Getting Legal is Hard Work

Getting a visa in Italy is nearly impossible.  I started the visa process in August 2011 and throughout all of last year Kevin and I went to appointments, filed papers, and thought we were on the right track.  We had a local guy (one of the team investors) helping us out and he always seems so optimistic so we just followed his lead. 

Well, needless to say, I went all of last year without a visa.  And then in July, Kevin got an email saying that my visa had been denied because our house wasn't suitable for two people.  We live on hotel property and have the same address as the hotel, which is unacceptable to them.  But keep in mind we live in a completely modern apartment with 2 bedrooms, a bathroom with both a shower and a tub, and have more space than we need.  So, we started the process all over again. 

At the end of September, my visa status was no clearer than it had been in August 2011 so we decided for me just to come over to Italy and get a "permit to stay" based on me being pregnant.  My friend, Debbie, did it last year and had no problems.  I figured since the team had gone through the process once, I would be fine.  WRONG!!!

The guy that was supposed to be helping us slacked off.  He told us everything was being taken care of, but we found out about 3 weeks after I arrived that he hadn't done a thing.  Thank God for the team GM, his wife, and the head coach.  In the past eight days, we have gotten everything done and I am finally legally here...almost. 

I got my tax number last Thursday (which is apparently something important).  Then, we had our second trip to the police station/immigration (our first one was not productive) on Monday and I applied for and was granted a "permit to stay."  I was fingerprinted and then given a piece of paper to carry in my passport showing I was legally here.  The funny thing is I am only legal until my due date.  Apparently, once this baby exits my body, I have to get the hell out of Italy.  Not really, but I found it odd that they didn't give me a little extra wiggle room in there.  

Permit to Stay

Today, we needed to complete the last step of our process...get my insurance book.  We headed to the hospital and when we were there, the guy making my book pointed out that my "permit to stay" had the wrong date on it.  Initially, I thought he had just noticed that I was only legal until my due date, but nope, that wasn't it.  My "permit to stay" has the wrong year on it!  It says it is only valid until March 14, 2012.  That was 8 months ago!!!

My insurance book.  This book is like gold here.  You have to have it to get treated at the hospital.  

 

Valido sino al: 14/03/2012 (the month and day are opposite of the States).  That is definitely the wrong date. 

The hospital still gave me my insurance book, but now I have to go back to the police station to sort out the date on my "permit to stay." Silly me for thinking that this was going to be easy. 

Busy Little Bee!

I know it has been forever since I last posted on the blog, but things have been hectic since Kevin and I got back to the States.  We had a pretty uneventful travel day and everything went smoothly with passport control at the airport.  Since I had overstayed my 90 days, they questioned me a little longer than I would have liked, but since I had all the paperwork showing we've been going through the visa process since August, they let me go through without any problems. 

I was only able to stay in Pittsburgh for a few days because I had to get back to Springfield quickly.  Luckily, I got to spend some good quality time with Kevin's parents and our niece and nephew.  Since I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to on this visit, I'm trying to find time in the near future to get down there to see them soon.

My rush back to Springfield was due to the fact that my grandfather was going to a nursing home.  I wanted to see him, in his house, one last time before he went.  He has dementia and has progressively gotten worse over the last few years.  My family had to make this decisions since he now requires full-time care.  Luckily, he is really dealing with the transition well.  My mom and I were able to drive down there Friday and we were very happy with his accommodations, nurses, and the care he was receiving.  My mom and my aunt also went down a few days ago and he had already made friends and really seemed happy.  Of course, this makes him being there a lot easier.

Grandpa and I enjoying some time together Friday.  I love this man!  

This Saturday I drove down to St. Louis for my cousin's bachelorette party.  It was such an amazing time and I was so happy to see her and everyone else there.  We attended a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre at the Lemp Mansion.  Then we headed out for a night on the town.  Feeling like garbage the next day was totally worth it. 

The beautiful bachelorette, Steph. 

Sig Kap Girls! 

