Re:Ask HN: Anyone moved to EU for work? started a company?
by theGREENsuit on Thursday July 09, 2015 @03:41PM
(#9860230)
Would you be able to list some German job boards? And, in your experience, how often is speaking German a requirement? I live in North America, but have dual citizenship from an EU nation. I've wondered about packing up and moving to Europe if the right opportunity came about.
Re:Ask HN: Anyone moved to EU for work? started a company?
by atroyn on Tuesday July 14, 2015 @04:18PM
(#9887726)
In Berlin, speaking German is not at all a requirement. In Munich, you can get by but you ought to learn. In Stuttgart, better speak German.
You're best off researching companies on cruchbase and angel.co, though http://berlinstartupjobs.com/ sometimes lists good opportunities.
Re:Ask HN: Anyone moved to EU for work? started a company?
by vijayr on Thursday July 09, 2015 @01:02PM
(#9859178)
Thank you. When you say "very very easy", what do you mean? How long did the process take?
Re:Ask HN: Anyone moved to EU for work? started a company?
by seekingcharlie on Thursday July 09, 2015 @08:41PM
(#9861691)
I'm on the exact same visa. It took a month from getting to Berlin to getting the visa in my hands. I hired a lady for 800 Euro to help me do all the paperwork, forms etc as it's all in German and I had no friends/family to help me through the translation process. Having done it, I think you could get away with doing it yourself - most speak at least a little bit of English. The paperwork is not really that intensive, but you can often only book appointments 1 month out at the Ausländerbehörde (where they will do your interview & process your visa application).
I'm not 100% certain if it's the same process for US (I'm Australian), but roughly I needed: - Registered address in Berlin (It's supposed to be a rental lease, but I had my airbnb host write a letter saying this was my address in Berlin). - Bank statement of savings - 3 references from clients saying that I was being paid X amount each month - Portfolio of work (web designer)
Re:Ask HN: Anyone moved to EU for work? started a company?
by atroyn on Tuesday July 14, 2015 @04:19PM
(#9887741)
This is precisely the process I followed (down to being Australian), except I made friends quickly and came to the Ausländerbehörde with a native speaker (and also client) backing me up.
My current permit allows me to stay for four years, with indefinite extension so long as I'm doing work in tech.
Starting a company is about on par with the U.S. (I also incorporated in Delaware as a foreigner). There's some beaurocracy where knowledge of the language and the required forms, or else friends to help, is very necessary. Taxes are much simpler, payroll is a little more complicated than in the U.S.