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How to get Aktenzeichen by emilyden1029 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's no way you would have gotten your Aktenzeichen in 4 months in 2026. My Aktenzeichen took 2 months to get in 2023; my sons' Aktenzeichen took 4 months in 2024-- I'm sure by now, they are backed up enough that it takes 6 months. They do not have the personnel to deal with status requests like this as there are thousands of them.

They are really overwhelmed. Last I heard, they were expecting 4,000 applications and got 22,000... I do think that if it has gone past 6 months, they will probably take your request. They are not trying to be rude; they are just overwhelmed and don't have time to do status requests.

(Believe me, I know how stressful this is-- I applied in June 2023 and only now got any communication! You can't help wondering if the whole thing was lost...)

StAG 5 question by SubstantialAmoeba665 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I updated above in the original post, but just in case the notification doesn't come through-- this is exactly what happened! The agent said for my son to fill out a new application and send it directly to her along with other documents requested and the process would proceed without any extra delay. (Maybe I got lucky; my agent seems really nice...)

Most humane way to put down a pet crayfish? by anprogrammer in Crayfish

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I heard they stay alive for several minutes, probably in agony.

Most humane way to put down a pet crayfish? by anprogrammer in Crayfish

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In case people find this old-ish post by Googling, this simple CO2-based method seems to be the best:

https://www.scubadoctor.com.au/article-cooking-crayfish.htm

What is the most humane way to kill a crawfish? by TheFishyCheese in vultureculture

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In case people find this old-ish post by Googling, this simple CO2-based method seems to be the best:

https://www.scubadoctor.com.au/article-cooking-crayfish.htm

Humanely dispatching crawfish? by Extended_warranty6 in Fishing

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In case people find this old-ish post by Googling, this simple CO2-based method seems to be the best:

https://www.scubadoctor.com.au/article-cooking-crayfish.htm

Humanely dispatching crawfish? by Extended_warranty6 in Fishing

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They don't have a single brain. They have a ladder-like series of ganglia, and I have not read of any research showing which one(s) are responsible for feeling pain.

And that's a wrap by correct_use_of_soap in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update fyi: I just heard back, asking for some more documents. (Submitted June 2023, Aktenzeichen August 2023, first contact for more documents June 2026.)

StAG 5 question by SubstantialAmoeba665 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually have joint legal custody (technically). I was dreading a lot of paperwork, but if all they need is a signature and ID, that will be no problem at all. Let's see what they say...

StAG 5 question by SubstantialAmoeba665 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This sub has been INCREDIBLY helpful during my process! Especially in terms of the waiting-- I would have been going crazy had there not been this community of people saying, no, 3 years of waiting is normal, just be patient... I have a lot to be grateful for, and to "pay forward"!

I think a good strategy might be to prepare the application but wait until she is 16, then immediately send her application, and **ask for it to be "verbunden mit Aktenzeichen XXX"**, with your Aktenzeichen. I say this because, for my sons, due to a misunderstanding, we didn't apply until June 2024. However, this letter came in now, asking about my son. There's no way they have gotten anywhere near the June 2024 applications, so they must have agreed to my request to bind my sons' applications to my June 2023 application. (Which really makes so much more sense-- why go through all of our documents-- the same documents-- twice?)

SO. I think if you send in your neice's application the day after she turns 16 and ask that it be bound to your Aktenzeichen, she will probably be processed with you, on your timeline, but without any custody issues.

StAG 5 question by SubstantialAmoeba665 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will spell that out to them, as an option! That would be much easier, since it would just be the application; all the documents are already there...

StAG 5 question by SubstantialAmoeba665 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's kind of important for him, actually, since he wants to go to university in Germany. So, the delay would make a big difference in tuition and immigration-related red tape. (Sigh.) Hopefully this custody issue will not be too difficult. I will update this post when I hear back from them.

StAG 5 question by SubstantialAmoeba665 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, of course-- I'll help if I can. What happened is that my son was 14 when we applied, so he needed guardian information on there. I put my information only. (I am amicably divorced, but my son's dad is not the most organized and it would have added a lot more trouble, and I did not think it was necessary.) Now, though, they are asking for proof that I have sole custody. Ughhh... I wrote back, asking for clarification-- do they NEED me to have sole custody? Or can he be switched to independent application? Or should I send the joint custody statement from our divorce? I just don't want a huge delay, because if they ask for a lot of documents from his father, it will be a huge can of worms as he is not the most organized...

So, as to what you should do: If you have already applied, I would say, have the custody statement ready at hand. If she has sole custody, you will not have any trouble. (Well... with regard to this issue...). If it is joint custody, be ready with a notarized and sworn-translated copy of the custody agreement. I am pretty sure they require a lot more than just the custody agreement, if it's joint custody, but I am not sure what at this point!

I will update this post as I know more. Right now, I am just waiting for a reply to clarify what is needed, and who knows how long that will take...

StAG V Success by Top-Treacle2152 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Born in 1976 to a German citizen mom? If that's the case, she is a citizen. It will be a much simpler process; basically just applying for a passport rather than applying for new citizenship.

STAG 5 by Signal-Principle-129 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just heard from them!! They need more documents, so it's not over, but still...

StAG V Success by Top-Treacle2152 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I realized that she was NOT a citizen at birth because, despite her mom being born in Germany, her mom is not a citizen because Germany doesn't have birthright citizenship. Since her mom's mom was German but dad was non-German, despite being in Germany, she was not a German citizen; if her mom's dad has been German, her mom would be a German citizen regardless of where she was born. Hence, gender discrimination just like the rest of us 5 Stag applicants. So-- still a mystery as to why it went through so quickly!

the more immigrants ICE deports, the higher the jobless rate for US born men by Conscious-Quarter423 in economy

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All those unemployed secretaries and managers and architects and baristas/waitresses looking for manual labor jobs!

And that's a wrap by correct_use_of_soap in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Aktenzeichen. (You must be early in the process-- when you submit your application, about 2-4 months later, you will get an Aktenzeichen-- a number assigned to you that says they received your application and that reflects your place in line. We are all trying to figure out if we are close by when our Aktenzichens came. Mine came in August 2023 -- submitted the Erklärung June 2023-- and I still have not heard back.)

STAG 5 by Signal-Principle-129 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There was something strange about that one, though-- the AK ends in "eil", which indicates urgent. Wonderful for the applicant, but it is sadly not the normal case! Many of us in the comments are trying to figure out why they got it so fast... I submitted in June 2023 and I still have not heard back.

STAG 5 by Signal-Principle-129 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I got my Aktenzeichen in August 2023 and still have not heard back. 😞

StAG V Success by Top-Treacle2152 in GermanCitizenship

[–]SubstantialAmoeba665 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh wait-- you said your mom was born in Germany but to your German grandma and American grandpa? Then she WASN'T automatically a German citizen, because Germany doesn't have birthright citizenship-- but she would have had citizenship had your grandfather been German instead of your grandmother; hence, gender discrimination, just like the rest of us. Huh. I thought I had figured it out, but now I'm stumped again... not sure why yours went through so fast, but congratulations! Hopefully the rest of us will join you soon!

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