Orientation guide for asylum seekers in Saxony 2 | Contents Welcoming notes 4 1. General information 6 2. The borders of your residence area 6 3. How you reside and live 7 4. Learning German 10 5. Travelling by public transport 11 6. Constructive cooperation with the authorities 11 7. Managing your money 14 8. Medical care 15 9. Kindergarten – a good start 17 10. Attendance at school (for your children) 17 11. Training and career as a perspective for the future 18 12. Returning to your country of origin 19 13. Rights and obligations 19 14. General map of the Free State of Saxony 21 | 3 Welcoming notes Nobody who has not experienced it for himself can understand the feeling of having lost his homeland and having to come to terms with living in a new country. Following an uncertain period, you have found temporary refuge in Saxony. By receiving asylum seekers, the Free State fulfils its humanitarian responsibility in the world. We are committed to supporting the asylum procedure of the German Government’s Office for Migration and Refugees to our best possible extent, thus rapidly and promptly providing a clear situation for all involved. It is our intention to facilitate the arrival and stay of those persons who apply for asylum in Germany and are settled in Saxony. Together with the Saxon Commissioner for Foreigners, the State Ministry has therefore produced a brochure, which explains in a clear manner all the important things that you need to be aware of in the course of your ongoing asy- lum application. This brochure lists the rights and obligations of asylum seekers as well as practical assistance in regard to medical care, langua- ge courses and childcare facilities. The State Government of Saxony would like for all asylum seekers to Markus Ulbig effectively cope with living in Germany while their application is being Saxon Minister of State for the Interior processed. This includes fair social cooperation, which applies to all po- pulation groups. One thing is clear: violence has no place in our society and will be punished accordingly. If you should be confronted by violence in your everyday life here, then please get in touch with the corresponding contact points presented in this brochure. Here you will receive advice and support on a confidential basis. Don’t be afraid to talk about these things. You will not be left alone with your troubles and needs. I would be delighted if this guide proves to be a helpful companion to you during your stay in the Free State of Saxony. Your Markus Ulbig Saxon Minister of State for the Interior 4 | Dear Reader, Martin Gillo Saxon Commissioner for After your flight from your native country, you have now arrived in Foreigners Germany – to be precise in Saxony. This is a new country for you, one that you may have had a completely different impression of before your flight. Here you will find many things, which you used to take for gran- ted, different. And many things, which were not important in your native country, are extremely important here. This short brochure will help you to familiarise yourself with some of the things that are particularly important both for you and our living together here. It will also help you to settle down here and live with us on a constructive basis. Nobody can know how long you are going to live here. A decision on whether you will be accepted as a refugee or not will be made in the coming months. Germany and Saxony adhere to the principles defined by the UN and a United Europe. We intend to live positively and constructively together with you for as I would like to address three key points here: long as you stay in Germany. (1) We are a democratic society. Most people who come to Germany have to get used to us and our laws. Everybody has rights and responsibilities, although these are perhaps In our democracy, it is the citizens who decide on the representation different to those in your native country. of parliaments, who, in turn, pass laws. The voter is always right. This is why the free exchange of opinions in mutual respect for the opinions of others is important. (2) We are a diverse society. “Germany, this is everybody who lives here, regardless of where they come from.” These were the words of our Federal Chancellor, Angela Merkel. This works well in mutual respect. (3) We are a pluralistic society. We recognise all religions. Each person, however, is also free to live without religion. We value all the world’s cultures. We are committed to the same rights for men and women. Even same-sex partnerships are part of the re- ality of our society. This too only functions on the basis of mutual respect. Amidst all this diversity: we are united by the same right for everybody, regardless of origin, religion or culture. This uniform right is the frame- work for our society and guarantees our peaceful community relations. I wish for you and us to get on well together. Please take part in this. The information provided in this brochure may be of help to you in this respect. Your Martin Gillo | 5 Dear Readers, This is a first helping hand for you, intended to it you will certainly have found out enough assist you by providing you with the first tips to know where you can receive more detailed and information for your daily life in Saxony. information, and whom you can address your Although this information will only be able to questions to. answer some of your questions, after reading 1. General information 2. The borders of your residence area There exists a series of independent, non-governmental organisations There exists in Ger- and advice centres available in Saxony to provide you with advice. Please many the law on re- do not be afraid of going to these centres. There are organisations active striction of movement, everywhere in Saxony as well as advice centres directly where you live. which confines you to a particular area. As an When you leave your accommodation, always take your Aufenthaltsge- asylum seeker and per- stattung / Duldung (residence authorisation / short-term permit) with you. son, whose stay is tole- rated, you are restric- Before your type of residence permit expires, go to your Ausländerbehörde ted in your movements (Aliens’ Registration Office), who will be glad to help you. In addition, to a particular area. If you can obtain advice on all aspects of your residency directly at your you want to leave this advice centres. For example, young persons up to the age of 27 years area, you first have to can go to the Jugendmigrationsdienste (Youth Migration Services). Tho- obtain permission from se over 27 can, for example, apply to the charity refugee counselling the Aliens’ Registration centres. Office. The type of residence permit you possess will determine which social The Free State of Saxony is divided into three regions. If you possess an benefits and assistance you are entitled to receive. Aufenthaltsgestattung (residence authorisation) you are only entitled to stay within your particular region. If you should happen to lose your residence permit, please go immedia- tely to the Aliens’ Registration Office. Region 1: Vogt Landkreis (district), Zwickau district, Mittelsachsen district, Erzgebirg district, the urban municipality of Chemnitz. Region 2: the districts of Meißen, Bautzen, Görlitz, Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, state capital of Dresden. Region 3: the districts of Nordsachsen, Leipzig as well as the urban municipality of Leipzig. With a Duldung (Short-Term Permit), you basically enjoy freedom of mo- vement anywhere in Saxony. If, however, you do not, for example, cooperate in the clarification of your identity and/or have committed several or severe crimes, your freedom of movement will be restricted to the relevant district or urban municipality concerned. IMPORTANT! The Aliens’ Registration Office is entitled to severely restrict the region, in which you have freedom of movement, particularly if you have committed a crime. This also applies to tolerated persons and asylum seekers. If you want to leave your region of stay and travel to another region or another Federal State in Germany, then you need permission from the Aliens’ Registration Office – the so-called “Urlaubsschein” (leave pass). There are only a few cases where this “leave pass” is not required (e.g. for court appointments). 6 | 3. How you reside and live You need the following documents in order to apply for a “leave pass” Families enjoy a high status in Germany. The family nucleus comprises with your Aliens’ Registration Office: the father, mother and children. A written invitation, for example from a person or association, addressed to you, which includes the name and the precise address of the person being invited. An application form or simple letter. In the case that a form is availab- le, you will receive it at your Aliens’ Registration Office or community accommodation building. A simple letter must include all the impor- tant information on the period, destination and reason for your travel. IMPORTANT! Please observe the “restriction of movement”. If you are unsure about this, please ask at an advice centre or the Aliens’ Registration Office, in which region you have freedom of movement. If you should leave the region applicable to you without permission (“leave pass” from the Aliens’ Registration Office), you will then face a fine, and if you do this on a repeated basis, criminal charges may be brought against you, which can result in you receiving a condemnation, fine or even being sentenced to imprisonment.