[pyvpx]

what are the VISA requirements like for someone from a western country (say, the US or Canada)? If I wanted to live in Germany for a full year, is there a way to do so working independently (i.e. without a German corporation sponsoring a work VISA)?

thanks.

[Guest98130]

Germany has a freelance visa that'll allow you to stay in the country for a year or longer. It's not the easiest to obtain, but do a quick search on Google and you'll find information on the process.

[kephra]

Thanks - thats new to me - I'll investigate it. But I fear 1-2 years are not enough to be interesting for most people. Thats why those I know used the marriage trick.

[moonfern]

Yes, they have the "artist/self-employment visa" More info:http://4dayvisa.tumblr.com/ I would recommend Munich nice village with a good climate in the southern part of Germany.

[kephra]

Munich is extremely expensive, the natives there are right wing and known to be unfriendly to foreigners, who do not speak Bavarian. Recommending Munich to foreigners is like recommending southern US states to black people.

[Cass]

While Munich is in fact hellishly expensive, the Bavarian version of "right wing" is VERY different from what most Americans would probably expect when reading that phrase. (My general expression of the American right wing, particularly in the southern US states, as a German, is that it tends to be partly centered around opposition to issues such as gay rights, abortion, and free healthcare, which the average person from Munich tends to have very liberal views on, in my personal experience.) And my friends from other countries have uniformly told me that they've felt very welcome in Munich - there's a very high rate of people who speak English here, for one, more so than in more rural areas or some of the eastern states.

It's not a perfect city, of course, but I'd highly recommend it to any foreigner who's willing to put up with the prices.

[ncc88]

There are more black people in the southern US than any other region, your analogy does not match up and is woefully ignorant.

[tmuir]

If the southern US has not historically been more hostile to blacks than other regions of the US, then why did almost every major event of the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s take place in southern states?

Why were most of the jurisdictions requiring preclearance to change their voting laws under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in the south? Its because those counties and states have had a documented history of limiting the voting rights of minorities, specifically blacks.

[kephra]

Same as in rest of Germany/Europe: Its nearly impossible for free lancers or small business if you are from outside Europe.

There is an equivalent to green card in Germany, but thats only for wage slaves.

Most Americans I know came as GI's and married a woman to become resident. oh well Its also common to Africans to buy a marriages. We have lots of unemployed people who sell this service.

[nekopa]

In 2005 it took me just under 72 hours to get my freelance work permit (US citizen). I am now in the Czech Republic on a freelance work permit. You seem to be spreading FUD.