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VISA for Temporary Residence: moving goal posts

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p01ndexter
  6/27/2019 13:30 EST

My partner and I are in the midst of obtaining a VISA but it seems the government is moving the goal posts for health insurance and income qualifications.

Prior to filing our initial papers:

- We read widely that any insurance meeting minimum EU standards was acceptable. At our consulate appointment we were told Portugal-ONLY insurance is now acceptable, but we read that the only requirement is that the insurance (e.g., travel) binder specifically mention it covers us in Portugal (which ours does). Is this correct?

- We read that only had one had only show adequate (now 1070 Euros/month) income to qualify. At our consulate appointment, in San Francisco (thy seem to have by far the most Special Requiements, as per https://www.expatexchange.com/ctryguide/4216/92/Portugal/United-States-Citizens-Moving-to-Portugal-Demystifying-the-Paper-Trail) we were told that in addition we must (not sure individually or jointly) open a bank account in Portugal and deposit 3000 Euros acceptable. This is even though we showed documented Portuguese resident friends acting as lodging guarantors.

We don't have NIF numbers, something one normally obstains once in-country, in order to satisfy both requirements. There are services (especially lawyers who will help with this) but I've read POAs (Power of Attorney documents) require a NIF :) and physical presence before the service to notarize the documents (a Catch-22).

The SF consulate officer told us to courier our already examined VISA package back to their office, once we could show we had satisfied the two identified deficiencies, so they they forward them for processing.

As an alternative, is it practical for us to enter Portugal as tourists, get the NIF, get new health insurance (if required), open the bank account and transfer the required funds and then courier our passports and applications to San Francisco? Our thought is to have the approved VISAs returned to us while still staying as tourists then leave Portugal (perhaps to Spain or Switzerland) and enter Portugal using the VISAs.

Advice appreciated.

craigandmicki
  6/28/2019 09:55 EST

You can not be required to have a bank account in PT. The article here "US Citizens Moving to Portugal" warns about this request and suggests how to resolve it.

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Luned
  7/1/2019 16:37 EST

I just obtained my visa through the SF consulate. They accepted my traveler's insurance that listed Portugal as my destination in the contract.

I had an NIF number, which I obtained through a recommendation made on this site.

They kept asking me to show proof of more income, even though I more than met minimum requirements, but in the end I got my visa anyway.

I did not have a Portuguese bank account, but I put into my packet instructions from my bank on how to make wire transfers, and in my cover letter I explained that I would obtain money this way.

Hope this helps.

Luned
  7/1/2019 16:43 EST

Along with the instructions for wire transfers, I included three recent bank statements, all of which showed I had $3,000+ in the bank, and proof of my retirement income as well.

p01ndexter
  7/11/2019 13:17 EST

Yes, this was helpful and encouraging.

How long did it take from your interview until you obtained your VISA? Was VFS involved?

We've already had our interview and only have the bank requirement to cure. Very encouraged that you were able to push through via your cover letter. We'll immediately a try.

Did they hold your passport during processing? I ask because I often and need my passport on short notice.

Fredonia
  7/12/2019 16:02 EST

Is there an actual required monthly income that SF is requiring now, or is it sort of vague? thanks.

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Portugal Residency Advisors is a full-service consulting firm dedicated to providing personalized services to individuals and families seeking to relocate to Portugal. With a team of experienced professionals and strategic partnerships, we are well-positioned to assist clients with all aspects of the relocation process.
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Fredonia
  7/12/2019 16:13 EST

also, to Craig and Micki - where is this article located on the site? an IRL would be helpful. (please don't get snippy, I did try to find it). ;)

Fredonia
  7/12/2019 16:28 EST

url duh

vernanjohn
  7/13/2019 08:45 EST

We had our SF/VFS appointment on 05 july. VFS didn't` keep our passports, only affixed a sticker to the back and said the consulate would notify us when our visas were ready and to send them via courier. She also told us if our visa wasn't ready before our target date of oct 1, we could just travel to PT on a tourist visa and receive our d1 visa in PT at an SEF office. Hope this helps.

craigandmicki
  7/13/2019 08:59 EST

To verandjohn's post about their VFS meeting: We can't imagine you'd have any problem getting processed and the visa inserted in your passports before 1 October. Coming here on a tourist visa is an option yet the VFS agent doesn't understand the complication--going to SEF to get that visa is still more complicated than sending your passports to VFS from here and having them returned to you via VFS, as they sometimes will, or thru a friend/family member in the US who then forwards them to you. SEF in Portugal is so backed up, so often harried and they will not appreciate having someone at VFS 'advise' them what they should do.

craigandmicki
  7/13/2019 09:11 EST

to Fredonia's question about proof of financial means: This is one requirement set by Portugal and all consuls / VFS will honor it. The financial means test requires not income but assets and currently states:
“Sufficient” means that you have funds equaling about €6,960 euros per adult if applying individually. If you apply as a family, the proof of funds is reduced to €3,480 euros for the second and any additional adults and €2,088 for children under the age of 18. These assets or funds are per calendar year, so they need to be recurring or should be a higher amount initially; however, there is no data suggesting a firm figure, such as twice as much, if your assets aren’t recurring. These funds can be sourced from any combination of investments, income and savings and must be accessible to you from Portugal. Some people have already opened Portuguese bank accounts during a reconnaissance visit. Applicants who opened a bank account in Portugal during a prior scouting trip will include statements from that account in their proof of financial means.

