Questions and answers on the subject of family reunification of ethnic German repatriates

You can reach the GRC Tracing Service Hamburg Office during the following office hours:

Monday through Thursday: 08:30 am to 11:30 am and 01:00 pm to 03:30 pm
Friday: 08:30 am to 11:30

Other times are possible upon prior arrangement by telephone.
You can find the address and contact details of the GRC Tracing Service Hamburg Office here.
 

No. It is always best to send an up-to-date original document from the country of origin.

No. We translate only documents directly related to the completion of our tasks, including - as a service - the Wysow and foreign language correspondence that reaches us. For translations that have to be submitted to the Federal Office of Administration (BVA), you can contact a sworn translator in your area. Please enquire about the costs involved before placing an order.

Unfortunately, no. If you do not have anyone who can help you in Germany, you can also correspond directly with the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) without a proxy. This only takes a little longer.

If current medical certificates prove that your relative cannot make the journey alone, various ways of helping her/him are available. Contact the GRC Tracing Service Hamburg Office in writing or by telephone and describe your case. We will advise you on your individual case and, if necessary, assist you in arranging patient transportation for your relative.

As before, ethnic German repatriate applicants must be descended from at least one German parent or grandparent, must have acknowledged their German nationality and be able to conduct a simple conversation in German. However, it is no longer necessary for German language skills to have been acquired within the family; knowledge of German as a foreign language is also sufficient. The language test can be repeated.

A commitment to German nationality can - as has been the case up to now - be demonstrated by an explicit declaration (= entry in civil status documents such as a domestic passport or birth certificates of children) or by proof that the language skills sufficient for a simple conversation were acquired within the family.

In addition, it is now possible to declare one's commitment to German ethnicity by presenting a certificate of proficiency in the German language according to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

It is not an easy question to answer: If you submitted a personal application for admission prior to your departure, but this application was subsequently rejected, and you were then granted a notification of inclusion as a relative, you cannot improve your existing status. In all other cases, or if you do not know for sure whether a negative decision has already been issued, please consult the GRC Tracing Service Hamburg Office and bring all documents with you.

Yes, since the amendment of the law, inclusion can take place at any time, without any time limit or hardship reasons, even if you have already left the country as a reference person. The only condition being that the (grand)child was already born when you left the country. However, the descendant to be included must still have German language skills corresponding to level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Proof of language skills can be provided either by a certificate from the Goethe Institute or by a so-called “language proficiency test” at a German mission abroad (embassy, consulate general).

Since the amendment of the law, it is possible to repeat the “language test” for ethnic German repatriates, which the Federal Office of Administration carries out locally at some German missions abroad, as well as the so-called “language level test” for relatives to be included.

Only applicants of full age have to provide proof of German language skills; underage descendants are exempt from this requirement. They will be included in the notification of admission of their reference person without proof of language skills. However, if the resettlement takes place after the minor has reached the age of majority, the inclusion becomes invalid. In this case, language skills must be proven by presenting an A1 certificate in order to obtain a new positive decision.

An ethnic German repatriate does not have to provide proof of his or her German language skills if he or she cannot possess these skills due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability. Much depends on a detailed case description and the necessary proof. Within the scope of its advisory service, the GRC Tracing Service will be happy to assist you in all necessary steps and knows what to look out for. Sometimes several solutions exist, one of which - depending on family interests - deserves preference. Especially in humanitarian hardship cases, both these interests and the different legal requirements and consequences must be taken into account. Prerequisite for this is a trustworthy consultation.

Please contact the Tracing Service Hamburg Office immediately. You can also get in touch with a member of the Tracing Service staff at the GRC regional or district branch assigned to you. Every case is different. But what must always be observed are the legal deadlines mentioned in the notification.

According to the amended version of the Federal Expellees Act (BVFG), it may well be possible to resume proceedings that have been concluded with legal effect. However, conducting such a procedure is not that simple. In this case, please contact a Tracing Service support centre near you or the GRC Tracing Service Hamburg Office to obtain information on the legal details. (Please link to contact Hamburg) If you have any documents or notifications from this procedure, please submit them to us without fail.

In the case of underage unmarried (step)children, this is possible within the framework of the Expellees Act as a potential person within the meaning of § 8 para. 2 BVFG. Please make sure that the resettlement takes place before the child reaches the age of majority. If this is no longer possible, then a joint resettlement will become almost impossible. Please arrange an individual consultation with the GRC Tracing Service to find out further requirements, details and alternatives.

This question often reaches the GRC Tracing Service and cannot simply be answered with yes or no. In this case, please contact a Tracing Service support centre near you or the GRC Tracing Service Hamburg Office to obtain information on the legal details. If you have any documents or notifications from this procedure, please submit them to us without fail.

No, not without further ado. The legal and historical-political conditions are very different today. Each case must be examined individually and consultation provided.