Anyone holding a U.S. passport gets a 90-day visa. Along with some other interns, I am staying a few days past the 90 days. About a month ago, my supervisor took me to the foreigners' office to get a waiver (basically a piece of paper that allows me to stay a few days past). We woke up super early to go to the office before work, only to talk to a woman who would not give me the waiver. She told us that we would have to come back in September to get it, and wouldn't budge. Jen tried explaining that in previous years, her other interns were able to get the waiver. And she tried explaining that she had called the office earlier to confirm that I would be able to get it. Anyways, we were sent away, dejected and angry at the German way... without bending and each person doing things by their own interpretation because nobody knows the rules.
So today, we tried again. This time we were ready to stand our ground (because I REALLY need this piece of paper) and even ready to ask the woman for her name if she wouldn't cooperate. After we were called, we walk in and find the same woman. Jen explained the situation just like she did last time, only this time the woman (Frau Greiger) was very cooperative and the entire process took about 3 minutes. Apparently, she even told Jen that it was good that we didn't wait until it was very late to come to the office for the form. Lucky for me, the woman was in a better mood today.
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