Residence permit renewal in Austria.
Every year in February - March, we are engaged in the extension of a residence permit "for private needs" (or for financially independent persons) in the "land of lakes". It so happened that our customers are scattered in the following areas: Vienna, Bregenz, Salzburg, Innsbruck... Therefore, we "forcedly" communicate with government officials in different regions of Austria.
If do not deepen into the routine part of preparing documents for the renewal procedure, it seems interesting to dwell on the attitude of local employees to the many visitors besieging immigration offices.
If you are legally resided in the country, you will always be greeted warmly and authorities will always try to resolve your issue during your presence at the immigration offcie. If you contact by email, you will always receive a response within about 24 hours.
And this is despite the fact that a very limited number of employees work at the relevant departments.
In Vienna, for example, to the opening of the immigration office (at 8 o’clock in the morning), there is always a large waiting line. Regardless of the day of the week. Visitors calmly wait to be received by the officer in charge of the file’s preview and “allocate them to the parlors” for a subsequent substantive conversation.
A mixture of English, German and explanations on the fingers is suitable for communication. But if you "speak" in Goethe's language, then your bids are "seriously raising."
Very original and informative (for Russians who have experience working with bureaucracy in their native country) is the method of working with paperwork. If, for example, you have any difficulties with their design, then with a high probability you will be helped right on the spot. If you make a mistake, you will often be asked to make corrections with a pen, using arrows or footnotes so that someone else besides you can understand what the document you are submitting should look like. A unique situation is when you will be forced to redo a questionnaire or some kind of certificate only because changes or additions must be made to it.
The attitude of local employees towards the elderly and children is simply touching. If your child attends school or kindergarten - come when the child is released. Come even at a time when formal work with clients has already been completed. Just do not forget to call to be allowed into the office and be accepted without delay.
Is it really that simple? Not at all.
There are basic provisions that must be strictly observed. Availability of finance, housing, insurance ...
If you are not able to present any document and reasonably explain the reason, then do not hope - your refusal awaits and no attempts to reach an agreement will yield results.
In no case should you try to solve the problem by pressure. If you get to the “black list” of clients, then you will come up with such a punishment (even if you solve the problem one-time) that little will not seem. For example, you will be forced to visit immigration office regularly (every three months, for example) or constantly registered at the local police department.
