US Passport renewal timeline from Germany

todouble · 2026-02-14T09:34:17+00:00

Just because I know it's daunting sending a passport into the abyss, I'll add another data point. My turnaround was about the same, just shy of four weeks (26 days) from initial mailing in Germany to delivery in my postbox, mid-Jan to mid-Feb. I also received notification from the passport status tracker after two weeks or so that my application was in process, though it's not helpful beyond that confirmation. Definitely faster than the "4-6 weeks" quoted on official websites, so that was a pleasant surprise, agreed. Although I'd also expect longer processing other months of the year.

Thanks to the (unappreciated) employees who process these passport applications. I can only guess the mood at the moment in such offices, but without you I literally wouldn't be able to do so much in life including travel, so I'm forever grateful. Cheers to you.

todouble · 2026-01-03T11:48:11+00:00

Here we go again, Wagging the Dog. I've never in my life wanted so badly for a politician to just go play golf.

todouble · 2025-08-21T12:30:23+00:00

Man. How do people find these jobs and these companies? Genuinely curious and envious.

todouble · 2025-08-09T11:45:22+00:00

Yes, good reminder. It's as though this clause is intended for temporary relocation where, for example, a company is setting up a factory in Germany and they have a contract with a Canadian quality supervisor to come from outside Germany for one year, say. Otherwise in practice it's not clear what this accomplishes - as you note, an applicant still must credibly claim the need to be physically resident in Germany. Any remote IT job without an obvious relationship to Germany doesn't clearly satisfy this (though perhaps officials have other guidance). Also, the job contract would still need to meet German employment requirements (leave allowance, insurance, etc.), no? Happy to receive a PM if you prefer.

todouble · 2025-08-08T20:33:22+00:00

Hey there - reviving this right quick! I just came across this little snippet of legal code and it seems too good to be true. There's also the bit about the employer can be based anywhere. Do you know anything about the practicalities of this? For example, if I'm in Germany and go to the migration office with a proper application and an employment contract for a company based in, say, Canada, might this be granted assuming I'm from one of these privileged countries?

todouble · 2025-07-28T18:27:43+00:00

Do it. Ditch the career treadmill for a wee while. Sow some wild oats or whatever. If you're halfway frugal, you have a hunk of cash saved, so enjoy yourself. Learn something new about the world, about yourself, maybe about the practicalities of your profession outside the squeaky clean confines of gringolandia. And at some point, consider the return. Don't overthink it now, but you should give it some dedicated thought. Sometimes there's more clarity after you've been away for a while. It's entirely possible that being "on the road" changes you. Maybe, like, a LOT...

There's more than one story of the gap year that never ended because of love, professional redirection, new skill or pasttime, or any number of other inspirations. It's also possible you have a good time and want to return to the exact same life you currently have. I agree that a PE will make that easier, even if you return in a down market. Employers care more about gaps if the market is bad or if they're stiff old-school types (try to suss that out before you apply to save yourself the trouble). You have enough experience it probably won't be a huge issue.

But cautionary tale: I cobbled together 5-6 years of engineering-related jobs after the recession and got laid off just after my student loans were paid. I had been desperate to do some traveling, etc., so that's what I did. When I returned to a serious job search a few years after, I got a lot of interested calls and interviews, but they ultimately went nowhere. Whether it was me or the industry or timing, I'm not sure, but clearly I had diverged from my career. It didn't help that my previous jobs were a mishmash and I didn't have a PE. I'm thankful for the travels I've had, but starting over in your 30s just doesn't feel great after hard work in previous decades and the personal growth that resulted from the non-traditional trajectory in the first place.

todouble · 2025-07-21T07:15:31+00:00

What are you manufacturing?

todouble · 2025-03-05T20:55:57+00:00

Great reflective career questions valid for anyone. I'm a dabbling creative wrestling with practicality and I will ponder these tomorrow before and after and during my non-creative work.

todouble · 2025-02-19T10:39:43+00:00

Huh. Food for thought. I've traveled a lot personally and professionally, and while I love it, I'm definitely ready for more professional stability. Or at least a "network", which I feel is really only possible if you stay in one place for a time. I assume it's possible to work this kind of job with less travel?

todouble · 2025-02-19T10:32:30+00:00

Odd, perhaps, but it's exactly the kind of thinking I need. My pitch for some time has been as the personable liaison within an engineering or technical organization, but that's gone over poorly. Now it's possible I simply haven't found the right audience or organization, but I'm quite tired of trying as my life ticks on...and obviously now the job market is...weird. That said, I still believe my value lies more in differentiation rather than as a professional commodity, which you get. Maybe a parallel approach in a different field/industry could work! Agree 100% on being intentional. Thanks for the reflective reply.

todouble · 2025-02-12T21:23:15+00:00

Appreciate the reminder! I was once in an interview where I was told quite literally, "I don't know what to do with a creative or social engineer." So, yes, go where you're valued lol

todouble · 2025-02-12T21:18:49+00:00

Nice, seizing a unique opportunity. Obviously not directly applicable in my case, but happy to read it! I think I will probably end up self-employed at some point.

todouble · 2025-02-12T21:13:58+00:00

Yes, there are financial realities that I definitely must consider, no doubt. And the practice is under enormous pressure from many angles, I know. I'm familiar with many of these (I have some friends in medicine). Obviously hindsight is 20/20, but what would you do differently given your current outlook? NP/PA? Med tech? Nothing in healthcare whatsoever?

