2519 Need advice, moving to Italy

Our first question is how difficult will it be to obtain a Visa. We are planning on retiring to Italy the beginning of 2007. We have been told if you have enough cash it is simple enough to get a Visa. How much is enough?
Here is our plan, advice and suggestions welcomed and needed!
Liquidate all of our Southern California properties this year. Sell everything, cars, furnishings, pack up dogs and fly to Itlay.(we are planning at least one or two trips before then and we were there for two weeks in October.) We will have a prearranged rental unless we find the perfect home in the perfect region to buy before then. Travel explore purchase a house, fully restored and live life. We have already begun to learn Italian. One of our adult children is planning on coming as well and from the looks of it the easiest way for them would be to enter as a student or could we do a family Visa thing.
In my first introduction to Italian bureaucracy, I can't seem to get our type of information off the website, have made numerous calls to the consulate but no luck yet reaching a live body.
So.... How difficult will it be for us to get a Visa and when should we begin the process and are we going down the right track with our plans. We are only one week into this plan so i am a real neophyte in this area and I NEED YOUR HELP!
Thanks,
Jane

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/31/2006 - 17:31

Dear Jane, do not worry too much! Italian Visa is not really to compare to a USA one! Visa is very simple to obtain: you go to a QUESTURA (police headquarter) of any city and ask for it. They will give you some forms to fill and with you passport is all what you need!
Regarding your future Home consider seriously the nicest region of Italy (I'm living there but I'm originally Swiss...that's why I'm pretty confident with VISA...): Tuscany.

The VISA name here is called: Permesso di Soggiorno.
Hope I helped you a bit!
Have a wonderful experience in this beautiful country.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/31/2006 - 19:33

Welcome to the forum jane2ron! :)

I would recommend you take a look at Cristina's website (she is a member of this forum, is originally from from the bay area, and is now living with her family in Italy) as she has some very useful technical information regarding the actual nuts and bolts of moving to Italy from the US. Her website is:
[url]http://www.expatsinitaly.com[/url]

As far as other issues go, and Italy in general, The Italy Magazine Forum is loaded with excellent information on just about any aspect of living in Italy. Spend some time researching all the different threads here by using the search button on the top in the dark green area. You can learn so much from this bright and interesting group.

Good luck with your plans, we look forward to reading your future posts.

John and Dee

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/01/2006 - 01:39

[QUOTE=Daniel]The VISA name here is called: Permesso di Soggiorno.[/QUOTE] For an American coming to Italy they will first need a visa which is what gets you into Italy and allows you to apply for a permesso di soggiorno. The two are not the same.

Jane, as John and Dee wrote, I have articles on how to do this on my site. Basically you will have to produce proof that you can sustain yourself, proof of health insurance, proof of housing (new requirement, it must be a long term rental or a purchased property), FBI no arrest records as well as some other minor things they may ask for. As for how much money is enough, well it depends on the consulate. They do want to see that ou have a monthly income that is not from work but it can be from a retirement fund or other dividends.

Read the articles on my site (click on the BEfore You Go button) and I am sure you will find the answers you need.