YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE..to live in Italy..
Posted 12-12-2008 at 10:05 AM by dolcevitaric
HOW CAN I LIVE IN ITALY?? I am American,53,
retired,married to Filipina,and residing in Philippines.Imagine as you eagerly walk into the Italian Embassy to apply for your Elective Residence Visa,finally get to the barricaded window,and u come face to face with the bully that has haunted u and hated you your entire life(maybe he found out it was u that called the police bcuz he beat his wife,or dog,etc),...and now,....his evil grin shows clearly you are on his turf,and he can make u suffer without reproach. Of course I only knew this bitter old man as Badge#5,and after I asked if he was Italian,he said he was originally from Tehran.
After telling me he already sent me an email saying what I would need(which he definitely did not),he began to display his contempt for me,an American and my Filipina wife,by creating his own 'requirements' such as--You will first have to put all of your money in an Italian Bank,BEFORE get ur Visa. You must PURCHASE a home in Italy,BEFORE u get your Visa,u CANNOT rent an apartment first. You MUST have only pension income,--your savings and 401ks dont count. He continued, "Yes,yes ,EVERYONE wants to live in Calabria" and "your dream will not get u to Italy". After I told him I didnt think he knew enough about the ER Visa(not many here in the Phils,I assumed),...he said,with a smirky smile,...."Could be"..........It was then that I said i wanted to speak with his Superior,an older Italian man who was shaking with rage(who knows what Badge#5 had told him I had said to HIM) and he began a tirade that included prejudicial ,presumptive remarks as he pointed to my very shy,gentle Filipina wife,and said.." We have 5,000 of these Filipinos in my country
illegaly. SHE will have DIFFERENT requirements than YOU". But he also started spewing DIFFERENT requirements than Badge#5,such as ,"Your lodgings contract will have to be a place other than a dirty small room ,where u sleep on a couch." (So I didnt have to BUY a house FIRST,after all)------------- ALL of this time I was swallowing my anger,becuz I was at their mercy,and I needed help to get to Italy,,and THEY are the ONLY Embassy in Philippines!! All I wish to to do is to apply for ER Visa for my wife and I,to live in Italy for a year(I have 250k in savings presently,hopefully thats enough for a year there) and THEN,,IF I decide to TRY and STAY,I will ,like EveryOne else,apply yearly,in Italy,to renew my residency for another year. If anyone knows any remedies for my situation(except illegally staying after a tourist visa expires..
), I am listening.... I will be writing to the Ambassador here in Phils after this writing,....I will share all ahead,Im an open book.... Thanks, Rick and Mildred(who are not in Italy)
retired,married to Filipina,and residing in Philippines.Imagine as you eagerly walk into the Italian Embassy to apply for your Elective Residence Visa,finally get to the barricaded window,and u come face to face with the bully that has haunted u and hated you your entire life(maybe he found out it was u that called the police bcuz he beat his wife,or dog,etc),...and now,....his evil grin shows clearly you are on his turf,and he can make u suffer without reproach. Of course I only knew this bitter old man as Badge#5,and after I asked if he was Italian,he said he was originally from Tehran.
After telling me he already sent me an email saying what I would need(which he definitely did not),he began to display his contempt for me,an American and my Filipina wife,by creating his own 'requirements' such as--You will first have to put all of your money in an Italian Bank,BEFORE get ur Visa. You must PURCHASE a home in Italy,BEFORE u get your Visa,u CANNOT rent an apartment first. You MUST have only pension income,--your savings and 401ks dont count. He continued, "Yes,yes ,EVERYONE wants to live in Calabria" and "your dream will not get u to Italy". After I told him I didnt think he knew enough about the ER Visa(not many here in the Phils,I assumed),...he said,with a smirky smile,...."Could be"..........It was then that I said i wanted to speak with his Superior,an older Italian man who was shaking with rage(who knows what Badge#5 had told him I had said to HIM) and he began a tirade that included prejudicial ,presumptive remarks as he pointed to my very shy,gentle Filipina wife,and said.." We have 5,000 of these Filipinos in my country
illegaly. SHE will have DIFFERENT requirements than YOU". But he also started spewing DIFFERENT requirements than Badge#5,such as ,"Your lodgings contract will have to be a place other than a dirty small room ,where u sleep on a couch." (So I didnt have to BUY a house FIRST,after all)------------- ALL of this time I was swallowing my anger,becuz I was at their mercy,and I needed help to get to Italy,,and THEY are the ONLY Embassy in Philippines!! All I wish to to do is to apply for ER Visa for my wife and I,to live in Italy for a year(I have 250k in savings presently,hopefully thats enough for a year there) and THEN,,IF I decide to TRY and STAY,I will ,like EveryOne else,apply yearly,in Italy,to renew my residency for another year. If anyone knows any remedies for my situation(except illegally staying after a tourist visa expires..
