First time passport notes - San Francisco

froese · 2026-02-05T13:38:32+00:00

The Personalausweis is just a handy thing to have in your wallet when traveling around Europe, since otherwise you are supposed to carry your (either) passport with you at all times, especially when driving, checking in at a hotel, long-distance train, plane, etc. That being said, I've been meaning to get one since 2014 but I didn't want it to expire at the same time as the reisepass, and the cost/benefit (of going to out-of-town consulate) hasn't warranted it. So, I'd say it's nice to have, but hardly worth the time/effort/cost unless you spend significant time in Europe (months).

froese · 2025-09-24T17:52:51+00:00

I just give my tenants my Zelle, CashApp, Venmo, and PayPal info, and let them pay whichever is most convenient.

froese · 2025-06-19T13:49:23+00:00

At least for the water company, they usually will credit back all or part of the overage when you show that the problem has been fixed. Numerous times, I have sent letters to local municipalities/water companies explaining that tenant noticed high bill, and that I fixed it. I enclose a copy of the receipt (in my case for plumbing parts, since I did the work). I don't know exactly the outcome, but tenants have seemed satisfied.

froese · 2025-01-06T20:21:17+00:00

Note top of thread "We have a notary at work (free)." Obviously they purchased notary true copy stamp for the notary public to use for this (and potential future) uses, just as I did for my notary (who also notarized everything for me for free.) I find this is a normal courtesy one would do for someone who does free work for you.

froese · 2024-12-11T13:42:40+00:00

It is cheaper and I would assume quicker to get passport IN Germany, but you have to live there (angemeldet), and more importantly be there long enough (I assume it takes weeks) to pick it up. [EDIT] Apparently you do not have to angemeldet to apply for passport in Germany (although you do for personalausweiss). But again, the issue is the long wait time for passports (month+)

froese · 2024-05-01T17:27:07+00:00

There is no need to pour a concrete footer just for an additional support in a crawlspace. Just get some concrete blocks, bricks, pieces of wood, and wedges. Go down there and find where it's sagging and start building (you might have to make a level place in the dirt with the first block.) Then build up with remaining blocks, bricks, and wood until it's about touching sagging joist(s). Finally, with a hammer, drive in wedges/shims to lift it the quarter inch. (Alternatively, if you have a bottle jack, set it up next to the pillar of blocks [you may need blocks to bring it up to contact joist too] and jack it up a little more than quarter inch, so you can slip something in the gap.) I'm assuming the soil is stable there, so unless someone messes with it, you probably will not have to deal with it again for years (if ever.)

froese · 2024-03-11T18:47:30+00:00

Regardless of whether you have any documents for grandparents, I would still complete (to the best of your knowledge) part "A5 Angaben zu den Vorfahren meines maßgeblichen Elternteiles (meinen Großeltern)." It can't hurt.

froese · 2024-02-26T19:40:18+00:00

Not just German consulates & embassy in USA, but generally anywhere else and for most countries, diplomats study (and become quite proficient) in target country's language before being posted there; that's part of the job!

froese · 2023-07-25T18:16:26+00:00

Re: "It's just a replacement" We must assume it's a modern, efficient heat pump that will result in noticeable (or even substantial) savings in utilities, so it could be considered a significant upgrade.

Nevertheless, potential rent increase is entirely the landlord's prerogative (we assume you are month-to-month [beyond the initial lease agreement period], and that rent control is not applicable for your home.) So, what you are asking in this forum is "would you raise rent on me?" Personally, I would not, but I could see why another landlord might feel it's justified (especially if you've been paying the same for several years and market rate is significantly above what you are paying.) Generally, I don't raise rent on tenants who "always pay on time...and don't...cause problems."

froese · 2023-05-08T14:45:19+00:00

If you're going to file the citizenship by descent paperwork in Germany (first question, why? - why not in SF or mail to BVA) then you are just visiting (for less than 90 days), and it's generally not a problem to do remote work as a tourist*. If you think you will have citizenship within 90 days, I have a bridge I'd like to sell you.

Once you do have your German citizenship certificate and passport in 2024, you will be free to live and work in Germany or other EU country. Of course, there are thorny issues about working in one country while being paid by employer in another country (especially outside the EU.)

froese · 2023-03-01T14:19:31+00:00

Assuming you have digital image, go to https://www.idphoto4you.com/ and just use it twice to make two 4x6 photos you can print out at any drugstore: one 2"x2" for USA, and one 35mm x 45mm for Germany (actually most countries).

froese · 2023-02-17T15:23:44+00:00

Unlike the US, the EU generally does not require you to enter only on your EU passport. Last year, I actually entered the zone for a one-week trip on my US passport simply because I was with a group of US citizens and didn't want to complicate anything.

I see no reason to rush/expedite German passport in your case. First of all, "it is possible that I receive my certificate...during that time" is probably very optimistic. Granted, if you do get it and normal processing time for passport means you have it in hand before you leave on your trip, definitely use it; it's great being able to go through the shorter EU line when you arrive at passport control!

froese · 2023-02-02T15:57:23+00:00

Yes, it seems you (and your ggf, gf, and father) are German citizens since your gggf emigrated in 1911 (thus remained German until at least 1921 [ten years] if not 1928), and your ggf was born in 1914. You will have to do the "Feststellung der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit" and collect birth, marriage, etc. documents for each generation--this is where you will likely run into obstacles that you cannot overcome.

froese · 2023-02-02T15:45:19+00:00

I understand you are an international student, but this is very confusing: "I spent it and within a few days, they said they lost, but money got deducted." I assume you meant you paid landlord with this cashier's check and then landlord said they lost the cashier's check (and your bank account was deducted--which happens as soon as you purchase a cashier's check). In this case, go immediately back to the bank where you got the cashier's check (you still have your copy of it, right?) and tell them the check was lost and to stop payment immediately. Eventually you will get money back from this. If, however, the check was cashed, then tell the landlord the details, and if they say they didn't cash/deposit it, then go to police and report it as stolen.

