As we remember from the first article, it is possible to get a student visa to Germany, but the process requires effort, preparation, and in advance. Let's focus on step 3 of our checklist, without which we cannot go further.
Create a special blocked account
What is a blocked account in Germany: very briefly
A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is the main and strong confirmation that you have enough money to cover your stay in Germany for at least a year. Having such an account therefore increases the chances of approval and obtaining a student visa.
A blocked account is opened for each year during which you plan to study in Germany (that is, you can open it once and then renew it, but if your course takes three years, be prepared to keep this account for all three years, and not close it after the first 12 months).
The exact amount that needs to be transferred to this account varies from year to year – at the moment it was 992 euros per month (that is, 11,904 euros per year). This is the minimum amount. As soon as you arrive in Germany and open a regular bank account (standard, current) for daily, household use, you will be able to make a transfer from your blocked account to the "household" account, but up to 992 euros per month.
Servicing a blocked account in Germany is not free — tariffs depend on the bank and provider. Somewhere they issue an invoice for opening, somewhere monthly maintenance fees, and maybe both.
You don't need much to open — a valid passport and a notification of your enrollment as a student. The account opening itself is usually fast, within 1-24 hours after contacting the provider, but it takes 1-2 weeks to receive confirmation of the blocking. During this time, the bank and the provider carefully check your documents..
In short, it is not difficult to open it, it can be done in almost any bank, and online.
Translate the documents into English/German + notarize them
The principle is simple: everything that is not in these languages must be translated (as a rule, almost everything must be certified). In particular, the rule applies to documents from the registry office (birth certificate, if a minor is going to study, marriage / divorce / change of surname certificate, etc.). By the way, documents from the registry office also need to be apostilled (and this process can also be slow).
The main thing is to carefully adhere to the list of documents posted by the website of the embassy and visa center! This list is detailed and sensible, but you need to collect absolutely everything, to the last crust and reference. The visa center checks the submitted package of documents very carefully, and if it is incomplete, you will be deployed to finalize the "homework".
In our case, everything ended well, largely thanks to competent and thoughtful planning, our experience and the perseverance of our student. We wish him successful studies, easy exams and a wonderful career!
