Hey folks,
another one of those visa posts. Turns out I have a very specific situation, hence the question(s).
**Context**
Before anything, I work as a software engineer and I don’t have a degree in my area (I do have an university degree, but not in a related field). Also, I’ve moved to Berlin 5 years and a few months ago (in 2018).
**1. First permit**
I got here with a tourist visa, but managed to get a [study preparation visa](https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/305156/en/) on November 2018 (when my tourist visa was about to expire). This allowed me to apply for jobs. I got a full time job, worked for the entire duration allowed by the study preparation visa and then applied to switch to a blue card / working permit.
**2. Skilled worker permit**
Because I don’t have a degree in my area, the Ausländerbehörde declined a blue card and issued me a working permit instead. The remarks section for that permit mentions 18 abs. 4 S. 1. From what I understand, this is for skilled workers with degree – so I’m not sure what happened there, maybe they just didn’t know how to handle my situation back then (or maybe I’m wrong). This permit was issued on November 2019.
For this permit, there was a mention in the Zusatzblatt about how, after 2 years working for my current employer, I could change jobs without consent from the immigration office. I’ve changed jobs a bit before that though, and had to re-apply.
**3. IT specialist without degree visa**
My current permit was issued on September 2021. I’ve started the current job on October 2021, so it’s over 2 years now. But the remarks section of the current permit mentions 19C abs. 2 – which makes sense since that’s the one specific for people without degree.
This time, however, the Zusatzblatt does not mention anything about the 2 year time period. It just restricts me to the current employer. It reads as follows:
*Beschäftigung nicht erlaubt mit ausnahme der tätigkeit als … bei ….*
*Selbständige tatigkeit erlaubt.*
**Questions**
1. Now I want to change jobs again. I actually have a contract in hands already, but I’m not sure how I should proceed. As I understand, after 3 years of uninterrupted work with a valid permit, consent from the immigration authority should not be required anymore. In that sense, do I need to apply for a change of employer? I just want to be careful before I resign. In my first job here I had a situation where my employer screwed up my Ausländerbehörde appointment and I couldn’t work for a whole month until my situation was resolved. That’s not something I’d like to see happening again.
2. On another subject, is the 19c abs. 2 visa regarded as skilled worker also? I’m asking that because one thing I’ve been considering is applying for a permanent residency. But by the rule, I’d only be able to do so in November **if** 19c abs 2 counts as skilled worker (then I could make use of the fastened period of 48 months for the permanent residency). I’ve been studying german and getting ready for that in case it is possible (trying to reach B1 as soon as possible).
1. Also as a curiosity – would the time that I’ve worked with the preparation for study visa count towards the time required for the permanent residency?
3. Are the time requirements for the permanent residency followed by the book? I mean, I’ve heard of people managing to get permanent residency without B1, for example (the immigration official would just make a couple of questions in German to attest they knew some of the language and that would suffice). So I’m thinking maybe for the time they would also provide some flexibility and I shouldn’t stress so much about having to match all requirements exactly.
Please let me know what you think – any feedback would be nice as I’m really in a standstill at this point. Thanks!
by Western_Movie_7297