Does the 2-year rule (§ 9 BeschV / Open Work Visa) also apply to cases from the Western Balkans?

In our consulting practice at VISAGUARD, we are frequently asked whether the preferential treatment under Section 9 of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV) also applies to nationals of the Western Balkan states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia) . Those who have already been employed in Germany and subject to social security contributions for two years normally no longer require the approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) to extend…