wilperkins

This course was great

> One of the most difficult aspects of securing it was that the required documentation was a moving target; online sources conflicted with one another and each reviewer of your application seemingly applied their own new criteria as well. As a result, one of the most successful strategies was insistence; arguing with your reviewer and demonstrating how you did in fact have sufficient documentation and that they were wrong.

I had this exact same experience when renewing my contractor visa in Germany. I'd suggest bringing a printed copy of the requirements list from the German ausländerbehörde website with you whenever you show up to these appointments.

I usually hang out in the kitchen at our shared office space and ask people. If that's not enough, then I'll start visiting friends' offices for team breakfast or post-work beers and do the same.

The standard head shakes of disapproval. Comments like "she should just go through the scanner like everyone else" or "look at her trying to create a problem". After the first couple walked by and had such a reaction, I just ignored it. But then when it repeatedly happened, I wondered why so many people were bothered enough by her decision that they have to stop and make a snarky comment about it.

I had a similar experience when traveling to the US with my German girlfriend (I am from the US). What I found even more disappointing is the way that other passengers negatively reacted to her choosing to opt-out and wait for the "pat down of shame". I would be happy to see in the US a better public awareness of the amount of personal rights that we're forfeiting by simply passing through an airport.