Maksim, 25 years old. Relocation through the Voluntary Social Year program (FSJ)

2026-05-13 23:13 Success stories

Job before relocation: Economist
German language level: B1
Russian citizenship, visa application submitted from Thailand

First interview one month after starting work with us
The relocation process took 11 months in total
Received a placement at a clinic for people with epilepsy in the city of Kehl (Germany)

Maksim’s main goal was to be closer to his girlfriend Tanya, who was already in Germany at the time. He also wanted to find opportunities for development in a new country with minimal financial investment.

Volunteering became an excellent option because it immediately covers living expenses for a year and helps with adaptation. Just one month later, Maksim began receiving interview invitations, and an offer with good conditions soon followed.

However, at that time there were difficulties booking appointments at the German consulate in Russia. Nobody wanted to wait, deadlines were becoming tight, so we began considering another country for his visa application, comparing all the pros and cons. Thailand became the chosen option, and on February 3 Maksim submitted his visa application there. The program was supposed to start on March 1, and his supervisor was not willing to wait more than two extra days. But everything worked out perfectly, and on February 20 his visa was approved!

Throughout the waiting period, his German supervisor stayed in contact with him, while we handled email communication on his behalf so he would not waste time. For this, we always needed to stay fully aware of his situation without missing any details.

Today, Maksim helps at a clinic for people with epilepsy. He is provided with housing, medical insurance, meals, and monthly payments.

Total funding: € 9,828.

⠀⠀⠀⠀

And most importantly — he was able to reunite with his beloved so they could build a life together in a new country ❤️

⠀

Maksim’s review (author's spelling and punctuation preserved):

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone. It was a very long and difficult journey, but in the end luck was on our side, and everything was completed just in time, one week before the deadline (in total, only 20 days passed from application submission to receiving the visa). In any case, without your help this path would have been even harder, or maybe even impossible. So thank you all!

⠀

Review from his girlfriend Tanya (author's spelling and punctuation preserved):

I also want to thank you for your work, your invaluable help, and your support throughout Max’s relocation process. This stage of our lives was very difficult, full of worries and unexpected situations, but thanks to you it became much easier, calmer, and more confident.

You were with us every step of the way, always available, ready to answer any question, help at any moment, and find solutions even in the most difficult situations. Thank you for not just doing your job, but truly supporting us with care, patience, and a sincere desire to help, calming our hysterics and panic attacks 😅🙈 Your professionalism, responsiveness, and kindness made this complicated process much easier. Thank you so much for being with us during this difficult time 🤗

⠀

If you also want to learn about your chances of receiving an offer in Germany — ask any questions during a free consultation in our messages (chat)!

Get a free consultation