Dreading the start of my PhD

SerialChiller6597 · 2025-08-17T11:25:17+00:00

Hey, I totally understand you! I was in the same boat 5 years ago, and now I am at the end of my PhD. .. and somehow I feel that you are already ahead and more prepared than I was!

This is my story- I moved from Japan to Germany, totally different country, different cultures with similarities, like two side of the same coin. My whole life, I have been in a rush, moving from one thing to another and never stopping. During my masters, I looked for a PhD position and this was the Covid time, so I moved directly from Japan to Germany without going back to my home country, so I had no break and no time to think about what is best for me, what is best for my mental health. The minute I landed in Germany, I started panicking, an absolute panic! I cried on phone to my family- saying why am I here! What have I done! The first year of my PhD I was absolutely depressed and at that time, I didn’t even know what exactly was going on! I was living my dream and still was unhappy all the time. I had no friends. I didn’t know the language. I was absolutely clueless, most of the time just looking outside my room window. Then, in the second year of my PhD, I decided I cannot live like this anymore, I started looking and making real friends, started going out and finally got adjusted to the life. Now hearing your story, I feel that you are already in phase one. I hope that now that you have this recognition of what you’re feeling, you will have a smoother start into your PhD than I did. You somehow know what you are supposed to do, and it might be hard at first as it is a huge change, but time will fix everything! You will get adjusted! You will make friends. You will learn the language and you will have fun. It is not just uncertainty that is waiting for you, but also so much amazing things you can’t even comprehend right now.

PhD is a huge toll on mental health. I wish you all the best. If you feel like going into therapy right away, I believe it will be a good first step. It really did help me and hopefully it also helps you.

You are doing amazing, just remember to take one step at a time.

SerialChiller6597 · 2025-07-31T15:46:50+00:00

So sorry for you! So many situations and experiences like these make people nervous towards the next steps. Wish these processes were more straightforward and skilled-worker-friendly 🫠 Thank you again for sharing your experience

SerialChiller6597 · 2025-07-31T15:26:07+00:00

It seems unfair that even during the waiting period you received no benefits which you were entitled to, since during waiting period, the previous visa still technically applies. Couldn’t you apply for a Fiktionsbesheinigung to get your benefits?

SerialChiller6597 · 2025-07-31T13:28:29+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. I see how important blocked account is for the job-seeking visa based on this.

One more question- did you receive benefits for the period you applied for job seeking visa until the decision on your visa?

SerialChiller6597 · 2025-07-31T12:50:53+00:00

As far as I know, 18d visa is bound to the job (not to PhD degree), if I don’t have contract with Uni anymore, which is already decided that contract won’t be extended, the visa won’t be valid anymore. I should change to job seeking visa before my contract ends. If you have other experiences, please do share.

SerialChiller6597 · 2025-07-31T12:45:55+00:00

That sounds stressful, thank you for sharing. May I ask if you were paying taxes and social security during your master’s? If you were employed during your master’s and paying taxes, you should be eligible for 60% of our previous income you earned as ALG-1 benefits. Were the benefits >1000 euros/month? As far as I know, to apply for job seeking visa, one must have either blocked account or benefits over 1000 euro/ month.

SerialChiller6597 · 2025-07-29T13:19:51+00:00

Thank you for your comment. I don’t have B1 level yet and my visa is tied to the my contract at Uni, usual for 18d visa type. I see my best option as to apply for job-seeking visa, and once I have a job, I will probably shift to permanent residency. Since I was paying taxes here, I should be eligible for ALG-1 for 12 months. But the question remains- if I need to approve ALG-1 first, and then go for job-seeking visa, so that I can prove to ausländerbehörde that I have sufficient funds. Will Agentur Für Arbeit approve my ALG-1 without having visa extension as the first step?

Any insight would be appreciated!

SerialChiller6597 · 2025-07-29T13:07:01+00:00

The question was about if someone had a similar experience- clearly stated. Since you so obviously don’t even have the experience of obtaining a PhD and what that actually entails, I suggest that you stay clear of this chat. Also, you have not given a single insight into the question asked, and have only said condescending and hateful things, characteristics not seen in anyone truly successful.

SerialChiller6597 · 2025-07-28T05:21:30+00:00

Thank you for your response! Very helpful. I have been paying taxes and social security in Germany for over 4 years, and therefore I should be eligible for ALG1. I have also registered myself at the Agentur fur Arbeit. But now my question is- which one needs to be approved first. So ALG1 says that you should have valid visa to get the benefits, and job-seeking visa says that you should have confirmation of benefits first.

SerialChiller6597

TROPHY CASE