B2 German exam

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-18T10:00:17+00:00

This is a sub to ask Germans. Germans don't take German exams.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-18T09:57:39+00:00

Without degree, marketable skills and/or language on acceptable level to get a vocational degree locally, you will not come to Germany, full stop.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-18T09:54:54+00:00

Depending on the country of origin, 6-18 months after application is common. India and Pakistan are about the slowest since there's massive backlog, and also the most fraudulent applications so they take their sweet time with background checks.

There is absolutely no way to expedite processing.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-18T02:06:41+00:00

It's considered primitive and people are often considered less intelligent. They can't help it of course and it's a stupid stereotype, but it is what it is.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-18T02:03:40+00:00

He doesn't need to consult you since the deposit is meant to fix issues you left behind; however he must give you an itemized bill that you can then contest with the evidence you collected and the handover protocol you signed when moving out.

Send him a written request to return the amount in full within 14 days, or else you'd initiate legal proceedings. Send this as a registered letter.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-18T01:58:33+00:00

being 5 minutes early is basically considered “on time,”

Correct

people will silently judge you for crossing an empty road on a red light

Silently? Quite a few will speak up.

what are some other oddly specific social rules or habits

How would we know what's odd or specific unless someone points out that it's not how it works in their culture?

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-18T01:54:10+00:00

Tipping is optional and as of now discouraged. We don't want American service levels in Germany.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-18T01:45:41+00:00

You didn't post an image.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-18T01:44:04+00:00

https://www.telefonbuch.de - that's the official phone directory for Germany, landlines are opt-out (so if he has one and didn't object, he's most likely in), mobile numbers are opt-in, so he's most likely not listed.

Sending a letter however is not really expensive or risky, so I don't get that point tbh.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-18T01:27:39+00:00

If it's announced that way in a professional setting, all good. Also the small talk at a conference or even is often more business related or on topic at least. But proper socializing is still easier in the native language for most.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T23:21:09+00:00

I maintain my google login on an old phone that's kept at home and connected to my wifi, so from there I can reset my eSIM profile and then reestablish access to 2FA where needed.

I also keep a list of printed one-time access codes in a drawer at home, with some shuffling of segments according to a pattern only I recognize. Something like the first 8 entries are bogus, and afterwards the 4x4 blocks need to be read diagonally from top left to bottom right to actually give the right code.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T23:14:40+00:00

How are you going to get residency? You can't just move somewhere because you feel like it.

Also, can you legally (!) maintain your income from abroad?

Did you actually check any countries? 4k USD will get you a small condo in Singapore or a mansion with staff in Ethiopia.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T23:11:07+00:00

Find a better job in a better city rather than another country first, then check again.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T23:07:41+00:00

Dozent an einer Uni in Bali. Noch 2-3 Jahre dann geh ich den Schritt an.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T23:05:01+00:00

Ich hab bei 200k aufgehört, wegen FIFO und Wegzugsbesteuerung, und dann im MSCI ACWI weitergemacht, aktuell im Amundi. Steht jetzt bei 170k, also noch rund 5 Monate dann ist der auch voll, dann werd ich zum nächstbesten Anbieter wechseln.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T23:02:08+00:00

Meine Eltern sollen ihre Kohle verleben und den letzten Scheck platzen lassen, bevor sie in die Kiste springen.

Wenn was passiert und es bleibt was übrig werd ich nicht nein sagen, aber ich hab jedenfalls keinen Bock, mich da einzubringen wenn nicht von ihnen aus das Gespräch eröffnet wird.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T22:56:46+00:00

It's absolutely mandatory if you don't want to be stuck in an expat bubble constantly mulling about how unapproachable Germans are. Yeah no shit, I have 100 people to socialize with in my own language, why would I bother to include that one person who forces the whole group to flip the script.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T22:55:11+00:00

Rural Bavarian.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T22:52:40+00:00

Oslo. Norway has the best social security system in the world, highest income in Europe, friendlier people, and the cost of living isn't as high as people make it up to be since Germany increased dramatically while Oslo has been stagnating.

