Talked to a guy in Lisbon who said his visa renewal got stuck for 8 months

I met him at a co-working space last week. He said he filed all his paperwork for a freelancer visa but missed one local tax form. The office put his file at the bottom of the pile and he couldn't leave the country. It hit me that moving isn't just about finding a place to live. You need to know the exact steps to keep your right to stay. Has anyone else had a small mistake cause a huge delay with their visa?

3 comments

3 Comments

matthew_west9d agoTop Commenter

That "wrong shade of blue ink" story is the perfect example. It shows the process isn't really about the rules, it's about giving an official a reason to say no. You end up playing a game where you can't see the rulebook.

maryr439d ago

Remember my friend in Berlin? She used the wrong shade of blue ink on a form and they made her start the whole process over. How is that even a real rule?

kim_davis9d ago

Oh my god, that is so frustrating. Honestly, it feels like they make up rules just to make things harder. Tbh I've heard so many stories like that from Germany, the paperwork is no joke. Your poor friend, having to do everything again over some ink.