Life in Stuttgart / Leben in Stuttgart
If you receive a positive decision regarding your asylum application many things will change for you . The city of Stuttgart is now your new home. We would therefore like to welcome you once again! In order that you and your fellow human beings feel comfortable in the city and a good coexistence is possible, we would like to explain to you a few things about life in Stuttgart. Your background should never be the basis for treating you less favourably than the existing residents of Stuttgart. During this stage, it is possible to receive advice on various issues at the Welcome Center Stuttgart. Addresses and advice.
In dieser Phase geht es um das Zusammenleben in Stuttgart. Die wichtigsten Behörden sind in dieser Phase die Ausländerbehörde, das Jobcenter, die Agentur für Arbeit, das Amt für Liegenschaften und Wohnen, das Welcome Center Stuttgart sowie die Clearingstelle Sprachliche Integration und der Bürgerservice Soziale Leistungen für Flüchtlinge des Sozialamts.
Wenn Sie einen positiven Asylbescheid erhalten haben, verändert sich für Sie jetzt vieles. Die Stadt Stuttgart ist nun Ihr neues Zuhause. Wir heißen Sie deshalb noch einmal herzlich willkommen! Damit Sie und Ihre Mitmenschen sich in der Stadt wohlfühlen und ein gutes Zusammenleben möglich ist, möchten wir Ihnen einige Dinge über das Leben in Stuttgart erzählen. Ihre Herkunft sollte nie ein Grund dafür sein, dass Sie schlechter behandelt werden als die Menschen, die bereits in Stuttgart leben. Eine Beratung im Welcome Center Stuttgart zu unterschiedlichen Fragestellungen ist in dieser Phase möglich. Adressen von Behörden und Beratungsstellen.
Compulsory integration
Germany is a free and democratic constitutional state. This means that the people have a big say in major decision-making. Every German man and woman with German citizenship, for example, is free to elect their own government every 4 years. The German government is a parliamentary democracy. The German Chancellor is head of the government and can be either a man or a woman.
Freedom of speech
In Germany all people are equal, i.e. everyone has the same rights. Anyone who does not share the same views as the government can demonstrate. Knowledge, i.e. any books and media, is freely accessible to everyone. You can get yourself a pass for the municipal library and take books out on loan. The municipal library can also be used to conduct online research (free for a limited period of time). Likewise, you can do research at internet cafés but you must pay to use these.
Social integration
It is not only learning the language that is important for your positive integration. The feeling of solidarity between the different people in Stuttgart results from the fact that the vast majority of people share the same values. It is important to us that you do not feel excluded at any time. However, you must also have consideration for German rules and regulations.
- The 'Welcome to Germany' webpage by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) provides information on life in Germany: www.bamf.de/DE/Willkommen/willkommen-node.html
- Guide to living in Germany - also available in English, French, Arabic, Pashto, Dari, Tigrinya, Serbian, Albanian and Macedonian: www.refugeeguide.de
- Website for new residents at the Welcome Center Stuttgart: www.welcome.stuttgart.de
- On the English-language platform, 'Wefugee', you can ask questions on various topics: www.wefugee.org
- Refugermany is an English-language app, which is aimed at sending information by mobile phone to refugees who are newly arrived in Germany. Available for iOS and Android.
of charge or for a small additional payment. The doctor will give you a red prescription for these, which you should take to the pharmacy. There are also medications which you must pay for all by yourself. The doctor will give you a green prescription for these.
Doctor's appointment: What do I need to bring with me to the general practitioner?
- Health card
Referral: What do I need to bring with me to the specialist doctor?
- Referral
If you are suffering from ongoing anxiety or depression, you can make use of psychological and social counselling services. Any information that you confide to a doctor cannot be passed on to anyone else. If you require special assistance as a woman, you can speak with one of the experts at the women's advice centre. If you need any relief or support because you suffer from a disability or if you have any other questions regarding medical care, you can ask for assistance from the Local Health Authority.
If you have received a positive decision regarding your asylum application, you are now required to attend an integration course. This is a language course which provides additional information about Germany's legal system, history and culture. Integration courses are offered in almost every district in Stuttgart. In order to take part in an integration course, you can obtain a document indicating your eligibility or requirement from the Foreign Office or from the Job Centre. The Linguistic Integration Clearing House at your Social Welfare Office offers advice about the range of courses available.
Integration course: What do I need to bring with me to the Linguistic Integration Clearing House?
- Invitation to integration course
- Certificate of eligibility for integration course
- Certificate from previous course (if available)
- Notification of unemployment benefit/income support
If you have access to the internet or this is made available to you, you can also get help with learning German online, either in the form of individual study or with supervision. Speak to your social worker or a relevant person within your group.
German Adult Education Association - online language course
The German Adult Education Association (DVV) offers two options for learning German from the outset: the free smartphone app, 'Einstieg Deutsch' (Introduction to German), aims to help refugees and migrants to cope linguistically with everyday situations. The app provides support for visits to the doctor, administrative procedures, emergencies and many other life situations - and translates into Arabic, Dari, English, Farsi, French, Kurmanci, Pashto and Tigrinya. The free app is available for
Android and iOS
.
