‘I seriously wish someone would sue the Austrian government’

Navigating integration in Austria requires more than just a social security card; it demands a thick skin and, often, a loud voice. Recently, in the article Inside Austria: How to avoid the mistakes I made when going to an Austrian doctor, The Local Austria editor Amanda Previdelli delved into her experiences of the Austrian medical system as a long-term resident, in hopes of sparing our readers some of her more negative experiences. It prompted some readers to share their stories underpinning the importance of self-advocacy in an Austrian doctors office. 

Reader Jarad Carleton noted that not taking a proactive approach has had serious consequences for his partner. He shared that his wife is now facing surgery because a previous doctor failed to act on clear warning signs. “Your story about the ECG is spot on,” he said. “They didn’t put her on statins a few years ago and now she’s facing an operation because of it.”

Annette Ebner suggested that the challenge is cultural. In her homeland, she found it easier to advocate for herself in the doctors office, whereas “The doctors [here] are on pedestals and don’t like patients who challenge what they are saying,” she observed. Her advice to others? “It’s your body, your health, and nothing should be left unsaid.”

The spouse paradox

The struggle to be heard in a doctor’s office is often just the first of many hurdles for foreigners in Austria, where the complexities of the medical system are frequently matched – if not eclipsed – by the challenges of the immigration office. When we asked How hard is it to get a residence permit in Austria?, many readers pointed out a frustrating “reverse discrimination” where being an Austrian citizen can actually make the process for a non-EU spouse more difficult than it is for other EU nationals.

“It is pretty surprising how citizens are ‘sanctioned’ in some areas while other EU country citizens are not,” Igor noted. Ian M, an Austrian citizen, shared his current struggle to bring his non-EU wife home: “According to the EU regulations, this should take 6 months or less. So far, it has taken 8 months.”

The most emotional flashpoint seems to be the mandatory language tests. In response to our guide ‘Learn German’: The best advice to get a residence permit in Austria, Paul Frank Covello called for a legal challenge. “I seriously wish someone would sue the Austrian government over the language test policy of spouses. If other EU citizens can bring over a spouse without a language test but an Austrian citizen can’t, something is very wrong with the law,” he argued.

Jarad Carleton added that the policy feels unnecessarily cruel. “I’ve seen foreign spouses crying when they didn’t pass an exam and knew they had to leave the country. It’s inhumane treatment of families who are not gaming a system.”

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The bilingual balance

For those who do manage to settle, the issues surrounding language proficiency in an adopted homeland shifts to the next generation. Our callout for answers to How do you raise children in a bilingual home in Austria? revealed some striking similarities amongst a community dedicated to integration without losing their heritage.

Rika, 37, described the typical “new Austrian” balancing act: “We want the children to establish German as their fundamental language… [but] keep [their native language of] Japanese as a side language to an extent they have enough accuracy to have a conversation.”

Ladi, 55, also feels strongly about his child keeping their native tongue sharp, while they adapt to a day-to-day in German. He and several other respondents swear by the “One Parent, One Language” method to keep boundaries clear: “I speak English to my wife and child, she speaks German to me and our child. I never speak German to our child.”

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The ‘honeymoon’ ends

Despite the effort put into raising families and learning the language, some readers admit the honeymoon period of life in Austria has a shelf life. When we asked if readers were considering moving away, a distinct sense of social isolation and political fatigue emerged.

One anonymous reader cited the “rude people” and the difficulty of making friends as a reason to look toward Spain or Greece. Gina, who moved from the UK to Tirol, agreed that the shine has worn off. “It is time to find home,” she said, noting that she misses “a work environment where people work together and not in competition with each other.”

For SH, 32, the decision to leave is driven by the political climate. “Austria is pushing away their high-skilled immigrants with worse policies day by day,” they claimed, citing a recent hardening of residency laws. However, for others like Adi M, the “inherent threats” of the EU are balanced out by Austria’s stability. Despite the faults, Adi is determined to stay, viewing the country as “geographically protected” in a volatile world.

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Members of The Local Austria can comment on all articles. Your constructive views, advice for others and stories of life in Austria offer a vital contribution to our community of international readers.