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Why asylum applicants in Germany should attend integration courses and what they risk if they fail to do so

All asylum applicants in Germany with good prospects to remain are strongly encouraged to attend integration courses.

African-woman

The people whose deportation has been temporarily suspended, and hold a residence permit in accordance with section 60 a subs. 2 sentence 3 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), as well as holders of a residence permit in accordance with section 25 subs. 5 of the Residence Act, are also encouraged to attend the integration courses.

From 1st January 2017, the new Integration Act (Integrationsgesetz) (of 6 August 2016) requires the people in the above named categories to attend an integration course by the providers of the benefits in accordance with the Asylum-Seekers’ Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz).

If you belong to one of these groups of individuals and are receiving benefits in accordance with the Asylum-Seekers’ Benefits Act, the particular authority which is providing your benefits may call on you to attend a course.

It is extremely important for you to an integration course if you are required by the law to do so. You should not only promptly register for a course but also attend it. This is because your benefits may be reduced if you fail to do so. You are exempt from the costs of the integration course.

After receiving your certificate of eligibility for the integration course (Berechtigungsschein) from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, you can choose an integration course provider.

You can find a provider in your area using the WebGIS search engine.

You can consult the entire range of courses and free places using the KURSNET platform.

It is also possible for you to obtain a list of course providers from the immigration authority or from an immigration advisory service (Migrationsberatungsstelle).

After finding a course provider in your area, please register with them to attend the integration course and hand in your certificate of eligibility.

You will have to sit an assessment test to ascertain your knowledge of German. The course provider will then help you select a suitable course, as well as tell you when the next course is due to begin.