B4 arriving germany*
First
Things first - your Visa
Apply
for it as soon as possible at a
German Embassy or Consulate.
Indians require to have a
visa[Citizens of the European
Union or Australia, Japan,
Canada, Isreal, New Zealand,
USA, Switzerland, Honduras,
Monaco and San Marino don't need
a visa].
Don't forget,
family members also might need
visas. It's also wise to
remember, government offices
often have their own unique
sense of scheduling or
timeframes. So make sure to
apply for the visa in plenty of
time. The German consolutes in
India can tell you what
documents you will need for a
visa application.
What kind of Documents do you
need? - a short Checklist
(may vary time to time and place
to place)
-
a passport or equivalent
identity document valid for
the whole duration of your
stay in Germany;
-
a visa for you and family
members accompanying you.
You should apply for visas
as soon as possible - in
contrast to documents for
you yourself, which are
often issued quickly, there
may be delays in the issue
of residence permits for
accompanying family members.
Some countries (e.g.
member-countries of the EU
and the USA) are exempt from
this requirement;
-
If applicable, confirmation
from the funding agency viz.
DAAD/Humboldt or from your
Institution/Supervisor that
you have been awarded a
research
fellowship/position;
-
several passport-size
photographs for the various
documents you will require
during your stay;
-
birth certificate(s),
marriage certificate, if
applicable, with German
translation if possible;
-
officially-certified copies
of your degree, and of
insurance documents with
German or English
translations, if possible;
-
if appropriate, confirmation
from your health insurance
that you are also covered in
Germany (Please remember
that, in order to get a
residence permit, you have
to have valid health
insurance cover for yourself
and your family from the
first day you arrive in
Germany. If your health
insurance at home is not
valid abroad you will have
to take out a health
insurance policy before you
travel which is valid in
Germany for the entire
duration of your stay!);
-
if applicable, a statement
detailing particular or
previous diseases (possibly
recent X-ray photographs)
and medication currently
needed;
-
your vaccination
certificate, if possible, an
international one.
To avoid difficulties
communicating with German
physicians and problems
involving health insurance, you
should undergo any necessary
prophylactic check-ups and have
special medication prescribed in
your home country prior to your
departure.
Sprechen
Sie Deutsch? - Nobody will deny
that being able to speak German
will make life easier for you in
Germany. You can attend language
courses at the Goethe Institut
in India or better still attend
a summer course in Germany.
Booking Tips for Students
1. After getting the visa the
next thing to do is booking
tickets.
2. Days before the
flight, call the airline to
confirm your reservation and to
cross-check everything the
travel agent may have told you.
3. Indicate whether you
want Asian Vegetarian Meal
(AVM), non-smoking section, etc.
This can be done at the time of
booking the tickets with the
travel agent.
4. Some
airlines offer Frequent Flier
programs (e.g. Lufthansa, Gulf
Air, Air France, TWA, United
Airlines) implying that after a
certain number of miles of
flying with that airline you get
a free ticket. Enroll in such
programs.
5. Avoid
transit of airline at airports A
direct flight is the best
especially when you are
traveling abroad first time. If
change of airline can't be
avoided, make sure that there is
at least 4-6 hours gap between
the scheduled arrival of one
flight and the scheduled
departure of the connecting
flight.
6. Baggage is usually safe with a
single airline while change of
airline sometimes leads to
misplaced luggage. Some airlines
don't take care about baggage
transfer. You may have to
personally carry it (check this
while booking)
7. Arrive at the airport
at least 2 hours
before the check-in time.
8. Drink lot of fluids on the
flight. This will help you
recover the jetlag very fast.
9. Many airlines are
fussy about the weight of your
cabin baggage. It is always
better to check with your travel
agent regarding this.
10. Always keep a
photocopy of your passport,
tickets, contact info of your
school in every baggage
including your cabin baggage.
11. Always keep original
copies of your CA certificate,
bank statements, sponsor's
affidavit, passport, admission
letters in your cabin baggage.
Sometimes, the immigration
officials may ask you to present
them at the airport.
12. Ideally, a student
can bring euro 500/- in
cash, euro 1000/- in travelers
cheques and a personal draft of
the amount equal to one
semester's expenses.
Emigration Clearance
1. Every person leaving
India should have
ECNR
stamped on one of the rear pages
of your passport. For detailed
information, it is advisable to
contact your travel agent.
2. For questions on whether
one needs Income Tax clearance
certificate or sometimes, a
Police Clearance certificate, it
is advisable to contact your
travel agent.
Things to be done in advance
before departure
1. Learn typing.
2. Learn driving.
3.
You guys & gals : get into
adventure world of cooking ?!!
May god bless you!