), I am listening.... I will be writing to the Ambassador here in Phils after this writing,....I will share all ahead,Im an open book.... Thanks, Rick and Mildred(who are not in Italy)Total Comments 12
Comments
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I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience with the Italian Authorities in the Phillipines - maybe they just send the rude ones abroad. Here they are almost always smiling and polite - the result, unfortunately is the same - a resounding "NO, sorry! - you need this document......." - Keep trying, persistence will gradually wear them down. I received my health card after months of visits (my Italian wife still doesn't have hers) - trouble was it was sent to my English address, and arrived the same day as a letter here at my Italian address which summoned me to Cecina where they said I couldn't keep it!
With regard to the Filipino comment, yes, there are many here - the country cannot function without them as many are employed as "badante" who look after elderly parents so that the sons and daughters can keep their high-paid jobs. The main concern Italians had about the immigration crackdown was that these people must be allowed to stay.
Good luck - keep us all informed.Posted 12-13-2008 at 03:29 PM by Markymark
- Thanks for the support,MM....From what I have gathered,from official sites as well as real experiences,is that if I request an ER Visa to spend a year in Italy,the most I would have to show in funds/savings/IRAs, would be less
50k usd,which I can show 5 times that.The 'person' with the middle-eastern accent ,with a slimy smile said,"You must have retirement INCOME,..CASH doesnt count. You must put all of your money in an Italian Bank BEFORE u even go to Italy.You must PURCHASE a HOUSE before you can apply for this Visa." I swear I am not making this up. All of those statements are untrue---am I at his mercy? They wont even accept the appl. Didnt even want to look at my paperwork when i first got there. This is more than just a bad experience, this is an outrage,an injustice. I am very creative--I will make things right in the end,.....Thanks agn for the empathy, Rick and MildredPosted 12-13-2008 at 04:54 PM by dolcevitaric 
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Re YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE..to live in Italy..
Well I do not think there is an easy way for an Italian to live in the US.... Actually I think it is much more compliceted for an Italian living in the US than for a US citizen living in Italy.
My personal opinion is that they should have a treaty that will allow free movement like we have now within the EEC.
Anyway I would as a relocation specialist - They can help for a fee and they will guide you through the right steps. I would even consider goint to Italy in vacation for a month or 2 to try to find the right spot for you to live. Many people I know had no problem what so ever however... they went there as tourist, they bought their place and they went and did the documents.Posted 12-13-2008 at 05:07 PM by paolo - Rick, with regard to the money side, it isn't so much savings that is required it's income. If you had an account in Italy that the interest was paid into it would be easier - the Italian bank could then confirm you had sufficient income to support you and your wife.
I agree with Paolo - visit for as long as possible, find where you want to live, and then make enquiries at the local Commune about the residency requirements. If you aren't fluent in Italian (I'm not) do get an interperator - it will make things so much easier and saves on misinterperetation. Again, if you can afford it, employ a reputable company to do it all for you - it will save a load of heartache and time.Posted 12-13-2008 at 05:49 PM by Markymark -
Hello, First off I just want to say . . That its not Italy's fault that your having trouble getting in so the "process" of getting there thats giving ou trouble so your blog title shouldnt be "Your Worst Nightmare to live in Italy" it gives people the wrong impression but thats just my opinion.(that wasnt in like a ride way btw lol) Second um do you have an Italian bank account to begin with ? or an Italian citizenship or family in Italy? Because I think if you tell them your going to be a "Badante" it would be easier, or stay there and keep applying for a residence! Im going to have to make the same decision as you soon but im 21!Posted 12-13-2008 at 11:51 PM by BellaSiciliana - Thanks for all the info/suggestions-- I will give all of the logical,well-researched reasons and experiences that prevent us from using these suggestions to live in Italy.
First,though, I want to say that is not Italy's fault at all that I cant get there(longer than 90 days) Also, I agree that it should be easy to immigrate to US, if someone has enough savings to keep them afloat until they get a job there,or if they have enough cash to live frugally there without working,if they have a more substancial savings,and proof that they WILL get retirement pension in the future as well.
And my blog title should read--"TRYING to move to and live in Italy" THAT is the nightmare,thankyou Bella..
First, I have been to Italy ,I know where I wish to live,Calabria--where I will live the Calabrian way,not the way of SOME ppl,that will spend all they have(keep up with the "Jones"/'I will feel like a movie star') I have been living in the Phil. for almost 2 years now,...no steaks, no BMW. I have researched,and then CONFIRMED the research--I can rent a small very nice place ,not far from the sea,for 400 E per month in Calabria(not Rome)
Second,IF it was an option to come on a tourist visa,and simply apply for residency while Im there,I WOULD BE THERE NOW...! Unless someone can show me some OTHER law that contradicts the one that u must enter on a long term visa(for me ,the Elective Residence was the one that i thought would work for me),..and THEN apply for residency.
Third,I COULD tranfer all of my money to Italy,but that will NOT get me the ER VISA I NEED to enter Italy to apply for residency. You see,what I have learned after much blogging ON SEVERAL sites, AND actually going to the Italian Emb. here(remember my 'Nightmare' Blog?) is that even if i had gone to Italy, put my money in Italian bank, BOUGHT a house there,......they WOULD still deny me an ER VISA to LIVE IN ITALY! So now, not only my plan/dream is denied,but now,.... I will lose my home/deposit,etc. AND will lose thousands exchanging my euros back to dollars(with the new rise in Euro)
The REASON that I will be denied,..FOR ME..here at MY Consulate,....is that have REAL CASH SAVINGS,....not retirement 'income'. My plan is to LIVE in Calabria for a year,maybe two(IF I DECIDE TO STAY,the LOCAL Italian GOV'T. will decide if I have enough FUNDS TO LIVE ANOTHER YEAR IN ITALY--also I will get SS income at 63,Im almost 54 now.) So,in essence, having 250,000k usd is not enough to live in Calabria for one year.....?????
