Saturday, June 26, 2010
Visa Application Sent!
I finally got my Visa Application sent! I sent it a couple of days ago. I got a tracking number and looked it up yesterday. Someone at the Italian Consulate in Chicago had signed for it so everything should be good. I didn't get to send the application as soon as I had hoped because I was still waiting for an invitation letter from the University in Padova. Right after I had gotten the application signed by the local Italian Honorary Consulate here in St. Paul I got an email saying that the University in Padova needed to send me an invitation letter. I had thought that I had everything that I needed for the application but they said that I also needed this letter. So, I had to wait an extra couple of weeks for the letter to arrive. It's good though because I feel much better about sending more documents than sending less and having the possibility of the visa being refused. I was told that they should return my passport with the visa in 4 to 6 weeks. Even if it took 6 weeks I would still have 3 weeks to spare.
Full attack on The List
I have been fully attacking the list of things I must do before leaving for Europe. Last weekend I used my 10% off card at Target to get a bunch of Rubbermaid and Sterilite plastic bins. I need to put a lot of my stuff that is in my basement room into these plastic bins so that it stays nice while I am away. Right now I don't have a lot of storage down in my room and a lot of stuff just sits out. I think that the bins will be really nice to get it all organized.
I have also been bringing in to work some of my notebooks and folders from Civil Engineering classes I took at the U of M. After work I organize the papers and then make pdfs of them. This way I will be able to bring electronic copies of my notes with me to Europe in case I need them to review or reference.
I have been checking off all of my yearly doctor's and dentist's appointments. I just made one for the eye doctor for July. Taking Skye (the dog) to the vet is also on my list of appointments and that will also get done in July. The cats were on the list but when I called in to make the appointment for Skye they told me that the cats didn't need one until October. One less thing to do.
I still have more checking to do but I think I might have to pay some taxes on the Scholarship that I will be getting. I want to make sure I save enough of the money to pay the taxes because unlike my work now, they wont be taking it out of what I get automatically. Apparently, scholarship money that goes to tuition, fees, books, and other required supplies is tax free but scholarship money that goes to living expenses such as accommodation, transportation, and food is taxable. What I still have to figure out is if I will have to pay both foreign taxes on it and US taxes on it. There are special forms for US taxes for foreign income and having a foreign account. I do know that I will have a foreign account that the scholarship will be deposited into but I'm not sure exactly how that works.
I think that I finally figured out the loan deferment forms. I called one of the providers and they told me that I have to sign, scan, and send to the University of Padova. They told me that the University of Padova is indeed an eligible school to receive funds from the US government so they can sign the form. Once an official has signed the forms they can send them to the lenders. If all works out I wont have to pay my loans (other than interest) while I am studying in Europe. This would be a very nice financial relief!
I have also been bringing in to work some of my notebooks and folders from Civil Engineering classes I took at the U of M. After work I organize the papers and then make pdfs of them. This way I will be able to bring electronic copies of my notes with me to Europe in case I need them to review or reference.
I have been checking off all of my yearly doctor's and dentist's appointments. I just made one for the eye doctor for July. Taking Skye (the dog) to the vet is also on my list of appointments and that will also get done in July. The cats were on the list but when I called in to make the appointment for Skye they told me that the cats didn't need one until October. One less thing to do.
I still have more checking to do but I think I might have to pay some taxes on the Scholarship that I will be getting. I want to make sure I save enough of the money to pay the taxes because unlike my work now, they wont be taking it out of what I get automatically. Apparently, scholarship money that goes to tuition, fees, books, and other required supplies is tax free but scholarship money that goes to living expenses such as accommodation, transportation, and food is taxable. What I still have to figure out is if I will have to pay both foreign taxes on it and US taxes on it. There are special forms for US taxes for foreign income and having a foreign account. I do know that I will have a foreign account that the scholarship will be deposited into but I'm not sure exactly how that works.
