German work visa pending for 3+ months — I’m running out of money. What can I realistically do?
I’m looking for practical advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation with a German national work visa.
I am a Russian citizen legally residing in Italy. I received a highly qualified job offer in Germany and applied for a German national work visa through the German Embassy in Rome.
Timeline:
21 April 2026 — online application submitted
5 May — appointment at the Embassy
8 May — additional documents requested and submitted immediately
My intended employment start date has already passed
Today, more than three months later, the application is still being processed
My employer has been actively involved and has contacted the authorities several times. The case has also been escalated to the Federal Foreign Office. The only information we receive is essentially that the application is still being processed and that we have to wait for the final decision. No timeline is given.
From previous communication, it appears that additional security checks may be involved because the position is in scientific/research-related work.
The problem is that waiting indefinitely is becoming financially impossible.
I left my previous employment in Italy in preparation for the move. I am currently paying for accommodation connected with both Italy and Germany, and my Italian apartment has to be vacated in about 10 days. My savings are running out. I cannot realistically finance another several months of waiting without income.
I also have a valid Italian EU Blue Card/residence permit, and my wife has a valid Italian family residence permit.
So I’m trying to understand what people actually do in this situation.
Has anyone had a national visa delayed for several months because of security/background checks? Is there any effective way to find out which authority is holding the application or whether the security check is still pending?
Would an Untätigkeitsklage under §75 VwGO make sense after more than three months, even if the delay is caused by a security check? Has anyone actually used one for a national visa application?
Most importantly: is there any legal way for us to stay temporarily in Germany using our valid Italian residence permits while the German visa application continues in Rome, without working in Germany until the visa is granted? We already have accommodation available in Germany, so this would solve a major part of the financial problem.
If not, are there any other realistic options I am missing?
I’m not looking for a way to circumvent immigration rules or start working illegally. I’m simply trying to find a legal way to survive financially while waiting for a process for which nobody can give me a completion date.
Any experiences with similar cases, especially involving research/scientific positions, Russian citizens, the German Embassy in Rome, or an Untätigkeitsklage, would be very helpful.