It's still not boatloads of money; that characterization is all that I was contesting.

The article in Relocation Magazine was 100% fact-free. It made it sound as though the criteria were at the discretion of the consulate.

I would suggest the OP use the 90 day Schengen time as an immersion before they make any drastic decisions. Find an Air BnB or equivalent in the burbs - not the charming zones as they are mostly unaffordable, see what day to day life is like, only speak Italian - even at home to each other.
Lots of people have the 'Under the Tuscan Sun' fantasy (not renovating a house necessarily) but the reality is somewhat different.

For all the freaking naysairs, she can go to Italy and may be able to find a job. She can teach English, or become an interpeter or work in the hospitality field, or even marry to an Italian. I would say, go there and find out what is going on. You would be surprise to realize that we make such a storm of any issue, and it becomes not so complicated after all. Go ahead and go, and experience for yourself. I send you all green lights.

I just find it odd that someone wants to permanently move to a place without even knowing much about it. And she wants to move first, and then explore around to decide where she wants to live. It would make more sense to visit Italy and find a place you want to live, then move there (if possible). This isn't a trivial thing like neighborhood, she doesn't even know what city she wants to live in.

There isn't any way in the world someone with only 4 years of Italian who isn't fluent can become an interpreter. And just because someone has English as their native language does not make them qualified to be a teacher, unfortunately, a lot of people have that impression.

Claudia23603,

It is always good to give support for people's dreams. It looks as if you joined Fodors to do that. Have you done something similar in recent years? Real (recent) concrete, personal experience would be extremely useful to the OP and informative for other posters. I hope you can offer other ideas for the OP because I fear the jobs you suggested are no longer appropriate or as available as they once were.

As pointed out, an interpreter must be fluent in both languages. Schengen laws now make it illegal for hotels, etc. to hire non-residents unless there are no qualified residents and that is unlikely in that industry. TESL requires knowledge of construction and grammar, not just vocabulary.

If they acquire teaching credentials, the OP could apply for a job with an International school or an American overseas school. It may take 1-3 years. The OP might have to take a position in another country, then transfer.

If the OP has a unique skill or can acquire one, they can seek work with an international company that would help them make the move. They might have to move from country to country until they are established.

There are military bases in Italy. The OP could consider joining the military and be stationed there.

The OP can become monetarily independent and apply for proper residency.

Such a move is certainly possible, but the OP is more likely to achieve their dream if they prepare and also follow the rules.

You say you want to live there but you have no intention of following the rules which "there" has set down. Frankly, I hope they NEVER let you in and why should they?

Dukey...you always seem to come through. My feeling exactly.
In my 70 years of travel, I have come across ex-pats everywhere in the world...most of whom admit that they are going "home" someday.

My youngest daughter and her husband are living and working in Merida, Yucatan. I hope she will be coming home some day.

The OP still hasn't provided any info on what type of career they hae - which might help with perspective on how to find something similar in Italy. If they have no specific skills - hard to imagine how they would ever qualify for a job there.

Last year when we were looking for a new junior for our department we interviewed one young woman who was not open about her immigration status until I pressured her. It turned out the job she had was an extension of a special job she qualified for as part of her university experience. And while she was qualified she was no more qualified than 3 or 4 applicants who were US citizens. Our HR person asked the legal department how to handle this and they said there was no way we could hire her. First we would have had to show their was no one local who could do the job (not true, there were several). And if we had been able to they said it would take several months and cost the company in excess of $15K to get permission to hire her.

That is exactly the position you're in - except you're not already in Italy, are not fluent in Italian and don't already have specific skills that you have mentioned.

The OP has her ocupation-related website in her profile.

Thanks, Elberko. I hadn't noticed that. The OP should go ahead and get that PhD, and get a position with an international firm that has a branch in Italy. Will take time, but doable and legal.

Yes, it's difficult but not impossible as some posters here would like you to believe.

Have you looked into freelancing? I know a friend who was able to get a residence permit in France that way. You need to prove that you have a business plan and that you can support yourself for some time. Germany, too, has a freelancing visa but I'm not sure about Italy.

Pursuing a Masters degree also helps. Many European countries give international students a one-year extension after graduating so they can search for a job. If you find a job within that period, employers can hire you immediately without having to prove that no local candidates can do your job.

I suggest you pursue a Masters degree or PHD. That will temporarily fulfill your dream of living in Italy.

"You can't apply for a work visa. The company first has to demonstrate that it has searched throughout the EEA (EU+a few more) and failed to find a suitable candidate with European citizenship."

That is true. But this rule doesn't apply to foreign students who are studying in Europe. If you find a job within one year after graduation, you can get hired immediately. Employers don't have to prove that they failed to find a suitable EU candidate.

But the difficult part is finding a job.

I'm a dutch woman living in Italy. I just say follow your heart and give it a try. Even it's very tough to find a job in Italy! I'm a nurse, also recognised in Italy and I started with a cleaning job for €6 an hour!! I hope you know already people in Italy who really can help you, otherways it isn't easy. Also in the North nowadays it's very difficult to find a well paid job, even teaching English! But, I repeat, if you have some saved money and you do not need to work immediatly, you have to try it!
Just go there with the tourist visa and find a job, another solution can be that you start something for yourself, then you can also stay here but it is expensive and will cost you at least €3500 a year, even if you don't earn anything!
I wish you good luck and I hope for you that your wish comes true....

>>It's sad that they do not offer any special situations visas<<

That's because everyone has a "special" situation.

It would seem to me that the inevitable first step is finding a job, which you want to do when you get there and which isn't going to happen. That said, it also seems to me that while in the US you would want to investigate jobs with companies that have facilities in Italy and see if you can get hired. Not saying that would be a piece of cake, but neither are the other options. In fact, not only are they not a piece of cake, but there often is no cake at all.

Seems the OP has left this thread almost 2 months ago.

Probably moved to New Jersey.

Ya gotta problem with Jerzey??? ;-)

Should have put a "Yo...!!!" at the beginning. ;-)

given that most of italian contacts are trying to move to UK, I'd be amazed. The reason they are leaving is that they don't "know" the right people.

Now a foreigner...

Oh, an old thread. My comment was going to be to ask if the person had been to Italy before. You really can't tell from the wording of their post.