I think that I finally figured out the loan deferment forms. I called one of the providers and they told me that I have to sign, scan, and send to the University of Padova. They told me that the University of Padova is indeed an eligible school to receive funds from the US government so they can sign the form. Once an official has signed the forms they can send them to the lenders. If all works out I wont have to pay my loans (other than interest) while I am studying in Europe. This would be a very nice financial relief!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Rain Jacket and The List
So I have created a list of things that I need to get done before I leave for Italy on September 1st. I am trying to check off as many things as possible as early in the summer as I can so that hopefully I don't get too stressed at the end of the summer when I should be relaxing and having fun. One of the things on my list was to get a new rain jacket. My old purple one is useless. It gets wet and then the water just goes right through to my skin and it is sticky and gross! I did some online shopping yesterday to get an idea of prices and then went to Dick's Sporting Goods, REI, and finally Cabela's. I hadn't really planned on getting anything because I wanted to look at everything and then go back and order or just buy the best one. But, I found the best one at Cabela's on my last stop and it was the same price as the one online so I got it. It fits perfectly. Is a pretty blue/green and I'm sure it will work really well. It is a Colombia jacket and it looks like it is made well. It is a longer which I know will be nice if I am biking to school in Italy and don't want the rain splattering up my back. The hood is nice and big, the pockets are soft and warm, and there is an inside pocket for my ipod or wallet. I tried it out today in a few sprinkles and it worked out just fine. :)
Housing!
Amidst trying to collect all of the documents for the visa application I was also looking at housing options and filling out the application for that too. I submitted the application last week along with a copy of my passport and photo. They had said on the website that I also need so submit a down payment but that might not be until I find out where I will be staying. The application form allows you to put down preferences but doesn't let you choose the residence hall or type of room that you will get (double or single). Here are my choices:
1. Double in ESU Copernico Flats
2. Single in Copernico Hall
3. Single in ESU Goito Flats
4. Single in Ceccarelli Flats
You can view the website of all of the residences at
http://www.sassa.org/en/index.html
Visa
Ok, so I told everyone that I was going to write a long time ago but then I got so busy doing preparations that I didn't have time. Here is a little update:
I have finally collected all of the necessary documents to get my visa. I had to fill out an application, get statements from both the U of M and the Erasmus program saying when I was/am enrolled and all of the school info, get statements from my bank account and my mother's stating that we have enough money to cover the cost of my stay, get a note from the program showing the amount of my scholarship, get all the information about the health insurance provided by the program and a statement from my insurance here saying they will cover me there too, a notarized statement saying I will get the insurance when I get there, my passport, passport photos, my flight itinerary, return envelope, a notarized copy of my drivers license saying that I live in the jurisdiction of the consulate, and copies of just about all of these forms! I guess I have a reason for being busy trying to collect all of these things. Finally, I had to take all of these forms to the Honorary Consulate in St. Paul so that he could check them and sign the application stating that I was the one who was presenting these documents. Now all I have to do is send it all of Chicago and wait 4-6 weeks for them to return my passport with the visa inside. They should approve it, at least, because they already have my name in their system. The program sent them a message, I think, stating that I will be enrolled in the program. Once I get this sent I will feel like a big weight has been lifted off of me!
I have finally collected all of the necessary documents to get my visa. I had to fill out an application, get statements from both the U of M and the Erasmus program saying when I was/am enrolled and all of the school info, get statements from my bank account and my mother's stating that we have enough money to cover the cost of my stay, get a note from the program showing the amount of my scholarship, get all the information about the health insurance provided by the program and a statement from my insurance here saying they will cover me there too, a notarized statement saying I will get the insurance when I get there, my passport, passport photos, my flight itinerary, return envelope, a notarized copy of my drivers license saying that I live in the jurisdiction of the consulate, and copies of just about all of these forms! I guess I have a reason for being busy trying to collect all of these things. Finally, I had to take all of these forms to the Honorary Consulate in St. Paul so that he could check them and sign the application stating that I was the one who was presenting these documents. Now all I have to do is send it all of Chicago and wait 4-6 weeks for them to return my passport with the visa inside. They should approve it, at least, because they already have my name in their system. The program sent them a message, I think, stating that I will be enrolled in the program. Once I get this sent I will feel like a big weight has been lifted off of me!
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