Three months ago, my husband and I were blessed to come across your VFS preparation blog. We used your template as a guide, and "lo and behold" within 34 days out of San Francisco, our visas arrived via Fedx. We were elated!!! I just want to say to you guys, thank you very much for that imperative information. Fun fact: As we were preparing our accordion folders, I would have conversations with my husband referring to Carol by name, "Carol did this and Carol said that". LOL Once again...thank you!
We both had appointments on the same day with back-to-back appointments. I'm still not sure how we pulled that off but I guess we were just lucky.
This was back in June, 2021, so Covid was still on everyone's mind and we weren't sure if VFS SF would accept us if we stayed overnight. There was still some talk about needing verification of not staying in San Francisco before the appointment.
So, to not take any chances, we flew in from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco on the same day as our appointments and then flew out the same day. It was both physically and emotionally draining, but we did what we had to do to make this happen.
I'm sure that things have loosened up since then, so wherever you decide to stay in SF, just make sure you're close enough to get to VFS on time without any traffic delays.
Hello Carol. Love the blog, thank you. I'm currently in the process and have experts assisting. When you flew into SF, was your appointment for the same day or the next? And would you mind sharing where you stayed (if you liked it)? Logistically, it seems pretty straightforward but I'm curious what others have done. Thank you and congratulations!
Hi. I’m Thomas in Tucson. I just found your blog. As I read this entry I was excited that you mentioned a time line and working backwards from the date you want to be living there. I loved all the great info and I do follow the Am & Friends PT Facebook group. But no one anywhere actually shares their time line. We, like you, need to sell our house and belongings and we do have a friends place to stay while we complete the process. We just returned from a 3 week scouting vacation and know we want to be in the Algarve. But… we don’t know how long each step will take so we don’t know when to rent an apartment so we have the lease available for VFS but aren’t paying for unnecessary months. And when to schedule at SF VFS. They are currently booked about 6 weeks out and booking for 2 week intervals. So if we made an appoint today for end of August we could get our visa by end of October. My question is can we get a NIF Bank account FBI background check and a lease all in about 6 weeks. Or should I get the NIF and Bank account now and then get the appointment in SF and then get the other items? We would love to be there no later than mid November early December Thank you any input you can give me. Thomas
as i read this, i am putting the final touches on our 2 month 'look/see' trip to portugal. this is my first time reading your blog and looking forward to other entries, and for sure asking questions. thank you for the time and effort! hope to meet you in portugal!!!
Time does have a way of racing on. Your time of leaving must of had some fortune teller helping you. I agree with the person mentioning politics and gun violence and now run away inflation in this country.
So glad for you reaping a wonderful time from all your hard work!! Enjoy💕
Your timing with this post is perfect. We are about to mail our packet into D.C. in just about 10 days, so we are currently deep in the "freak out" portion of this whole thing. LOL. (But seriously... I'm freaking out.) We, too, have read everything we could, asked tons of questions, and wondered whether we'd bitten off more than we could chew, but we're pushing forward. Portugal is making us work, but we're pretty sure it will all be worth it in the end.
I just recently found your site and it has a lot of great information. Now you've provided some well timed encouragement. Thanks for all of it. And Happy Anniversary!!
How adorable are you two? Thank you for this lovely and encouraging post. We JUST got started with paperwork and it seems overwhelming. But onward and upward we go! Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversaries!! And well done! At some point, I may take you up on your offer. Although I love where I live, the more unsettling things become politically and the more lives that are taken by gun violence in this country, the more frequently I think about moving. And if/when I get to the point of knowing I have to do so, I will be in touch. Know that I so appreciate your offer! Best wishes!
It’s very encouraging to read your story. Thank you for sharing. Can you post about your experiences with the language? What did you do before moving to prepare (if anything) and how are you doing with the language now?
Thanks for sharing your 9 months there with FB, I for one have enjoyed your daily jaunts about Portugal and look forward to reading about your next venture-enjoy and congratulations on your 42 wedding anniversary 🍷🍷
Happy (double) Anniversary!!! I appreciate your words of encouragement, Carol, as we are facing an understaffed consulate and an unknown amount of time to get our visa. Our house is going to be on the market in two weeks, and at this point, it's all just faith driven that we will eventually end up in Spain. Or maybe this is divine providence telling us that we should be considering Portugal?
