Well, it only took four months from the application date, but we finally got word that our resident visa to live in Portugal has been approved. Holy mother of the wait from Hell! I am in shock, and it seems so surreal that we will actually be leaving in about three weeks! So much to do it is staggering because so many things hinged on getting visa approval. It is a little over a year since we set out on our first trip to Portugal last February. I still can’t believe how long and trying a journey it has been, and we are just getting started! We are still on the road to Portugal, but soon we can rename the blog Adventures in Portugal. Hal-le-freakin-lu-jah!
It is strange how some things have come so easily: selling the harp, getting NIF numbers and a decent place to live in the Porto area. And how long and painful a wait it was for visa approval. I was so desperate that I was about to agree to pay two grand to an immigration attorney in Lisbon to try and help us speed up the process. (haha, never use the word speed when talking about government of any kind!) I had just texted Joe about the cost when he got the email from the consulate that our visas had been approved. (Whew, that was close!) This, the day after the consulate received the letter I sent with a cashier’s check for the visa application fee, which was not collected from us at the time of application. I can only assume because their systems were down. Hmmm. Coincidence? You decide. Anyone who tells you that it’s easy to move to ANY other country is full of it and/or selling something!
We are all in. Vamos!
Stay tuned, there’s more to come. Tally ho, and away we go!
theroadtoportugal.com 