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Making appointments

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New procedure for making appointments

LEA is fundamentally changing the procedure for allocating appointments with immediate effect. Appointments can no longer be booked via the previous Online Appointment System (OTV). The OTV, which was initially shut down for maintenance work, has now been permanently decommissioned.

The main reason for this decision is that, in particular, providers operating on the Internet had increasingly siphoned off the dates available on OTV in order to sell them. Many appointments were not available to our customers or were only available at a fee. This abusive business model is now being deprived of its basis.

Online application or contact form

LEA is consistently converting the majority of its services to digital applications. For initial services (e.g. such as declarations of commitment, the EU Blue Card and residence permits for education purposes), appointments are allocated directly to applicants by the relevant departments after the documents submitted online have been checked.

Should an online application not yet be available for the required service, appointments can be made with the relevant departments using the contact form.

Is there an emergency and you urgently need an appointment?

Online application instead of booking an appointment in certain cases:

For people in an ongoing asylum procedure or with an obligation to leave the country:

  • You are in possession of a certificate confirming permission to remain pending an asylum decision (Aufenthaltsgestattung), have temporary suspension of deportation status (Duldung), a border crossing certificate, a supplementary sheet under Section 84(2) of the German Residency Act, or a certificate on the confiscation of a passport? In this case, please take note of our information regarding this group of persons.

For some services you can go to any Berlin citizens’ office (Bürgeramt):

Emergency appointment

In an emergency we can offer help, either by sending a Fiktionsbescheinigung (temporary residence permit) or by making an appointment as soon as possible. Once we have received the contact form, the responsible department will review your case and decide whether an emergency exists. An emergency must always be proven.

We can only help if you:

  • urgently have to travel within the next four weeks and this can be proven by means of a booking.
  • can prove, through a letter from your employer, that without a valid document there is a risk of job loss.
  • can prove, through a letter from your job centre or social welfare office, that without a valid document there is a threat of benefits being discontinued.

Please only select the subject “Urgent appointment/emergency” (Eiliger Termin / Notfall) in your department’s contact form if at least one of the three criteria applies to you. Attach your proof to the contact form.

Unfortunately, for technical legal reasons, in cases where

  • no valid passport is held
  • a travel document for foreigners, stateless people or refugees must be issued or
  • the previous residence title has been lost

we cannot offer any immediate help. Your contact form will still be read and processed, even if immediate help is not possible.
We ask for your understanding that a response will take longer in this case.

FAQ about making an appointment

  • When should I book an appointment?

    As a rule, residence titles can be extended at the earliest 8 weeks before they expire.

    The appointment itself should preferably be 4-6 weeks before the residence title expires. The appointment can be booked earlier.

    In some departments, you may not be able to get an appointment at short notice, but may have to wait a few months. Therefore, ask for an appointment well before your residence title is due to expire.

    Important: Book your appointment before your residence title becomes invalid.

  • My residence title will expire before my appointment. Is that a problem?

    Was your residence title still valid on the day that appointment was booked?

    In this case, the residence title will continue to be deemed valid until the reserved appointment. This also applies to the ancillary provisions for your visa.
    This means: You can continue to work or study until your appointment.

    Your contact form with the request for an appointment, together with your previous residence title, are valid proof of your authorised residence and can be presented to authorities and employers as appropriate proof.

    Important:
    • Prerequisite for this is that you appear at the reserved appointment.
    • Moreover, you can travel abroad only within the scope of validity of the residence title most recently granted to you.
  • Can I change or delete my appointment?

    Appointments are in short supply. We therefore ask you to cancel any unnecessary appointments using the contact form. Many thanks.

  • You hold a national visa (D-Visa) issued for 12 months?

    Holders of this sort of long-term D-Visa are issued with a different residence title (residence permit, EU Blue Card) 8 weeks before the visa expires at the earliest.

    Is your stay not expected to be longer than the period for which the visa is valid?
    Then an application does not have to be made. An interview at the Berlin Immigration Office (Landesamt für Einwanderung) is also unnecessary.

    Is your stay expected to be longer than the period for which the visa is valid?
    Then apply within the validity period of your visa for the residence title to be issued. This application should be made six to eight weeks before the expiry of the visa. Your visa cannot be converted into a different residence title any earlier.

    Working with the national visa?
    It says in your visa whether and to what extent you are permitted to work.
    You can begin to work to the permitted extent immediately after entry, even if you still do not have a residence permit or an EU Blue Card.
    Holders of a one-year visa for study purposes are permitted to work in accordance with Section 16b paragraph 3 AufenthG. This means that, with this visa, you are permitted to work a maximum of 140 whole days per year. Part-time student jobs are not taken into account.

  • You hold a residence permit for employment purposes that is valid for even longer?
    If you have a residence permit for employment purposes that is still valid for a longer period of time (for example, Blue Card):
    • You want to change companies or are looking for a new job?
    • Or your employment has changed in some way, for example the name of the company or your job description?
    If so, you may not need an appointment to change or reissue your residence permit at all. Please read
  • Can I come even without an appointment?

    No, for the time being service will in general only take place by appointment.

  • What should I bring to my appointment?

    After requesting an appointment via the contact form, you will receive an invitation by email from the relevant department with all the data necessary for the appointment to print out. This confirmation lists all the required documents and fees. Please bring all of these in full – together with your appointment confirmation.

    Important: Please do not cling, staple or stick the documents you bring with you. This helps us to save time with your operation.

  • I have a Schengen visa. Can I book an appointment for the extension?

    A Schengen visa (Visa Category C) is issued for short stays, e.g. for visits, tourism purposes or business trips.
    A visa of this kind always expires as soon as its expiry date has ended.
    Schengen visas can be extended only in exceptional cases, e.g. in the event of serious illness.

    As a rule, a Schengen visa cannot be converted into a residence permit.
    Therefore, with a Schengen visa, you cannot extend your permitted stay by booking an appointment or applying for a residence permit. More information

  • I would like to travel but my temporary residence permit expired or expires very soon. What can I do?

    Please arrange an appointment for the extension of your residence title in good time.

    We will process your request promptly and check if you can receive a certificate that enables you to travel.

    Please notice that due to the long production we cannot issue travel documents for tourist travel.

  • The Federal Office of Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has granted me asylum or refugee status or complementary protection. I do not yet possess a residency permit and my electronic residency permit (eAT) has not yet been ordered. Can I make an appointment to order an eAT?

    No, please do not seek unasked an appointment.

    If the Federal Office of Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has granted you asylum or refugee status or complementary protection and you do not yet possess a residency permit, the matter will be examined on the circumstances of the case.

    The responsible office department will then invite you to attend an appointment as soon as possible.

Further information about this

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