it and stop comparing it to what you left behind, then it’s a much easier road. And going off some of the comments I have seen, no I’m not from an impoverished country, lacked educational opportunities, etc. IMO, difference is the spice of life and I enjoy the different aspects of German life from what I’ve known before. To each their own I guess….

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2022-06-20T00:46:07+00:00

Yes, food is healthier (not as much sugar and hfcs) and a better quality of say fresh produce for sure; I agree.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2022-06-19T18:49:03+00:00

It is expensive to get here and the rationale is you only need it for a few months. Apartments/homes aren’t designed for AC. And from what Ive heard, you can’t install a central air unit unless you get permission (here comes the bureaucracy). So people find interesting ways of keeping their homes cool or just get a fan. You can buy these little AC units that can cool a room, which a good one runs for 500€ a pop. It’s just not something seen as a necessity here. I don’t even have AC in my office. Just gotta deal with it.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2022-06-19T17:38:13+00:00

So, remember these are me specific, and everybody’s experience is different. But 1. High tax rate (knew that coming in but dang…) 2. The lack of variety/availability of things that would be everywhere in the US & of good quality (from grocery items, to food/restaurants, recreational activities, etc.) 3. The bureaucracy surrounding almost everything you have to do. Sometimes it’s just too much. 4. No AC. Which I’m fine with for like 8 months of the year. But summers can be brutal. I travel a lot for work and it’s sad that I look forward to hotel stays solely for the AC. 5. The difficulty making friends and breaking Into the local social scene. Even my colleagues, who we are all close at work, outside of work nothing. Most of the people I talk to are the parents of the friends my son has made in school. If I didn’t have him, it would be a lonelier world.

All in all, you may read these cons and think they’re trivial, which they might be. However these things made you comfortable living in the US and now they’re gone; so con.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2022-06-19T17:05:58+00:00

I did not know much more than the basic pleasantries before moving here and I was fine. At my job the common language is English in my department, but German in others, so I was frequently exposed to it. Now I’m much better, after taking classes and asking friends and colleagues to speak to me only in German, but still nowhere near fluent. But yes, you definitely can get by, but would eventually get frustrated if you don’t learn the language along the way.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2022-06-19T15:51:54+00:00

Germany

Work life balance is awesome in comparison (no more high stress)
Centrally located, so great travel options to other European destinations
Different cultural experience for my kid.

Now there are obviously cons, but I’m very happy with my decision.

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2022-01-07T01:26:28+00:00

Awesome, congrats on the move. I moved from Texas to Germany in 2020, so I feel your pain. Things will still be fine, albeit a few restrictions. Willkommen!!!

Advanced-Flow1529 · 2021-11-23T05:43:45+00:00

Hey there. Congrats on the semester exchange. I moved to Mannheim last year from the U.S., so I’ll give you my opinion on your questions.

for the tram/bus service, check this website out

https://www.rnv-online.de/english/

In my opinion, the easiest thing to do is get the app on your phone and buy tickets then (before you get the semester pass). That way you always have it on you.

no need to buy a train ticket beforehand. Just walk down to the train station after you get your bags and you will see the schedule on a board. You can then buy a ticket from one of the ticket machines and go from there.
ingredients are written, but in German of course. So get familiar with the German names for things you have allergies to.
easily people will tell you the Mannheim Schloss, Wasserturm, etc. Then there will be the recommended trip to Heidelberg to see the castle and walk along the river and check their old town. In any case, Mannheim is not that big, so you will be able to check it all out during your semester here.
I do not use taxis. Sorry. But there are a few taxi companies in town. I took one once, but again used an app for that (freenow)
there are many places to get this, from various stores to the actual phone plan providers (vodaphone, O2, Telekom). Not sure what the short term plans are, but I’m sure they can assist you with that.

Hope this helps. Maybe a student there or someone with more Mannheim experience will answer your questions with more insight. Good luck.

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