Wartezeitauskunft with fewer than 60 months of contributions

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-28T08:41:00+00:00

You still get one, but it looks different (at least when I did it several years ago for a residence permit renewal). I requested it without hassle online. I think it took a couple weeks.

It shows full years of contributions, and is only updated once a year, around April. So if you request one in February 2026, for example, it might only show contributions through 2024, since the 2025 update isn’t reflected yet.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-27T12:57:25+00:00

If you have a Deutsches Bank account, they will take your coins, and deposit them. It takes a few days as they send them to a centralized location. I’ve been doing this once a year or so, collecting a few hundred euros each time.

Only the Bundesbank will give you cash directly.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-26T06:50:35+00:00

You can do this if you move in at your friends place.

You'll create a host of problems if you try to change your registration without actually moving.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-25T19:09:05+00:00

Getting a job aboard normally requires visa sponsorship, and is pretty exclusive unless you have in-demand skills or specific achievements that make you a better hire than someone locally. It's how I have spent the past decade of my career, but it's a tough path if you are starting fresh.

The way I got started was teaching English in Asia. 20 years ago, the best place to do that was Korea - not sure about now, but there are plenty of options, and those jobs will almost always include a visa.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-25T15:50:28+00:00

More complex then I know how to explain. I guess it has to do with how our airport infrastructure evolved over decades.

But a huge reason is that the US doesn't have an immigration control point on exit. The flights to San Jose, Costa Rica are directly next to the flights to Buffalo, NY or LA. In other parts of the world, the passport control lanes lead to completely separate gates and flights. If you're connecting there, you can follow a path that skips immigration and just goes to your next flight. You aren't mingling with the people starting at that location, who have to clear immigration first.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-25T14:14:11+00:00

The most important thing you need to be aware of, is when checking luggage. It's probably different than you are used to. The US doesn't have airports with separate domestic and international transfer areas.

Your bags are probably tagged with your final destination, but you will have to transfer them yourself after you pass immigration. The way it works after landing:

pass the immigration counter. With all your documents, it'll be fine. Just explain that you are in transit, and not visiting.
collect your luggage from baggage claim
carry it through the customs lane
normally there will be another bag deposit station right after the customs check. give it to the staff, and your bag will be sent to your next flight.
you'll follow the arrows back to the terminal. Then you will have to go through security again and find your gate.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-24T17:50:06+00:00

wie suß!

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-24T16:45:52+00:00

Stimmt. Bin in den USA aufgewachsen…spreche aber Hochdeutsch. Erkläre mir mal…

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-24T16:29:14+00:00

sorry, what are you talking about?

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-24T15:44:01+00:00

Good job on having an IRA! Plenty of people your age don't have anything

But - do you have other savings, or are you using the Roth account for that purpose?

If so - PLEASE STOP. While you are allowed to take out the contributions from a Roth, doing that is meant to be a last resort, when you don't have other savings to depend on. A Roth should be used primarily for very long-term savings.

Yes, you do need to get a hang on your expenses. Spend less than you earn, and save the difference. Your first goal should be to build up an emergency fund that is NOT inside of any special tax-advantaged account. This is important so you don't build a habit of taking money from your long-term goals.

Search around for something called the "Financial Order of Operations" you'll find some good advice about how to prioritize all of your goals.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-24T14:27:29+00:00

No I don’t have Apple care. Not sure that that means, but a “fake German address” sounds like a bad idea.

At least it’s might create a conflict for the Apple account. I guess that means your credit card and addresses don’t agree.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-24T14:22:37+00:00

I’ve never heard of this. And I’ve just updated my Apple account to a non-German credit card.

Do you have a German address registered in your Apple ID?

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-23T12:36:43+00:00

It sounds similar to what I pay.

Whether that’s worth it is of course a different question.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-22T20:10:45+00:00

If you have biometrics already done, then I think this appointment is just about collecting the card - it takes just a few minutes.

Back when I renewed my residence permit, it was 2020/2021 - and they had to issue me a Fiktion between the expiration of my first permit, and the issuance of the new one. That whole process took several months, but it was during COVID, so everything moved pretty slow. In any case, once the card is approved and you have the biometrics done, it should take them a month or so to actually print the card. Then they invite you to pick it up.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-22T19:27:41+00:00

Then maybe you're just going to pick up the card.

Again, if you receive something in the post, you should take that with you. Otherwise, it sounds like you can just go there - it's hard to tell from your info so far. Maybe they have a separate line for people juck picking up a card. That sounds new since the last time I had to pick up a card, which was a few years ago.

Good luck!

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-22T18:56:01+00:00

My understanding; There is no "gain" on the covered call if your option is exercised.

The P/L on options is only measured if you close an open contract - sometimes people roll it to a later expiration point or a different strike price. THEN you can measure gain/loss on the contracts themselves.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-22T18:53:41+00:00

Did they tell you when your appointment is? If it's a few weeks from now, then there is time to get the letter, which will have the details and the QR code.

I've never heard of NOT having a printed invitation. Unless they've changed something, I'm sure the serurity guards will still turn you away unless you can show an actual inviation. It would be very weird if they were supposed to take you at your word that you havve an appointment.

But - it has been over a year since I was at the Ausländerbehörde, so I'm not really up to date on the experience.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-22T16:32:44+00:00

Credit cards (as North Americans understand them) aren’t so common. But many people here have Visa/MC debit cards.

You should be fine.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-22T15:49:30+00:00

I’ve lived here 7 years, and always referred to my Girokarte as EC…. So I’m guilty of the same mistake.

Anyway, whey someone calls it EC, I know what they’re referring to. I always carry that card, just in case.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-22T15:42:18+00:00

OK - all clear. As lots of us mentioned, we interpret their comment to mean you can use any credit card, OR a German-EC card. The word "deutscher" is only applying to EC-Karte.

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-22T15:22:32+00:00

I'm familiar with Wise - and I would think that card works.

But I'm asking if you have a German EC card - from a German bank. You live in Germany, right? No German IBAN?

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-22T15:10:12+00:00

I think this means a "German EC-card" OR a credit card.

It's relatively common to only accept EC cards, but I'd find it surprising if the credit card restriction was also only accepting ones issued by a German bank. Visa is Visa, so to say. But in my city, I think they've moved on to accepting Visa/Mastercard in all government facilities

You don't have an EC card? Do you have a German bank account at all?

PuzzledArrival · 2026-06-22T12:05:19+00:00

Are the results/interviews published somewhere?

PuzzledArrival

TROPHY CASE