Permesso, Permesso, Prego, Permesso
Whenever you enter someone's house here, it is proper to say 'Permesso' which is asking permission to enter, even if the host(ess) is standing right there ushering you into the just opened door.
That is not the permesso that this is about. This is about the Permesso di Sogiorno, or permission to stay. It is like the US alien registration that goes on each new year, only here it is every two years after the first four years. It was time to renew my permesso. It is always a fun process.
Two years ago I reported how the process had been streamlined, in order to make it more affordable (cheaper) and to reduce the amount of paperwork. At the time, the cost tripled and the paper work doubled. Also, instead of dealing with the Questura, a branch of the police, one deals with the post office, which is always a pleasure here.
In order to get the forms to fill out, I had to wait in line at the post office in the center of town, as only one post office gets this great responsibility. I had to show my identity card in order to get the forms to fill out, although no note was made of my name or anything else at the time.
I got most of it filled out fine, and did the rest with the help of Toto at Verditechnico Bed and Breakfast. I also made all the required copies, including copies of things that are not mentioned on the form but are indeed needed by those who review the form (health insurance which is not used here, certificate of residency, deed to my apartment).
When I took everything back to the post office to be mailed by the post office to Rome for review, the man looked through the papers, and everytime he was about to ask for something (photographs, a fifteen euro marco de bollo or tax stamp, statement of pension) he found it. Then he made the charge for the permesso, (17 euros), plus the charge for mailing it (30 euros, insured) plus the charge that it says on the envelope for mailing it (30 euros), and I explained to him that he did not have to charge me twice for mailing it, and he deducted the extra 30 euros.
Of course, the forms say that I should have done the paperwork two months ago (90 days before my current permesso expires). When I picked up my current permesso, I was told by the Questura that I should do the paperwork 30 days before the expiration. (By the way, I will pick up my new Permesso at the Questura's office as well, where they will do a scan of my eyes and fingerprints and encode it on my Permesso card.) Interesting that it is not until you get the application late that you know it is late.
Ah me, I love the bureaucracy here, because it is more like bureaucrazy. I will let you know what parts I forgot when the Questura calls me about it in six weeks or so.
That is not the permesso that this is about. This is about the Permesso di Sogiorno, or permission to stay. It is like the US alien registration that goes on each new year, only here it is every two years after the first four years. It was time to renew my permesso. It is always a fun process.
Two years ago I reported how the process had been streamlined, in order to make it more affordable (cheaper) and to reduce the amount of paperwork. At the time, the cost tripled and the paper work doubled. Also, instead of dealing with the Questura, a branch of the police, one deals with the post office, which is always a pleasure here.
In order to get the forms to fill out, I had to wait in line at the post office in the center of town, as only one post office gets this great responsibility. I had to show my identity card in order to get the forms to fill out, although no note was made of my name or anything else at the time.
I got most of it filled out fine, and did the rest with the help of Toto at Verditechnico Bed and Breakfast. I also made all the required copies, including copies of things that are not mentioned on the form but are indeed needed by those who review the form (health insurance which is not used here, certificate of residency, deed to my apartment).
When I took everything back to the post office to be mailed by the post office to Rome for review, the man looked through the papers, and everytime he was about to ask for something (photographs, a fifteen euro marco de bollo or tax stamp, statement of pension) he found it. Then he made the charge for the permesso, (17 euros), plus the charge for mailing it (30 euros, insured) plus the charge that it says on the envelope for mailing it (30 euros), and I explained to him that he did not have to charge me twice for mailing it, and he deducted the extra 30 euros.
Of course, the forms say that I should have done the paperwork two months ago (90 days before my current permesso expires). When I picked up my current permesso, I was told by the Questura that I should do the paperwork 30 days before the expiration. (By the way, I will pick up my new Permesso at the Questura's office as well, where they will do a scan of my eyes and fingerprints and encode it on my Permesso card.) Interesting that it is not until you get the application late that you know it is late.
Ah me, I love the bureaucracy here, because it is more like bureaucrazy. I will let you know what parts I forgot when the Questura calls me about it in six weeks or so.
posted by Steve at 4:16 PM
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