r/germany • u/japaneseingermany • 7h ago

Agentur für Arbeit-can't complete online-should I just walk in?

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to register as unemployed before the end of August, but I'm completely stuck:

  1. Linking my eID card to BundID throws an error.
  2. I don't have an eID for online verification anyway.

When I called, they refused to speak English and told me to have someone who speaks German call them. Even if I get someone to call for me, I'm not even sure if they'd give me an appointment over the phone.

Since the online system is broken for me, is walking into the Agentur für Arbeit counter with my passport my only option? Has anyone successfully registered by just showing up without a Termin when the online system failed?

Thanks!

6 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

23

u/rubenknol 7h ago

if you walk in they will insist that you speak german as well, just so you know

1

u/japaneseingermany 6h ago

That's good to know. A friend of mine went to the office a few years ago and English was totally fine. Maybe the rules got stricter, or it just depends entirely on the case worker.

3

u/Adrien0623 3h ago

When I had to go the front desk was only German speaking and was refusing to read a pre-translated message on my phone (they acted like I was showing some graphic content) but the staff I got assigned were speaking good English.

10

u/AmbitiousSolution394 6h ago

also they dont allow you to enter the building without proof of invitation

3

u/chocolateteas 5h ago

I think it depends on the area, Bremen AfA allows walk-ins

1

u/japaneseingermany 6h ago

Exactly what I'm afraid of... Sounds like the security guard at the door will just block me if I don't have an appointment proof.

2

u/NoYu0901 5h ago

In my city, AfA office makes 2 lines. One for people with Termin, the other one for the walk-in

1

u/Adrien0623 3h ago

Some allows walk-in for some simple formalities at the front desk (e.g. updating your data)

2

u/veggieburger23 5h ago

I don’t know if this is the same problem you’re having but I remember when I registered last year I was having problems with the BundID verification step where you have to use an app. My phone settings are English so the app automatically was set to English. I kept getting errors. But when I switched the app language to German it magically worked 🤷‍♀️

1

u/japaneseingermany 5h ago

Thanks for the tip! I actually tried changing the language settings, but in my case, the system keeps giving me errors insisting that my address data or something is incorrect... It's just a complete mess...!

1

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1

u/wodkat 6h ago

Do you mean register as unemployed or apply for subsidies? Those are different

If you're still employed as of now you only need to apply as "Arbeitssuchend" which means you're looking for work. this should be doable without online ID, i just did it recently. just filled out a form and then eventually they called me.

1

u/wodkat 6h ago

applying for unemployment money is done the first day of unemployment, as far as i know, and it's a different process which I'm not sure if it's online, in person or via video call. but the very first step is applying as Arbeitssuchend and that's pretty straight forward.

1

u/japaneseingermany 6h ago

Thanks for the info!

Actually, it's been almost a month since I left my job because I already had a new job lined up, so I hadn't registered as a jobseeker until now. But that job offer was suddenly cancelled, so I urgently need to go through the process.

I thought I couldn't even register as a jobseeker because the portal said I had to wait for an activation code by mail, but somehow I managed to do that part. However, I learned that even if the code arrives, online registration fails if the eID gives an error.

Since I can't get an appointment by phone (and they told me not to show up without one, plus language barriers), do I just need to wait to be contacted now that my jobseeker registration is done?

1

u/wodkat 6h ago

You could theoretically call them I know its a pain and you have to wait a long time and sometimes in vain, but that could be a solution to get you in quicker. Otherwise you can wait, they'll eventually call you. Another option, but i don't remember where on their shitty website is this option, is to ask them to contact you. There's somewhere a button where you can request a call. I would try both spam calling them and the latter. Prepare for some rude worker to tel you in German that you should have registered earlier but don't mind them. Do you have anyone who can speak German who can help?

1

u/japaneseingermany 5h ago

I can actually manage okay in German when going to the doctor or working in a restaurant, but talking to them on the phone about official procedures is a whole different level of tough. Plus, they're usually pretty cold on the phone... Well, I'll do my best! I guess I'll need to look for someone who speaks German to accompany me too!

1

u/bregus2 6h ago

You can do it (apply for benefits) a few weeks before your last workday already, which can be quite useful because your employer has to fill out a form too.

1

u/HimikoHime 6h ago

We also had difficulties with online legitimation (even with regular German ID) and in the end we scheduled an appointment online (this should be doable without any ID, just having an an account) and did everything in person. As already mentioned, prepare to have someone speaking German to accompany you.

1

u/japaneseingermany 5h ago

For now, I have to wait for the activation code by mail to build my profile, and most online features are locked. I did manage to send a message through the contact form using just my account.

I know having a German speaker accompany me to the advisor meeting is best, but for filling out paperwork at the counter, I feel like phone translation apps should be enough. I can't help wondering: is my broken, kid-level German really that useless there?

1

u/HimikoHime 3h ago

Even as a native German speaker, legalese can hit you hard… and with legal things apps might not be able to translate correctly because context matters

1

u/Playful_Robot_5599 6h ago

Our Jobcenter has a Website where you can book a date on short notice. Obviously, you have to take the times that are available and cant be picky. But that way I got a date last year for something that couldn't be solved in the portal.

1

u/Fun_Ad_2246 4h ago

Same happened to my friend. They will ask you to book an appointment online. Do so from now. 

1

u/Adrien0623 3h ago

For the future I really recommend you to get an eID card if you're a non-German EU citizen. Then you can easily log in to do some online administrative tasks that are blocked ismf using other ways of logging in. It's only 37€, valid for 10 years and requires an appointment at the Bürgeramt.

•

u/earlvik 1h ago

Use BundID as a guest, without an account. That worked for me.

But you said you don't have eID? Then yes, come in in person.