China airlines non stop direct flight between India and Italy (Rome-Delhi)

China Airlines is the first airline to operate a direct flight between Delhi and Rome. Earlier there was direct flight from Alitalia which stopped after some problems.

According to the news, Starting on December 1 2009, China Airlines has started three round-trip flights each week from Taoyuan Taiwan to Delhi and Rome. The flight will start from Delhi around 1300-1400 Hours, unlikely other EU airlines with stats in mid night, and reach Roma Fumicino (FCO) at 1800-1900 Hrs. While going back, it will start Rome around 2200-2300 Hours and reach Indira Gandhi New Delhi international airport in the morning around 1100 Hrs.

Timing wise, I would say it much better than other airlines, at least for the Indian living in central and south Italy. The people living in North Italy should add around 100 EUR to reach Rome. The rates are quite cheap as you can get the min fare is 392 EUR, which comes to be 545 EUR after taxes.

If you have problem related to your permesso di soggiorno, then this could be best option.

Best insurance policy for foreign students in Italy, Tessera Sanitaria or INA Assitalia

If you are a student and looking for a best insurance policy for your needs, below is the right advice for you.

There are two popular insurance policies available in Italy for foreign Students (studenti stranieri)

Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (Tessera Sanitaria)

It is an Italian govt health card and issued from the ASL in your city. This card costs you 150 EUR and valid for a solar year, i.e. starting with 1 Jan to 31 dec of that particular year. With this card, you get a free doctor where you can get normal medical checkups done.

To get this card, you need

• Codice fiscale
• PDS/visa/ricevuta
• Passport and visa copy
• Letter from your university stating your student status (additional)

INA Assitalia health insurance

It costs you around 97-100 EUR, It is private insurance meant for only emergency where you are only insured for emergency hospitalization (pronot scorso rosso). However PhD students are already insured by the University for the Accidents during work hours. 

To get this insurance, you just have to deposit concern amount to the C/C postale n. 7127003 in the favor of INA Assitalia Agenzia Generale di Roma via del Tritone 18 , 00187 Roma indicating name, city and "polizza assicurazioni per studenti stranieri".

Conclusion

The best thing is to take National health insurance by paying 150 EUR which is just 50 EUR more than Assitalia, The only problem with SSN card is that it valid for a solar year, but you get a free doctor for normal check up. ASSItalia is for nothing.

Now you can decide, what do you prefer..

Visa for reasearch purpose, work permit, self employement, lavoro autonomo or study visa

Research visa (self employment, lavoro autonomo) is nothing but a work visa given under 27 of Decreto Legislativo 25 luglio 1998, n. 286. You can consider it as a highly skilled immigration for Italy.

Two types of visas are available for research purpose which depends on the type of offer you are getting from the univerity.

1. Study Visa

If you are getting any research fellowship (Borse) to peruse research as post doc, or Assegni di ricerca from which income in not taxable, then you are issued study visa. You don’t have to pay any taxes.

This visa is very easy to get, you just need a letter from the Italian university which mention about your fellowship and accommodation and visa is issued.

2. Lavoro Autonomo visa (SELF-EMPLOYMENT WORK)

This type of visa is for university language tutor, university professors and researchers intending to fill an academic position or carry out paid research activities in Italian universities or educational or research institutes, translators and interpreters.

If you get a work contract from the university, then this visa is given, having this kind of visa you are allowed to get free SSN service of Italy.

The whole process of this kind of visa takes much longer time as compared to study visa.

High Resolution Milan Metro underground or subway map (Metropolitana di Milano)

Milan, the business capital of Italy is well connected with three line of Metro and rail network.

Currently there are three lines, red line 1 (linea rossa M1), green line 2 (linea verde M2) and yellow line 3 (linea gialla M3).

You can download the High Resolution detailed map in pdf from this link
http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/en/pdf/mmferr.pdf

This is the Google map of Milan, the red spots marked with 'M' are the metro stations. For details about this station, click on the red M.