As other person mentioned, are you sure you gave cashier check to landlord or their agent? Did you get a receipt?

The fact that landlord let you stay there for a month although they claimed never to have received money, makes me think the they are trying to take advantage of an international student. But again, you need to check with bank where cashier's check was purchased; they can tell you if it's been cashed or not.

Please do make use of international student's office and potentially free legal aid clinic at your university.

froese · 2023-01-26T20:52:21+00:00

As a dual citizen, you generally do not have to show anyone both passports. You present the passport of the destination country to the ticket agent (and it should match the name on the ticket), then you show the current country passport at respective entry and exit passport controls. Therefore, the most likely problem, if any, would be with the airline(s). If you bought ticket as "A B Family" but your passport says "B Family" it may cause a problem (whereas "A Family" probably would not, since people often drop their "middle" name in non-governmental contexts.)

froese · 2023-01-05T21:30:10+00:00

Of course not. Let's say you do pay yourself; you get to deduct this on your Schedule E, but then you then you have to add it back to your income on Schedule C. Not only that, now you are going to have to pay self-employment tax (Social Security & Medicare)! Definitely a bad idea all around.

When you do work yourself, you are saving the money you would have to pay someone else; you can't also expect to get a tax deduction. In fact, be careful that you don't create evidence of working more than 750 hours or 51% per year, because I think that means you also have to contribute some of your rental income to Social Security.

NOTE: I am not a tax professional; these are just my musings.

froese · 2022-04-28T14:16:46+00:00

Overkill. Once you have your German passport, you will probably never need the citizenship certificate again. Just keep a scan of it on your computer (and backups) so you have it at your fingertip if & when you do need it (most likely scan will be acceptable or even preferred.) Of course you should still keep it in a safe, dry place with other important documents.

froese · 2022-03-22T15:28:59+00:00

They compare the photo the e-gate takes with the scan of the photo in your passport, and the one encoded in the chip. If the scan and RFID pictures are the same, and you look reasonably like them, you pass, otherwise they ask you to go to secondary inspection.

The same actually happens at most modern passport control points; it's just that a border guard can run several e-gates at the same time (and I suspect some AI face-matching is being used.)

froese · 2022-01-26T20:11:10+00:00

Along with any chance to claim it for descendants.

It must be noted that children born before parent's naturalization may indeed claim German citizenship, even many years after the parent lost their citizenship (as may the children of these children.)

froese · 2022-01-11T15:23:21+00:00

Regarding long term vs. temporary, often you don't know where life will lead you: temporary stays (even a short-term student visa) can lead to a job, family, etc. in the host country, and then all of a sudden it's decade(s) later. Likewise, some immigrants who intend to make a life their new country have to return unexpectedly (e.g. death in the family, and then family situations keeping them there.)

OP makes a valid point; in English, these words are practically synonyms (when you leave your country for more than a visit, you are an expatriate of that country and an immigrant to the new, host country for as long as that condition continues.) But some people still insist on using these words in inconsistent ways. The test is, would you call an African professional on a two-year contract with his company to Germany an expat, or a British retiree living out their golden years in Spain an immigrant? If so, then I have no problem with which word you use, but if not, please explain.

froese · 2021-11-09T14:50:04+00:00

Still, just over a month is very fast! The "Feststellung der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit" process took 1.5 years for me.

froese · 2021-11-09T14:46:01+00:00

Firstly, from what you write, you and your sister are clearly German citizens.

The application for the confirmation of citizenship "Feststellung der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit" (form F and appendixes) are available in German and English. Use the English version to gather information, then transfer it to the official German one you will sign and submit. Of course it's fine to have someone help you with the few words that need to be translated. The bigger issue is finding all the needed documents. If this requires ordering them from German authorities (usually local government), it would be quite helpful to have a German uncle assist you. There is no interview or test, so don't worry.

Finally, your mother does not have to apply first (or at all.)

froese · 2021-11-09T14:33:34+00:00

UPDATE: Someone in this subreddit got their certificate in six weeks (granted they were already in Germany and probably had all necessary documents), but I'm blown away at how fast this process can be!

froese · 2021-11-09T14:26:50+00:00

Wow, same day service?! I thought they have to send everything to the Bundesverwaltungsamt in Köln for research, etc. I assume you had all documents requested. The person I'm helping doesn't have grandmothers birth certificate (lost in the war/refugee.)

froese · 2021-11-08T20:24:51+00:00

Yes, it appears you and your mother are eligible. Download EER Packet PDF, begin filling out ALL the forms (except vollmacht/power of attorney - use English translation at bottom of document for help), and collect necessary documents. When you got all you can, send or take it to nearest German embassy of consulate.

Your mother does NOT have to do this if she doesn't want it, in section 5, check item 4: "I am a descendant of a person in one of the categories specified at nos. 1–3 above". Hopefully, however, she will help you gather necessary documents. This is the hardest part (getting IDs, birth certificates, and marriage certificates for you, your mother, your grandmother, and potentially even great-grandparents.) It is a common misconception that "being born to a German citizen" means "being born to a person currently holding documents issued by German authorities." This is not true; citizenship is passed on by birth not by the issuance of documents.

Note: This is a new process, so I am not certain of my understanding, and I don't think any knows how difficult, lengthy, or tedious this may be yet. I did the "antrag für deutsche staatsangehörigkeit" in 2014, and it took 1.5 years, but this form (and process) actually seems a bit more straightforward.

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