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Traveling in Times of Covid-19: Regulations & more

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Are you unsure if you can travel to Germany this summer? What about your partner, a US citizen? Can he/she enter Germany? What about quarantine? How about leaving the USA if one is a non-immigrant visa holder? Can I return to the US after visiting family in Germany?

Questions and more questions. Covid-19 has for sure much impacted our lives these days. Apart from social distancing and shelter in place orders, it has also greatly impacted travel!

We have invited Petra Korn from pKorn Law, who has offices in Berlin and Los Angeles, to give us some advice as well as clarify some immigration issues regarding naturalization and green card applications that have been put on hold during the Covid-19 shutdown.

Find out what you should know about traveling in terms of visa issues and immigration, and much more in our video. 


If you have any additional immigration questions or would like to see a completely different topic discussed here, please contact us and let us know!

Notes: Expired green card holders, in the process of naturalization, are still legally in the country and their permanent resident status is still in place as long as they stay in the US!

Helpful Links: USCIS Response to COVID-19 https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-covid-19 (Naturalization notices & other important facts); Special Situation Page https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations ; USCIS Field Offices https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings ; Germany- Federal Foreign Office-Traveler advice https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/coronavirus ; Tool to find information on relevant public health office in Germany to inquire regarding 2-week quarantine https://tools.rki.de/plztool/ ;

BMI – Information for Germany https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/EN/topics/civil-protection/coronavirus/coronavirus-faqs.html Auswärtiges Amt /Federal Foreign Office has additional infos:   https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/coronavirus;  U.S. Department of State – Information about Coronavirus:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/presidential-proclamation-coronavirus.html  ;   

Link for US citizens returning from or transiting through Europe: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html and https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/presidential-proclamation–travel-from-europe.html ; 

Travelers with dual nationality: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/Dual-Nationality-Travelers.html;   

General travel/Coronavirus information: https://faq.coronavirus.gov/travel/#should-i-cancel-my-international-trip;   

Screening & Quarantine upon returning to the US (Department of Homeland Security): https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/03/17/fact-sheet-dhs-notice-arrival-restrictions-china-iran-and-certain-countries-europe CDC Coronavirus information:https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html

 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The information on this website, within this article and within the video is for general information purposes and entertainment only. Nothing on this site, article, or video should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Readers of this website should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. Any links to other third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader, and user of the website.

Image: Pixabay

My Life During the Covid-19 Pandemic

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In times of Social Distancing & Sheltering in Place!

How have you been holding up during these weeks of sheltering in place?

I have to admit, it wasn’t such an easy transition for me at first, even though I thought I had the least of changes compared to anyone else in my family. Finally, after a few weeks in, I realized that what was slowly getting to me was the lack of a routine that would keep me sane and rooted. 

At the start of the Covid-19 restrictions around the second week of March when sheltering in place became the new normal, I found myself in the kitchen almost 24/7. It was overwhelming perhaps also frustrating, but someone in my family was almost always on the edge of starvation!

When I wasn’t cooking, I was ‘hunting’ for food and toilet paper (!) at the local stores – an activity that could easily cause mere anxiety given the feeling of scarcity it emitted when looking at empty shelves that used to be full of pasta, rice, beans, flour and more. It was a picture I had never imagined I would encounter in the United States.

Back at home, apart from being the cook on call, I also turned into the family hairstylist, accidental school counselor, and I tried my luck at Ayurvedic cooking, since the family decided that vegan is the way to go now.

And…at the end of the day, I just longed for the now seemingly simple days of pre-Covid-19 that had regular hours for work and school and daily school drop off and pick up times were planned for ahead of time. Even spending hours at soccer training and driving to all kinds of other school events, and the fact of never really being home just sounded so inviting now!

Battling to turn into a somewhat exhausted, tense superwoman overnight, I realized I needed to reclaim some balance in my life. So I implemented some changes to bring order into this whole new chaos and the benefits and results have been rewarding, not only for myself but for the whole family.

Now my new routine includes daily yoga sessions, happening online, that even induce my husband sometimes to participate, although reluctantly. Meditation practice is as much part of the new routine as some scheduled family time, where we all try to meet up together once a day after working, learning, and socializing on Zoom all day long. (You need to give these eyes a break sometimes!). And, I managed that everyone in the family understood that the restaurant called “kitchen” is not always open. That was challenging!  

But, what can I say, I’ve started to like my new day’s schedule now. I see new possibilities in situations that before just made me feel stressed out. Therefore, our family is more relaxed and laughter finds its way even into some tense situations.

Needless to say… the sudden change of lifestyle introduced by the Covid-19 pandemic had been a bit more challenging than I initially anticipated. In fact, I am still in the midst of fully comprehending and coming to terms with how the world around us has changed so suddenly from one day to the other.

