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convert the Blue Card (Section 18g) to a Skilled Worker residence permit(18b)
I would like to ask whether it is possible to convert my Blue Card (§18g) to a Skilled Worker residence permit after losing my employment under the Blue Card. Additionally, could you please confirm if I may apply for a Job Seeker or Chancenkarte visa in this situation?
1 Comments
Hello @Kash
thank you for your question!
First of all, it is important to inform the Ausländerbehörde of your employment status, in case you haven't done this already. After the end of an employment under the Blue Card, the Blue Card remains valid for another three months. Within this period you can try to find another employment which also fulfills all requirements for the Blue Card, such as the salary threshold.
In general it is also possible to switch from Blue Card to a Skilled Worker Permit (§18a/18b). However, for this you already need a new job offer / employment contract.
From what I understand you have not yet found a new employment. In this case, it would be best to apply for the Job Seeker visa (§20). This permit is usually issued for 18 months and allows unrestricted employment. In my opinion it is therefore more advantageous than the Chancenkarte which only allows employment of up to 20 hours/week.
You can find more information on the Job Seeker visa and its requirements here: https://handbookgermany.de/en/visa-jobseekers
I hope this information is helpful to you. Feel free to get back to me should you have any more questions.
All the best,
Natalie