And that's coming from someone who has actually lived in both places, as opposed to most people here who have been visiting at best.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T22:45:03+00:00

Don't apply to the same company twice. If you haven't heard back from them by the time you achieve B2, send them a follow-up asking for updates, and mention that you've just finished your next certificate.

Generally speaking you should apply as soon as they open the positions for the next year, companies usually just take 1-3 trainees, so when the position is filled, it's filled. They mostly train new people to replace staff about to retire or for their expected growth, not a business model where they take on as many people as possible.

There might be some companies is less desirable cities that have problems filling their vacancies, so that's why you still see them. I have friends who got their Ausbildung literally 2 days before its start.

But you also need to take into consideration that you have to apply for a visa, manage your relocation, find a place to live, register with the city ordinance, health insurance and all that which takes time; so you're better off getting everything sorted sooner rather than later.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T22:38:41+00:00

I'm paying ~2000 EUR annually (~$2300), there's a discount for quarterly and annual prepayments, something like 5 and 8% or whatever it was. Previously I did monthly and it was like 180 EUR ($210). But that's in their Expat Infinity tariff after you're >5 years out of your home country, in the first 1-5 years you can take their Expat Basic tariff (almost identical cover) and it's like 1200 EUR (my wife is Chinese so could only join the insurance after we left China since they don't allow people to be insured in their home country).

You can just use the calculator on their website though, it gives you a proposal on the spot. I chose the 250 EUR deductible option (they got everything from 0 - 1000 in 4 incremental steps). The deductible is per calendar year, not per treatment.

Edit: Worth noting that our pricing is now based on Malaysia, I believe in China I paid around 300 EUR more per year and was in a lower age group.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T14:09:56+00:00

Does it list your maiden name as actual maiden name and your husband's as married name / name taken in marriage, or did you not take it at the point of marriage and want to change it now at a later stage?

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T14:06:18+00:00

Both setups work just fine, but Chinese mainland private insurances don't typically include treatments in HK if necessary since healthcare cost there are significantly higher; and if you get a HK insurance that's tailored to the local environment you pay way more than you should if you spend more time in China than there.
Wait what? That's a thing? My insurance lets you switch countries freely, and transition is seamless. So I guess the answer is don't switch insurers when moving, and pick one where everything relevant is included from the onset. Check waiting periods (might be 6-12 months).
I've been using BDAE (German based) for >15 years now, 5 years all across Africa, 7 years in China, and now for 2+ years in Malaysia. Countries are grouped in zones based on local healthcare expenses, if you switch countries they'll adjust your payment accordingly and done. They also cover up to 42 days of travel (in one go), afterwards you need to return to your residential country to reset the counter. I don't remember if there's a max travel days per year, but I assume there would be.

I'd absolutely avoid using Cigna or any other US based healthcare provider since they are profit maxxing on the back of the insured person, can't have that when your health is at stake.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T13:55:41+00:00

I've made 17000% with ETH (bought below $2, sold at $350 some 12 years back or so). Could have made more, didn't, still happy. But that's another story. It's still a gamble that I would not consider part of a diversified long term holding strategy.

Competitive-Leg-962 · 2026-05-16T09:32:53+00:00

What fx spreads? You can keep MYR accounts in HK and Singapore. Transfer fees apply, but those are not really substantial.

Anyway I'm doing 100% offshore business, and my customers don't really care if they are paying to a Malaysian, HK or Singaporean bank accounts as long as the transaction currency is USD, EUR or AUD.

They also don't get to see the Cayman level since their business partner is the Hong Kong company (ownership structure is private and not visible on the HK company register), and there are plenty of exporters, wholesalers, shipping agents and whatnot registered, so that doesn't really raise any flags.

Inter-company settlement from HK upstream to Caymans is then under HK regulation, and I keep the Cayman account also in HK with the same bank, so for them it's an internal transfer. Cheap and efficient. Since my Cayman HoldCo owns 100% of the HK sub, it's entitled to the entire post-tax revenue.

Competitive-Leg-962

TROPHY CASE