4. Make your passport
valid for 6 months more than
your stay indicated in your
pass.
6. Make outstation
purchases (sweater, thermal
underwear, cassettes etc).
7. Have a complete medical
checkup done.
8. Get prescriptions &
medicines for all common
ailments
9. Get your eye-sight
checked - get a new
prescription. Buy at least one
extra pair of glasses, lenses.
10. Get requisite
immunization done (especially
MMR).
Things to be kept in the boxes
Miscellaneous Items
1. Copy of all
certificates/documents
(originals in hand baggage).
2. Necessary books/notebooks
(some suggested books are -
Clark's Tables, a good
dictionary/thesaurus, a booklet
for units conversion) [note:
there should be no legal hassles
taking photocopies of books -
but don't flaunt them to around
campus.
3. Copy of
address book/telephone
book/diary.
4. Some stationery and
related items suggested (not
absolutely necessary - just for
the first few weeks) are :
Rubber stamp with house address,
airmail covers, few Indian razor
blades for cutting work, screw
driver, Indian postal stamps for
sending letters through someone
coming to India
5. Medical history file.
6. At least one pair leather
chappals, two hawai chappals
(extra straps).
7. Soap (bath),
toothbrushes
8. You may
want to bring audio cassettes,
CDs of your favorite music.
9. You may want to
enquire with the travel agent
regarding valuable items on
which custom duty may be levied.
10.
All
Indian groceries, pickles and
other food stuff MUST be sealed
completely; if u r a sambar of
garam masala guy/gal- dont
worry, every variety is
available here.
Things to be left at home
1. List of addresses/phone
numbers at which info about you
can be obtained.
2. One copy of all your
important documents.
3.
A copy of all relevant parts of
Medical History files.
4. Arrange to
collect/redirect mail from your
room/hostel.
5. Arrange
to apply/collect/mail your
transcripts (about 10 in number
preferable)
6. Your tailoring
measurements.
7. Few
blank signed papers - so that
your parents can be authorized
to look after anything on your
behalf.
Things to be done in the
last week before the flight
1. Call up &
find if there is any delay or
change of schedule of the plane
(inform the people coming to
pick you up of any such change).
2. Rest well - ready to
face the long journey / jet lag
and bid bye to all concerned.
On the day of the flight,
in-flight and later
1. As it is going to be a
long flight wear something
comfortable preferably cotton
full hand shirt and trousers
(for gals ?!!...No idea).
2. Be at the airport at least
TWO hours before take off.
3. Relax during flight,
sleep as much as possible.
4. For vegetarians, watch out
before you eat for you may get
non-vegetarian food even if you
had asked for vegetarian. Veg.
food is generally bland -
fruits/juice are good choices.
5. Never hesitate to ask
questions.
6. Once out
of India be very careful (from
sheer experience of seniors). If
required don't hesitate to spend
money.
7. Don't hesitate
to talk to people to ask
questions. Usually people will
answer all your queries
satisfactorily.
8. Drink
lot of fluids to get over with
the jet lag as soon as possible
upon arrival.
Port of entry procedures
1. Sometime before landing
the flight attendant will
distribute customs declaration
forms & immigration forms as
mentioned below. Fill these out
on the plane (you will submit
them to the appropriate
authorities when you land). Do
not hesitate to take the flight
attendant's help.
2. You can indicate that
you have nothing to declare &
total value of all goods you
carry is less than 100 Euro on
the customs form.
3. Just before you land
the correct local time will be
announced set your watch [dual
time watch will come in handy
here]
4. Once you are out of the plane
go straight to the immigration
counter rush for them to beat
the queue. It might take half to
one hour here.
5. Keep
your Ipassport, admission & aid
letters ready. They might ask
few questions like - is this
your first time in the Germany ?
-Are you a student ? -Which
University are you joining ?
6. Be very relaxed and
answer all the questions that
the officer will ask. Sometimes
the officer may ask you to
present financial documents or
letters from your sponsors. Thus
it is advisable to carry these
along with you in your cabin
baggage.
7. Then go to the conveyor
belts to fetch your luggage.
Pick up a cart to carry the
bags. Then pick up your bags as
they come out on the conveyor
(suitable eye-catching labels
help here). If you don't get
your baggage inform the enquiry
section.
8. Cart your baggage to
nearby Customs. If asked, tell
the officer that you are a
student, department and coming
to Germany for the first time.
If asked to open the baggage do
so slowly but do not mess up the
place. Note : In most cases you
will NOT be asked to open your
boxes at all & will be simply
waved through.
9. Then
go & wait at the nearest exit
for the volunteers, friends or
relatives who are supposed to
receive you.
