Trapped in an bureaucratic Ausländerbehörde nightmare in Bremenand I’m losing it. Need advice urgently.
I’m posting from a burner account because I’m terrified of my residency case getting messed up further. I’m at my absolute breaking point and have no idea where else to go.
I’m an expat in Bremen I’ve been fighting for my residency rights for a year, and the stress has completely destroyed my health. I’m literally collapsing, passing out, and the medical documentation proves it’s from the stress of this process. I was literally in the hospital earlier this month due to a stress-induced collapse.
The problem is the system doesn't care. I’m in a legal fight with the Ausländerbehörde because my permit is tied to an old employer (19c), and they refuse to allow me to switch to a freelance permit. I have grants riding on this, a back catalogue of royalty-eligble works, and even an approved Startup grant from the Agentur für Arbeit (I was laid off a few months back - yes, the AbH was notified immediately, but I never got any response besides an automated confirmation email).
Earlier this week, I filed an emergency filing with the local court. However, the court just sent me a letter basically telling me to shove off because they don't see an "emergency." They are ignoring my medical proof and acting like I’m just being impatient or disorganized.
I’ve had public officials say xenophobic and antisemitic things to me on the phone, and when I try to report it, I get stonewalled. I’ve tried calling crisis hotlines, but I keep getting turned away because I’m not a native German speaker and they don’t want to deal with English. I legitimately feel like there is no help in Germany, doubly so as an immigrant with a recently diagnosed disability.
I feel like I’m being manufactured into poverty. I have contracts, I have grants, but because of this permit limbo, I can't touch any of it. I’m trapped. My partner is doing everything they can, but we’re both completely exhausted and scared.
I don’t want a lecture on how the German system works. I know how it works, and I know it’s broken. I’m looking for:
- Does anyone know of any advocacy groups in the Bremen/Bremerhaven area that actually help queer/trans migrants dealing with institutional abuse? Like, urgently? I've tried reaching out to AWO, for instance, but was told to "try again some other time."
- How the hell do you get a court to actually look at medical evidence of (I think the term is verhandlungsunfähigkeit"?) (being unable to litigate) instead of just filing it in a drawer?
- Is there a safe way to report antisemitic/discriminatory harassment from a public official that won't result in them just retaliating against my permit application? The comments were...very distressing and uncalled for.
I’m a local homeowner and I’m worried about losing everything. I’m not trying to win a battle anymore; I’m just trying to survive until my citizenship comes through later this year. If anyone has a lead on a lawyer or an advocacy org that isn't just going to ghost me, please let me know.
Happy to discuss more in DMs. Burner account for obvious reasons - I am very worried about retaliation. Any advice, especially for the Bremen/Bremerhaven/surrounding areas that can help is way appreciated.