However, this new situation has also opened up a path of immense appreciation, of witnessing life around me with much more gratitude. It opened up paths for positive changes in my life that I was too busy to see before or felt I had no time to implement.

Well, now there is plenty of time! For contemplation, self-reflection, working on future dreams, and generally becoming a better human being.

I hope we all find a way to embrace the changes that these unprecedented times have brought upon us; changes not only among our families, and communities but also to humanity as a whole. 

If nothing at all, I wish for us to have become more tolerant and hope that- as we are experiencing and living through this pandemic together as one humankind – we internalize that “we are all in this together”, no matter what skin color, religion or what country we are from. 

To celebrate life, human diversity, and our beautiful planet earth that stands up for us every day, I invite you to get inspired by the incredibly beautiful and meditative footage of the movie “BARAKA”, a movie that has a special place in our home.

Enjoy. Stay healthy! We are all in this together!

(Video of the trailer below or try https://documentarylovers.com/film/baraka/ )

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZs0gQed9tMTIRxubXYPy-eDlvWQBKo-d

Images: ©CaliforniaGermans – grocery store, ©Pixabay – Yoga image, Calm image

Engage your Kids with Learning German during Covid-19

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Usually, we love hearing the words “School is out!”,… but at the start of summer. This year is different. School has been out for quite a while now and summer hasn’t even started yet. It’s been some challenging weeks for children and parents alike.

While having (more) free time sounded very appealing at first, many kids now actually yearn for some academic challenges and guided intellectual interaction during this ongoing pandemic with its shelter-at-home restrictions.

To keep your children engaged, GASA (German American School Association) is starting Online German Classes geared towards children 4 years & older. A minimum of 8 students per class is required, so grab a bunch of your children’s friends and form your own virtual German learning group with the help of GASA.

Classes start already next week, with Session 1, May 11th through June 6th. Session 2 is scheduled for June 8th through July 4th.

Check out the flyer below for more information. Bis bald!

Image: Chuck Underwood from Pixabay

FREE Live Concert Celebrates Transatlantic Partnership & Solid Friendship During this Pandemic – April 30th

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Bremerhaven – New York: “Voice Over Piano” plays in the ‘Grand Central Terminal’ 

Live – Online concert from the “Grand Central Terminal” at German Emigration Center Bremerhaven with Sara Dähn and Band on Thursday, April 30th, 2020, at 12 p.m. EST on Facebook and Instagram 

Something that seemed impossible these days suddenly becomes reality: The band Voice Over Piano with lead singer Sara Dähn and pianist and entertainer Thomas Blaeschke presents songs by Frank Sinatra, QUEEN, and their own original material. The concert takes place in ‘New York’s Grand Central Terminal’ at the German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven, which hosts the exact replica of NY Grand Central Terminal at their exhibition space.

The two musicians have been transmitting a concert once a week from various locations in Bremen, a city in Northern Germany, via their “Voice Over Piano” account on Facebook and Instagram reaching thousands of viewers – not only in Germany, where the Band is based in Hamburg and Berlin but also in the USA. 

“Be it rock, pop, funk & soul, chanson or musical, we blend together all of these genres in one performance on our world wide concerts bringing together people from all different backgrounds, colors, ethnicities, and belief, and even more so during the time of the CORONAVIRUS pandemic,” explain Thomas and Sara their mission and vision for these online concerts. 

The German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven

The German Emigration Center is situated on a historic site in the New Harbor, which opened in 1852 and was the departure point for approximately 1.2 million emigrants to the New World by 1890. 

Along with Bremerhaven’s Mayor Torsten Neuhoff and members of the City Council and Bremerhaven Tourism (BIS) it was decided that the world known Emigration Center would be the most perfect location for a unique concert celebrating Transatlantic partnership and solid friendship during this pandemic. “We are thinking very often of our dear friends and colleagues in New York, still the American epicenter of this pandemic, hoping the best for them and are very pleased that Governor Andrew Cuomo, is doing whatever is needed to overcome this terrible situation.”

“Ultimately, it’s about friendship across borders, encouragement to continue and stay healthy and above all to thank the first responders, the nurses, doctors, police officers, firemen and – women, everyone who puts her or his life on the line to help us survive. Thank you and we are proud to sing and play music to all of you,” says Thomas. 

The show can be followed live by everyone on Facebook and Instagram or viewed again on Facebook and YouTube sometime later. 

