Article 116 is a German law that restores German citizenship to certain people and their descendants who had their German citizenship stripped during World War II. The law has undergone revisions over the past few years to expand the categories of descendants who are eligible; previously, for example, the law did not allow people born to a German mother and non-German father to obtain/regain citizenship, but that was changed in 2021.
For people trying to obtain German citizenship via Article 116, the road can be confusing, and working with a lawyer who specialized in this process is essential. Something else that is, at least, helpful to the extreme is when that lawyer has in-country associates, offices, or contacts who monitor the application process from Germany.
Better Understanding of How the German Government Is Approaching Applications
An in-country associate, be it someone working in a sister office or someone the lawyer here has contracted with, usually has a front-row seat for any real-world changes to how the government is approaching applications. The associate can warn the lawyer here if the immigration authorities there seem to be getting stricter about approvals, or if the application process is slowing down due to national shutdowns due to the pandemic. That helps the lawyer plan better here.
Someone on the Ground in Case of a Problem
Sometimes even the best applications go astray, and someone in-country is better positioned (literally) to figure out how to address those problems. The associate doesn't have to worry about getting time zones right before calling, and they can handle issues in-person if needed, which can be faster than waiting for offices to open. Sometimes even email attachments that have to fly back and forth between countries can take too long when you factor in how long it might take to print and then re-scan forms. Language barriers are also a lot easier to avoid, of course.
In-Country Eyes on Applications
As applications move through the review and approvals process, applicants can get understandably nervous. Knowing that someone associated with your lawyer is actually in Germany and able to keep an eye on the process and help monitor applications from your specific lawyer's office is reassuring – you know the application isn't lost in a void.
When looking for an Article 116 lawyer, ask if they have a sister office in Germany or if they have associates there who function as your representative in the country. While that doesn't guarantee your application will be approved, it will certainly make the application process much easier.
