# Need Some German Doper Help, Please **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 10, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348 "2003-05-10T18:05:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/1 "2003-05-10T18:05:36Z")
I have posted this request before under another thread title, but since it may not have been seen, I would like to repost under **this** title, if I may. As soon as my German citizenship is firmly established, I would like to move back home and go to work in the field I work in now which is repiratory therapy. My German is okay, but I need some help in determining if the field even exists over there and if my schooling and licensing will be accepted, and for this I would appreciate someone making sone inquiries on my behalf, for which I would gladly reimburse you. For the record, I am presently a natulalized American, (Had to be, to join the USAF), but there is some question as to whether I actually lost my German citizenship and that is being determined at this time. I am in contact with the German authorities in Köln and the Consulate here in Atlanta, and they have all the documents they need. It’s just a matter of beaurocratic red tape we’re waiting on. If you can help, I would sure appreciate an e-mail. Even if you are an American currently living/working in Germany, it would be a great help. Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/2 "2003-05-10T18:07:15Z")
re **s** piratory therapy! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/3 "2003-05-11T06:50:00Z")
Unless the laws have changed, it was never a problem for Germans to have dual citizenship. I would be surprised if you “lost” yours when you became a naturalized American. The USA, on the other hand, did not take kindly to dual citizenships, which is why I never got a German passport. I didn’t see any great advantage and the hassle of later having to get a visa to stay in the States seemed kind of stupid. Plus, why are you so bound and determined to get the German citizenship back? Work permits are not impossible to get for Americans, especially if you have a skill that is needed in Germany. You only need to find a German employer willing to do the paperwork. Often it is a good advantage to have work experience in the States, and employers can use that as leverage with the Arbeitsamt in order to hire you over a German citizen (again, if your skills fill a specific need.) Still - good luck! Und, viel Spass! (Send me an email if you have any specific questions and I will try to help if I can!) ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/4 "2003-05-11T14:16:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DMark \* > \*\*Plus, why are you so bound and determined to get the German citizenship back \*\* Thanks for the kind offer, **DMark**. I want my German citizenship back because I would like to retire in Germany and would like to be recognized as such for the old-age and other benefits. I was under the impression that one could get a job in Germany **only** if no German citizen could be found who could do the job in question. Did I misunderstand that? I worked in Germany in the 90’s on a special work Visa which stipulated that I could only work for the company indicated in the Visa, and if that company went under there was no way I could apply to another company: I would have to return to the US. Since I had sold everything I owned to move to Germany then, it was a hard lesson to learn and I had to start all over at age 40. I would like to avoid that this time, if possible. Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/5 "2003-05-11T17:17:00Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Quasimodem \* > \*\* > My German is okay, but I need some help in determining if the field even exists over there and if my schooling and licensing will be accepted, and for this I would appreciate someone making sone inquiries on my behalf, for which I would gladly reimburse you._\* I am so out of my league trying to answer this question, but I’ll throw my 2 cents in anyway. I Googled “Respiratory Therapy Germany” and the first hit was this company that appears to manufacture respiratory equipment… [http://www.draeger.com/com/MT/ProductsServices/SystemSolutions/homecare/respiratorytherapy/respiratorytherapy.jsp](http://www.draeger.com/com/MT/ProductsServices/SystemSolutions/homecare/respiratorytherapy/respiratorytherapy.jsp) Under the link there, “Websites Worldwide”, the first option is Germany… [http://www.draeger.com/de/MT/MT.jsp](http://www.draeger.com/de/MT/MT.jsp) Now, I can’t read the German for diddly, so I have no idea if it says anything of relevance. But given that they have a webiste with information in English as well as German, maybe you could use their Contact link to make some inquiries? Clearly this is evidence that the field even exists over there, and, if they sell their products there, surely they could direct you to a source or two for possible employment in theat field, no? Switching my search terms to “Respiratory Therapist Germany” I found [this website](http://www.mediconf.de/recstitl/21381103.HTM) that lists hundreds of international medical conferences coming up in the next year that are, or may be, related to respiratory therapy (the description says “occupational health, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, pneumology, **respiratory therapy** , medical education”). The site seems to be run by a German company (Fairbase Database Ltd, PO Box 910446, 30424 Hannover, Germany Tel. +49 (511) 443330, Fax: +49 (511) 442770, Email: [mediconf@aol.com](mailto:mediconf@aol.com)) , so perhaps contacting them would garner you some valuable information? [This website](http://www.profco.com/asp/front/jobs_default.asp?callmode=20) is a search engine for Respiratory Therapist jobs primarily in the UK, although you can also search countries such as Sweden and Australia. While it doesn’t offer searches in Germany, they _do_ apparently have an office in Germany… > [@](#): > > Professional Connections > Regus Business Centre Kastor & Pollux > Platz der Einheit 1 > 60327 Frankfurt, Germany > Tel: +49 699 750 3403 > Fax: +49 699 750 3200 > Email: [professionalconnections@profco.com](mailto:professionalconnections@profco.com) Not exactly an anser to your question, but hopefully some useful leads on where you might find the information you’re looking for. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/6 "2003-05-12T00:52:43Z")
Wow, **Shayna**! Thanks so much! I had been entering the name “Atmungs Therapeut” (The German translation) into the search engine, and coming up with zilch! I chose the Professional Connections link, and have sent an e-mail to them. Hopefully they’ll see it Monday morning first thing and let me know something. I **really** appreciate this! 😃 Q ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/7 "2003-05-12T01:18:45Z")