10. Never leave your baggage
unattended. Don't go out of the
airport until somebody comes to
receive you. If you have doubt
the person who has come to
receive you, don't hesitate to
ask for his/her identification
paper.
11. Once you reach your
house (or other destination)
call home & inform them of your
safe reach.
|
What To Do and What Not To Do
As in all countries there are certain norms of
behaviour and politeness in Germany which you
should observe if you do not want to put your
foot in it. Students are more informal so it is
advisable to take note of both behavioural
codes.
Greeting People
Students usually
greet each other without shaking hands saying
"Hallo", "Grüß Dich" or "Servus" (in Bavaria)
and leave saying "Tschüs", "Bis bald" (see you
soon) "Adé" (in Swabia) etc.
To shake
hands or not to shake hands?
The rule of thumb is: Do not shake hands
with fellow students or in public offices. If
you attend an interview or go to a professor's
office hour, always shake hands. Just wait until
the senior person (i.e. the professor or
prospective boss) offers you his/her hand to
shake.
"Sie" (formal) or "Du" (informal)?
Adults generally address each other in the
formal "Sie"-form and with "Herr" or "Frau" plus
surname and possibly even a title: "Guten Tag,
Frau Dr. Meier". Colleagues often still use the
formal Sie, even after working together for
years.
Formal and Informal Address
Germans only abandon their formal
attitude and use the informal Du-form with their
friends, and even this is only possible after it
has been formally offered. However, students
usually use the Du-form all the time amongst
themselves, so when you address a fellow-student
feel free to say Du.
Titles
Titles are very important in
Germany. If someone has a doctorate it is usual
to address them as Herr Doktor Meier or Frau
Doktor Müller. Professors are usually addressed
as Professor plus surname. There are doctors and
professors who prefer their titles not to be
used; they will soon let you know if this is the
case.
Punctuality
It cannot be denied
that Germans place a lot of emphasis on
punctuality. If you have an appointment with
your professor there is one thing you should
certainly not do - keep him or her waiting!
However, amongst students punctuality is taken
less seriously.
Invitations
Germans are often rather reticent
with invitations to begin with. Only good
friends can just drop in on each other
unannounced. When you are invited somewhere with
a more official character, like to your
professor's or boss's for example, you should
take a bunch of flowers with you for the
hostess. When you are invited to share a pan of
spaghetti with other students in their "WG" you
do not need to take flowers with you, but a
bottle of wine or a home-made dessert will
certainly be welcome.
Please! Thank You! Excuse Me!
"Bitte", "Bitte sehr" is what you say when
you give something to somebody, when you hold
the door open for somebody, when you ask for
something or make a request. If you have done
someone a favour and he or she thanks you, you
then say, "Bitte, gern geschehen" (roughly:
"You're welcome" or "Don't mention it"). If you
accept something offered to you at table you
answer with "Bitte": "Möchten Sie noch etwas
trinken?" ("Would you like anything else to
drink?") - "Ja, bitte" ("Yes, please").
for prospective students
How
to reach Heidelberg
Heidelberg is located approximately 80KM to the
south of Frankfurt and is sometimes described as
being at the heart of Europe. Given that
European borders are in a constant state of flux
this is probably no longer true!
Heidelberg's limousine, airport transfer and
guided tour service provides a great value
service that can make your stay that much more
relaxed and enjoyable.
Getting
to and from Heidelberg is simple by either
plane,
train or
road.
By Plane
Heidelberg is placed roughly equidistant between
Frankfurt and Stuttgart airports. Most people
that arrive by plane will come through Frankfurt
airport (which is the major hub for Lufthansa
airlines). Frankfurt airport is a large and busy
airport, but extremely well thought out and easy
to find your way around. All signs are in
German, English and graphics where possible.
Frankfurt airport has two terminals. Terminal 1
is used by Lufthansa and its partners. Terminal
2 is used by all other airlines (including the
charter airlines). Terminal 2 is the more modern
of the two having been designed by Sir Norman
Foster not too long ago. Use the skyline to
travel between the terminals.
"ITS
ADVISABLE THAT ALWAYS CONTACT INFORMATION CENTRE
FOR ANY ASSISTANCE"
If
you are arriving with checked luggage, you
will first have to pass through passport
control before collecting your luggage from
the "Baggage reclaim" area. Once your
baggage has been collected and you have
passed through customs you have a number of
options available to you:
Take the
train directly from the airport to Heidelberg
main station (Hauptbahnhof). This will take
between 45 and 80 minutes depending upon the
type of train you take and expect to pay between
€ 13 and 20 per person (2nd class).
Take
the Lufthansa airport bus directly to Heidelberg
(sometimes stopping in Mannheim on the way).