View Larger Map

This service is maintained by ATM Azienda Transporti Milanesi Spa (http://www.atm-mi.it/ATM/eng/)

Other links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Transportation_System
http://subway.umka.org/map-milan.html

Online status of permesso di soggiorno on the website of Polizia di Stato

Now you can check the status of your resident permit on the website of the State Police, The new information service of the Italian Police website allows the track the status and indicates where to pick up your permesso if it is ready.

You can check your status here
http://questure.poliziadistato.it/stranieri/

From Mobile
http://www.poliziadistato.mobi/

Since May 2009, you can see the status of applications for issue, renewal or duplicate permit. This service is available in six languages (Italian, English, French, Spanish , Russian and Arabic).

Accessing the database is very easy. Just type in the field provided the "Codice Assicurata" if it is sent by post or the given code, if the application was lodged in the questura. If the residence permit is ready, You will find the information where you can collect it through a map that shows throughout the country. In other cases it will show “residence permit is being processed.”

The new online service of the State Police can also use the phone, the user can also add the data on residence permits to their own start page 'iGoogle' and also subscribe to feeds.

Earlier this facility was only available on http://www.portaleimmigrazione.it/ where you could check the status till you have your first appointment with the questura for finger prints and submitting your photographs.

PhD Students in Italy and time to get residence permit

If you are PhD student in Italy, then please spend some time here.

The time taken to issue the stay permit, specially to PhD students and postdocs, who are here for three years is really becoming a serious problem. The laws are same for normal students and PhD students.

Please go through the survey which has been arranged for foreign doctoral students in Italy. The survey, whose results will be presented in preview opening of the conference "Brain drain, brain gain" to be held in Pisa May 23 2009, () is proposed to analyze the policies of immigration to the people highly qualified in Italy. The questions concern the documentation required, costs and timing for obtaining documents. This can be really useful for the PhD students who are unable to travel for scientific purpose due to the lack of proper documentation like permesso di soggiorno and residenza.

Therefore I ask your cooperation to distribute this document to all the PhD student you know and complete this survey to help the future PhD students coming to Italy.

Download the survey file (PDF)

Once you have completed the survey, you can send the survey from the inbuilt link or via mail to Fondazione RODOLFO DEBENEDETTI

For more informaion, you can contact

Tito Boeri

Direttore Scientifico Fondazione RDB)

----

Fondazione RODOLFO DEBENEDETTI

Via Roentgen, 1

I-20136 Milan (Italy)

Tel. +39-02-58363341 / 2

Fax +39-02-58363309

info@frdb.org

www.frdb.org

L'Aquila Earthquake: Before and after disaster on 6th April 2009

I am an Indian living in Italy. The day, 6th April 2009, this devastating earthquake in L’Aquila brought sudden disaster killing over 150 and destroying ancient buildings, I received lot of calls from India as well as from my friends. Well I live in North far from Central Italy.

I have visited L’Aquila once, It so beautiful city situated at the altitude of around 700 meters surrounded by Apennine Mountains. Below is the picture of the highest mountain of Italy "Gran Sasso" viewed from L'Aquila.


The destruction was so heavy that it destroyed almost all old building. The Anime Sante of L'Aquila in the city centre is totally destroyed. You can see the picture before and after catastrophe.


Watch the Arial view from BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7984951.stm

Lettera d'Invito o Dichiarazione di ospitalità per visto turistico : Invitation letter or Host declaration Download link

If you are planning to Invite your parents, spouse or your friend on tourist visa in Italy, then you need to complete this form. I am putting few links to download this invitation letter (Lettera Invito) You can download from any link.

English
http://www.esteri.it/visti/pdf/host_declaration.pdf

Italian

http://vikas.download.googlepages.com/lettera_invito1.pdf

http://www.esteri.it/visti/pdf/invito_t.pdf

http://www.consbuenosaires.esteri.it/NR/rdonlyres/C64B4932-B725-4F4B-8C82-E3B9B6508CF9/0/lettera_invito.pdf

Read More articles

How to invite wife or spouse to Italy?

How to invite parents to italy from India for short visit on visto tourismo?

