A California woman shared her incredible experience after getting a visa for her dream life in Italy and moving in just a matter of days.
Chelsea Waite managed to get a visa to live in Milan, Italy, as part of a new digital nomad visa launched in April, but so far very few seem to have been able to do the same.
He joined several groups on social media for those who are applying, but has yet to find another successful applicant. So why are these visas so difficult to get?
Waite had lived in San Francisco as a public relations expert and fell in love with Italy after her first visit in 2017, when she took a trip to Florence and Tuscany.
Chelsea Waite left her life in San Francisco to live in Italy after the nomad visa scheme was announced earlier this year.
Waite knew moving to Italy would be a difficult process, and it wasn’t until the nomad visa scheme was announced that he saw hope for his dream.
Waite was aware of how difficult it would be to relocate and get a visa, he said. cnn: “I really fell in love with everything Italy had to offer, but knowing that I would have to find sponsorship or employment, it didn’t seem feasible.”
Waite took his first trip to Italy in 2017, where he said he “fell in love with everything Italy had to offer.”
He also had a full-time job in San Francisco, until the pandemic. In 2020, Waite founded his own public relations firm working with technology startups.
He then visited Milan in 2023 and, upon returning to the United States, contacted an immigration attorney.
“I had a deep feeling that I was meant to live here,” she said, “(but) they said that since I was self-employed, it was even more challenging now.”
Waite said she was advised to find an Italian company to do business with and to have a collaboration agreement stating that it would be beneficial for her to be in Italy, but that this was not something she could achieve.
‘The lack of information was the biggest thing I struggled with. “There is no one online to share their experience, nothing to show what you needed to receive the visa,” Waite said.
Waite visited Milan in 2023 and immediately saw an immigration attorney upon his return to his home in San Francisco.
Then, as luck would have it, in April 2024, the nomad visa scheme was launched and suddenly the move seemed like a possibility.
Waite sprang into action seeking information, but there were few details available about the process, other than telling him he needed an appointment with an Italian consulate, which are notoriously difficult to get.
For six weeks he hunted, but it wasn’t until May that his prayers were answered.
“I looked randomly at a different time of day and it took me to a portal,” he said. The usual warning of a four-month wait was not the case for Waite, as just ten days later one became available.
With as little information as ever, Waite scrambled to gather all the potential documentation that could help present her as the perfect candidate.
‘The lack of information was the biggest thing I struggled with. “There is no one online to share their experience, nothing to show what you needed to receive the visa,” he told CNN.
“I knew 10 days was a tall order: I would need a lease (for an apartment), health insurance, tax returns, client contracts and certification of my title,” he added.
As luck would have it, Waite was able to put it all together. Her father, who works in real estate, was able to put her in touch with an agency in Milan and she paid a deposit of three months’ rent.
He purchased health insurance, had his degree certified in a matter of days, and gathered his tax returns, as well as documentation of his remote work since 2020 and previous employment contracts.
Going the extra mile, he also included state and federal background checks and his resume, totaling 120 pages of documentation for his appointment in June of this year.
He managed to pack his bags in just two days after receiving his visa on June 17 ahead of his month-long trip to London.
Waite also managed to take her two rescue dogs on a plane with her for her trip to London, where she would then go straight to Milan.
Ten days later, Waite got his visa and said, “by nothing short of a miracle, everything fell into place.”
Still, the stressful part was far from over. His visa arrived just two days before his trip to London on June 19, where he would stay for a month-long trip.
Instead of seeing the trip as a delay in his move, Waite decided to view his stay in London as a stop while traveling the world.
In just 48 hours, she packed her life into suitcases and arranged for her two rescue dogs to fly with her.
She officially moved out of her San Francisco apartment in September, hiring an assistant and recruiting friends to clean things up for her. His friends sent him his last belongings in suitcases.
“I love Milan,” he said. ‘I work in technology and I think it is the most business-minded city in Italy. I definitely see myself staying here. I have been able to meet several expats and foreigners and I am starting to create a community.’
Waite hasn’t been idle in her attempts to build her new life in Italy: she attends workshops, fitness classes, and chats at local cafes to make new connections.
He has also found himself exploring Italy and beyond, taking several trips to Lake Como, Florence and Tuscany, as well as taking a couple of flights to Greece.
He has managed to visit many places in Italy, including Lake Como, which is about an hour from Milan.
Waite has been working hard to build his life in Italy by fully immersing himself in life and creating his own community.
Your nomad visa lasts for one year, after which you can renew it to obtain a stay permit. Five years later, you can qualify for permanent residence, and after ten years, you can apply for an Italian passport.
‘So far, my experience is extremely positive. “I’ve made new friends, other expats, and I live in a wonderful apartment complex with very friendly neighbors,” he said.
Waite has said she is “extremely grateful” to have been successful in her application, but others have been less fortunate.
The Italian consulate in London alone has only issued 13 to British residents.
Waite said there are many steps that can make you a better candidate, such as securing long-term accommodation, adding: “At first, I thought maybe I could rent an Airbnb for a few months and then look for permanent accommodation.” , but that wouldn’t be enough.’
Applicants would need to get a signed lease, but they should also make sure it spells out a clause that allows them to cancel if they are unsuccessful in the visa process.
Waite wants to help those who are going through the same visa process as her by offering them the information she wanted to be available at that time.
Waite said she is “extremely grateful” to be able to live the lifestyle of her dreams.
Waite also believes applicants must demonstrate a minimum salary of more than $27,000, CNN reported, since he was able to prove he exceeded it for the past three years.
Finally, he told the outlet that certified qualifications and certifications are essential.
“It’s a huge requirement to assert your professional position and experience,” he said, adding that it’s much better to be over-prepared.
However, the process, as ruthless as it may seem, is not for those with little savings either.
Waite estimated that between $5,000 and $10,000 were spent on the entire process, with the visa application itself costing $124 and the collection of her documentation, as well as her deposit.
She has started working on a guide for potential nomadic visa applicants, who may need help navigating the process, as she was unable to find it.
Waite, despite all the trials and tribulations during the process, says it was worth it: ‘There are ups and downs, and it was very emotional. Just stay positive.’