Hey everyone,
I’m currently living in Essen on a Chancenkarte (§20a). I’m a Java Developer, but I’ve realized my German isn't strong enough yet to land a job in the local market.
My current visa expires in a few months, so I’m thinking about switching to a Language Learner Visa (§16f). I can meet the requirements for this (blocked account and intensive course), but I have two main questions:
- Changing the visa here: Can I make this change while staying in Germany? I want to avoid going back home to re-apply. Has anyone successfully moved from a Chancenkarte to a Language Visa without leaving?
- I tried emailing Welcome-Center@essen.de but they don't answer.The phone lines are extremely hard to get through—I can't get anyone to actually pick up.Does anyone know if this is the right email for visa switches, or is there a better way to actually get a response from them in Essen?
If you have any experience with the Essen office or have done a similar switch, I’d really appreciate your help!
u/Street_Apricot_9502 — 10 days ago