Spouse visa, wife visa or family visa, Bring your spouse together with you while coming to Italy

List of Indian, Bangla, Pakistani, Chinese or Asian stores in Milan Italy

Indian Supermarkets and Grocery Stores (Indian shop)
Via Castaldi 32, Milano Telephone 02 29510136

Milan Bangla Store
Via Lazarus Palazzi 8, Milano, Italy

Chinese or else
via settembrini, dietro caiazzo

Ambia And Sons Snc Di Khan Shakhawat Hossain & C.
Via Ponte Seveso,27
20125 Milano
Tel.: (+39) 0266719253

Asian Food Products Snc Di Abello Leonida & C.
Via Pilo Rosolino,20
20129 Milano
Tel.: (+39) 0229519043

Bangladesh Alimentary Snc Di Miah Abu Badsha & C.
Via Petrella Errico,19
20124 Milano
Tel.: (+39) 0229400589

China Food Store
Via Rosmini Antonio,11
20154 Milano
Tel.: (+39) 0233105368

Euro Asian S.N.C. Di Alam Md Shamsul & C.
Via Petrella Errico,21/Sc.A
20124 Milano
Tel.: (+39) 0220404965

Friend'S Asian Grocery Snc Di Mohsin Mohammad E Hossain Moaz
Via Menabrea Luigi Federico,20
20159 Milano
Tel.: (+39) 0266825265

International Food Xue Qin
Via Padova,27
20127 Milano
Tel.: (+39) 022613041

Jalalabad Alimentari Di Mohammed Anwar Hussain
Via Mincio,12
20139 Milano
Tel.: (+39) 0256816967

Yong Chun Market Snc Di Zhang Zhenci
Via Paracelso
20129 Milano
Tel.: (+39) 02201056

Indian , Lanka, bangla , chinese , pakistani etc.. These stores sell all our products. like tea , wheat flour, basmati rice, dry grains like mung daal, all kind of daal , masala, chilly powder, ginger powder, garlic powder, turmeric powder etcc. Some shops may not be available with time.., if you know more stores, please add it.

TOURIST VISA FOR SPOUSE, For holders of work permit

Here Mr Ravi shares his personal experience of getting tourist visa from VSF-Italy in delhi.

==============
I have got the answers from my side after getting tourist visa for my wife, from delhi.

1) DOCS REQUIRED..

a) Valid Passport with names on each other.
b) Application Form & Photo graph.
c) Bank account from india (any money in it..just a proof for first timer).
d) Travel Insurance
e) Insurance declaration from .. (you will get it there)
f) Lettero di invito.
g) Work Contract as a financial proof (instead of bank guarantee) but it must be more than 2780 € in 3 months..


TIME TO ISSUE TOURIST VISA: 3 Days (i got it ready on next day )

So if you are on the work permit... just no need to worry about bank guarantee, endorsement.....!! your work contract will be enough.

Hope this helps someone...
=============

Click here for More detailed information if you are not holding a work contract. You can also download the invitation letter.

Spouse visa, wife visa or family visa, Bring your spouse together with you while coming to Italy

If you are coming to Italy on work visa or study visa, you have the rights to take your spouse with you.

You need a “nulla osta” (entry clearance certificate from Italy) for taking your wife here in Italy as a family visa.

There are two cases..

1. Taking wife with you at the time of first entry into Italy.

For this purpose, your employer or sponsor needs to apply for “Nulla Osta per Familiare al Seguito” (No Objection certificate for accompanying spouse/minor children) on Behalf of you.

And for this a “Delega” must be signed before this Consulate General to nominate a person in Italy to apply for and obtain the “Nulla Osta per familiare al seguito” on behalf of the principal applicant. Contact your employer for this..., this process takes up to 90 days.

http://www.vfs-italy.co.in/website/PDF/REQ-DOCUMENTS-FAMILIARE-AL-SEGUITO.pdf

2. Calling you family on family visa after you are settled in Italy.

For this purpose you need to apply for "Nulla osta per Ricongiungimento familiare" once you are here in Italy. This process could also take up to 90 days. But never done in 90 days.

