Ask HN: How Can I leave Syria now and get asylum in Europe (Germany)
131–140 of 228 posts
Re: Ask HN: How Can I leave Syria now and get asylum in Europe (Germany)
#132There's a lot of bad information here on Berlin. For context, I'm a non-EU software developer that lives in Berlin and now has permanent residence, as is my girlfriend. Germany is actually one of the easiest countries to get an immigrant work visa for. I would recommend skipping seeking asylum. There's a large enough job market in Berlin for developers that the work visa route will almost certainly be the fastest and…
> I would recommend skipping seeking asylum.
+1. You were probably just using the wrong term, that may also be why your Google search did not turn up anything. Asylum is only for political refugees. These are not allowed to work, need to live in provided (usually very bad) residences, their children are not allowed to go to school, etc.
Re: Ask HN: How Can I leave Syria now and get asylum in Europe (Germany)
#133Earlier quoted context omitted.
I thought that was the BNP. Isn't the EDL focused on Islam or something like that?
The BNP are a different bunch of racist morons. Given that about 75% of the Syrian population are muslim [1], it's exactly the sort of thing the EDL would make a fuss about. [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria#Religion
> The BNP are a different bunch of racist morons
Yes, although I'm sure there is a good deal of overlap
> Given that about 75% of the Syrian population are muslim [1], it's exactly the sort of thing the EDL would make a fuss about.
The EDL say they are an anti-Muslim organisation, but I imagine most of their supporters are motivated by a more generalised xenophobia, so would dislike Syrians of all religions and none.
Re: Ask HN: How Can I leave Syria now and get asylum in Europe (Germany)
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you have a citation for the 100 deaths? The number seems rather high - from the three events you cite there were "only" five deaths (killed in a fire).
The "Amadeu Antonio Stiftung" has a list [1] of 183 deaths after 1990, where they describe the circumstances of each death. There is also a German wikipedia article that discusses different statistics [2]. Sorry, both sources are in German. Maybe Google translate will help a little? [1] http://www.mut-gegen-rechte-gewalt.de/news/chronik-der-gewal... [2] http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todesopfer_rechtsextremer_Gewal...
Thanks!
I'd say that Germany is still pretty safe, but I admit that there are places that even I as a German feel uneasy about - mostly the rural areas in former East German states.
Also the way asylum seekers are treated here seems pretty bad. But that refers to the way the government handles the issue, not to the attitude of the general population.
Re: Ask HN: How Can I leave Syria now and get asylum in Europe (Germany)
#135Skip Germany and go to Sweden or England, where people are more than happy to speak English, and there is already many Syrians in Sweden, especially in Sodertalje. Sweden will accept you based on your skills far more easily than Germany, all you need is to find a job, and right now the market is open for a guy of your skills - programmers are in high demand. Look around on various Sweden/Stockholm job posting sites,…
I approve this too. Don't go to Germany. As a German citizen I really hate to say this, but recently there has been a hitch in the media where there were protests by neonazi groups in front of asylum homes. Sadly, there are still people who see asylum seekers as potential job-stealers, showing them nothing but hate and would like to throw them all out, regardless of their skills. This is absolutely not the general op…
I would say don't go to former East Germany, including Berlin. Bayern and Baden Württemberg are one of the most peaceful and safe regions in whole Europe, though a bit conservative. I absolute love leaving there, although I'm a foreigner which still can't speak proper German or Schwäbisch.
Though, as a white man, my experience about behaviour of natives might lack first hand perspective of how it looks for black people.
Re: Ask HN: How Can I leave Syria now and get asylum in Europe (Germany)
#136There's a lot of bad information here on Berlin. For context, I'm a non-EU software developer that lives in Berlin and now has permanent residence, as is my girlfriend. Germany is actually one of the easiest countries to get an immigrant work visa for. I would recommend skipping seeking asylum. There's a large enough job market in Berlin for developers that the work visa route will almost certainly be the fastest and…
- software development is an in-demand job ("Mangelberuf")
- €39,192/year [...] is above the standard salary that you'd find for development positions at Berlin startups
Are you sure about that? Somehow these two statement don't sound like they can go together, I think. Wouldn't that be a ridiculously low salary for a European capital, even for startups?
Re: Ask HN: How Can I leave Syria now and get asylum in Europe (Germany)
#137There's a lot of bad information here on Berlin. For context, I'm a non-EU software developer that lives in Berlin and now has permanent residence, as is my girlfriend. Germany is actually one of the easiest countries to get an immigrant work visa for. I would recommend skipping seeking asylum. There's a large enough job market in Berlin for developers that the work visa route will almost certainly be the fastest and…
- software development is an in-demand job ("Mangelberuf") - €39,192/year [...] is above the standard salary that you'd find for development positions at Berlin startups Are you sure about that? Somehow these two statement don't sound like they can go together, I think. Wouldn't that be a ridiculously low salary for a European capital, even for startups?
I think he probably made a typo and meant to write "below" instead of "above".
Re: Ask HN: How Can I leave Syria now and get asylum in Europe (Germany)
#138Earlier quoted context omitted.
its not as easy as you picture it, especially for Syrians. I wanted to send my sister (Syrian) to continue her education in medicine, the German embassy in Syria completely rejected the application. I tried in Dubai, they asked me to open a bank account for her in Germany, all banks refused to do so. I had eventually to find workarounds (through some powerful friends) and I was able finally to open that account in Wi…
There are a ton of embargoes and sanctions against Syria from both the US and the EU. Don't assume racism when the problem is government.
That's true in the case of USA, ex: you can never get a credit card processor to accept your application, source forge/google code/ google apps are entirely blocked etc ..
We tried to make a change by starting this :
http://www.change.org/petitions/united-states-government-lif...
in the case of Germany I think Government are not the bad people here, they have actually tried to make it easier for Syrian. but most the people who work at embassies / banks etc .. make it impossible for Syrians abroad to reach Germany.
I have friends who managed to get their visas after filing lawsuits against those embassies, but those who only have german friends/relatives who understand and know the German law.
Re: Ask HN: How Can I leave Syria now and get asylum in Europe (Germany)
#1391) Get a job in the EU.
2) Have your employer work through all the necessary hassles for you to move there from their end. It will be much easier than you trying to do this in Syria and most European employers will have experience with this.
I don't know about Germany but I know in Amsterdam booking.com is always looking for smart folks.
Re: Ask HN: How Can I leave Syria now and get asylum in Europe (Germany)
#140There's a lot of bad information here on Berlin. For context, I'm a non-EU software developer that lives in Berlin and now has permanent residence, as is my girlfriend. Germany is actually one of the easiest countries to get an immigrant work visa for. I would recommend skipping seeking asylum. There's a large enough job market in Berlin for developers that the work visa route will almost certainly be the fastest and…
its not as easy as you picture it, especially for Syrians. I wanted to send my sister (Syrian) to continue her education in medicine, the German embassy in Syria completely rejected the application. I tried in Dubai, they asked me to open a bank account for her in Germany, all banks refused to do so. I had eventually to find workarounds (through some powerful friends) and I was able finally to open that account in Wi…
I wonder if she tried GLS Bank? They style themselves as a fair/alternative bank only investing in ethically good things. Lot's of people I know moved their bank account there. It would be interesting to hear if they reject to give bank accounts to people in need. Although perhaps there is something in German law that prevents banks from doing that?
https://www.gls.de/privatkunden/
There are a couple of other banks with a similar public agenda, but I don't recall their names.