What counts toward your proof of financial means / sufficient funds is any combination of the following:
? Bank statements, which must be for the most recent three months and show the name and address of the account owner(s). Applicants with joint accounts may both use the same account statements but both names must appear on the statements
? Traveler's checks
? Cash
? Letter of employment showing income
? International credit card showing credit limit
? Investment statements
? Income from property or non-property assets or from intellectual property
? A company pension certificate, pension check statement or notarized letter confirming a pension from the responsible authority
? A Social Security benefits letter
? For self-employed people, tax returns from the previous fiscal year or proof of previous economic activity and income from the previous fiscal year

Portugal Residency AdvisorsPortugal Residency Advisors
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Portugal Residency Advisors is a full-service consulting firm dedicated to providing personalized services to individuals and families seeking to relocate to Portugal. With a team of experienced professionals and strategic partnerships, we are well-positioned to assist clients with all aspects of the relocation process.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Portugal Residency AdvisorsPortugal Residency Advisors

Portugal Residency Advisors is a full-service consulting firm dedicated to providing personalized services to individuals and families seeking to relocate to Portugal. With a team of experienced professionals and strategic partnerships, we are well-positioned to assist clients with all aspects of the relocation process.
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

vernanjohn
  7/13/2019 09:24 EST

craigandmicki: thanks for expanding on my comments about
SF/VFS. I'm relaying what I was told by VFS. A further complication though is we expect to be closing on the sale of our home sometime in september and our address
situation may become somewhat fluid at that point(traveling to see relatives and friends, etc.) They also told us the consulate has received a large amount of visa applications and wait times have lengthened. So I hope you can see that having options is a good thing. I do have a relative in driving distance of SF so that suggestion may be an option also.thanks

vernanjohn
  7/13/2019 10:05 EST

So... to expand on my point, since we have a definite date for travel booked and paid,and we don't have a date we will receive our visa, our options are in order of preference:
plan A: send our passports to SF and returned by courier at home. plan B: have a relative pick them up in SF and courier them to wherever we are before leaving the U.S. plan C: travel to PT and pick them up at SEF. All seem to be valid options if the need arises

Fredonia
  7/13/2019 12:18 EST

This site is a goldmine of good info. If I understand the process, you need to go to the VFS website (which is not exactly the best organized and helpful website but oh well), and there you will find a link for the application (which is actually on the Portuguese govt. website) and fill out the form. I assume there is an option to print it out.
Then take this completed form along with any other documents required to an appointment at VFS. Is this correct?
I am also assuming that you need to get your NIF no., Guarantor, and lease for 6 mos. lined up before you fill out the form and contact VFS for the appointment. Am I on the right track? Thanks.

Fredonia
  7/13/2019 12:48 EST

Oh I see. Once you are directed to the VFS site which is for the UK, you need to click on the icon in the upper right for the USA.
Then, do not click on the Know Your Visa type button (that will take you to the Portuguese govt site).
Instead choose National Visa under the application forms section, and it will come up as a PDF.
Or --- do you have to fill out both applications? One for the short term visa and one for the residency visa?
Confused again, I'm afraid.

Lucaluca
  7/13/2019 13:14 EST

By travelers insurance do you mean medical insurance ? Thanks

Fredonia
  7/13/2019 18:00 EST

ok, so apparently you print out just the one on the drop down menu and fill it out. Progress!

Another question - should the duration of the stay on this form be for four months? no. 25, Empregador e endereço and
no. 30 Data prevista de partida do espaço Schengen
even though you plan on staying for a year?

If anyone has successfully filled out this form please feel free to comment. I am wondering if you are allowed to update it at VFS, or if they will reject it for errors.

thanks

Fredonia
  7/13/2019 18:00 EST

ok, so apparently you print out just the one on the drop down menu and fill it out. Progress!

Another question - should the duration of the stay on this form be for four months? no. 25, Empregador e endereço and
no. 30 Data prevista de partida do espaço Schengen
even though you plan on staying for a year?

If anyone has successfully filled out this form please feel free to comment. I am wondering if you are allowed to update it at VFS, or if they will reject it for errors.

thanks

dancebert
  7/14/2019 02:22 EST

I applied at an embassy that used the Schengen visa form, not VFS. Visa valid duration is 120 days. To stay past that you need either a Temporary Residence Permit, or an appointment for one. I put 120 days on the form for 2 reasons. No matter how big a number used, the visa valid duration is 120 days. Also, to use a longer duration could be seen as a combination of entitled and presumptuous while requesting permission to be a guest in the country.

Fredonia
  7/14/2019 20:43 EST

thank you, that's what I"m going to put down.

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