Process one (“Nulla Osta per Familiare al Seguito” ) is with less headache from your side.

http://www.vfs-italy.co.in/website/PDF/Spouse-VISA.pdf

3. If both options does not work, then another option is to take your wife with you on toursit visa, But this would be valid only for 90 days only.

http://vikas-ke-funde.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-invite-wife-or-spouse-to-italy.html

Final comment and personal experience:

The Italian Bureaucracy is at high, It is very difficult for a foreigner to deal it with. The average time taken for giving the stay permit “permesso di soggiorno” is around one year, which is around two weeks in Geramny and other EU countries. Some times you receive your expired permit. You have the similar story for the Nulla osta also.

Good luck

How to invite wife or spouse to Italy

Its really difficult to bring your spouse to Italy when you come here. Generaly, for wife family visa is required and for that Entry clearance certificate "Nulla osta per ricongiungimento familiare" from the local police "Questura" To get nullaosta issued, you need hell amount of documents. First of all You do not know Italian and if you have to inquire in Italian, then gone case..., Italian beurocracy is similar to India. I am here for two years and still find problem.

In this article I am going to describe the simplest way to bring your wife/ husband/ spouse / friends or parents to Italy for maximum 90 days on tourist visa (visto tourismo)

Here is the list of Documents required.

In addition to the application form, valid passport and recent photograph, You need the following docs.

1. letter of invitation (from sponsor)
Download Invitation letter  and complete it.

2. Attested copy of all pages of your passort, attested photo copy of permesso di soggiorno, should be valid during your spouse entry, if not then the attested photo copy of expired permit and poste italiana ricevuta.
Attested means, attested from your local commune or tribunale. Ask you commune for the procedure. You can find some agents doing this for 100-200 EUR.

If you are in India to bring your spouse, then VFS-italy can attest this document by showing them the oroginal.

3. Medical insurance ( 30,000 Euros) / Overseas travel insurance
It will cost around 3000 INR for 90 days, you can ICICI lombard overseas travel insurance
http://www.icicilombard.com
You can calculate the amount before buying the insurance. It is calculated per day basis.

You can buy it online from anywhere in the world with your credit card, also for your spouse, just pretend that your spouse is buying in India.

4. Bank Guarantee from the sponsor.
Bank Guarantee is "Fidejussione bancaria" in italia, ask you bank if they are ready to give, You should have deposit of 3000 EUR per person in bank. The charges may very from 100-500 EUR.

Alternative of this is the Currency conversion endorsement on the passport of your spouse, you can ask any travel agent, and they can endorse for you or your spouse after taking 500-1000 INR. This is good option. If you are inviting for only few days, then better to go for real endorsement

5. Marriage certificate for Mumbai consulate (need not to be translated) and endorsement of spouse name on each other passport. This is must.

Your Wife or spouse in India must supply the following.

6. Covering letter, detailing purpose of trip, duration of stay and outlining the travel itinerary.
7. Flight ticket
8. One year Bank statement. (Open the account as soon as possible, if your spouse does not have it)
9. If they are working, then letter from the employer. If they are business man or house wife, then they can mention this in the covering letter.

Simplest way
If you are in Italy then Just sent the
1. Completely filled and signed invitation letter,
2. attested copy of passport, PDS and ricevuta(if permit is expired) from your side. (Attested from your local commune)

Ask your spouse in India to prepare
1. fill the visa form taken from the vfs-italy, (if there is a mistake, vfs will correct)
2. prepare the covering letter, you can prepare behalf of them
3. buy the icicilombard insurance by visiting any ICICI bank, (you can aslo buy online from here and send along will all other documents.)
4. Prepare the bank statement, need not to have lot of money,
5. Endorsement of around 2800 EUR on each passport by contacting any travel agent, (1500 for one and half months, for 90 days its 2716.68 Euro)
6. Confirmed ticket booking.
7. Employer NOC if they are working.

After having these documents ready, take the appointment and visit vfs italy, (you can also take the appointment for them online.)

I hope these documents are enough, If they require more documents, they will let your spouse know. they are very cooperative.

I have experience inviting my wife from Delhi,

they asked for my wife bank account statement even she is a house wife, I do not know why, I was lucky that she has 6 month old account with 5000 INR and only single transaction, they accepted that.

I think this is the simplest and cheapest way to call your parents or your spouse to invite to Italy.

Some rules are different for Mumbai / kolkatta consulate and Delhi embassy


If you have any question, please leave a comment, I would be very happy to answer.

