hTTi

Does anyone know if one can take the „Leben in Deutschland“ test online? As best I can tell, the answer is no. But I’m checking with the experts here.

Issue: Our case worker didn’t list this as being necessary for the application for permanent residency. Yet when one fills out the online application basic knowledge of the test contents is requested. The test is very easy, but at the VHS it’s booked out months in advance and I wanna do it ASAP. I fear that by not doing the test my application could be rejected, even though the case worker didn’t ask for it. But maybe he has discretion here? I’ve read that some cities don’t necessarily require it for the NE.

Last time we asked him a question we waited 5 weeks for an answer. Apparently, the Bürgeramt is very busy. So I’m trying to avoid asking a question. But I’m also trying to reduce my anxiety.

bethannbitt wrote: ↑Sat Sep 28, 2024 10:13 pm Does anyone know if one can take the „Leben in Deutschland“ test online? As best I can tell, the answer is no. But I’m checking with the experts here.

Issue: Our case worker didn’t list this as being necessary for the application for permanent residency. Yet when one fills out the online application basic knowledge of the test contents is requested. The test is very easy, but at the VHS it’s booked out months in advance and I wanna do it ASAP. I fear that by not doing the test my application could be rejected, even though the case worker didn’t ask for it. But maybe he has discretion here? I’ve read that some cities don’t necessarily require it for the NE.

You cannot take the test online.

The caseworker decides whether to ask for the test, he can just have a conversation with you and decide by himself that you fulfill the requirement set down in the law.
Which isn't "needs to have passed the Leben in Deutschland test", but just, see § 9 (2) Nr. 8 AufenthG: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufe ... 4/__9.html

• 8. er über Grundkenntnisse der Rechts- und Gesellschaftsordnung und der Lebensverhältnisse im Bundesgebiet verfügt

• 8. he/she has basic knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany

***********************************************************

If you still feel anxious, you can start checking all possible exam sites in Baden-Württemberg: https://www.lebenindeutschland.eu/pruefstellen/bw

For example, VHS Stuttgart still has exam spaces for the "Leben in Deutschland Test" on 11.10.2024: https://vhs-stuttgart.de/deutsch-integr ... eutschland
and for the Einbürgerungstest (which can also be used to prove this knowledge) on 19.10.2024: https://vhs-stuttgart.de/deutsch-integr ... erungstest

Maybe go right ahead and do the Einbürgerungstest, in case you want to take on German citizenship as the next step?

Thank you Panda. This all confirms what I/we thought, but your input has quelled my anxiety. Since the email from the case worker didn’t ask for a language proficiency test certificate (I pulled together my many VHS course participation certificates and my work contract from the Grundschule anyway) or the „Leben in “ test (I’ll go through the questions and be prepared for an oral pop quiz though), I will assume that he’s ok with what I have and proceed with my application as is. I need to stop worrying. He’s always acted like this is the next logical given step. Will keep folks posted. Thx again.

bethannbitt wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 11:21 am

bethannbitt wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2024 5:53 pm Happy, oh so happy, and relieved, cuz today I finally submitted my online application for my Niederlassungserlaubnis. I’m hoping that I left no stone unturned, but if I did I’m sure I can turn it over later. Feels like a gigantic step! Fingers crossed for a quick positive reply.

We received an email this morning saying that our NE applications have been approved and show up at the Bürgeramt on November 18th at 11 am with pass, photo, and 113€ to finalize the deal. We couldn’t have received such good news on a better day of this year!

Hello All,
I am trying to file online for Niederlassungserlaubnis, as a spouse of German CItizen (working as a free lancer) and got stuck at a couple of questions: These are marked with asterisks on the forms and application does not move forward unless a document is uploaded in these fields. This is my first year as a free lancer (kleinunternehmer) and my 2024 steuerbescheid I did not owe any tax (had a small refund). The follow are those fields:

** ausgefülltes Formular Prüfungsbericht zusammen mit den darin genannten Unterlagen (Der Prüfungsbericht muss ausgefüllt werden durch Steuerberater, Wirtschaftsprüfer oder Steuerbevollmächtigte.) und
**Bescheinigung in Steuersachen des Finanzamtes (siehe Abschnitt „Weiterführende Informationen“)

Can anyone help me?

I have another question: I read somewhere (maybe this forum or TT forum) that one could ask Deutsche Rentenversicherung to verify US Social security information. How does one go about this?

Thanks
Sx4

My German/American hubby dealt with the tax stuff. If @pandamunich doesn't come along to answer your question on that I'll ask him about it for you.

I have an SSA.Gov acct I can log into to verify all of my social security information, and I'm not even collecting it yet. I just scanned that info and submitted it with my application. I don't really know why DRV would need to/should be involved. PM me if you need info on how to do this, or google it. Hubby collects SS. So he could show the money flowing into the US bank acct in his application.

Sx4 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 5:29 pm ** ausgefülltes Formular Prüfungsbericht zusammen mit den darin genannten Unterlagen (Der Prüfungsbericht muss ausgefüllt werden durch Steuerberater, Wirtschaftsprüfer oder Steuerbevollmächtigte.) und

The only city I've had caseworkers ask for a Prüfungsbericht (a lot of work, they ask for monthly profit calculations in there, for the last 3.x years!) for a Freiberufler was Berlin. They don't know their own rules, a Freiberufler only needs a Nettogewinnermittlung signed by a Steuerberater (not me), which is much less work: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324288/en/

Please see here for the difference between Freiberufler and Gewerbetreibender, scroll down to the section "What kind of self-employed are you?": https://expertise.tax/en/get-a-german-tax-number/

If you are not a Freiberufler but a Gewerbetreibender, then you need to ask a Steuerberater (not me) to check your profit calculation and all underlying supporting documentation and to fill in the Prüfungsbericht: https://allaboutberlin.com/glossary/Pr% ... ngsbericht

For a list if the documents the Steuerberater will need, please see here: https://baskan.de/post/was-ist-ein-pruefungsbericht/

Sx4 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 5:29 pm **Bescheinigung in Steuersachen des Finanzamtes (siehe Abschnitt „Weiterführende Informationen“)

That is just a certificate issued by the Finanzamt stating that you always paid your taxes on time.

Just print, fill in and sign the form linked from here and send it to your Finanzamt by snail mail: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324713/en/
Alternatively, you can also fill in and send that form in your ELSTER account: https://www.elster.de/eportal/login