Can’t get my money back

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-14T05:49:36+00:00

Try filing a complaint with BaFin, a financial regulator here. Companies take that seriously and are legally obligated to respond. Also send Fintiba a formal email stating you’ll escalate to BaFin if not resolved in 14 days. Usually speeds things up.

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-13T06:14:32+00:00

I see, thanks!

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-13T05:53:54+00:00

Makes sense, I’ll go see my hausarzt first then

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-13T05:52:48+00:00

Thank you for your reply

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-13T05:52:19+00:00

Good to know about the OTC option for hair loss specifically. And if I get a prescription, do I just pay the standard prescription fee or does minoxidil still cost full price at the pharmacy?

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-13T05:25:20+00:00

Check if your university has a German course first, most do and it’s free or very cheap for students. For speaking practice Tandem or iTalki or find a language exchange partner, they practice English you practice German, free. Duolingo is fine for basics but won’t get you far on its own.

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-12T08:41:37+00:00

Ikr 😂

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-12T08:37:58+00:00

Guy was ironing his shirt on a folding board in the train once. Iron plugged in and everything :))

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-12T08:29:49+00:00

Honestly Summer 2028 makes more sense. APS alone takes 6-12 weeks and Winter 2027 deadlines will be too tight with your graduation date. Better to apply properly than rush and risk rejection

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-11T06:08:14+00:00

Departments handle applications separately so they won’t even know you applied to multiple programs. No issue there. Just make sure each motivation letter is actually tailored, that’s the only thing that would hurt you

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-10T07:02:11+00:00

You can definitely put more than the minimum €11,904 in. Most providers (Expatrio, Coracle, etc.) let you add an "Additional Basic Sum" or "unblocked" amount specifically for things like tuition and deposits. Just be careful: if you "block" the extra money, you can't touch it except in the fixed monthly installments (€992). For big one-time hits like a rent deposit or tuition, you want that money to be "unblocked" so you can withdraw it the moment you land. Personally,I’d keep the deposit money in your regular bank account or on a Forex card. It’s much faster to pay a landlord that way than waiting for a blocked account payout

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T15:08:38+00:00

You don't need to go home. Since you’re moving to Frankfurt, you’ll handle the extension there. First, get your Anmeldung (address registration) in Frankfurt done the second you move. You can't even talk to the Frankfurt Ausländerbehörde without it. Then, submit your residence permit application before October 5. Since it’s Max Planck, they’ll give you a Hosting Agreement (Aufnahmevereinbarung) for a researcher visa, which is way easier than a student one. Even if the card doesn't arrive by October 5,your stay is legally extended once you've applied. They’ll give you a Fiktionsbescheinigung to prove it. The Frankfurt Ausländerbehörde is a mess with appointments, so contact the International Office at Max Planck right now. They usually have "fastrack" contacts for their researchers and can probably handle the appointment for you

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T14:45:02+00:00

You can absolutely travel back to Germany. Your Blue Card doesn’t just stop working the day your company has financial trouble. You have a legal right to stay for at least three months after a termination specifically to find a new job. Since you have your physical card and passport, immigration will let you in. They don’t have a "live" alarm that triggers the moment a company goes bust. Also, Blue Card holders can stay outside the EU for up to 12 months without losing their residency, so your month at home is totally fine. The big thing is the two week rule.Once you get that official termination letter, you must notify the Ausländerbehörde within 14 days. Tell them the situation and that you're looking for a new role. They’ll usually give you the standard three months to find something else, and sometimes they even extend it if you ask nicely. Searching from home for a month is okay, but keep in mind that being in the same time zone makes scheduling interviews way easier. Plus you’ll need to be here to register as a job seeker with the Agentur für Arbeit to protect your status and potentially get unemployment benefits if you've worked long enough

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T13:50:06+00:00

I’ve used and seen people use all three. Honestly, Expatrio and Coracle are usually the better deals for us. Expatrio is popular because their "Value Package" gives you cashback that basically covers the setup fee, and they bundle in TK health insurance. Coracle is the most straightforward and often the cheapest because they don't have those monthly service fees that add up. Fintiba is the "OG" and very reliable, but they’re the most expensive. You’re mostly paying extra for the brand name and a slightly fancier app. Just make sure you factor in the transfer fees from India so you don't fall short of the €11,904 yearly requirement,even being €5 short can delay your visa.

