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Delay in Issuing ID Cards

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sfhombre
  10/30/2018 07:36 EST

My wife and I have been living in Italy for a month now after entering on a Permesso de Soggiorno visa from Los Angeles. We registered our presence within 8 days and shortly thereafter received notice that an appointment had been scheduled for us to pick up our ID cards.

The problem is that the appointment is five months from now, in February. We have tried through Italian friends to get the appointment moved up, but no success so far.

In the meantime, what can we do about health insurance? We still have our US coverage but it is useless in Italy.

Also, can we buy a car and get insurance? I don’t want to lease for the 5 months because of the expense (plus/minus $700 US/month) – I’d rather buy if possible.

guestuser
  10/30/2018 10:12 EST

Hi.

I assume you meant you entered on a visa and are in the process of obtaining your permesso di soggiorno.

I would double check the reason for that appointment. Usually, the first appointment is to give biographical data and fingerprints, and to submit your photographs. They will then send you an SMS when your permesso di soggiorno is ready.

Where I live, the entire process is taking over ten months. My appointment was scheduled for 5.5 months from the date I submitted my application, and it will be about another 5 months after that before the permesso di soggiorno is actually ready for pickup.

Once you receive the permesso di soggiorno, you can register your residency with the comune and buy into the public health care system if you choose to do so. If you don't have private health insurance, I recommend that you purchase some.

As far as I know, you can't buy a car until you have official residency.

Anyway, definitely check regarding your appointment in February as to whether it is to give biographical data or to pick up the actual permesso di soggiorno.

If you don't mind my asking, in which city/town did you submit your application?

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sfhombre
  10/31/2018 09:53 EST

Jacster

You are correct -- we entered on a visa and are in process of obtaining the permesso. My wife corrected me in that our first visit (which was to Lecco, to answer your question) was to fulfill the “registration” requirement within 8 days of our arrival.

In Lecco we were told to go to our comune post office. There they gave us a large A4 sized envelope with forms inside, told us to fill them out and bring them back along with copies of all the documents we had previously presented to the Italian Consulate in the US, including all bio data from the visa application. We were also told to bring a processing fee, which I believe was about 140 euros each.

When we returned to the post office the clerk took the envelope with completed forms and document copies, then exchanged sent emails with some other office while we waited. Within a couple of minutes the clerk gave us three documents stapled together that she had printed out, one of which indicated our appointment, back in Lecco, 5 months hence. She also told us to bring 2 copies of passport photos to that future appointment. Nothing was said about fingerprints.

And here we are…

Waiting 10 months to be able to buy a car is a problem. Where we live there is neither a taxi service and no Uber type service. We have some access to a vehicle but would greatly prefer to buy a car. Interesting that despite all the reading and research I did before applying for the visa, I never learned that it would take anywhere near 10 months after arrival.

Something just occurred to me. If I remember correctly, we have to get a “renewal” of the permesso after one year. Do you know if that is 1 year after receiving the card, or one year after arrival in Italy?

Great advice about the insurance. That’s very high on the priority list.

guestuser
  10/31/2018 11:25 EST

Hi.

Perhaps the processing time after your appointment will go more quickly than where I am and you won't have to wait another 5 months to get the actual permesso. If you give them a call, or make a visit, maybe they can answer that question for you.

The first year I was here, the processing time was a total of 3 months. The following year, my renewal took 5 months, and my second renewal took 7 months, now it's taking 10+ months. So you can see that these wait times are ever increasing and unless you found something in your research that addressed the current situation, you wouldn't have learned that.

The influx of immigrants has stressed the system and slowed down processing times. I don't think they've added any personnel to address the increase in work load, which is why processing time is taking longer with each passing year.

The first permesso is for one year and will be valid for the exact dates of your visa. That means, if it does take 10 months to get your first permesso, you'll have to turn around and apply for your the renewal as soon as you receive you receive it. That timing issue might be another question for you to ask your local Questura. We get a lot of foreign university students and they often finish their entire academic "year abroad" without ever receiving their permessos. After one has been in Italy past the 3-month mark, travel in the Schengen zone is restricted if one does not have a valid permesso in hand and this has caused a lot of students no end of headaches when they try to fly home for Christmas break.

After the first permesso, you should be able to apply for subsequent permessos valid for two years at a time.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes for you!

worlddan
  10/31/2018 11:34 EST

Sfhombre:
Not sure why the delay in the meeting. I arrived late December 2017 and met with officials mid January. The meeting was held at the local police station. It was a two step process: Complete the form from the post office,, paid for “stamps”. Met with the police, then get finger printed at the police station. I received a Permisso ID card in the spring, so it was about.a two month process. My information was officially entered in the townhall in June.
My Permisso is good until mid December. Went back to the police last week to update and start the process again (married an Italian lady in August this year). New ID will be ready end of December. They provided temporary ID in the meantime.
Contact me via private message if you like. . Perhaps I can offer some guidance.

Umbertomar
  10/31/2018 11:52 EST

My experience was somewhat different.
I applied for my first permesso in 2013 for two years at the suggestion of the questura officer. I think it was about 100 euros more than 1 year.. The permesso was valid for two years and ran from the date of issuance of the permesso. The details were :
Entry on one year visa on March 8, 2013, permesso issued September 20, 2013 , Permesso expired September 19, 2015.
There may be variability depending on province.

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guestuser
  10/31/2018 12:05 EST

Ha! There you go. Everything depends on both where one lives and who one speaks with, not necessarily the rules. ;-)

The process I described is how it works where I live, but I know the Questura in Perugia will not issue permessos that are valid for more than one year, even the renewals. Go figure.

maluza86
  10/31/2018 12:16 EST

True on so many accounts.

Mine is a little different as it is Motivi Familiare, but the process was the same once in country.

My initial timeline at the Questura in Brindisi:
Arrived in Italy 27 Jan 2013
Went to Questura within the 8 days and submitted all paperwork.
One week later had appointment for fingerprinting, photographing and interrogation.
2 weeks later returned and collected PdiS 14 Feb 2014.

However date of validity is from 27 Jan 2014 - 26 Jan 2019.

They used my entry date into Italy as the date on my PdiS. Mine is 5 years because it is Motivi Familiare. I am getting ready to my renewal for a permanent one and will keep everyone informed of the timeline down here in Puglia provincia di Brindisi.
Ciao a tutti.

maluza86
  10/31/2018 12:19 EST

That should be arrived 27 Jan 2014.

worlddan
  10/31/2018 12:27 EST

I agree. All depends where one lives. Fortunately my new wife works for the city and knows just about everyone!

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