Yesterday, I got together with the family I will be working for this summer.  Two summers ago I worked with the three kids and I am so happy to be a part of their summer again.  My first day is on Monday and I can't wait. 

Today is Kevin and my first wedding anniversary.  It seems crazy that we've been married a year already.  "Normal" couples would spend this day together and eat their cake, but we don't play by the same rules as "normal" couples.  Due to my hectic schedule and Kevin starting work, we are apart, but we will see each other in a few weeks and celebrate then. 

One year of wedding bliss, many more to go!

    

Wrapping Up Our Time Here In Italy

Kevin got home on Saturday and we've been busy since the minute he walked in the door.  We're trying to plan one last trip before we leave, get everything squared away back home before we get there (insurance, jobs), clean and pack up the apartment, and get all our loose ends tied up here.

One of the first things we needed to figure out was our flights home.  When Kevin came to Italy, the team booked him a return flight for May 3.  But when we booked my flight, we booked me returning on May 17.  Obviously, we realized we would have to change one, depending on how long Kevin ended up working.  Since Kevin went away with the National Team and we really haven't had a chance to travel by ourselves, we decided we would switch his flight to the same day my flight was on.

Yesterday morning, Kevin called US Airways to try to arrange everything and was told that all the flights on May 17 were sold out, but he could fly on the 16th or 18th.  His other option was to fly Lufthansa (a partner of US Airways), but the change fee, along with the difference in fare would be $2600!  The person Kevin was talking to was less than helpful and basically told him these were his only two options.  On that note, Kevin hung up and we started brainstorming. 

1.  We could change my flight to May 3 (which had open seats) and not travel.  Neither of us were fans of this option because part of the reason Kevin works in Europe is so we can travel. 

2.  Kevin could fly out on May 16 and I would just stay the night in Munich and fly out on May 17.   For me, this was not an option because it would require we to go through Passport Control by myself without any proof as to why I was in Italy for 100 days over my allowed time.  Just thinking about it gives me anxiety.

3.  We could change both of our flight to May 16.  Last night, we decided on this option.  Yes, it was going to cost us about $700, but it was really the only option that made sense.

First thing this morning, Kevin called US Airways.  The first thing he did was ask if there were any open seats on my flight on May 17, but nothing had opened up.  Luckily, the guy who Kevin was talking to was actually helpful.  After 40 minutes on the phone, he had found a flight that would require Kevin to have two connections instead of one, but would have us both leaving on May 17 and arriving in Pittsburgh within 2 hours of each other.  Obviously, flying 11 hours home separately isn't what we want to do, but this solution is the most logical.

Instead of dwelling on the 11 hours we'll spend by ourselves on the plane home, we moved onto our next task..planning one last trip.  Due to my visa (or lack thereof) issues, we can only travel by car or train.  We haven't booked anything, but we think we have decided to go to Rome, Sorrento, Naples, Capri, Pompeii, and Florence.  We've been to both Rome and Florence, but don't feel like we've seen everything they have to offer.  And we can't wait to see some new places.  Make sure to check back in the next week or so to read about our trip. 

The Infamous Visa

Here we are 5 months from when we started the visa process and it's still going on. At this point, it is almost a lost cause, but Kevin and I keep plugging away just to prove a point. I've talked to a lot of North American wives who have husbands on various teams in Italy and not one of them has a visa. It is virtually impossible!

Right now we are still applying for my nulla osta, which is a piece of paper that basically verifies that my husband is on a work contract in Italy and that he is responsible for me while I am here. 16 days ago we submitted Kevin's paperwork to verify his address and we were told that someone would be by in 12-14 days to check out our apartment to find out if it is suitable for two people. Let me just say that this is outrageous considering the office is within walking distance to our apartment, but what is even more annoying is that no one ever came by. We got a text message from the team's immigration guy and apparently the office will okay the apartment paperwork if we can get a copy of our landlord's (the hotel owner's) ID card. So basically they wasted 16 days of our time that we could have spent moving on in our visa process.

