Hi everyone, I hope someone here has been in a similar situation and can share some advice or experience. I have a residence permit in Berlin that is restricted to working only in architecture and related design firms. I found my previous job on my own and worked there for 8 months — I even passed the 6-month probation period successfully. Unfortunately, in March I had an accident and needed surgery on my dominant hand. Because of this, my employer ended my contract while I was still recovering, and since then I have been on Krankengeld (sick pay). The termination was not my choice at all.

Now my hand is still not fully functional and I am not sure if I can safely continue working in architecture or design for now, because of the physical demands and my limited mobility. I really want to ask the Ausländerbehörde to remove this job restriction, or at least confirm that they will tolerate me working in another job that I am physically able to do while I recover.

I notified the Ausländerbehörde about my situation on April 30th, but more than six weeks have passed without any reply. The new online portal for changing employer says my residence permit is “not found in the database,” there is no phone number to call, they don’t answer emails, and appointments are always fully booked.

I feel completely stuck: I want to follow the law, but without their confirmation I don’t know if I am allowed to look for a job in another field. My Krankengeld will not last forever, and I am worried about running out of money with no right to work and no way to survive.

I don’t understand why they should not tolerate me working, since I already proved that I can find and keep a job — I passed probation and lost it only because of an accident that was out of my control.

Has anyone been in this situation and found a way to get an urgent appointment or an answer? Is there any way to get a Notfallsprechstunde (emergency appointment) for this? Did anyone resolve this with a lawyer or an urgent court application? I really just want to do everything correctly and be able to support myself with a job I am physically able to do.

Any real advice, contacts or similar experiences would mean so much to me right now. Thank you so much for reading and helping!

My residence title was issued on the basis of paragraph 18b

66shoku schrieb am 20.06.2025 um 01:50:31:

If you only worked for 8 months with §18b, you need to find a new job and then apply for a new work permit.

Do you have a new job offer?