We Are Legal

Over a month ago we went to the Immigration Office to get our visas.  A visa is required within six months of arrival not only to be legally here in Germany, but also to allow us to travel about and return to Germany. That day, we arrived about an hour before the doors even opened. About a half hour after the doors did open, they were no longer accepting new clients needing their visas with last names starting with the last half of the alphabet. Having failed, we were told we should set up an appointment, which we did.  The earliest we could get was on 9 October.

Here is the problem, though.  You cannot drive with a U.S. driver license after six months here and you have to get your visa before you can get a German driver's license.   If we wait for our appointment, that only gives us until 8 November to get our licenses. Simple, right?  No!!!!

Unlike 27 other states in the US who have full reciprocity (just turn in your license and pick up a German license), North Carolinians have to take the written driver's test.  We've heard it is nearly impossible to pass.  Another missionary couple from NC was able to view some of the test questions. One question was: If you are driving 120 k/hr and slow down to 100 k/hr, what percentage of gas do you save?  Now here is what I'm envisioning in my mind.  I'm driving on the autobahn and slow down.  Being a good driver I begin calculating the percentage of gas I'm saving.  While my mind is so focused on the calculations, I don't notice the car in front of me slamming on their brakes.  Well, you can guess the rest.

Yep, the test is extremely difficult so it might take more than one time to pass the test.  We did hear of one senior missionary who took the test and passed.  He took a driving class before he took the test.  It only cost 2,000 euro (about $2,200). Fortunately, the test is in English, but we've seen that the translations of the questions and answers in some study material is not only bad, but in some cases wrong.

With that in mind, we decided to keep the appointment for our visas, but also try to get in early by standing in line again.  We picked Thursday, 3 August.  The Immigration Office opens at 1:00 PM on Thursdays.  We got there a little after 6:00 AM.  You can see in the picture that there were maybe about 30 people already there.  Some had camped out from the night before.  One of those who camped out was an Asian woman with two children.

We brought camping chairs borrowed from another missionary couple.  Sister Done joined us.  She and her husband, who is the European mission doctor, also had an appointment.  Their appointment was only a couple of weeks away, but they were scheduled to travel outside of Germany the same day of their appointment, so they decided to join us. (Elder Done was to show up nearer to the time the doors opened along with Gabi, a native German who helped us through the process.  Elder Done couldn't be away from his medical duties for too long and Gabi has helped many a missionary couple with their visas and other issues.) Unlike us, the Dones are from Utah and have full reciprocity for obtaining their driver's licenses.  Elder Done was an Army pediatrician and pediatric radiologist. He served in many places that Sister van Hoff's father served -- Augsburg, Wurzburg, Letterman -- but, all at different times.

6:15 AM

In the picture to the right, Diane and Sister Done are in their chairs just left of the middle of the picture.  The line comes forward, to the left, and then back to the door just beyond the column.

What a tiring, but interesting day it was.  Most of the morning things were laid back.  I talked extensively to three young men.  One from Botswana, one from Ghana, and another from Eritrea.  Two of them had their PhDs.  I think the young man from Botswana may even come to church some Sunday.

Around 10:00 AM more people started to get in line.  One woman, who was in front of us and had been there since 4:00 AM, got up and began instructing everyone to watch for people breaking into the line.  She could see people gathering outside the chain barrier near the start of the line.  She was telling everyone that they needed to defend their position in line.  I spoke up and suggested that we begin closing in the ranks rather than staying spread out.  That would make if more difficult for others to break in.  Everyone shifted in closer.  Suddenly, a yelling argument ensued.  One individual was not recognized by another individual who was already in line.  Eventually they calmed down, but other smaller arguments flared up here and there.

The security people arrived at 11:30, but before they did one argument became so opposing that I thought there would be a fight.  I got out of my chair and stood up.  I had noticed earlier that several people recognized me as an authority figure.  Probably because I was wearing a white shirt and tie (and wearing a badge I might add).  Soon thereafter, the two individuals, physically separated by some others there, said their final words and stopped arguing.

12:00 noon.  Gabi in the green skirt is patrolling the line. 

Diane has her back to the camera.

When the security guards arrived, we witnessed two individuals get pulled out of line for trying to sneak in.  It was about that time that Gabi showed up.  She was responsible for one of those guys being pulled out.  What a fireball she is.  She is in her 60s or 70s.  She would step out of line and duck under the chain barrier and patrol the side of the line watching for people trying to sneak in. 

We were the 3rd group of people in the door.  Only about ten individuals were allowed in at a time.  Once in, we went to the front counter to get a "waiting number."  The man at the counter looked at my passport and checked on his computer.  He then said something about not finding any record on me.  Gabi talked to him and handed him an email showing that I had a scheduled appointment in October.  He studied it for a while and then handed the passport back and gave me my number.  For Diane, he didn't even look at her passport and handed her a number.

12:30 PM and the line has gotten much longer.

We were very blessed to get in and completed in less than 30 minutes.  As we were leaving we ran into the guy from Botswana.  He was there in line before us and even entered the building with the 2nd group.  He told us that they would not see him because they had taken all the people they were going to see for that day who were needing to renew their visas.  That doesn't make any sense to me.  Do they only do a couple of visa renewals a day?.  He had just wasted over seven hours standing in line. Plus, he had been there the day before, too.  No wonder emotions were so high while waiting in line. There was another man behind us who had already waited three days in line.

On a different note, a couple of weeks ago we were asked to be seminary teachers to the Frankfurt European high school students (English-speaking) in our congregation.  The course of study this year will be The Book of Mormon. This last Sunday we were officially sustained in church.  This means that we will be going to the youth's school on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at about 7:00 AM.  In addition, our students and students from another seminary class meet on Wednesday evenings at the church.  The teaching of that lesson is traded between the two teachers.  Friday there is no seminary. The students from the other class go to the Frankfurt International School and are mostly children of employees of the U.S. Consulate.

We have been very busy with missionary work after our office hours.  Still, we are excited about this new calling.  What is really nice is that we get to do it together.

Until next blog, may the Lord bless you all.  We want you to know we love you and think of you often.