Family Reunification interview stories

Interview stories

• Family reunion interview day in Lagos and about 50 common questions

  By Dorathy Udoisoh on YouTube · Own + friends' interviews

  Mission

  German Consulate Lagos, Nigeria

  Year

  Not stated

  Outcome

  Not stated

  A walkthrough of interview day at the Lagos consulate (printed invitation, phone locker, copies, fees, the officer typing your answers) and a long list of questions gathered from her own interview and friends'.

  Questions they were asked, in our words

  • Who kissed first at your wedding?
  • Where did you go for your honeymoon?
  • Does your partner have tattoos or piercings, and what is their shoe size?
  • What is your occupation, and where do you work?

  Their tips

  • The officer records your answers, so be precise.
  • Bring photocopies of everything; you will not have your phone inside.
• Nigerian spouse's family reunion interview in Lagos (Blue Card sponsor)

  By The Bukola Kadiri Channel on YouTube · Own experience

  Mission

  German Consulate Lagos, Nigeria

  Year

  Not stated

  Outcome

  Visa granted

  Her husband held an EU Blue Card, so she was told A1 German and the document-verification fee were not needed. The questions centred on her husband's move to Germany and his income.

  Questions they were asked, in our words

  • What is your date of birth, and where do you live now?
  • How did your partner come to Germany, and when were they last home?
  • Roughly what does your partner earn?
  • Who do you live with at the moment?

  Their tip

  • Know your sponsor's residence status: it changes which documents you need.
• Family reunion interview with a toddler, and what happens after

  By Five & Six Duo on YouTube · Own experience

  Mission

  Nigeria (mission not named)

  Year

  Not stated

  Outcome

  Visa granted

  A mother applying with her young son; interview in February, visa collected at the end of March. Very personal questions plus a practical checklist for the day.

  Questions they were asked, in our words

  • What are your partner's favourite colour, food and perfume?
  • What do you call each other, and since when?
  • Is the name on your passport the same as on your marriage certificate?

  Their tips

  • Arrive on time; security logs your arrival.
  • Bags and phones stay at the gate.
  • Missing documents can be sent after the interview.
• Reunion visa process as the spouse of a German citizen

  By Fumzyjen Tv on YouTube · Own experience

  Mission

  Nigeria (mission not named)

  Year

  Not stated

  Outcome

  Visa granted

  Mostly process: the full document list, an appointment wait of about a year, marriage-certificate verification taking months, and the visa fee waived for a German-citizen sponsor. Fees and timelines will have changed.

  Their tips

  • Start marriage-certificate verification early; it can take months.
  • Bring old couple photos and two photocopies of every document.
• All the questions I was asked at my family reunion interview in Lagos

  By Oyi on demand on YouTube · Own experience

  Mission

  Lagos, Nigeria

  Year

  Not stated

  Outcome

  Visa granted

  A Nigerian wife, now in Germany, reads out the questions from her Lagos interview. Almost all were about her husband and his family. She says her husband was questioned in Germany at the same time, including about her mother's age.

  Questions they were asked, in our words

  • When and where was your husband born, and when did he travel to Germany?
  • What is his full address in Germany, including the post code, and his phone number?
  • How many rooms does his apartment have?
  • Where does he work, what is the company called, and how much does he earn a month?
  • Does he wear glasses or have a tattoo? What are his favourite food, hobby and shoe size?
  • What time does he leave for work and come back?
  • How old is your father-in-law?
  • How many siblings does your husband have, and is he the first or second child?
  • Was he married before, and does he have a child in Germany?

  Their tips

  • Know your spouse's family as well as your spouse: ages and birth order came up.
  • In Germany the living room counts as a room, so 'two rooms and a parlour' is three rooms.
• Nigerian wife: the 'submission day' is your interview

  By Lynda TV on YouTube · Own experience

  Mission

  Nigeria (mission not named)

  Year

  Not stated

  Outcome

  Visa granted

  She came to Germany on this visa and says the appointment called 'submission day' is really the interview. The questions were about how you met and your spouse's job, birthday and address, with a short German introduction at the end. Her husband was not questioned.

  Questions they were asked, in our words

  • How did you meet your spouse?
  • What does your spouse do in Germany?
  • What is your spouse's name and date of birth, and where do they live?
  • Do you have family photos?
  • Introduce yourself in German.

  Their tips

  • 'Family photos' means your wedding photos and photos with your families.
  • Check your name and date of birth on every form; mistakes take long to fix.
  • If you don't know an answer, say so rather than guess.
• Questions asked at the German embassy for family reunion, from a Nigerian wife

  By Vibewithfiona on YouTube · Own experience

  Mission

  Nigeria (mission not named)

  Year

  Not stated

  Outcome

  Not stated

  A short list from her own interview: her husband's background, job and pay after tax, the wedding, who she lives with in Nigeria, when they last met (checked against passport stamps), earlier visa applications, and a German self-introduction.

  Questions they were asked, in our words

  • What is your husband's name, where was he born and how old is he?
  • What did he study, and when did he graduate?
  • How much does he earn after tax?
  • When and where was your court marriage?
  • Who do you live with in Nigeria now? Did you live together before the wedding?
  • When did you last see your spouse?
  • Have you applied for a visa to any country before? Which one, and why?
  • Introduce yourself in German.
  • What does your spouse's name mean?

  Their tips

  • Your answer about the last visit is checked against the entry and exit stamps you submit.
  • Keep the German introduction short: name, age, where you are from, a hobby.
• The questions they asked my wife: Ghanaian family reunion interview

  By David Adade on YouTube · Told by a relative

  Mission

  Ghana (mission not named)

  Year

  Not stated

  Outcome

  Not stated

  A husband recounts his wife's long, conversational interview of about 1.5 hours: the proposal, the ceremony, both families' reactions and his own details.

  Questions they were asked, in our words

  • When and how did your partner propose?
  • What kind of ceremony was it, and who signed the certificate?
  • Give me your partner's phone number in German, then spell your name in German.