The online language course,
'Ich-will-Deutsch-lernen' (I want to learn German)
, offers a fully digital integration course and can be combined with different presentation formats. You can learn German with support from course instructors, volunteers or through qualified online tutors. The course is open to anyone and it covers the European language levels A1 to B1. You only need an e-mail address to register. In addition, an internet browser with Flash must be installed on the PC, laptop or tablet. A headset is also required. The course includes over 11,000 exercises and 50 types of tasks. It is suitable for use both in integration courses and for self-study.
Goethe-Institut - online language course
The Goethe-Institut offers the online language course,
'Kostenlos Deutsch üben' ('Practice German for free')
.
Radio broadcaster Deutsche Welle - online language course
Deutsche Welle, which is available in almost 30 languages, has launched its own portal called
'Deutsch Lernen' ('Learn German')
. You can choose the relevant language via a selection menu on the right-hand side of the page.
Stage 6 - Children's app
Stage 6 is a
vocabulary training app
specially designed for children with no prior knowledge of iOS or Android.
Diakonie Niedersachsen - app for learning German
Diakonie Niedersachsen offers an app
for Android
in 50 languages for learning German. Refugees can learn everyday German through the use of real-life situations and short sentences. The app is available for free and is not linked to the internet. The relevant mother tongue language can be chosen using a language selection feature. Every section is downloaded onto the smartphone.
Langenscheidt-Verlag - dictionary
The publisher Langenscheidt-Verlag offers some sections of its
German-Arabic dictionary (pdf)
for free.
Language platform bab.la - collection of phrases
The website bab.la offers a comprehensive
collection of phrases
in many languages and covering different topics such as job applications, business or personal correspondence.
German-Arab Friendship Association - picture dictionary
The
picture dictionary
offered by the German-Arab Friendship Association has illustrations of many basic terms from various subject areas and translates these.
Refugee phrasebook - dictionary
On the webpage
www.refugeephrasebook.de
it is possible to print off a small
dictionary
containing common expressions for using in various situations in different countries. A template for a book with the key topics is available as a PDF document.
Welcome Grooves project - German audio lessons
The
Welcome Grooves
project offers some German audio lessons. In addition, the spoken content has been translated into multiple languages.
You will automatically receive your work permit together with your residence permit. In certain cases, the Foreign Office can grant permission for you to work even if you do not yet have a temporary residence permit. This approval must be recorded in the temporary residence permit or exceptional leave to remain.
If you have received a positive asylum decision, the Job Centre is responsible for giving advice and arranging training places, internships and jobs.
You can find more information about the topic of work and accreditation of educational qualifications in the red chapter.
Job search: What do I need to take with me to the Job Centre?
- Application documents
-
Cover letter, CV (completed)
-
Certificates, qualification
- Job description
While you are searching for work in Stuttgart, you can apply to receive unemployment benefits (ALG II) or income support. These benefits are provided in order to cover your basic needs. Exactly how much money you receive may depend, for example, on whether you live alone, are married, have children and how much income you earn. If you become unemployed after working for at least 12 months, you will also receive unemployment benefits from the Employment Agency.
To find out more detailed information, you can enquire at the Employment Agency or the Job Centre. Your personal advisor will also help you in your job search.
Consultation: What do I need to bring with me to the University 'Guarantee Funds' Educational Consultancy?
- Valid passport documents
- Proof of arrival (or BüMA)
- School/educational certificates and employer references
In Stuttgart, your children have the opportunity to go to kindergarten. There are kindergartens in every district of Stuttgart. Places are limited, however, and it is often very difficult to get a place right away.It is best to enquire at the kindergartens in you local area about the availability of places. There is also a migrant advisory service which you can visit.
School
If you have received a positive decision regarding your asylum application, you can find out about and apply for financial aid for school materials at the job centre.
Grant: What do I need to bring with me to the job centre?
- Notice of asylum decision
- Probationary certificate
One of the social workers or volunteers will be pleased to help you search for an apartment. If you have a paid job, you can usually find your own apartment. If you are in receipt of benefits from the job centre, you will need prior approval from the job centre before moving into a new apartment. You can obtain a so-called 'Wohnungsberechtigungsschein' (certificate of eligibility for public housing) at the property and housing office.
There are mosques, churches and synagogues, as well as Ahmadiyya, Baha'I, Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh communities. There are also a number of sects in Germany. Please be extremely wary of these.
You cannot apply for citizenship with prohibition of deportation. In some cases, however, it is possible to make a subsequent application. There must a particular reason for this, such as a change in the political situation in your homeland, a change in German legislation or new evidence showing your persecution in your country. If you become aware of any such reason, you should seek advice as soon as possible regarding the potential for success of a subsequent application made within the next three months.
You must apply in person at the local BAMF office associated
with the shared accommodation that you stayed in during your asylum process. A further process is only then possible if, for example, new evidence of persecution exists or your situation has fundamentally changed.
