Think Happy Thoughts

After getting a ton of mixed messages from the company handling the visa snafu, I decided to call the embassy myself ahead of arriving there. Glad I did, so I don't need to bother showing up in person next week.

I hesitate to label the person assisting me as "rude," but I gnashed my teeth a bit at being constantly cut off and told that was I was saying was wrong. I had explained our situation and he then asked me when my husband was to arrive in Lux. I started with "We arrive," because WE arrive August 16th, and he cut me off and said "Let's not say 'we,' since I haven't determined if you're going to be allowed to enter the country." Well, sir, actually I AM able to enter for at least 90 days, whatever you may determine otherwise. 😡 Not his fault, I know, I know.

Alas, at the end of the day, it appears that if I'm not staying for more than 12 months, I can't get a residence visa and can only stay 90 days. Even John is actually going to get denied because he's only there for 4-5 months, but he has a letter called an Authorization of Stay that allows him to be in Lux while the residence visa application is processing (takes 5 months or something ridiculous). He will just end up leaving before the final determination. Boo and I didn't even get to the letter stage, so we are out of luck.

Other than leaving at the permitted time, our only other option is that I flee the Schengen Area (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area) for a week or two at a time (probably to England), with documented proof that I did so (like a hotel receipt). By doing so, I'm able to stay in Europe longer, since the 90-day limit can be stopped and started. I am not sure how often I can handle doing this and we will probably just come home. I might do it once or twice, but Boo needs injections, I can't give them to her, and John is actually working in the Schengen Area so he can't leave at will. 

So, looks like I may end up revising my blog description to living in Lux for three months and make the absolute most of our time. I'm sad about this development, but it is what it is. Stressing over it won't change anything, and dude, I get NINETY DAYS to play in Europe. Hard to be a downer about that. One pro is that Boo will have even more time in pre-K to prepare for kindergarten in Fall. Trying to stay positive, y'all.