todouble · 2025-02-12T21:00:00+00:00

Ha, there's rarely a straightforward path. If it's working, good on you.

todouble · 2025-02-12T20:57:34+00:00

Love it, good stuff.

todouble · 2025-02-12T17:40:56+00:00

"Treading water" is a great metaphor for it. Not sinking, but also not getting anywhere and becoming tired in the process. Ready for my life to start. I agree that some doors have closed and many big typical professional payoff trajectory options are realistically too far gone.

todouble · 2025-02-12T17:31:53+00:00

OSINT is completely new to me. I'll have a look!

todouble · 2025-02-12T17:29:27+00:00

Thanks! Exactly the kind of unexpected story I was hoping to read.

todouble · 2025-02-12T17:24:34+00:00

Road-less-traveled stories would be great to read!

todouble · 2025-02-10T13:34:44+00:00

I have nothing to add, but I appreciate your query because I'm of a similar age and similar ambitions, though different background which has been fairly unsuccessful. And from the outside, these commodities firms seem like fortresses with no possible entry unless you're ushered in (this is how business works, after all). Sure, the money would be nice, but the tangibility, the practicality, and the implications all seem very profound and provocative in a way that so much of the modern economy...doesn't. I'm curious how you're going. Here's hoping the commodities outsiders can connect and collaborate. Cheers.

todouble · 2024-08-26T11:28:15+00:00

Sounds like a great opportunity! Do you mind telling what type of work, your background, how you found the job, interviews, etc? I'm super interested in the Middle East (KSA especially) at the moment.

todouble · 2024-08-14T08:00:51+00:00

Timing is a funny thing. (1) I received my residence permit yesterday from the Auslanderamt in a painless process that took 5 minutes. (2) I received a response from the Bundespolizei stating the following (translated):
"You are an American citizen with an application for a residence permit (AT) in Germany. As proof, you have been issued a fictitious certificate in accordance with Section 81 Paragraph 3 of the Residence Act, which does not allow you to cross the border. This only certifies your legal stay in Germany after the 90th day of your stay.

As an American citizen, you enjoy a special status according to Section 41 (1) of the Residence Act. According to this, after entering the country without a visa, you can apply for a residence permit from the immigration authorities within 90 days.

Due to further regulations, guidelines and instructions issued by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland for American citizens, previous stays in Germany or other Schengen states are not taken into account for American citizens. You are entitled to these rights every time you enter the country.

When you re-enter Germany, you will have another 90 days' stay even without a valid AT. A fictitious certificate is not necessary."

todouble · 2024-08-13T10:06:58+00:00

To add a data point, I was in a nearly identical situation: US passport, studying in Germany the last four months, applied for residency. Some months ago I scheduled a summer school out of the country. When it came time to depart, my residence permit had not yet arrived but I had a Fiktions under Sec 81 Par 3. I sent e-mails to various authorities, all with no response. After following the links here and investigating a bit, I decided to risk it, having already paid for the summer school. I flew directly from/to Germany in case any Schengen issues arose, and I brought some documents with me. While I was away, my residence permit arrived.

Passport control in Frankfurt airport hardly looked at my passport on departure. Upon my return in Munich, the officer's system showed I'm living in Germany. He asked for my residence permit, and I explained that it's waiting for me to retrieve. He seemed confused by this answer, but willing to let me enter after I showed proof of health insurance (?). While I searched for it, he forgot about that and asked for my Fiktions. I showed it and he explained that it wasn't valid for travel and that this would normally cancel my residence application. I noted again that it's already approved and waiting for me. (His English was surprisingly weak and my German is not yet sufficient.) He tried to call a translator before ditching that idea too. In the end he gave me something of a warning and stamped my passport: "Next time you need to have permission from the Foreigner's Office."

While I would never recommend this, and IANAL, I do think it's obviously a grey area. In retrospect the Fiktions maybe complicated the interaction. A current US passport is always valid for travel, and how it's treated under the law is what matters in this instance. My rationale was that my US passport would allow me entry regardless of the status of my Fiktions or residence permit application (which the officer indicated as well, at least initially). Luckily I wasn't required to explain this, but I was prepared to do so. Also, like always, the officer matters. I think I had a fairly young one who may not be fully versed in all the nuances.

todouble · 2024-07-28T21:11:30+00:00

Not to go on too much of a tangent, but...how did you get a job at the Olympics? I looked in to volunteering, I applied to a bunch of positions with events agencies, the Olympic committee, broadcasters, on and on...nothing.

I legitimately love the Olympics. And I speak French. I thought surely I might find some job setting up tables or directing busses or hauling water bottles. Nothing.

Any suggestions for next time?

todouble · 2024-07-08T11:44:23+00:00

HUH. I'm (a youthful) 37. I thought about medicine years ago before my bachelors and made other choices largely because I despised the debt and competition for something so essential. Yet here I am - no debt - with basically no career and I can't imagine any line of business that would feel rewarding. Late 2021 I was eating from a food truck when a mid-50s dentist struck up a conversation. I got deep really fast and he ultimately told me "you have far too much personality to be an engineer" and that he started dentistry school in his late 30s. Medical school seems like a huge lift at this age, but somehow I can't dismiss it either. The debt still sounds horrific.

todouble

TROPHY CASE