More information
http://www.vfs-italy.co.in/
http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp

Tariffa amica, save 20% money on your trenitalia train tickets

Tariffa amica (Amica fare) save 20% money on your trenitalia tickets

I think most of us have problem in understandin italian language, so difficult to find some offers. I hope that this post could help you to save 20% on your train tickets when you travel to Italy.

Italian trains, trenitalia offers different kind of fare/ tariff to its passengers.

Most common tariff is Standard tariff, that you always buy. Another kind of ticket is Tariffa Amica. (20% discount when traveling alone or with friends). Each Italian train (AV, ES*, ES*city, IC Plus, IC, ICN, Exp, CC, WL except regional) has some limited seats with 20% discounted tariff amica with the following condition

1. Ticket should be booked at least one day in advance.
2. The cost of ticket should be higher than 10 EUR.

For exampls, Here is the comparison of the tickets, if you are traveling from Milan (milano centrale)to Rome (Roma Termini)

ES* ---------|- StandardFare -|---- 20% Tariffa Amica
First class ----|---- 80.80 EUR------|-- 64.60 EUR (You Save 16.2 EUR)
Second Calss |---- 56.10 EUR------|-- 44.90 EUR (You Save 11.2 EUR )

Napoli (Napoli Centrale) to Venice (Venezia S. Lucia)
ES* ---------|- StandardFare -|---- 20% Tariffa Amica
First class----|--- 103.60 EUR ------|-- 82.90 EUR (You Save 20.7 EUR)
Second Calss|---- 73.20 EUR------|-- 58.60 EUR (You Save 14.6 EUR )

So finally you save a lot in one trip, isn't it great.You can buy this tickes from Internet, Train ticket counters, TIcket machines, Travel Agencies (Azenzia vaiggi),

Buy your ticket in advance and ask for tariffa amica. if seats are available, you will get the same ticket with 20% discounted price.

Enjoy saving money with my funde... vikas ke funde

More details:

In English:
http://www.trenitalia.it/en/promozioni_offerte/promozioni/tariffa_amica.html

In Italian:
http://www.trenitalia.it/it/550ebba8b5e43110VgnVCM1000001c42fe0aRCRD-440825170baf2110VgnVCM1000001c42fe0aRCRD.shtml

How to invite parents to italy from India for short visit on visto tourismo?

We Indians are quite attached to our parents, many of use are looking a simple way to Invite our parents to show them the western world. I hope that this post would help you in Inviting your parents to Italy for a short visit of maximum up to 90 days.

Documents required.

In addition to the application form, valid passport and recent photograph, You need the following docs.

1. letter of invitation (from sponsor)
Download from here and complete it.
www.consbuenosaires.esteri.it/NR/rdonlyres/C64B4932-B725-4F4B-8C82-E3B9B6508CF9/0/lettera_invito.pdf


2. Attested copy of all pages of your passort, attested photo copy of permesso di soggiorno, should be valid during your parents entry, if not then the attested photo copy of expired permit and poste italiana ricevuta.
Attested means, attested from your local commune. Ask you commune for the procedure.

If you are in India to bring your parents, then VFS-italy can attest this document for you if you show them the oroginal.

3. Medical insurance ( 30,000 Euros) / Overseas travel insurance
It will cost around 3000 INR for 90 days, you can ICICI lombard overseas travel insurance
http://www.icicilombard.com/
You can calculate the amount before buying the insurance. It is calculated per day basis.

You can buy it online from anywhere in the world with your credit card, also for your parents, just pretend that your parents are buying in India.

4. Bank Guarantee from the sponsor.
Bank Guarantee is "Fidejussione bancaria" in italia, ask you bank if they are ready to give, I am not sure how much they charge, but I heard they it may go upto 500 EUR.

Alternative of this is the Currency conversion endorsement on the passport of your parents, you can ask any travel agent, and they can endorse for you or your parents after taking 500-1000 INR. This is good option. If you are inviting for only few days, then better to go for real endorsement

Your parents must supply the following.

