Citizens of EC member countries, the EFTA (e.g. Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein) and countries that have international agreememts with the FRG (e.g. Honduras, Monaco, San Marino, U.S.A.) do not have to carry a visa. Nevertheless, they have to register at the Local Government Office ("Bürgerberatung Einwohnermeldeamt") and apply for residence permit. A valid identity card or passport and a proof of accommodation (informal letter from your landlord/-lady) have to be submitted.
Your residence permit has to be presented at the depart-mental office for foreign affairs (Ausländerabteilung) together with evidence of sufficient financial support and admission as a full-time student at Bielefeld University (Immatrikulations- bescheinigung) or certificate of your exchange student status which gives details on how long you intend to stay here.
Students from non EU-countries have to obtain a visa for the purpose of studying in the FRG. It has to be obtained from the German Embassy in your home country before entry. Tourist visas cannot be changed into visa for the purpose of studying! In any case, you should find out as soon as possible about the visa requirements for entering and staying in the FRG, at your consulate office. The following documents are needed when you apply for a visa for the purpose of studying:
Usually, the embassy gets in contact with the local departmental office for foreign affairs in Germany. The visa application then needs to be approved by this office. When you have arrived in Bielefeld, you have to register, personally, at the responsible Ausländerbehörde (this applies also to the other ERASMUS-students). Before your final departure from Bielefeld you have to "de-register" with the same body.
At the Ausländerabteilung you will be requested to submit evidence that you have adequate funds or support for your living expenses throughout your course of study in Bielefeld. At the moment, an amount of 620 Euro per month is required. If your scholarship does not cover this amount of money, evidence of further financial support (e.g. by your parents) has to be provided. It is sufficient to submit an informal letter together with your ERASMUS-certificate.
You can find more information here (International Students), or here (Federal Foreign Office).
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