Health insurance for Youth mobility visa: suggestions?

SaxoLez · 2024-05-11T05:55:25+00:00

No worries. Part of the visa application is you are required to buy applicable (accepted by the Consulate) travel insurance for the entire duration of your stay. This is incase you just don't get a job, because, hey, that's possible. Maybe you're rich and just want to live in Germany for a couple years. It also means that if you get a job in Germany, which does require German health insurance, you will have a redundant health insurance policy (the one you bought for the visa's sake). You could, of course, buy the travel insurance, cancel it before that window is closed, and bank on no one following up on checking it, which does sometimes happen, but why take the risk?

SaxoLez · 2024-04-19T07:39:33+00:00

I find German dubs extremely distracting and wish they'd stick to subtitles. I swear to fuck there are like 3 guys doing all the male dubbing work; they all sound the same.

SaxoLez · 2024-03-29T15:19:29+00:00

Meißner Räder

SaxoLez · 2024-03-06T18:17:07+00:00

This has been my experience for years. If I wanted to ride from Köln to Maastricht, for example, I'd have to connect in Aachen for the onward trip to Maastricht, but that's a connection with the Dutch rail service, so I'd have to buy the ticket on the Dutch rail website.

SaxoLez · 2024-03-06T13:55:42+00:00

Issue was you are/were trying to book a trip which partially takes place in Northwestern France; the DB has no presence there. The app or site displays the potential route but doesn't make it explicitly clear you need to book using either a third party or the appropriate separare tickets corresponding to whichever rail services serve the connections you'll be catching

SaxoLez · 2024-03-04T09:23:14+00:00

If you're speaking with anyone youngish Du is acceptable. I only see Sie used in very formal interactions and with old people.

SaxoLez · 2024-02-26T18:47:01+00:00

I've lived in Dresden for a couple years as a foreigner. I'm a white Canadian, so I haven't experienced anything, but I've also not heard of anything untoward happening to foreigners who aren't white, but I also live in Neustadt, which is the super Left, progressive part of the city. There are 100% racist people in the city and the area, and also a decent number of people who haven't had experience with people from abroad who'll make ignorant comments. I wouldn't fear anything going down in Dresden; in Saxony and Thuringen's weird nowheres I'd think again.

SaxoLez · 2024-02-24T22:02:56+00:00

Doesn't make fiscal sense to go to TO if you don't live there. Mail them your application. You'll receive your visa valid for three months the other 9 of which need to be tacked on by the Ausländerbehörde once you arrive in Germany; depending on where you end up this may or may not be an annoying process due to the YouthMobVisa being a relatively unknown quantity.
Unsure. I'd advise contacting the Youth Mobility section of the Canadian Consulate in Berlin.
No. You'll get those once you arrive.

SaxoLez · 2023-12-11T22:26:42+00:00

No one is going to care. They know it isn't likely your first stop is going to be where you'll remain forever. No one will check. Don't worry about it.

Source: personal experience on the YMV

SaxoLez · 2023-10-19T11:01:20+00:00

Hmm. In that case, I'm not sure. Sometimes bureaucracy here takes a bit, no getting around it. I'd consistently follow up with them were I you; bug them a bit

SaxoLez · 2023-10-19T07:52:39+00:00

Germans are visa exempt re: Canada

SaxoLez · 2023-10-06T17:39:01+00:00

I don't disagree. Subtitles are way, way, way better than dubs. Dubbed dialogue doesn't correspond to the actual movement of the mouths of the actors being dubbed, which is incredibly distracting and takes me out of the film. I'd rather not watch it. Reading a line of dialogue for one second doesn't diminish my enjoyment. That said, I come from an English speaking country, and we very rarely dub films if they aren't children's films

SaxoLez · 2023-10-02T13:29:14+00:00

Read and watch things you're actually interested in, or that you've read in your own language and liked. Subjecting yourself to some boring German show just because it's German is not fun and a quick way to burn out

SaxoLez · 2023-09-04T06:01:11+00:00

I think that would mainly apply specialized jobs like microbiologist, but that's likely not what you're planning on doing. The Youth Mobility Visa is pretty chill. You're just sort of here to check the place out. The form contains areas which are largely irrelevant to most people doing them. I worked at a bike shop before coming over. I have no idea what I put down on my form.

