Just for laughs
Like I've mentioned before, we are trying to get Kyle to a point where he can reside and work in Bulgaria in a law-abiding manner. As we're going through the motions, we have found ourselves asking the same seemingly simple and straightforward question to several different institutions: Does one need a D-type visa when applying for a long-term Bulgarian residence permit?
Here are the answers we have received:
Bulgarian Consul in New York: If you have your Bulgarian marriage certificate so, please go to the closest to your Bulgarian home Immigration service of the Ministry of interior. You do not need a visa to that end.
Immigration officer at the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior: All foreign nationals absolutely MUST have a D-visa first and then apply for long-term residence permit. You can go to Greece and get the visa there.
Consular officer at US Embassy in Bulgaria: We have discussed this matter with the Immigration office MANY times. You do NOT need a D-visa. If the officer keeps telling you that you need a visa, demand that you speak with their Supervisor, a Mr. X. He will help you
State Department of the United States: American citizens who marry Bulgarian nationals technically have a legal right to switch to long-term status without leaving the country. In practice, however, applicants for residency are asked to leave the country also, present their marriage license at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate in a neighboring country, and apply for a “D” visa. (my emphasis)
Every person or institution we've asked has provided us with a different answer. So, I am thinking, we might as well come up with more answers of our own.
Here's mine: You are only required to have a D-visa if your spouse's last name starts with the same letter as your first name.
Now, just for laughs, how would YOU answer this question.
Here are the answers we have received:
Bulgarian Consul in New York: If you have your Bulgarian marriage certificate so, please go to the closest to your Bulgarian home Immigration service of the Ministry of interior. You do not need a visa to that end.
Immigration officer at the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior: All foreign nationals absolutely MUST have a D-visa first and then apply for long-term residence permit. You can go to Greece and get the visa there.
Consular officer at US Embassy in Bulgaria: We have discussed this matter with the Immigration office MANY times. You do NOT need a D-visa. If the officer keeps telling you that you need a visa, demand that you speak with their Supervisor, a Mr. X. He will help you
State Department of the United States: American citizens who marry Bulgarian nationals technically have a legal right to switch to long-term status without leaving the country. In practice, however, applicants for residency are asked to leave the country also, present their marriage license at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate in a neighboring country, and apply for a “D” visa. (my emphasis)
Every person or institution we've asked has provided us with a different answer. So, I am thinking, we might as well come up with more answers of our own.
Here's mine: You are only required to have a D-visa if your spouse's last name starts with the same letter as your first name.
Now, just for laughs, how would YOU answer this question.
Labels: how to marry a bulgarian
9 Comments:
So, talk to Mr. X
Oh God... You need a D visa only if your documents are getting processed at certain times of the day: between 9am and 12p when the bureucrat in charge is still sleepy and wants to read the newspaper & after 3p when the bureucrat in charge is already tired from a very long work day and is planning on taking coffee and cig breaks while waiting for the clock to show 5p
never been to a government office before, huh george?
hey - if you like banitza, can talk politics and shit in a smokey cafe for 7 hours, can handle endless pessimism, are showing improvement in laughing at the end of a bulgarian joke, and can do the rachenitza at a reasonable tempo... the D visa should get waived alltogether. lets just make a form for that. sounds like nobody would even question where it came from
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oops
If you are super anal and derive pleasure from following all rules and orders, then going through the process of getting the D visa is strongly encouraged!
ps I really can't believe these people and institutions... i say, you hunt down this Mr. X and corner him into saying you don't need it. I especially love how the US and BG immigration authorities can't agree on the answer and seem to have some power struggle going on between them.
We will be going back to the Immigration Office later this week. I am sure there will be yet even more to report.
We will?! Oh god, just when I thought I finally got to relax for a couple of days ;)
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