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Since 2016, it was introduced the concept of the German Blocked Account. That tiny concept almost ruined my way back to Germany.
When I was at the embassy with all my paperwork, the embassy secretary told me that I needed the German Blocked Account, I didn’t understand. And not because it was other language, the lady was talking spanish, and I was proving my mexican bank account with the funds.
The thing was that since the German Blocked Account was a new law, they didn’t had on their checklist yet that requirement. So I was totally unaware, and I literally almost cried. The lady recognized it was a new thing and they supported me in that day of my appointment to do the paperwork.
I have to say that the day of my appointment I was in Mexico City (I am from another city from north Mexico, Agua Prieta), by myself, no car, no phone because you are not allowed to enter with your gadgets to the embassy, I had no clue of all the requirements for the blocked account and it was Friday, the embassy doesn’t work on Saturdays and I had my flight back home on Sunday.
I had to nailed it in just half a day.
The embassy secretary asked me to sign one document of the german blocked account, to buy a pre-paid document shipping, to print out some extra documents, and come back to the embassy without further appointment.
So I didn’t hesitate. I asked for a place to print and I went to an Office Max, or kind of similar store. Got a computer with internet. Checked out the documents that Deutsche Bank needed. Filled and print out the documents. Ran back to a DHL post I saw, and they told me they didn’t have that service of prepaid shipping. Or at least the lady didn’t knew. I went to Pakmail and they sold me the prepaid shipping folder. I went back to the Embassy just on time.
The embassy sent the documents to Deutsche Bank, but those were stressful 3 weeks that I had to wait. I eventually knew from classmates that in some cases the bank did not opened the accounts for some people, luckily, I got the approval of the bank and send the notification email to the embassy. I eventually got my visa and arrived on Germany the 19th of October 2016, my 27th birthday.
I will add what the German Federal Foreign Office states.
Opening a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto) for students. With a blocked account, you can provide evidence during the visa application process that you have adequate financial resources.
You can choose yourself where to set up your blocked account. It is important that the following conditions are met:
The blocked account must have sufficient credit in order to cover the costs arising for the duration of your planned stay in Germany, unless other proof of financial support is presented in the visa procedure.
Certain standard rates apply that are based on the rates for German students. From 1 January 2021, the presumed annual requirement that must be paid into the blocked account when applying for a visa amounts to 10,332 euros.
The account may only permit the withdrawal of a certain amount per month (for students currently 861 euros). The blocked account may only be closed with the consent of the blocked account beneficiary.
The blocked account beneficiary is either the mission abroad or, after entering Germany, the competent foreigners authority. A blocking notice therefore only ensures that sufficient funds to cover living expenses are always available.
It does not entitle the blocked account beneficiary to withdraw money from the blocked account.
This German Blocked Account requirement almost stopped me from going again to Germany.
It was a new concept in 2016. But there are new digital services that are offering support with this.
I might say that it would be better those services, than going by your own, as the trouble I passed back then.
The advantages of digital banking are obvious, starting from eliminating al the hustle and paperwork that has to be sent overseas. Therefore, even I haven’t tried them I would recommend to go for a digital banking service.