German Red Tape

Most people hate bureaucracy; and it is probably the worst problem about democratic systems. As much as oversight and process is good, it is at times mind numbingly idiotic. And Germans, it seems, are particularly fastidious about their red tape.

It all started back in Cape Town, even before I left. I am scheduled to be in Germany for 4 and a half months, but they could not issue me with a visa for that long (or for that two visas). Instead, I had to get a 90 day visa, and then upgrade it in Germany.

And that is where the fun started. I could not update in Berlin, partly because I was lazy and did not look up the details in time (and the offices only open 3 days a week for 4 hours at a time), and partly because I did not have the relevant documentation. You see, to get the visa update I needed, I needed to be a registered resident of Berlin ... which is rather convoluted since you have to have a lease agreement to be get such a registration. So, I left things for Erlangen.

At Erlangen, I discovered that the Cape Town Embassy had actually processed the wrong type of visa for me, and I could not update my visa easily. I had two options: either get a work permit (which I don't need as a short term scientific assistant at a research institute) from the wonderfully named Aliens Office, or get the visa issued, fly outside to a non Schengen country and then re-enter.

The personnel department decided to first try the Aliens Office, who did process the request very fast (took 2 weeks instead of the usual 8) and I finally managed to get the visa sorted this morning. After having my photo retaken because the ones I had (taken in Berlin) did not meet the specifications ... strange as the photo is actually shrunk in the final visa.

But here is the really fun part ... since my flight leaves the day after I finish my internship, I have to go get another extension (for the two days) closer to the time. I do not need extra documentation, but that is how it must be done. Since I might be in Barcelona at the time, I am wondering if I should just change my flights instead.