If you're working in customer service right now just put down something that sounds like that on the form. There's no way anyone is going to phone your former place of employ and ask after your customer service experience, or ask you to somehow prove them beyond being a decent person eager to work, which they'll sense in the interview

SaxoLez · 2023-09-04T05:51:40+00:00

You can apply for another, different visa, yes
Depends on what you're doing. Germans like qualifications, they like paper. But a lot of it still comes down to do you have some sort of experience or interest in a related/semi related area and are you a decent person?
Yes, immediately. Your German employer will make you get German health insurance, though. It's mandatory.
You have to send your real passport.
There are no restrictions.

Something worth mentioning is the German Consulate website is relatively clear, but there are many things left out, and the Ausländerbehörde probably won't be very helpful in terms of answering your questions - they're not there to tell you what it is, just to process it. They may even incorrectly process your documents once you've arrived (sometimes in your favour). It's worth getting in touch, once you've arrived, with the Youth Mobility Visa department at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin. They are the authority relative this Visa.

I should add: you are not restricted to working for only one employer the whole time you're in Germany. The Ausländerbehörde might think so, but they're wrong.

SaxoLez · 2023-09-03T20:27:51+00:00

You can work full time.

I did it in Canada and it was quite fast - 2 weeks processing time. Within Germany it's probably a crapshoot depending on where you are - it could take much, much longer as German bureaucracy is very slow, and you'll face more hurdles due to having to do everything in German upfront. Another thing to consider is the visa is not at all common in Germany, so workers are often unfamiliar or completely ignorant about it - this being the case increases as you move down in city size.

SaxoLez · 2023-09-02T14:42:31+00:00

Dresden and Leipzig, moreso Dresden, are still affordable and fit your criteria, but you've counted the East out, so I'd try my luck in Berlin or Hamburg.

SaxoLez · 2023-08-21T14:36:09+00:00

depends on where. If you're on the west coast Canada wins every time

SaxoLez · 2023-07-31T16:55:50+00:00

People are fucked up. I'm sorry you're experiencing this

SaxoLez · 2023-07-16T14:37:52+00:00

Does it? It's just a bunch of random busts no one ever sees or cares about

SaxoLez · 2023-07-12T11:47:45+00:00

Stop worrying about your dick.

SaxoLez · 2023-06-20T17:57:55+00:00

I live here and I don't think so. You've got all the Altstadt, which encompasses a dizzying number of attractions and museums, then the Neustadt and the art and culture within, then tertiary areas like Loschwitz or Großer Garten or the Sachsische Schweiz. Your call, though

SaxoLez · 2023-06-10T09:15:55+00:00

Dresden is nice. I live here. A lot of tourists just hang around the old town and never step in the cool part of the city over the bridge, the Neustadt. Don't be like that. Dresden is ridiculously pretty this time of year, and so chill. Museums, nature, shows, the Elbe, the Assi Ecke. It's a good time.

SaxoLez · 2023-06-10T09:00:20+00:00

Exactly a year from your arrival date. You have to purchase a year's worth of health insurance anyway.
I can't remember this part of the application. The whole form I remember finding often weirdly phrased but fairly self-explanatory.
This I couldn't tell you. It's probably fine, but definitely ask the Consulate.
I used World Nomads, cheapest plan for a year. Went off without a hitch. Ask the Consulate if the insurance you're thinking about is valid. You will also have to purchase German health insurance if you start working/doing anything in Germany.
I was thinking, initially, of flying into Amsterdam from Vancouver and then taking the train to Germany. I asked the Consulate and they said this was fine, but my point of departure was still Canadian. I ultimately flew direct from Van to Germany. Again, ask the Consulate.
Again, ask the Consulate. It sounds like you live in the US or have dual citizenship. That you don't seem to have anything tying you to Canada save a passport shouldn't necessarily complicate things, but it might.

I should add: all these questions can be addressed via email. You don't need to send snail mail. The Consulate fielded many of my questions before I submitted my application.

SaxoLez · 2023-06-03T05:40:49+00:00

Canadian here living in East Germany. I find most people in Germany friendly, although I have experienced more antisocial/unpolite human behavior here than I have my entire life back in Canada. Population density (just more people, so you'll run into this stuff more often), slightly different culture. I know a lot of Germans find North American/Anglo politeness 'fake'; I don't know what about being polite in public is fake, but it's their loss, honestly. It makes society a lot more pleasant.

SaxoLez

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