The fact that the Italian visa process is ridiculous or that the people that work in these offices seem bothered that you ask them to actually work really pisses me off. But something that also bothers me is that when you go into one of these bigger towns, there are slews of African men selling fake Prada purses on the side of the road. Last weekend, I went with some friends to Bolzano and I can honestly say we probably saw 50 vendors (in a rather small area) trying to sell us a wide assortment of things. There is no way in hell that these guys are legal, working men. But if they are, what does that say about the Italian visa process? Women whose husbands are legally working in Italy have no right to a visa. Yet, African men selling fake purses in the streets and harassing people to buy them can stay as long as they like.

source

Don't get me wrong, I get it that these men have to work. But seriously, who is going to buy a Prada purse from a guy who is also selling studded belts, stuffed monkeys, and lighters? No thank you, but I will buy your visa off of you.

2011 Recap

Love & Marriage: After over 11 years of dating, Kevin and I finally tied the knot in May. The day was amazing, although it was a little warm. Looking back, are there things I would change? Absolutely! But then again, nothing turns out perfect and I am completely happy with how everything turned out. I'm still at the stage where I look at our wedding pictures on a weekly basis because I love them so much. I always tell Kevin I could do it all over again (with him, of course) and he is not in agreement. He still thinks we should have went to Vegas!

May 29, 2011

Retirement or Not: In 2010, if you would have asked me what Kevin and I would be doing in 2011, my answer would have sounded a lot like this..."Kevin is going to retire from hockey after this year. Then once the honeymoon is over, we'll start looking for a house and jobs. We are really looking forward to some stability and having a place to call home."

Well, obviously it didn't turn out that way. We had good intentions and had actually started looking at places in Chicago. Then, Kevin got a call a few weeks before the wedding telling him about the job opportunity in Italy. We went back and forth over what to do and ultimately made the decision to pack our bags once again. The way we see it, we have our whole lives to work. We are still young and have nothing tying us down so we might as well do it while we can. Some people think we are crazy and some people envy us. Regardless, we always make the decision based on what we want and we couldn't be happier.

From Goalie Reiter...

To Coach Reiter

Italy: Things definitely didn't start off easy. We had issues (and are still having issues) with my visa. Kevin went over by himself and I followed two months later. Since arriving here, things are great! Our little town is amazing, our apartment is cute, and we are enjoying every minute of our time here. Kevin spends a lot of time at the rink being a coach, but we still manage to do and see a lot. Whether it is going into town for coffee or heading to Innsbruck for the day, we have a blast. I'm also lucky to have another North American wife here with me. It is always nice to have someone who is in the same situation as you.

We have 5 months left here and are looking forward to visitors coming in March. We have also planned some trips for just ourselves in late April/early May when Kevin is done coaching.

The clock tower in Vipiteno

Our apartment

Decisions, decisions

After my mental break down on Tuesday, I found a flight and planned on flying out on Monday. All we were waiting for was the okay from the GM of Kevin's team (who books the flight), but in the meantime the Immigration Officer who Kevin has been working with for my nulla osta (entry clearance) informed Kevin that my paperwork would go through within the next two weeks. So, now I have to decide whether I want to wait for the paperwork or fly on Monday.

If I knew, for sure, my paperwork would go through within two weeks, I would just wait. But as I've learned throughout this process, 'two weeks' rarely means 'two weeks.' Then, you have to factor in weekends and holidays. If my paperwork isn't processed before Christmas, everything will be pushed back until mid-January.

On one hand, I just want to get out of here. I miss my husband (who I haven't seen in over 2 months). I miss my shoes (Kevin took those with him). I miss having my own space. Then on the other hand, it would be nice to be home for Thanksgiving (the first time in 6 years). Plus, I would be able to see "Breaking Dawn: Part 1" (yes, I am a Twi-hard). So what to do, what to do?

Don't cry over spilled milk (or cereal)

I woke up this dreary Tuesday morning, poured myself a bowl of cereal, and then spilled it all over the floor. Usually, something like this wouldn't bother me too much; I'd clean in up and start all over again. But considering my current 'situation', a bowl of spilled cereal sent me over the edge.

