How to Find Cheap Meals in Germany? Best Tip Ever!

We have all had to bite the bullet and eat cheap Happy Meals or the McMenu at McDonalds because that is the only thing that could fill us up within 5 Euros.

Or there is always a Döner Kiosk.

But, what if I tell you that you can get a delicious, warm plate of food usually for under 5 Euros wherever you are, whatever the time it is?

The answer is one word - Mensa!

The Student Canteens (Mensa) are usually present in all cities and small towns. They provide subsidized food to students who have the Mensa Card. But, as a 'guest' you can always visit them and pay the 'guest price' for the food which is usually 20-30% more than the student price but always around 5 Euros.

Just Google Mensa + City Name and you will end up at the Website of the City's Mensa's along with the menu for the week plus price list.

Example

Bonn
https://www.studierendenwerk-bonn.de/en/food-drink/canteens-and-cafes/mensa-nassestrasse/

Cologne
http://www.kstw.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=182&Itemid=121&lang=de

Berlin
https://www.stw.berlin/mensen.html

Stuttgart
https://www.studierendenwerk-stuttgart.de/essen/speiseplan/


The menu is usually pretty good! So, enjoy!

What is the ICT Card in Germany? Intra Company Transfers in Germany from India

Germany has presented new procedures for intra-organization moves, which execute the European Association intra-organization move (ICT) mandate (Order 2014/66/EU of the European Parliament and of the Committee of fifteenth May 2014 on the states of section and home of third-nation nationals in the structure of an intra-corporate exchange").

There are three new courses accessible for intra-organization transferees, which became effective on first August 2017:

ICT Card for remains of over 90 days for third-nation national transferees from outside the EU

Versatile ICT Card for remains of over 90 days for transferees holding an ICT card issued by another EU part state

Warning for present moment intra-organization moves of as long as 90 days for transferees holding an ICT card issued by another EU part state

ICT Card 

The intra-corporate transferee license, or ICT Card, is another home class for third-nation nationals on task in Germany from outside the EU, for over 90 days.

The candidate must be on task as an administrator, authority or student, with suitable capabilities if pertinent, inside a similar gathering of organizations.

The candidate more likely than not been ceaselessly utilized by the gathering of organizations for in any event a half year preceding the task.

Chiefs and pros can acquire an ICT Card for assignments up to a limit of three years (non-inexhaustible), while learners might be conceded a limit of one year.

A "cooling" time of a half year between applications applies.

A holder of an ICT Card issued in Germany can work in another EU part state for an organization of a similar gathering, for as long as 90 days in a 180-day time frame, without acquiring a different license in that nation (the host nation may require a warning). For remains of over 90 days, yet not longer than the task in Germany, a "versatile ICT grant" may should be endorsed constantly EU nation or nations.

The transferee's companion does not have to exhibit German language aptitudes to acquire a ICT card.

Portable ICT Card 

The Portable ICT is another living arrangement class for third-nation nationals holding an EU ICT grant issued by another EU part state, on task in Germany for over 90 days, as administrators, pros or students, inside a similar gathering of organizations.

The transferee may not remain in Germany for longer than in the EU part express that issued their unique EU ICT license.

Notice for Present moment Intra-Company Moves 

Third-nation nationals holding an EU ICT grant issued by another EU part state, sent on task to Germany inside a similar gathering of organizations, for as long as 90 days inside any 180-day time frame are not required to acquire a versatile ICT card.

The sending organization in the EU part state for which the transferee as of now holds an EU ICT grant must advise the Government Office for Movement and Exiles (BAMF) of the task, ahead of time of the outing.

Examination with Existing Plans 

The current living arrangement license for work purposes (accessible for intra-organization moves) keeps on being accessible in parallel to the new EU ICT Card.

Additionally still accessible are the assisted procedure for chosen ones facilitated by organizations which fit the bill for the Global Work force Trade program, and the sped up procedure for certain transient assignments under 90 days for fitting, introducing, keeping up or fixing machines, hardware, PC programs, or other specialized frameworks for a customer or a branch office inside a similar gathering of organizations.

Transient Assignments 

The new ICT Card isn't accessible for transient assignments (under 90 days) from outside the European Association. For this sort of task, just the current national procedures are pertinent.