The broadcast will take place on Thursday, April 30, 2020, from 12 p.m. EST 

Live:
Facebook: “Voice Over Piano” – Instagram: “VoiceOverPiano” 

Media library:
Facebook: “Voice Over Piano” and “Thomas Blaeschke” YouTube: “Thomas Blaeschke / VoiceOverPiano” Instagram: IGTV “VoiceOverPiano” 

Information at http://www.VoiceOverPiano.com 

At Sommerfest Federal Chancellery Berlin

The Voice Over Piano contributors are: 

Sara Dähn – vocals and moderation, Thomas Blaeschke – piano, band leader and moderation, Stephan Werner – electric bass, Mark Wetjen – drums, Frederic Drobnjak -electric guitar

Text and Images: ©VoiceOverPiano

GASA’s Summer Camp 2020 – German Adventure for Kids

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Southern California’s German-American School Association, short GASA, has its overnight German Immersion Summer Camp scheduled for June 2020.

I think we all can use a little cheering up these days. So, let’s look at summer and the potential of all the beautiful things you can do here in Southern California. If you have children and don’t plan on traveling overseas, you might be looking for something fun and entertaining for them. GASA’s German Immersion Camp offers all that and more!

Planned for June 14th-June 20th, 2020 the overnight German Immersion Camp will take place at the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Recreation Center in Orange, CA. The camp is geared towards kids, ages 8-16 years.

During the 7 days and 6 nights of adventure, kids will have plenty of fun with special activities like zip-lining, wall climbing, and swimming. They will learn about the Germanic people and their struggle to remain free with “The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest” and they’ll learn useful skills in a planned Hye Katch Do art of self-defense class. On top, fun activities such as nature hikes, dancing, singing, crafting, campfire, baking, sports, games and fishing round up the German camp experience. All activities will be conducted in German.

Ready to enroll? Check out the link: http://germanschool4kids.org/camps/

Image: ©GASA

Travel As a Dual Citizen. Do You Know Which Passport to Use When?

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It’s only February, but if you are planning to go overseas this summer you are likely looking into booking flights and hotels already now. At least, you should. Usually, six months before starting a trip is a good time to take advantage of some good prices before they will rise, the closer you get to your chosen travel date.

As a dual citizen you have the privilege of owning passports from two different countries; as a CaliforniaGermans, you likely have one passport from Germany and another from the United States. 

You probably are already aware of the fact that you should always have both passports with you when going on a trip to a foreign country, but are you equally sure about, in what situation you need to use one passport over the other?

How about when you book your flight? Does it matter what passport you use or will you risk getting in trouble with customs later?

We spoke with Petra Korn, owner of pKorn Law, who specializes in Immigration Law, e.g. dual citizenship, re-gaining German citizenship, other US immigration issues, and assists with immigration to Germany as well. She has offices in both, California and Germany. 

CaliforniaGermans – Petra, are there any particular rules that I, as a dual citizen, must follow when going through passport control upon entering Germany? Can I use either customs line, the one for European citizens or the one for foreigners? 

Petra – That is a very good question. First of all, one should travel with both passports. You leave the US with the US passport. 

As a German citizen, it is actually the law that you have to enter Germany with the German passport. Otherwise, it would be considered a so-called “Ordnungswidrigkeit.” 

When returning to the US, you probably need to show both passports as you don’t get a stamp in your US passport and thus, the customs office will know that you hold another passport. I always show both passports. 

CaliforniaGermans – What about traveling from the US to France, Italy or any other county in the European Union. Does the same “passport rule” apply to a German-American dual citizen, as if he/she was entering Germany or is there a difference? Which passport does one best use in that scenario? 

Petra – Whenever traveling to/entering a EU country, I would use the German passport, so the same advice as mentioned before applies. 

CaliforniaGermans – What about traveling to other non-European Union countries. What’s the deal there? 

Petra – When traveling to a country that’s not within the European Union, it is important to familiarize oneself with the respective policy for entering that country and the possible need to obtain a Visa. 

One should do some research about the respective Visa regulations for the country one intends to visit with sufficient time to obtain a Visa, if needed. Depending on the country, decide which passport to use, meaning which one makes it easier to enter the country. 

CaliforniaGermans – When booking a flight to Europe you are asked to give your passport information at some point. Which passport do I need to use when booking a flight? Is there a preference? Will choosing one over the other get me in trouble with the airline at check-in later on? 

Petra – When booking a flight to Germany, for example, I enter my German passport information. At check-in, the airline will then also ask me for Visa/passport information since I usually have a return flight to the US and thus, you need to have a Visa, Green Card or Passport to re-enter the US. 

Thank you, Petra, for taking the time to clarify some pressing travel questions for us!

