My landlady hates it that I am considered an “immigrant” the same as the Africans and Bangladeshis and other huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Every time I’m in her car with her, she points them out. “Look,” She says, gesturing toward the young African guys pedaling past stalled traffic. “They are given bikes, cell phones, clothing, housing… and you, you have to pay
Read MoreVisa & Permesso
Your Residency and Exiting Italy
Does it affect your Italian residency to leave Italy for a period of time? And do you need to know how to re-enter the US with a Pet? Yes, it can affect your Italian residency to go back to your country of origin for a period of time. The permesso needs to be renewed yearly for a period of five years at which time you can request permanent residency. However, there's an
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Post #5 getting the Carta d’Identità
How to get your Italian Carta d'Identità. Do you know where and when to go to apply for residency after getting the permesso? I was told conflicting things by various offices. But I got it sorted. And I've got the scoop for you. In Post #3 I talked about going to the Anagrafe office (Vital Statistics Bureau) to apply for residency after getting
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Post #4 getting into the health care system
Italian Residency and the health care system Do you have your Italian residency yet? What to do if your residency certificate doesn't come in the mail? Where are you on the path of your dream of living in Italy? Have you got your Italian residency yet? If you read my first post about getting the certificate of residency, you know that you have to wait 45 days
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Post #3 What to do after receiving the Permesso
The Road to Italian Citizenship is Long It is long even when you have Italian grandparents, and when you don't have that, or EU citizenship, the road is ten-years long. I'm five months into my ten-year process and here's how it's stacking up: I received my coveted permesso di soggiorno (permit to stay) in June about a month after I applied.
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Post #2 What happens at the Permesso appointment
What will happen at your Permesso di Soggiorno Appointment? My process and what you can learn from it: Most expats get nervous about their permesso di soggiorno appointment at the questura (police office). But, because my paper work had been done by INAC, I was confident. What could go wrong? But then on an expat forum I was told to "have a thick skin" and
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Post #1 Preparing for the Permesso
How to get a "Permit to Stay" in Italy For non EU citizens: You need a visa first. You apply for that at the Italian Consulate in your jurisdiction in your home country. See the website for the consulate in your jurisdiction for more info.Upon arrival in Italy apply for a permit to stay. (permesso di soggiorno)Within 20 days of receiving the permit, go to the Anagrafe
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The Cost of Moving to Italy
Moving Abroad (again) A year and nine months ago I moved from Qatar back to the United States. I came back exhausted. I was exhausted from the dust storms, the lack of fresh air and the tension of going to battle on Qatar's roads, and the rigidity of a culture I wasn't use to. I could have used years of being back home. It's so easy in Santa Cruz. Living at my
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