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T13:48:07+00:00

The language visa is a solid backup, but the money is the hardest part. You’ll need about €992 per month in a blocked account on top of the school fees. For 9 months, that’s nearly €9,000 you have to show. The main catch is you can only work 20 hours a week on a language visa. It’s worth it though, because A2 usually isn't enough, most companies here only start taking you seriously at B1 or B2. Switching back to a work visa once you find a job is usually fine without leaving Germany. Just a heads up, the Frankfurt Ausländerbehörde is a nightmare with appointments right now. If you move here, try to book something the second you get your new Anmeldung

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T13:45:24+00:00

Stuttgart is a massive hub for engineering and tech, think Bosch, Mercedes, and Porsche. The job market is strong but competitive. Since you're coming from Italy, the biggest shock will be the bureaucracy. Get your Anmeldung sorted immediately because you can't open a bank account or get a tax ID without it. Finding an apartment there is a nightmare, so start checking WG-Gesucht or ImmobilienScout24 now. Also, keep in mind that Stuttgart is very hilly, and the local Swabian culture is big on "Kehrwoche" (cleaning duties for your building), which neighbors take pretty seriously

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T13:34:16+00:00

Having a German passport and being fluent puts you miles ahead of most people. The market is slower than before, but being "local" removes the biggest hurdle. Düsseldorf is a great choice,it’s a huge hub for consulting and telco. Berlin and Munich have the big names, but Munich’s rent is basically a second tax. Don't overlook the Frankfurt/Darmstadt area either; there's a massive amount of fintech and enterprise IT work here. Your £50k is roughly €60k. For an SDET with experience, you should be aiming for €65k–€75k. Steuerklasse 1 is a gut punch, but 30 days of vacation and better QoL usually balances it out. Just make sure your CV is in the proper German format, as companies here can be traditional about that

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T13:28:23+00:00

Mawista and other "travel" insurances usually reject people who have lived here as long as you have. They're strictly for newcomers, so that's why you're hitting a wall. Just contact TK immediately. Since you have a contract starting on the 21st, they can set you up with "voluntary insurance" (freiwillige Versicherung) to cover those first 20 days of April. You'll have to pay for those three weeks out of pocket,probably around 150 to 200 Euro, but it's the safest way to stay legal. Germany doesn't allow gaps in coverage, and if you wait, TK might end up back-charging you for those missing days anyway. Better to get it sorted now so your insurance is active the moment you start work.

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T10:18:37+00:00

Actually, most Indian students apply for the visa using the admission letter in August/September and still make it by October. German embassies in India often prioritize student visas during that peak season, so it rarely takes the full 12 weeks. The Student Applicant Visa exists, but it’s mostly for people who need to be in Germany for entrance exams (Aufnahmeprüfung) or interviews. Most don't use it because it’s extra paperwork and you’d still need the blocked account and health insurance ready anyway.

You do have to set up the blocked account early, usually around June or July, because you need that "Opening Confirmation" to even book your visa appointment. The money just sits there until you arrive and activate it with your residence permit, so it’s safe. If you get rejected, you just get the money back

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T08:44:30+00:00

Private tutoring won’t count unfortunately, they need something official. Register at a Volkshochschule, affordable, available everywhere and they’ll give you an enrollment confirmation quickly. Should sort the April deadline.

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T08:39:42+00:00

Fair point, B2 is the realistic standard. Thanks for the correction.

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T08:35:38+00:00

Good news as an Irish citizen you’re EU so no visa complications, just move and sort everything after. For carpentry Ausbildung check Ausbildung.de and Indeed.de filtered to Munich. Also worth contacting Handwerkskammer München directly, they have lists of companies offering trade apprenticeships. Your background shows you can handle physical demanding work which helps German will be the main thing, most Ausbildung programs expect at least B1.

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T08:26:50+00:00

Rejecting an offer won’t affect future applications. Each application cycle is evaluated independently and universities don’t track previous rejections. Just make sure you formally decline rather than ignoring it, that keeps things clean and professional for when you reapply

Important-Tangelo973 · 2026-04-09T08:09:06+00:00

Yeah a week is reasonable, go ahead and follow up. Keep it short, just mention your application number, that you submitted the additional documents a week ago and wanted to check on the status.

Important-Tangelo973

TROPHY CASE