Official Expert Answer
Important: Take care of it early — ideally 2–3 months before expiry, because appointments at the immigration office often take a long time. Procedure:
• Apply for an extension appointment in good time (often online). If the appointment is only after expiry, timely application generally secures your legal residence (Fiktionsbescheinigung).
• Bring proof that your recognition procedure is still ongoing (e.g., confirmation of receipt, Defizitbescheid, planned examination), plus proof of financing, health insurance, and registration certificate.
• The §16d visa is intended for recognition and can be extended as long as you are demonstrably active in the procedure.
Don't wait until just before expiry. As soon as you have the appointment and prove that the procedure is continuing, the extension is usually unproblematic.
• Apply for an extension appointment in good time (often online). If the appointment is only after expiry, timely application generally secures your legal residence (Fiktionsbescheinigung).
• Bring proof that your recognition procedure is still ongoing (e.g., confirmation of receipt, Defizitbescheid, planned examination), plus proof of financing, health insurance, and registration certificate.
• The §16d visa is intended for recognition and can be extended as long as you are demonstrably active in the procedure.
Don't wait until just before expiry. As soon as you have the appointment and prove that the procedure is continuing, the extension is usually unproblematic.