Status

Under the current plans, the chosen one more likely than not worked for in any event one year for the sending organization.

For the new ICT Card, supervisors and experts just require a half year of position with the sending organization.

Language Prerequisite 

Under the plan, life partners are required to demonstrate essential German language abilities, except if the central candidate is a national of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or the US – this isn't a prerequisite under the new ICT Card rules, making the new procedure an alluring option for appointees going with their family.

How to eat cheap and healthy in Germany?

Eating Cheap and Healthy is very very easy in Germany. Answer: COOK! 

I find that for a country of Germany's economy, the groceries are ridiculously cheap in Germany. So buy big and cook.

Pro Tip: Always buy from ALDI or LIDL. They are cheap and relatively fresh than other cheap super markets.

Example of my last cart from Lidl.

• 10x Brown Eggs: 1.20 euros
• 1x baked fresh bread: 0.75 euros
• 2.5kg Potatoes: 2.35 euros
• 1100 gms Chicken Legs: 2.69 euros
• 1.5 kg Onions: 1.45 euros
• 1kg Tomato: 0.99 euros
• 1kg Basmati Rice: 2 euro

All this is very cheap and can be used to make at least 7-8 meals. 

How to change from Residence Permit to Blue Card in Germany

Unfortunately, there is no ONE answer for this.
Fortunately, it is easy getting an answer.

It is completely based

• on your City
• on your case
• your Officer. 

You can have two same cities, two same scenarios but two different outcomes.

1. What visa do you have? It is a normal work permit §18 or §19b with ICT 
2. Go to the Ausländerbehörde, stop looking for answers in the 10th page of Google, you WILL not get it there. Note: You will probably need an appointment to visit the Ausländerbehörde but you can try your luck by going in at 7.45 AM (they open at 8 usually) and walking in and getting a Waiting Ticket. 
3. Explain to your officer that you have a visa and would like to switch to a different employer (preferably in German) 
4. Note down what the officer tells you. 

• Most probable: get the contract send it as an email to us along with Insurance Confirmation, Rental Contract and we will take a look. If all is OK, you can apply for a New Blue Card directly given your salary is above the limits. 
• Less Likely but possible: since you are on a ICT or short term residence permit, you cannot switch to a new employer directly from Germany. Need to go back to India and apply. 

      5. Done.   

Pro Tip: Always go to the Ausländerbehörde when in doubt. They are very friendly people most of the times. Speak broken German and they will be more than happy to help you.

How to change from ICT Visa to Blue Card in Germany

Unfortunately, there is no ONE answer for this.
Fortunately, it is easy getting an answer.

It is completely based

• on your City
• on your case
• your Officer. 

You can have two same cities, two same scenarios but two different outcomes.

1. What visa do you have? It is a normal work permit §18 or §19b with ICT 
2. Go to the Ausländerbehörde, stop looking for answers in the 10th page of Google, you WILL not get it there. Note: You will probably need an appointment to visit the Ausländerbehörde but you can try your luck by going in at 7.45 AM (they open at 8 usually) and walking in and getting a Waiting Ticket. 
3. Explain to your officer that you have a visa and would like to switch to a different employer (preferably in German) 
4. Note down what the officer tells you. 

• Most probable: get the contract send it as an email to us along with Insurance Confirmation, Rental Contract and we will take a look. If all is OK, you can apply for a New Blue Card directly given your salary is above the limits. 
• Less Likely but possible: since you are on a ICT or short term residence permit, you cannot switch to a new employer directly from Germany. Need to go back to India and apply. 

      5. Done.    

Pro Tip: Always go to the Ausländerbehörde when in doubt. They are very friendly people most of the times. Speak broken German and they will be more than happy to help you.

How to get an appointment for German National Visa in India

You all know how to get an appointment. Login to the website, look for slots, give your passport number and book.

Well, what you do not know is this - at 12 PM CST or CEST, the slots are usually refreshed meaning the slots cancelled the previous day gets opened. So watch out at 3.30 AM IST (during April - October) or at 4.30 AM (during October - March) and you can be assured that you will get a slot within that coming week.