Now,if I have missed something,and there is an expert qualified with official documentation, that says that given MY circumstances,I simply can come to Calabria,with my wife, for one year to live and spend my Euros there,I would be more than appreciative.
By chance,(I have read blogs that some said they were too young for retrmnt income and said they were NOT wealthy) Im sure that someone might actually BE or know someone,in mY circumstances,...that is living there this very minute...
Appreciate all the help
Mille Grazie,Rick and MildredPosted 12-16-2008 at 09:36 AM by dolcevitaric - DolcevitaRic!
Buon Giorno! lol first off i didnt write that response to offend you in anyway , shape or form
I was just saying that it wasnt Italy's fault your having a hard time with your situation lol sorry, im VERY Diffense about Italy, ever since I was a kid! But Buona Fortuna with everything I hope your dream comes true ASAP cus that's my dream too! Buona Giornata~Bella Siciliana~Posted 12-16-2008 at 09:41 PM by BellaSiciliana -
Ciao, dolcevitaric
YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE..to live in Italy..
This title is very misleading. I too first thought that you were living in Italy and it was a nightmare for you. Could you change it per favore. My worst nightmare trying to live in Italy o qual cosa cosi. What a nightmare it is trying to get to live in Italy.
My best and logic advise to you is to go and visit Italy first. Sure I love Italy but that does
not mean you will. I lived in Italy for 2 years and then went back last year and stayed for over a month.Posted 12-17-2008 at 08:57 AM by Villa - No, I will not change it.You read my blog(that is what i want,many readers),to get help from someone who may actually have pertinent help. I ALREADY KNOW ITALY VERY WELL AND KNOW THAT I WANT TO LIVE THERE!! Have u been to Viterbo,Fiesole,Montepertuso,Civita di Bagnoreggio.etc.etc,. IF U HAD READ my blog above,you would know the help and assistance I need ,and would realize that 'visiting Italy" AGAIN,is not what I need. Dont worry about my Title,.....Posted 12-17-2008 at 09:08 AM by dolcevitaric
- Va bene. Ora capisco. Buona fortuna amico.Posted 12-17-2008 at 08:03 PM by Villa
Updated 12-17-2008 at 08:09 PM by Villa - Hi Rick
Here is what I suggest you do so that you can live and work in Italy. First you must leave the Philippines and go back to live in a city in the USA with your wife. Rent an apartment so you have a USA address. Have all your documents contain this new address. Apply to register for new small business in the USA example: (small investment company). Once you have registered this new company make sure your wife is a partner in the company. It does not matter that you are retired you can still own a company. After 3 months of living in the USA, purchase tickets to fly too Lamezia, Calabria. I will have a place for you to live for 30 Euros a day. During your one month stay in Calabria, if you like the area which I know you will. I will have my Italian lawyer and Brokerage firm prepare all the documents required legally for you to stay and live in Calabria. My service charge with legal fees will cost 10,000 Euros. If you are interested send me an email [email]francotarsitano@msn.com[/email] so I can go into more detail and not on Life in Italy’s public forum.
Look forward to hearing from you and if there are others who are in the same position please contact me.
Frank Tarsitano
Broker & Land Developer
Calabria, Italy
[url]www.italysouth.org[/url]Posted 12-18-2008 at 09:52 PM by frank tarsitano - Firstly, Ric and Mildred, might I remind you that residency in a foreign country is not a right. There are as many difficulties for you to live here in Italy as there are for any Italian wishing to live in the USA. In other words, it is difficult for everyone that wishes to live in a foreign country.
You can find the answers to your questions by checking out the US Embassy website, as well as the Italian website dealing with immigration requests and questions.
I would suggest that you be very careful when dealing with people (here or elsewhere) that are able to "help" you for a fee - but it is your choice entirely if you chose to do so. Just remember that your embassy will give you advice for free.
As already stated above, you should re-establish your US residency WITH your wife before making application to live in Italy (or anywhere inside the EU)as well as ensuring that you BOTH hold US passports before making your visa application.
Please - getting cross will achieve you nothing and remember that the value of your Euro deposit is now considerably higher than when you chose to deposit it into an Italian bank - this will give you many more dollars now than you would have gotten earlier. You have made a dollar "profit", in other words.
You could use the time that it will take to gain legal entry into Italy by learning to speak Italian, so it will be a good opportunity for you to make a new life for yourself here a much easier experience for yourself.
If you truly want to live here, take the time to research the requirements of life here first. It is not difficult to find the answers if you spend a little time doing the research - it is up to you.Posted 12-20-2008 at 12:48 PM by LorenzoN
Updated 12-20-2008 at 01:14 PM by LorenzoN
