The Visa Process Begins…

Back home from our research trip of 2 and a half weeks in Portugal, we are more determined than ever to make the move. We may stay 3 months, 3 years, or much longer. We may get homesick and come back to the US. Or, we may decide to try another country after awhile. But, for now, our goal is to live in Portugal starting sometime in early January 2019. Our apartment lease here is up on the 4th of January and we start paying rent in Portugal on the 1st of January. The ideal day to be on a plane would be the 7th of January. That’s going to take a lot of luck and organization.

The first step in the process is to get the Portuguese consulate in Washington, D.C. to grant us a 4-month Visa. After we arrive on that Visa, we apply for a 1-year Visa. That can be followed by a 2-year, another 2-year, and then either a 5-year or permanent Visa (if we can pass the language test.)

But, first-things-first, and the most difficult step is getting that first 4-month Visa. We have spent months doing online research, monitoring various ExPat Facebook groups, and learning as much as we can about the process. The consensus is that the rules are constantly changing but that we are fortunate to be assigned to the DC consulate (based on where you live) as they have a reputation of being the most efficient and reasonable. Those assigned to the San Francisco consulate seem to have it the toughest.

I acquired the list of required documents from the consulate weeks ago and have been assembling what I could. We got fingerprinted and had an FBI background check run on each of us. Those reports then had to be sent to the Department of State in DC to be Apostilled (like notarized, but stricter) with mail tracking both directions. Done. We completed the Visa application form and had it notarized. We did the same with a criminal form for Portugal and 3 copies each of our passport pages (2 are for later use.) We each had to write a brief letter of intent explaining why we wanted to live there and how we were going to support ourselves. We had to print passport-size photos of each of us. We have to print our social security statements, plus bank and investment account statements as proof of the ability to support ourselves. We had to print copies of our marriage certificate. We had to secure the long-term lease in Portugal, get it formalized, checked by our attorney, and tentatively approved by the consulate plus pay our deposit. To do a lease, we needed to get our NIF numbers (like a tax number) and open a bank account in Portugal while we were there. Now, we are down to just needing a private health insurance policy in Portugal and a certificate to prove it is in place.  That’s the last piece. Then we can mail all of it in together in 2 separate, perfectly organized, tidy packets (with no staples) to the consulate to review. They then send it on to Portugal for final approval.  Reports vary, but we think that process will take about 6-8 weeks. When they say we are approved, we mail them our actual passport to have the visas inserted; express mail both ways with tracking. Once we have our passports back, we can move. 

Timing is critical. The FBI report can’t be more than 3 months old. You can’t send your documents into the consulate too far in advance but have to send it all soon enough to get approval before you want to move. Once you receive your Visa, you need to get to Portugal quickly and schedule the appointment for the 1-year Visa which can be several months out depending on where you have to apply and their back-log. And of course, it is scary to buy non-refundable, one-way plane tickets until you have your Visa in your hands.

We are anxiously waiting for the insurance certificate and hoping the company and type of policy we chose to use will be acceptable to the consulate. There are so many conflicting opinions. We have submitted everything they need to give us insurance but today, Friday, is a major holiday in Portugal so no one is working. And, Monday is Columbus Day here so no one will be working then and there will be no mail. 

There is always the possibility that pieces of what we send to the consulate could be rejected, or they could ask for additional documents, and delay the process as we scramble to change things. So, obviously, we want to get it all sent off as soon as possible. We are really hoping to be able to submit it all by next Tuesday or Wednesday. That will be almost exactly 90 days before we want to board a plane. Fingers crossed…