Hello,
I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a way to test if ones resume is good enough to get into germany if things were to go awry here in the USA (either at a national level or if you simply had too many personally liabilities to comfortably live in the USA any longer). I am aware that Germany only takes about 2.5% of thoes that apply for permentant resident status to become a citizen.
Obviously learning german would be key but I would think to be part of that 2.5% your going to need a strong resume. I personally have a chemical engineering degree with a PE and soon to have a masters in elecrical engineering. Not sure if that will cut it since its not a PhD though both degrees are from prestigious universities.
Your resume is not really a key point for naturalisation, although they will ask you for a CV when you submit your application.
The general requirements are:
-You have to have been a legal resident of Germany for at least eight years (unless you are married to a German national, in that case, three years)
-You need to be in full time employment (how much you earn is secondary)
-Your work contract needs to have been valid for at least six months at the time of application (the probationary period must be over)
-Your work contract should be permanent
-You need to pass the German language test
-You need to pass the naturalisation test
-You should not rely on public funds, although working and 'topping up' with ALG II is permissble if you have a family, for example. Housing allowance, child benefit, etc. is all okay and will not work against you.
If all your documents are in order, the naturalisation department will contact all sorts of government agencies for background checks. Usually it takes around three months to hear back from all of them.
If that is all cleared, you will receive a document that is called 'Assurance of Nationality', stating that they will grant you German nationality as soon as you resign your old nationality. In some cases you are allowed to keep your nationality: when you are an EU national or when your home country simply does not accept resignations of nationality. Best check that beforehand.
With that document you then go to your local Embassy to surrender your passports, etc. Only when you receive a document releasing you from your original nationality, the naturalisation department will check the general requirements again (as in, are you still working full time, etc.) and issue the naturalisation certificate. With this you can then go to your local authority to get your German ID card and passport.
My husband is currently going through this and we hope to have it all done and dusted by summer.
I think the key to naturalisation for you is not to get a good enough CV for naturalisation, it´s rather finding an employer who will sponsor you for a residence and work permit. Once you have a steady job here it´s then more or less just a case of keeping that job and staying out of trouble.