Ever wondered where the visa process for skilled workers coming to Germany is handled? It happens right here at the Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten.
The Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten in Brandenburg an der Havel is not just another government building. It is a crucial service hub of the German Foreign Office. Its main task? To manage the visa application process. This is especially true for skilled workers seeking to contribute to the German economy.
But here is a little secret. The Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten, or BfAA, as it is also known, faced a challenging start. Established nearly three years ago, this flagship project of eastern German settlement policy struggled initially. The problem? Finding enough qualified staff.
Imagine waiting months for a visa that should only take a few days. That was the reality. Georg Birgelen, the president of the BfAA, admitted that these delays were unfortunate. Some businesses even sarcastically called the office a “Saftladen,” which translates roughly to “a disorganized mess”.
The struggle to find personnel is an issue for many new federal agencies in eastern Germany. A quarter of positions in these institutions remain unfilled. In the Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten, 40 of 360 positions were vacant. Employees had to work overtime to manage the workload. Marion Loidl-Tillmann from the staff council wished for more personnel to handle all tasks properly.
The good news is that the Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten has improved its service. Waiting times have decreased significantly. Behördenleiter Georg Birgelen emphasized the high motivation of his employees. He assured that they are trying their best.
Interestingly, the Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten attracts skilled workers with attractive conditions. These include permanent, well-paid positions, an establishment allowance and the possibility of working from home up to 80 percent of the time.
However, this appeal has a side effect. The Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten recruits from other regional employers. These include the city of Brandenburg, the state of Brandenburg, the steelworks, the university and other smaller employers. This creates a shortage of skilled workers in those organizations.
Carsten Schneider, Commissioner for Eastern Germany, describes it as a battle for the brightest minds. He stresses the importance of openness towards newcomers. If people feel unwelcome, they will not accept positions in the region.
Since April 2024, Holger Seubert has been the president of the Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten. Before that, he was a special representative for visa digitization. He also worked on the immigration of skilled workers in the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Currently, the BfAA is working hard to digitize the visa process. This should help remove a bottleneck in the immigration of skilled workers.
So, the next time you hear about skilled workers coming to Germany, remember the Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten. It plays a vital role in making it all possible. Despite initial setbacks, it is striving to provide efficient service and support the German economy.