The documental preparation for the citizenship restoration process is finally complete!
It began with a thorough initial consultation sharing family history & documentation and once eligibility was confirmed, you committed to the extensive demands of the application process. After digesting our bespoke guide to the documentation required, you proceeded to source what may have felt like a ton of paperwork.
Birth & marriage certificates were ordered from the state archive, perhaps along with adoption papers and/ or name change documents and even death certificates. In certain cases, police certificates of good conduct were sourced. Evidence was certified and case depending, legalised or apostilled. You’ve even visited a notary public with your passports and possibly other documentation. Painstaking preparation was undertaken to ensure documental evidence was presented 100% according to the authorities’ exact demands. The “English version” application forms were completed & you’ve even managed to remember where you, your parents and at times, even your grandparents lived and when!
Once the hefty documental preparation was complete and soft copies emailed for our online review, we’ve worked meticulously, checking forms and the certified evidence for any inconsistencies and errors. Once satisfied that the authorities will not find any information missing or any discrepancies, we’ve translated the English application forms to the German versions. Subsequently as the finish lines edges closer, we’ve requested your hardcopies for final review and processing. Subsequent to our thorough review, we’ve drafted a cover letter to the authorities, outlining the grounds for restoration (or your renaturalisation), and specified the evidence used to substantiate your case.
The application submission is now finally complete and ready for sending via our courier to the Bundesverwaltungsamt in Germany for processing.
On your end, you’ve officially crossed the finish line – what’s next?
Firstly, all clients will receive confirmation that their applications have been signed for at the authorities, usually within a couple of days.
Subsequently, after an average of eight months, they’ll be another update when the authorities officially acknowledge the applications and assign file numbers for processing.
If there are any changes of marital status, address, contact details or personal changes whilst your applications are in processing, please inform us asap so we can update your contact details with the authorities.
There is rarely any further communication from the authorities until the naturalisations are granted. Due to the current backlog, the quoted processing times (as of March 2024) for “Article 116 GG” applications are an average of 24 months and for “Section 15 of the Nationality Act” applications 30-36 months from the date of application submission. However, should queries arise, the German authorities will contact us on your behalf.
We are often asked if these quoted time frames are accurate, occassionally applications are approved sooner but in order to manage expectations preparing to wait the time frame quoted makes more sense. Once your applications are in the authorities’ hands, it is under their control, not ours.
We understand clients are keen for updates, you’ll be informed as soon as any communication regarding your naturalisations being granted is received. Clients may also directly receive an email from their local Embassy / consulate inviting them to make a convenient appointment to collect their naturalisation certificates. Please remember to take your passport to this meeting to prove identity. Both parents of minors (under 16) must attend unless there is a sole custody arrangement in place. This must be in person and upon signing for your naturalisation certificate, you will officially become a German citizen!
And finally – German passport acquisition!
In most cases, but depending on embassy / consulate policy and availability, passport application forms to procure a German passport can be requested on site at the appointment to collect your naturalisation certificates.
For information read here –
https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/02-PassportsandIDCards/passport-fees/906634What next blog image