I am Basil. I got admit for Chemical And Energy Engineering
As there are many posts on visa interview experience and other procedures, I am not going into that. But I would like to give some general suggestions from my part.
Some Suggestions about Visa Interview and starting days in Germany
1:- Don’t worry about the Visa Interview. If your documents are right then 80 – 90% of VI is completed. The percentage depends on the interviewer. Some doesn’t ask a single question, while a few ask even to write a motivation letter in 10 minutes. But it is just a piece of cake. It is best to take the visa interview date a minimum of 1.75 or 2 months before the starting of classes. Although they say it will take 4-6 weeks, I know people who got the visa after 17 days and some who got after 2 months. So give enough time for the visa process. For me, it took around 40 days and I had to ask for extensions.
2:- If you didn’t get a visa even after 4 weeks, then start calling them or visiting the Consulate in person. There may be some documents pending and they may not tell you. So take the initiative and ask them.
3:- If you think that you may don’t get a visa in time, start asking the university for an enrolment deadline extension. And I would say that, ask everyone in charge of the admission process. I emailed 6 persons in my University for extension and only one of them replied me positively. It was that positive email that helped me get a visa. Sometimes you will get visa result mail one day before actual enrolment and the Embassy will ask for an extension from university enrolment for your visa stamping (happened with one of my friends). If you give an extension letter they will give it, otherwise, they reject it.
Read Also: Reasons Why German Student Visa is Rejected
4:- It is not good reaching late in Germany. One reason is that you will miss many classes and it would be difficult to understand. The second is that you will have to do many processes like City Registration, Bank Opening, etc alone. It is better if you have someone in the company. So try to reach here before starting classes.
5:- Try your best to find accommodation before reaching Germany. It is okay even if you don’t get it from India, but it is better if you find one from there itself. And don’t worry even if you don’t get it, you will easily get accommodation after reaching here. Use Facebook groups, consult with seniors and ask their help. I am pretty sure everyone will help you. Also, read the accommodation contract (Vertrag) carefully before accepting it. Check if the rent is cold rent or warm rent, if internet fee is included, is the room furnished, etc. Even if the room is not furnished, it is pretty much cheap and easy in Germany to furnish it (with the help of eBay Kleinanzeige).
6:- Choose the airlines that allow you to carry maximum baggage. In my opinion, we should compensate for our flying comfort if necessary, for an additional amount of baggage. As far as I know, Air India allows the most baggage allowance, around 100kg or so (if you follow their instructions). Once you reach Germany, you will have to start fresh and you need a lot of things. So carry as many things as possible.
7:- Carry some amount of money in cash with you. You will need to pay for the first-month rent, deposit, enrolment fees, food, insurance, etc. It will take around one month for your blocked account to get unblocked. I carried 1000€ with me.
8:- Learn some German. Knowing German is a little bit necessary may be more in the Eastern parts of Germany as only some people know English. For instance, for taking bank account I went to the manager and didn’t speak a word. I gave him what he asked. That’s all. But if I knew a little more German, then maybe I could ask him about the account details, atm charges, etc. But you could ‘survive’ even if you don’t know a single word in German, so don’t worry. But it’s better to know some.
9:- Don’t hear what some people, who don’t know a thing about Germany say about Germany and its ways. Believe only what your close friends or relatives who live in Germany tell you. I have heard that German people are non-smiling, cold-hearted, and non-helping when I was in India. Ahh, All those lies!!. Germans are great. They don’t care a thing about what you wear, or do. But they will always smile and say ‘Halo’. They are very honest. Be the same way to them and they will be nice. And keep your home country manners at home before coming here. Crossing roads, throwing wastes, making noises, etc are to be attentively looked upon in Germany.
10:- There is no need for Forex Cards or any International cards ( I personally find it unnecessary but it depends on you). Once you get here, you will get the local bank card, and that will be enough for you.
11:- Not only study the
Read Also: Anmeldung – How to get register in Germany
Sorry for the long post.
Note: All my details are based on my personal experiences. It may vary from place to place and person to person.
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Basil Jose
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