I'm thinking about heading back to Italy this fall, and going to the uni in Perugia this time. But I have a few questions regarding the school and visas, and I'd love to hear other people's experiences!
I've read through the main thread on the school, but its mostly about housing, so I'm hoping to get some more responses.
Okay, so here goes...
1. After you applied to the school and paid, how long did it take to get your letter of acceptance for the visa?
2. Did anyone go for 3 months or less and get a student visa without problems from the consulate?
3. In the letter from the school, did they determine your length of stay by how long you paid for up front, or by how long you signed up for?
4. How did you indicate how long you wanted to study for to the school? I dont see anywhere for it on the application form. (I plan on paying for only 3 months up front, but would like to stay for atleast 6).
Thanks in advance for responses!
I should mention that I have studied in Italy twice before, and have spent a couple years there in total. So Im familar with Italy and the visa process, only I am a little nervous about whether or not they'll give me a visa if I only pay for three months up front, and the school puts 3 months in my letter.
Fortunately for me, I have never had to deal with the visa process, but I have heard how friends have dealt with it and I can share their experiences with you.
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1. After you applied to the school and paid, how long did it take to get your letter of acceptance for the visa?
AGES!!! They seem to only send out your letter of acceptance shortly before your course actually starts. Maybe if you apply months in advance they get it out to you a bit quicker, but most people who apply two months before only seem to get their letter in the 2-4 weeks before their course starts. From memory Kathleen's visa arrived a couple of days before she left the USA!
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2. Did anyone go for 3 months or less and get a student visa without problems from the consulate?
If you only go for three months or less you do not need to apply for a visa in advance. You can just go to the special Questura located inside the Uni for Foreigners (and exclusively for the service of their students) to get a regular tourist Permesso di Soggiorno.
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3. In the letter from the school, did they determine your length of stay by how long you paid for up front, or by how long you signed up for?
No, they go by how long you enroll for. You can pay month by month if you like. Then again, I had an Australian friend who only enrolled and studied at the uni for 2 months, yet got a work/study visa for a year. Chances are if you visit or contact your local consulate they will be able to tell you what they can and cannot do for you. Likewise, you can email the uni for clarification.
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4. How did you indicate how long you wanted to study for to the school? I dont see anywhere for it on the application form. (I plan on paying for only 3 months up front, but would like to stay for atleast 6).
This is indeed a mystery (as are many things in Italy!) On the form I filled out 18 months ago you had to indicate which course you wanted to do ie 1/2/3 months beginning in September/October/November etc. Is the application form inside the prospectus the same as the one you download from their website? In that case I would definitely contact the uni and ask them how you indicate which course you want to sign up for!
Hope this helps, and let us know if you have any other questions.
I checked the application form in the prospectus, and while it is different, it still doesnt have spots for the course dates on it. But it did have a place to choosewhen you wanted to take the entrance exam... So I figure I'll just write a note on it about the course dates.
I did try emailing the school with the same questions a little over a week ago, but like with all things Italian, they havent responded yet. As for contacting the consulate, that's a no go. I have to deal with SF, which doesnt answer phone calls or emails (I've tried on way too many occasions before), and its also a 10 hour drive away, or for little old me without a car, $250 R-T airfare away!
That's interesting that they didnt make people have a student visa for stays of less than 3 months, as it says on the website that you must have one no matter how long you stay for. Also, since there is no longer a tourist PdiS Im not sure how that would work anymore. Especially since things go through the post office now, its a lot harder to go in and ask questions.
Ahh, the joys of it all.
Im hoping to apply and pay next week. I'll give them two weeks to send me an acceptance letter before I begin calling and emailing them. Perhaps if I heckle them in Italian I'll get a letter faster!
I went to the University per Stranieri in Perugia a long while ago. First off, my condolences if you have to have any dealings with the SF consulate. Microsoft has petitioned to Italy to have the consulate closed because it is so non-responsive, and I can't disagree.
That said, I stayed one month in Perugia and didn't need a visa. They just gave us a day to stand in line at the Questura at the school to get the documents we needed, which was pretty painless, considering.
