" back

Further tips and help

Here we have collected further tips and information on various topics.

There are many places in Leipzig where you can get help and information.
It costs nothing.
They are called 'advice centers' because such help is often called advice.
We have already mentioned some of them elsewhere on this page.
For example, the advice center for labor law or pregnancy. 

If you need help with a form or need to contact an authority, you should not pay any money for it.
The consultation is confidential, meaning your personal information and stories will remain securely with the organization.
The employees do not share your information with others. 

Some counseling centers are specifically for people who are not from Germany.
A good place to go for the first time and ask questions is the Welcome Center Leipzig.
You don't need an appointment for this.
The employees speak different languages.
There are also translations into many other languages via video.
The address is Otto-Schill-Str. 2.
Here you can see the current opening hours.

There is also general migration advice for people in Leipzig who come from other countries.
There you can ask questions or get help, for example contacting authorities.
For adults aged 27 and over, there is the MBE (Migration Advice for Adult Immigrants).
There are several organizations in Leipzig that offer this: 

Caritas 

https://www.caritas-leipzig.de/hilfeundberatung/migrationundintegration/migrationsberatung/migrationsberatung

German Red Cross 

https://www.drk-leipzig.de/migrationsberatung.html

Mosaic 

https://www.mosaik-leipzig.de/migrationsberatung

Association of binational families and partnerships 

https://binational-leipzig.de/angebote/#2

For people between 12 and 27 there is the JMD (Youth Migration Service).
There are two organizations that offer this: 

International Federation 

https://ib-mitte.de/standort/210635

Naomi 

https://www.naomi-leipzig.de/jmd/jmd-leipzig.html

You can translate websites completely into other languages.
For example with Google Translate:
https://translate.google.com/
You copy the website address into the field on the left.
Then you will get the website address for the other language on the right.

If you want to translate German texts or write something in German, the site DeepL is pretty good:
https://www.deepl.com/translator
The translations are not perfect but will help you understand things better in German.
Or write something yourself in German. 

In Germany there is a law that protects people from discrimination.
This is called the 'General Equal Treatment Act' (AGG).
Here There is a simple explanation for this.

If you feel discriminated against and would like to discuss it with someone, there is the Saxony Anti-Discrimination Office (ADB).
The ADB has an office in Leipzig.
Here you can see how to contact the ADB and what the ADB does.

A specific type of discrimination is antigypsyism.
This is discrimination against Rom*nja and Sinti*zze (Roma and Sinti).
These people can also go to the ADB.
But there is also a place where you can report such discrimination.
This is what the Romano Sumnal organization is doing to help these people: 

The EU Equality Body is an office in Germany that provides information to people from other EU countries.
The website explains a lot about the right of residence for EU citizens in Germany. This is called the right of freedom of movement.
But also on other topics such as social security or labor law.
The site is available in all EU languages.
https://www.eu-gleichbehandlungsstelle.de/eugs-de

These videos explain residence rights and social law for EU citizens and families.
There are subtitles in various languages.

There is an EU service that can help you if you have difficulties with authorities in Germany.
It is called SOLVIT and will work with you and the authorities to find a solution.

If you need legal advice and don't have enough money for a lawyer, you can get it for free.
There are two places in Leipzig where you can get legal advice.
You have to provide proof that you don't have that much money.
For example, a pay slip or notice from the social welfare office/job center.
Tuesdays 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Leipzig District Court, Room 063, Bernhard-Göring-Straße 64, 04275 Leipzig
Fridays 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Leipzig Citizens' Office, Otto-Schill-Straße 2, 04109 Leipzig
You don't need an appointment. You'll receive an initial legal assessment of your situation there.

en_GBEnglish (UK)