Three months ago, my husband and I were blessed to come across your VFS preparation blog. We used your template as a guide, and "lo and behold" within 34 days out of San Francisco, our visas arrived via Fedx. We were elated!!! I just want to say to you guys, thank you very much for that imperative information. Fun fact: As we were preparing our accordion folders, I would have conversations with my husband referring to Carol by name, "Carol did this and Carol said that". LOL Once again...thank you!
Hello Dyann,
We both had appointments on the same day with back-to-back appointments. I'm still not sure how we pulled that off but I guess we were just lucky.
This was back in June, 2021, so Covid was still on everyone's mind and we weren't sure if VFS SF would accept us if we stayed overnight. There was still some talk about needing verification of not staying in San Francisco before the appointment.
So, to not take any chances, we flew in from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco on the same day as our appointments and then flew out the same day. It was both physically and emotionally draining, but we did what we had to do to make this happen.
I'm sure that things have loosened up since then, so wherever you decide to stay in SF, just make sure you're close enough to get to VFS on time without any traffic delays.
Good luck!
Carol.
Hello Carol. Love the blog, thank you. I'm currently in the process and have experts assisting. When you flew into SF, was your appointment for the same day or the next? And would you mind sharing where you stayed (if you liked it)? Logistically, it seems pretty straightforward but I'm curious what others have done. Thank you and congratulations!
Hi. I’m Thomas in Tucson. I just found your blog. As I read this entry I was excited that you mentioned a time line and working backwards from the date you want to be living there. I loved all the great info and I do follow the Am & Friends PT Facebook group. But no one anywhere actually shares their time line. We, like you, need to sell our house and belongings and we do have a friends place to stay while we complete the process. We just returned from a 3 week scouting vacation and know we want to be in the Algarve. But… we don’t know how long each step will take so we don’t know when to rent an apartment so we have the lease available for VFS but aren’t paying for unnecessary months. And when to schedule at SF VFS. They are currently booked about 6 weeks out and booking for 2 week intervals. So if we made an appoint today for end of August we could get our visa by end of October. My question is can we get a NIF Bank account FBI background check and a lease all in about 6 weeks. Or should I get the NIF and Bank account now and then get the appointment in SF and then get the other items? We would love to be there no later than mid November early December Thank you any input you can give me. Thomas
as i read this, i am putting the final touches on our 2 month 'look/see' trip to portugal. this is my first time reading your blog and looking forward to other entries, and for sure asking questions. thank you for the time and effort! hope to meet you in portugal!!!
Time does have a way of racing on. Your time of leaving must of had some fortune teller helping you. I agree with the person mentioning politics and gun violence and now run away inflation in this country.
So glad for you reaping a wonderful time from all your hard work!! Enjoy💕
Your timing with this post is perfect. We are about to mail our packet into D.C. in just about 10 days, so we are currently deep in the "freak out" portion of this whole thing. LOL. (But seriously... I'm freaking out.) We, too, have read everything we could, asked tons of questions, and wondered whether we'd bitten off more than we could chew, but we're pushing forward. Portugal is making us work, but we're pretty sure it will all be worth it in the end.
I just recently found your site and it has a lot of great information. Now you've provided some well timed encouragement. Thanks for all of it. And Happy Anniversary!!
How adorable are you two? Thank you for this lovely and encouraging post. We JUST got started with paperwork and it seems overwhelming. But onward and upward we go! Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversaries!! And well done! At some point, I may take you up on your offer. Although I love where I live, the more unsettling things become politically and the more lives that are taken by gun violence in this country, the more frequently I think about moving. And if/when I get to the point of knowing I have to do so, I will be in touch. Know that I so appreciate your offer! Best wishes!
Happy Anniversary...Happy Anniversary. 🥂
It’s very encouraging to read your story. Thank you for sharing. Can you post about your experiences with the language? What did you do before moving to prepare (if anything) and how are you doing with the language now?
Thanks for sharing your 9 months there with FB, I for one have enjoyed your daily jaunts about Portugal and look forward to reading about your next venture-enjoy and congratulations on your 42 wedding anniversary 🍷🍷
Thanks for sharing! I’m sure your experience will help others streamline their process and ease their stress!!
Happy (double) Anniversary!!! I appreciate your words of encouragement, Carol, as we are facing an understaffed consulate and an unknown amount of time to get our visa. Our house is going to be on the market in two weeks, and at this point, it's all just faith driven that we will eventually end up in Spain. Or maybe this is divine providence telling us that we should be considering Portugal?
Happy Anniversary you two!!!!!! Great pics!!!!!