This is a luxury coach located in front of the
meeting point in Terminal 1. This is really the
easiest and most convenient way to get to
Heidelberg from Frankfurt airport and we would
recommend you choose this option.
Depart Frankfurt Airport |
Arrive Heidelberg |
08:00 |
09:15 |
09:00 |
10:15 |
10:00 |
11:15 |
11:00 |
12:15 |
12:00 |
13:15 |
13:00 |
14:15 |
15:00 |
16:15 |
16:00 |
17:15 |
17:00 |
18:15 |
18:00 |
19:15 |
19:00 |
10:15 |
21:00 |
22:15 |
23:00 |
00:15 |
Depart Heidelberg |
Arrive Frankfurt Airport |
06:00 |
07:15 |
07:00 |
08:15 |
08:00 |
09:15 |
09:00 |
10:15 |
10:00 |
11:15 |
11:00 |
12:15 |
13:00 |
14:15 |
14:00 |
15:15 |
15:00 |
16:15 |
16:00 |
17:15 |
17:00 |
18:15 |
20:00 |
21:15 |
Take a
taxi from the airport to Heidelberg. The is the
most expensive option, expect to pay upwards of
€ 120. The journey should take around 60
minutes.
By Train
Germany
has an excellent, very punctual rail
infrastructure. Most of the major train routes
will drop you off at Mannheim where you will
jump onto a regional train (RB) that takes
around 15 minutes to reach Heidelberg. The
Heidelberg main station (Hauptbahnhof) is
located a 10 minute tram ride from the centre of
town.
By Road
Heidelberg is well served by the German autobahn
(motorway/highway) infrastructure. The closest
autobahns to Heidelberg are the A5 and A6. Exit
off these motor ways onto the A656 which will
take you directly into the centre of Heidelberg.
Money
The
currency is Germany is the Euro (€).
Notes and coins: 100 cents make up 1 Euro. Notes
come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500. Money can
be changed at all the banks (and on Sunday at
the train station). If you are the holder of an
EC card or major credit card then you will be
able to withdraw money from the many ATM
machines dotted around Heidelberg.
Language
Learning a bit of German before you arrive will
almost certainly make your stay more enjoyable.
At the very least learn to say hello, please,
thank you and goodbye - it will be appreciated
by the local people.
Having
said that, the majority of the population in
Heidelberg will speak some English, so you will
be able to make yourself understood without
having to speak German. .
Getting
around
Heidelberg is relatively small, with a large
pedestrian only zone and plentiful public
transport. You will probably get around
Heidelberg mostly by walking or on the odd
occasion by taking a reasonably priced tram or a
bus.
...................................
Heidelberg -
General Facts
Business Hours Most banks
are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 1 pm
and 2:30 to 4 pm (on Thursday until 5:30 pm).
Store hours can vary from town to town, but
shops are generally open Monday to Friday from 9
or 10 am to 7 or 8 pm. Saturday hours are
generally from 9 am to 4 pm. Stores are closed
on Sundays except in train stations, petrol
stations and airports.
Currency The Euro (€) is
the official currency.
Currency Converter
http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electricity In most
places: 220 volts AC (50 cycles). A transformer
(in German: "Steckdosenadapter") and a
plug that fits the German socket may be needed
for your appliances. Indian electrics most
propably work for german systems.
EMERGENCY phone numbers:
Police: 110
Fire department: 112
Emergency service: (06221) 1 92 22
Medical stand-by-for emergency
duties
panel doctors: (06221) 1 92 92
private doctors: (01805) 30 45 05
Dental stand-by for emergency
duties (06221) 1 92 92
Emergancy center for toxications
Children and adults: (0761) 1 92
40
Crisis line: (0800) 1 11 01 11
Post
The main post office
business hours at Sophienstraße are: Monday -
Friday: 8 am to 6 pm,
Saturday: 8 am to 1 pm. The post office
business hours at University Square are:
Monday - Friday: 10 am to 6 pm,
Saturday: 10 am to 1 pm.
Time Germany operates on
Central European time (CET), which means that
the country is 6 hours ahead of eastern standard
time (EST) in the United States and 1 hour ahead
of Greenwich mean time (GMT). Daylight saving
time begins in April and ends in September -
there's a slight difference in the dates from
year to year - in August there'll be a 6-hour
difference between U.S. EST and CET.
Tipping If a restaurant
bill has "Bedienung" listed, then it
means a service charge has already been added,
and it is customary to round up at least to the
nearest Euro. If not, add 10 to 15%.
Rest Rooms Women's
toilets are usually marked with "D" for Damen,
and men's toilets with "H" for Herren.
* mentioned guidelines are intend to, but not
necessarily, provide
exact information & the
rules and procedures are subject to change
|