I finally picked up my permesso di soggiorno on Friday! This time it only took 3 and a half hours and a bit of ridiculous shuffling about. I arrived around 7am and the line was only halfway down the block. Promising! Then we were let in and given numbers around 7:30. We all filed into the room with all of the sportelli and saw that nothing was open. Then a giant lady announced to us that at 8:15 we would need to get new numbers, based on the order of numbers we already had.
The numbers were called out in blocks of 10, with lots of shouting from the lady to stand back and clear pathways, and then some insults shouted to those who didn’t comply. They started at 298, and since I was 357, I didn’t have a terrible wait. Then I went out of the room with the others and got in another line. At the end of that line an officer took my paper requiring me to pick up the permesso on that date, and told me to stand with a group against the wall. Another lady officer then yelled out last names and when the people went forward, they were given another number.
My number was F834, and the F’s started at 800. When I was called, Cazz and I went forward and I received my beautiful permesso. The expiration date is the 9th of June. Cazz asked some questions about converting the permesso for motives of study to subordinate work. He was told that I needed to go to the Prefettura and the Sportello Unico to find out. He then asked about extending the permesso for motive of study and was told to go to the post office to get information.
I went to the post office this morning and was told that in order to renew the permesso for motive of study, I would need to return to the States to get a new visa (my visa expires 16 of May). Now, I’ve also heard that once you have the visa to get in the country, the only thing you need to do is renew the permesso with a letter of acceptance and payment from the school, and a residence address. So now I am once again flummoxed by the miles and miles of red tape and misinformation. Asking questions does not necessarily get answers but often, fairy tales. Interesting and complex stories that have nothing to do with reality, but more to do with the mood of the storyteller.
I am asked again and again if it is all worth it. Is staying in Italy that important? There are many answers I don’t have regarding what it takes to stay here. But the one answer I know for sure and never hesitate to give is “yes. It’s worth it”. I would jump through hoops of fire and ice to stay. And who knows, I may have to.
9 Comments
“Interesting and complex stories that have nothing to do with reality, but more to do with the mood of the storyteller.” ~ I die. HiLARity! …and who, gentle sir, is questioning the worth?! PaSHAW!
March 30, 2009 at 11:49 amI have had at least 5 people tell me to give up or ask why I’m still going through this. And yet, I continue fighting the good fight…
March 30, 2009 at 12:04 pmI think you are guaranteed to always get at least three different answers when it comes to asking questions to bureaucrats in Italy. I’m sure it will work out – it’s something you want with all your heart, so how can it not?
March 30, 2009 at 1:18 pmIsn’t that the truth! I have to respect the creativity of an answer that is not necessarily known but delivered with something like the full force of the Vatican behind it.
March 30, 2009 at 1:38 pmWow, you are having quite the adventure! I really hope it all works out for you. I read stories like yours and I’m so glad that I was able to get my dual citizenship and therefore don’t have to worry about a visa, permesso di soggiorno, etc.
P.S. I completely understand about it all being worth it. I waited over a year to get my citizenship and when I finally got it, it was so worth it.
March 30, 2009 at 5:25 pmThis comment has been removed by the author.
March 30, 2009 at 6:14 pmHA! this all sounds familiar! I went through the same cavolate with the NY Italian consulate in order to get dual citizenship. Getting my nonni documents from Italy was far from the hard part as I went there myself to get it in 2005. But what was nerve racking was the NY consulate who gave me misinformation as to what was needed. More specifically, each visit they would tell me something was missing when in the previous one I had been told I was all set. ie: I was originally told that all I needed to translate was my birth certificate which I did. Then on my 2nd visit I was told I needed to translate also my Father’s certificate as well. It took me a little over a year in appointment times but 3 years altogether to get the right information/documents. Once everything is all set with them however then they process your documents right away for which I got the confirmation letter a month later. I am also happy to not have to deal with PDS, but I’m sure there will be other hurdles. Lindsay, your optimism is encouraging! Barcolli ma non molli!
March 30, 2009 at 8:11 pmI think it takes gumption to do what you do. By the way, which program are you on and how did you get there? What did you leave behind?
April 20, 2009 at 2:24 amI found you via expats in italy – great site.
Hmmm… initially, they sent me back for a new visa, too.
When I studied in Siena, I also needed to extend my visa to continue to study Italian literature at the University of Padua, by Venice.
Both the University of California AND Italy told me to return to San Francisco to renew my visa… but I was changing academic programs to a new city.
Christmas was coming, so I was flying back to San Francisco anyway, and didn’t mind…
Fairly quickly, they issued me the new visa but, to my surprise, also told me it was overkill to get it issued again, and started to give me instructions on *what I should have done*…
I smiled. Took my visa. And happily flew back to Padua with my first permit and second visa on hand. Knowing Italy, I didn’t want to take any chances. This was 5 years before Rome, mind you.
Have you Emailed the Italian consulate who issued the initial visa? I would. In Italian. Then print the embassy’s instructions. 🙂
April 22, 2009 at 1:41 am