My pleasure, **Quasi**! Hope they can at least guide you in the right direction. You’ll have to let us know how things work out. Once again, Hals- und Beinbruch[sup]\*[/sup]! [sup]\*Ok, I confess, my husband had to write that for me, so I sure hope it’s what I asked him to say! :)[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/8 "2003-05-12T02:07:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shayna \* > **Once again, Hals- und Beinbruch!** It’s the German equivalent of the old theatrical expression for “good luck”: **Break a Leg!** 😃 But the Germans modified it to: “Break a neck and a leg!” 😃 Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/9 "2003-05-12T05:41:02Z")
Yup, that’s exactly it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DemonSpawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@DemonSpawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonSpawn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/10 "2003-05-12T14:38:11Z")
Hi from sunny Neuss (30 km from Köln/Cologne), here are some things that may help you: 1. the correct German expression for “respiration therapy” is “Respirationstherapie”. It won’t generate any interesting things on google, though. “Atemtherapie” is a different thing. It’s a bit more esoteric, trying to teach people breathing techniques, muscle relaxing, stuff like that. 1. dual citizenship was impossible until the law changed very recently(01.01.2000). Therefore you probably lost your German citizenship when you were granted the US one. Under the new law you should be able to get the German citizenship back and keep the US one (unless the US law does not allow this, in which case you will have to let go of the US citizenship again). IANA citizenship expert, but according to my info, the requirements for German citizenship currently are: - having lived in Germany for at least 8 years before applying for citizenship (exception: 3 years for people married to a German) - valid visa - no criminal record - no terrorist activities - able to work - able to communicate in German However, there may be some issues with the fact that you already had the German citizenship but gave it up. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/11 "2003-05-12T21:26:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quasimodem \* > I was under the impression that one could get a job in Germany **only** if no German citizen could be found who could do the job in question. Did I misunderstand that? > > I worked in Germany in the 90’s on a special work Visa which stipulated that I could only work for the company indicated in the Visa, and if that company went under there was no way I could apply to another company: I would have to return to the US. Since I had sold everything I owned to move to Germany then, it was a hard lesson to learn and I had to start all over at age 40. I would like to avoid that this time, if possible. > > Quasi \*\* Quasi, Quasi, Quasi…rules are made to be broken, even in Germany. 1. “if no German could be found…” 2. “I could only work for the company indicated in the Visa”. Really, Quasi, take a skewered look at the rules next time. One of the biggest battles most Americans had who tried to get work while I was living there was a simple Catch 22 in the German laws: “You cannot work unless you have a work permit, and you cannot get a work permit unless you have work.” All of the Americans I knew who lived and worked in Germany did not find this an impossible riddle to solve. Those who couldn’t solve the riddle, gave up and flew back to the States. One last comment: I thought there was an agreement between Germany and USA regarding social security. If I am not mistaken, time worked in either country will be counted and time worked in whichever country you decide to retire in. So if you worked 23 years in the US and 12 years in Germany, you would get 35 years of work credits no matter where you retired. (Granted, I remember reading about this law 15 years ago, so it might have changed.) ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/12 "2003-05-12T21:49:47Z")
😃 Thanks to both my _Kumpels_ **DMark** and **DemonSpawn** for their very kind and detailed answers. I think the Social Security law remains unchanged and I admit ol’ **Quas’** has trouble seeing the grey between the black and the white sometimes, **DMark**. 😉 (By the way, how do you like the “Teuro”? :D) I am currently waiting to hear from the **Behörden** (authorities) in Köln about my citizenship. It has been a year since I applied with all the documents they required, but they did not indicate that since I had become naturalized that I would not be able to reclaim my “Deutschheit”, so I believe that since my mom was German, and since I left Germany before my 20th birthday, that I should have no difficulties in that area. Once that is nailed down, I plan to follow up on **Shayna’s** very fine links and get my resume out. I have just one problem in that regard, however: I was 11 when I left Germany, and although I can still do the old “Sprechen Sie”, I have forgotten the rules of Grammatik and plan to use a professional translator to do my “Ergebnisse”. Unless someone here in the Doper community would be willing to earn a few bucks, thereby saving **me** a few? 😉 Hint, hint? Anyway, thanks so much y’all for your efforts in helping me out. Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/13 "2003-05-14T12:56:36Z")
Okay, this morning I called **Shayna’s** suggested contact, Professional Connections, but it turns out that this company only places respiratory therapists in English-speaking countries, **not** in Germany. Strange that they have an office in Frankfurt and no one there spoke a word of English, huh? :rolleyes: Plan B will be to contact individual hospitals by e-mail to ask if they have an interest in hiring a German/American RT, and to send my resume if an interest is indicated. I have an uncle who lives in **Zeitz** (the former DDR), who works as a nurse and he will be checking with his personnel department to see what they can dig up for me. Ahhh, networking. Gotta love it 😃 Still need some translation help with the resume. If anyone is interested or if you **know** of someone who may be, please send me an e-mail. Thanks, everyone! Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-german-doper-help-please/174348/14 "2003-05-14T13:30:06Z")
Forgot: An e-mail was also sent this morning to mediconf, that company **Shayna** also suggested in her post. Q