I am in the process of trying to get my permesso di soggiorno or permit to stay. This little document allows me to work part-time. I was offered a job, but I need to have this permit in order to be allowed to work in this country. So, I did as I was supposed to… I applied for this permit a few days after arriving. The receipt, I was led to understand, would function as the permit until I could actually get the permit. So I took a copy to this place of work and waited for the phone call to arrange a schedule. I got a phone call, but it wasn’t quite what I expected. I was told that I wouldn’t be able to work without the actual permesso. This same day, I got a letter stating that my appointment for identification purposes and to actually get the document is in July 2009. Which is interesting, considering my visa expires before this date. So I don’t have an appointment to get my permit to stay until I am supposed to leave the country. Excellent. So now I am left jobless and a few steps away from broke.
So now I must go to the Questura, the local police department to try to talk to someone about this unfortunate delay. And the Questura is notoriously difficult to navigate. There are phone numbers that no one ever answers, websites and automated machines that lead the user nowhere, without actually imparting any useful information. There are different divisions for different areas, one being the request for the permit which is open one hour a day in the early hours, and there is a division for those who want the permit interview on a different day. I am not sure which one to go to, since it is never made clear.
All in all, I will be trying to get somewhere today with this process while working at buoying up my spirits in the dark, rainy winter atmosphere. So, not all peaches and rainbows here, but I’m doing my best to keep pushing forward. A few days left until Christmas, which usually would provide something to look forward to, but since I will be spending the holiday occupying an empty apartment which has been abandoned by roommates with families, I am not entirely excited. I will probably go to V’s for the actual evening, and other than that, perhaps I will spend several hours talking myself out of that second bottle of wine alone, my own personal heating system, since our heater is once again on the fritz. Looking forward to the beginning of the new year, in any case.
3 Comments
ugh, is there anything worse than the bureaucracy in Italy? I know how you feel. I was once steps away from broke in Italy too and on my worst day, my cute neighbor Antonio bought me a cappuccino. So, I hope this sort of light will shine on you and your cloud has a silver lining.
I love you and miss you! I wish you were HERE for Christmas. Buon Natale!
December 16, 2008 at 8:47 amwho should I PUNCH?
December 16, 2008 at 10:04 amActually, the Visa itself has little bearing on how long you can stay in Italy. The only thing the Visa technically does is get you into the country. The permesso di soggiorno is what lets you stay. And if your appointment is in July, stay until then. I think your employer could be mistaken, and I really hope you are able to resolve things. Keep us posted and be sure to visit expattalk.com the forum for expatsinitaly, as perhaps there are others who have been in your situation who might be able to help.
Suerte! (That’s Spanish for ‘in bocca al lupo!’)
December 16, 2008 at 12:23 pm