How to beginn

Open VIDEX online form.
Since I am only talking about long term stay in my blog, the first thing you should do is to make sure that you're really on VIDEX long term stay form. (1.)

Check if it is the long-term residence. Also look at the URL. It must end like this: "#/videx-langfristiger-aufenthalt"

You can change the language (2.) at any time. The data already entered will not be lost.

Click on "New application" (3.) and start entering data.

TIP: Click "Launch assistant" (4.) to see the hints.

7 confusing and unclear parts of Videx Form

As stated before, I only make my notes about the places where applicants make mistakes frequently.

#1 - Nationality

Some people confuse nationality and citizenship.

EXAMPLE: Imagine that you were born in Ukraine, came to Germany, stayed there several years and received the German passport. As a rule you must give up your Ukrainian citizenship. So now you are German by citizenship, but still Ukrainian by nationality.

Current nationality:
- If you have other nationalities, I recommend to enter them all.

Former nationality:
- The same recommendation is for your former nationality(ies).

If you hide this information it does not mean that you will get visa rejection. But the chances of visa rejection begin to slowly grow.

#2 - Children

Look at Screenshot 2. On the right corner you see this question: Do you have children?

Applicants often oversee that one must enter the data of your children, even if they are already adults and are not travelling with you.

#3 - Place of residence

Common mistakes: in the field Father's/Mother's place of residence some applicants write citizenship or just a country or don't know what to enter if there is no contact to particular parent.

What is correct?

If have no contact with the parent(s) just write UNKNOWN or UNBEKANNT (screenshot 3, big red frame). The Embassy staff knows that such cases sometimes happen.

If your parent(s) passed away, write "deceased" (or in German verstorben).

Place of residence: Do not confuse residence status and place of residence.
In our case, the the spouse has Philippines citizenship, her mother too. But the mother with her Philippines passport is currently living in Oakland. So not her status but her place of residence is New Zealand. (small red frame)

About passport data

Type of travel document:
- Select "ordinary passport" and write its number. If there are letters in the number, write them too.

Issued in:
- If the city of your passport issue is not written in your passport, leave this field empty (on the right side of the red frame).

Travel data and purpose

Purpose of the stay in the Federal Republic of Germany:
- Choose "Employment" (Erwerbstätgkeit).

If applicable, intended employment:
Set here an exact formulation which stated in your contract, for example "Junior developer".

Purpose of stay for your spouse / kid(s)

Your spouse and each kid (because each person must submit an application form), choose "family reunification" (Familiennachzug).

From (dd.mm.yyyy):
- Put here the date entered in your contract as beginning of your employment.

TIP: apply for the visa about 2 weeks before the start of work. If your children are coming with you, you can apply 1 month before the start of work. If the embassy official asks you why you are applying 2-4 weeks before you start working, answer honestly: because you need enough time to find a suitable flat and to complete all the formalities. Once you start working full time, it would be more difficult to find the time to look for an apartment, kindergarten and formalities around the school enrollment.

Either you will get your visa at the desired earlier date or not. If not, no problem. If yes, in addition to the above, you will get an additional "bonus": more leeway to find cheaper flight tickets.

To:
- It is enough if you put a dash here (like in the screenshot). It means "for a long duration". However the embassy recommends

Even if your employment contract is temporary, you can explain to a possible question of the embassy employee that you intend a long-term employment and your contract will definitely be extended.

#4 - Complicated formulation about twelve months

I intend to stay for no longer than twelve months in the Federal... Look at the red arrow pointing at "Yes" on the screenshot 5.2.
This formulation is rather confusing. That is why some applicants mistake putting a check mark in front of the "yes". Although mostly it doesn't apply (red arrow). Why? Because this is only to be checked if your stay is intended to be less than 12 months. If you plan to stay in Germany longer than 12 months, don't check this box. So, do not check it!

Reference - Information about your employer

As an example for required fields I used my employer from Berlin - BCA Relocation GmbH.

This section is pretty self-explanatory.

Fields like "Organisation's place of business, Name of the register of the organisation, Location of register" are optional, so you may leave these fields blank.

#5 - Address in Germany

Some applicants stamble on this questions. Here are my comments from the experience.

Here are the options that are accepted by the German Embassy.

1. Some employers provide temporary housing for their new employees. Feel free to ask for it.
2. You book a furnished apartment in advance, preferably for a period of 3-12 months.
3. You book an apartment on Booking.com or Airbnb for one month.

Questions from an embassy official, why so short, only for a month, are extremely rare. The honest answer that you will look for a long-term apartment on the place is always sufficient.

What are your means of support in the Federal Republic of Germany?
- In our example it GEHALT MEINES EHEMANNES which means "Salary of my husband", because this particular application is for the Family reunification.

If you are the one who will work in Germany, then enter here only one word: SALARY. Or in German: GEHALT.

Has a formal declaration of commitment been completed?
- As soon as you apply for a visa for yourself (purpose: employment) or for your family members (purpose: family reunification), you can answer this question with NO.

Do you intend to retain your permanent residence outside the Federal Republic of Germany?
As soon as you are in Germany and apply for the Blue Card or another residence title, you can calmly answer "No" to the same question. Nobody will pay attention to this.

#6 - Health Insurance

Do you have health insurance (for a longer stay) for the Federal Republic of Germany?
Select "yes" (red arrow on the screenshot 7)

Because to have health insurance in Germany is a must. You will get the visa only if you have health insurance. For the entry a travel insurance is sufficient. As soon as you start your employment, you need a statutory health insurance.

#7 - Previous stays in the Federal Republic of Germany

Have you ever been to the Federal Republic of Germany before?

Do not undervalue this question. Enter the dates of each of your last five visits of Germany. Even if you were just passing through Germany for one day, I recommend entering these date(s).

A real case from the practice of my employer BCA Relocation GmbH
In the summer of 2022 one of our clients from the UK answered "no" to this question. That man had already been in Germany a few times. Despite his UK nationality, he was denied German national visa (blue card intended).
When I asked, he explained to have considered this post unimportant.
So, please learn from this lesson and do not repeat his mistake.