Brokenness

The issue isn't that the US has only 10 vacation days per year, it is only that this "may" be the required minimum*. There are many companies which offer much better packages, and this is part of the idea of a market economy-that competition will drive the options. My company offers 25 vacation days a year, 20+ paid sick days, 20+ paid administrative days and six weeks 100% paid parental bonding leave (for the father or partner) and since I live in California, I am also able to take an additional six weeks at 55% salary.
In addition, we have around eight paid holiday's per year. And every six years we get an additional six weeks of vacation.
This was much better than the conditions that I had when I worked in Germany. I do know that what my company offers is not standard, nor does everyone have the opportunity to move to a location which offers better employee benefits. However, my advice would be to look into what other companies in your area offer for benefits and be open on where you want to work.
*I do not even know if this is a required minimum.

Hi,
My wife is going through this process right now. She applied for and received the Buibehalthungsgenehmigung. It is a bit simpler that it seems. From my understanding, the German government wants you to full fill three key requests; and if you fulfill these requests-you will usually be approved. Zweipasses gives many examples and should be used as a key resource.
In short, you have to demonstrated that you have sufficient ties to Germany: by speaking the language, having friends and family in Germany, knowledge about the German culture, bank accounts in Germany, going to school in Germany-the point here is that you have a general tie to Germany and not were born of German parents and did not really live in Germany.
The second point is to demonstrate you will be at a disadvantage for not having a German passport. Can you visit your ailing parents at any time? Will you have a larger inheritance tax if your parents pass if you are a foreigner?
The third point is what is the disadvantage for not having a US citizenship. This could be difficulty of leaving for more than six months at a time and maintaining a family in the US. Looking for a job which requires a US citizenship.
If you fulfill these three requirements, they usually will approve your application> the only caveat is that you have only one chance...and all three points have to be satisfied.

I am also a September filer. Looking at the dates of approval, it seems that for the last two weeks the CSC has stopped processing any cases. I have called the number provided and they gave a generic statement that they are still processing May 2014 I-751s.
I assume that California has received the transfers from the other service centers and have put California filers on hiatus.