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Do you have a specific dual citizen question, contact us and we might have Petra address your question on our blog next. Get in contact with Petra Korn:

pKornLaw – A Professional Corporation:

11620 Wilshire Blvd., 9th Floor – Los Angeles, CA 90025 – Phone: +1-(310) 361-8582 – Email: pkorn@germanamericanlawyer.com

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pKorn Law – advises domestic and international clients mainly in the fields of German Law, Business Law (company formation, drafting and revising contracts), and Immigration Law, for example, dual citizenship, re-gaining German citizenship, and U.S. citizenship. PKornLaw has over 18 years of expertise in the German and the U.S./California legal system

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Readers of this website should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. Any links to other third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader, and user of the website.

Images: PassportsImage ©CaliforniaGermans; Portrait ©PetraKorn

California has over 9 Billion in Unclaimed Assets. Do Some Belong to You?

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Did the past holiday deplete your bank account and left you feeling you have started January with a little hole in your budget? Then go check out if the California State Government’s database has listed some unclaimed assets that possibly belong to you! You might just find yourself ending up with some extra cash.

“How can some of my assets end up with the California State government”, you may ask?

“Businesses like banks and insurance companies are required by law to transfer property to the state controllers office if it goes unclaimed for a certain period of time, generally three years. ” (NBC Los Angeles)

What is considered “Unclaimed property”? 

It is generally defined as any financial asset that has been left inactive by the owner for a period of time. Among the most common types of “Unclaimed Property” are: 

  • Bank accounts & Safe Deposit box contents
  • Stocks, mutual funds, and the like
  • Insurance benefits
  • Uncashed cashier’s checks and money orders
  • And more…

There is no time limit or fee for filing a claim! So it’s for sure worth a try to carve out some time to search the database provided by California State Controller’s office. You may be pleasantly surprised. At least, I know I was when I checked the database, just for fun, and found out that apparently I had some unclaimed assets of about $100. Okay, okay,… it’s not groundbreaking, but hey, who doesn’t welcome a few dollars that he didn’t know he had in the first place!

If you want to give it a try, here is the database URL to try your luck!

To find out more about how you keep your property from being turned over to the State Controller’s office, check out the California State Controller’s website here

Image: Pixabay.com – Resources: California State Controller’s Office, NBCLA

Christmas Carols Services and Christmas Eve Services in German

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If you are looking for some German Christmas service this holiday season, here are some suggestions for you:

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in La Mesa offers two festive events:

Sunday, 15. December 2019 – 3:00 pm
Albert Einstein School Kinderchor (Children’s choir)
Weihnachtsprogramm mit Krippenspiel (The Albert Einstein School’s Christmas Programme with Nativity Play)

Sunday, 22. December 2019 – 7.00 pm
Deutschsprachiger Weihnachtsgottesdienst
Lesungen und Lieder (German Christmas Carol Service)

Please bring your families and friends to these festive events.

Please find driving directions to the church at this link:

http://www.st-lukes-la-mesa.org/maps.php

Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica has its
Christmas Eve 2019 service at 3:00 pm.
Family German Christmas Service – a service of readings, carols, organ music, a children’s message and a Kinderkrippenspiel (Children’s Nativity play) entirely in German.

ADDRESS: 1343 Ocean Park Blvd on the corner of 14th street. Santa Monica, CA 90405

“The Medea Insurrection: Radical Women Artists Behind the Iron Curtain” at the Wende Museum

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To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, The Wende Museum in Los Angeles has put on a special exhibition in collaboration with the Goethe Institut. “The Medea Insurrection: Radical Women Artists Behind the Iron Curtain“ is also part of Wunderbar Together and is on view until April 5th, 2020.

Medea: the controversial archetype of female strength and passion from the East. In the years before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, East European writers and painters often turned to ancient mythology to express their discontent with authoritarian rule. Their interpretations of mythological figures like Medea, Cassandra, and Penthesilea were crucial in shaping contemporary images for women, and sometimes they were straight-up punk. Working under the radar of the accepted art establishment, the artists in this exhibition provoked, protested, played with fire, and experimented while refusing socialist and bourgeois stereotypes.

The Medea Insurrection was conceptualized and curated by Susanne Altmann for the Albertinum (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden). It has been adapted by the Wende Museum for its Culver City appearance. 

The Medea Insurrection: Radical Women Artists Behind the Iron Curtain is part of Wunderbar Together: The Year of German-American Friendship 2018/19, an initiative funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, implemented by the Goethe-Institut, and supported by the Federation of German Industries (BDI).

The Medea Insurrection: Radical Women Artists Behind the Iron Curtain.

WHERE & WHEN:

The Wende Museum
The Armory, Culver City, California
November 10, 2019 – April 5, 2020

Image: ©The Wende Museum