When I speak about my 'situation', I am referring to the fact that I've been in visa limbo for 71 days now. My paperwork is sitting in Rome waiting to be approved, but no one can give me an idea of when it will be reviewed. I've been told not to pester or try to hassle them because then they'll just take longer (like that is even possible). And on top of that, it seems like Italy has at least one holiday a week. How can anything get done if the office is hardly ever open?

So, as I was cleaning up the mess I had made, I came to the conclusion that living in my parents' spare bedroom, out of a suitcase, was no longer an option. I repacked my bag for the last time and have been looking for flights all day. If my paperwork goes through before I leave, then perfect. If not, maybe I can fly home once it does get approved and get my visa. But one thing is for certain...I am not going to sit here for another 71 days.

Italy Must-Haves

Yep, I'm still without my visa. Kevin is heading to the Immigration Office on Monday to apply for my nulla osta (authorization to be granted a visa) so hopefully I'll know more in a few days. Today, I got the last of my must-haves before leaving for Italy.

1. Snow Boots; Sorel Torfino- I've never bought snow boots before so I had no idea what to look for. A friend of mine whose husband played in Italy told me to make sure they were waterproof so that was my only prerequisite. Well, that, and they had to be cute. I researched for weeks, read hundreds of reviews, and tried on numerous pairs. I finally made the decision to go with the Sorel Torfino. Luckily for me, I found a pair I loved on Nordstrom.com and since I have smaller feet I ordered the kid's size and saved some money.

2. Puffer Coat; Tommy Hilfiger Hood Belted Down Anorak- The last down coat I owned was a red one from Gap and I'm pretty sure that was back in high school. I knew I wanted a black coat that was long enough to cover my bum, but not past my knees. It also had to have a hood without fur (since the boots have fur, I didn't want to overdo it). I found a couple different options at Macy's and on Overstock.com and finally settled on the Tommy Hilfiger Belted Down since it has some shape to it. I really didn't want to look like I was wearing a garbage bag. And it's perfect!

3. Hair Straightener; T3 SinglePass Compact- When we lived in England, I just used a converter with my straightener, but it wasn't a good staightener so I really didn't care if it got fried. In Italy, Kevin has already managed to fry our Sonicare charger and his electric razor so I'm not taking any chances with my Chi. Finding a dual frequency straightener wasn't easy, but the ladies at Ulta helped me out and suggested I get a T3. I looked at reviews online and found the T3 SinglePass Compact for an amazing price at Target.com and couldn't pass it up. And since it is compact it doesn't take up much space and will be perfect for traveling. I've tried it a few times and I'm impressed. I honestly think it works better than my Chi!

4. Slingbox- Thanks to this amazing invention, I'll be able to watch Jersey Shore and Glee and Kevin can get his hockey fix. I've never used one before, but know people who have and I'm pretty sure this will be my best purchase of the year.

5. Camera; Nikon D3100 Digital SLR- Okay, so I haven't bought this camera YET, but I look at it online everyday and sometimes even visit Best Buy to check it out. I know I could probably get by with my point and shoot camera, but sometimes it starts acting up (like on our honeymoon) and I don't want to miss a thing. I keep fighting with myself on whether or not to get it and I'm 80% sure I probably will, but for now, it is on my 'wish list' not 'must-have list.'

My first post...I'm so excited!

I told myself I wasn't going to post on my blog until I made it over to Italy. But with the way things are going, I might never make it over there. The visa process is never an easy one and we've now learned the hard way on two separate occasions. When we went over to England, we weren't married so we never expected it to be easy. But when Kevin signed in Italy, we thought it would be a breeze since we were finally married and had the papers to prove it. Boy, were we wrong. Kevin has now been over in Italy for three weeks. We've been in contact with the Italian Consulate in Chicago and the Immigration Offices in Bolzano and Rome, but we 'think' we might finally have it figured out. So hopefully, in a few weeks, I can tell you all about our exciting life in Italy. For now, you'll have to listen to the tale of a married unemployed, car-less woman living out of a bag at her parents' house while her husband is in Italy.