5. Covering letter, detailing purpose of trip, duration of stay and outlining the travel itinerary.
6. Flight ticket
7. One year Bank statement of your parents.
8. If they are working, then letter from the employer. If they are business man or house wife, then they can mention this in the covering letter.

Simplest way
If you are in Italy then Just sent the
1. Completely filled and signed invitation letter,
2. attested copy of passport, PDS and ricevuta(if permit is expired) from your side. (Attested from your local commune)

Ask you parents to in India to prepare
1. fill the visa form taken from the vfs-italy, (if there is a mistake, vfs will correct)
2. prepare the covering letter, you can prepare behalf of them
3. buy the icicilombard insurance by visiting any ICICI bank, (you can aslo buy online from here and send along will all other documents.)
4. Prepare the bank statement, need not to have lot of money,
5. Endorsement of around 1500 EUR on each passport by contacting any travel agent, (1500 for one and half months, for 90 days its 2716.68 Euro)
6. Confirmed ticket booking.
7. Employer NOC if they are working.

I am sorry about ration card, its not required.

After having these documents ready, take the appointment and visit vfs italy, (you can also take the appointment for them online.)

I hope these documents are enough, If they require more documents, they will let your parents know. they are very cooperative.

I have experience inviting my wife from delhi,

they asked for my wife bank account statement even she is a house wife, I do not know why, I was lucky that she has 6 month old account with 5000 INR and only single transaction, they accepted that.

I think this is the simplest and cheapest way to call your parents or your spouse to invite to Italy.

Some rules are different for Mumbai / kolkatta consulate and Delhi embassy


If you have any question, please leave a comment, I would be very happy to answer.

More information
http://www.vfs-italy.co.in/
http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp#1

Traveling to Germany and schengen area is allowed with expired permit and poste intalian receipt (permesso+ricevuta)

The new circular published on http://www.interno.it/
"Dal 1° agosto 2008 al 31 gennaio 2009 i cittadini in attesa di regolarizzazione del permesso di soggiorno possono transitare nell’area Schengen"
according to this new circular, starting from 1st AUG 2008 to 31 Jan 2009, one can transit via schengen countries while going to their home country with the expired permit and ricevuta along with a passport.

Update: Recently I found on the Fragomen site, which says that "Both first time and renewal applicants may travel to Schengen countries if they obtain a temporary travel residence permit directly from their local police station (Questura)."

Please do not believe this Fragmon website, Now I have found the link on the Official Journal of the European Union, where the poste italiana ricevuta along with the expired residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) is allowed as a residence permit to travel to schengen states/ countries.

The Update of the list of residence permits has been Published and can be downloaded from the following link:
In ENglish
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:207:0012:0013:EN:PDF
In Italian
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:207:0012:0013:IT:PDF

In All EU language
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?mode=dbl&lang=en&lng1=en,it&lng2=bg,cs,da,de,el,en,es,et,fi,fr,hu,it,lt,lv,mt,nl,pl,pt,ro,sk,sl,sv,&val=477005:cs&page=1&hwords=

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/ is the official european union documentation server or gateway to the EU law which givens the online access to European Union law and is updated regularly.

You can find this text in this article

ITALY
Additional type of residence permit
— Special Italian Post Office receipt for residence permit renewal application The use of the Special Italian Post Office receipt is possible exclusively in conjunction with the passport of the alien and the expired residence permit. This receipt will be used from 1 August 2008 until 31 January 2009.

Now you can take the printout of this pdf to avoid any confusion.

This article is exclusively for Update of the list of residence permits referred to in Article 2(15) of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (OJ C 247, 13.10.2006, p. 1, OJ C 153, 6.7.2007, p. 5, OJ C 192, 18.8.2007, p. 11, OJ C 271, 14.11.2007, p. 14, OJ C 57, 1.3.2008, p. 31, OJ C 134, 31.5.2008, p. 14)

Article 2(15) of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament
15. ‘residence permit’ means:
(a) all residence permits issued by the Member States according to the uniform format laid down by Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 of 13 June 2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits for thirdcountry nationals (2);
(b) all other documents issued by a Member State to thirdcountry
nationals authorising a stay in, or re-entry into, its territory, with the exception of temporary permits issued pending examination of a first application for a residence permit as referred to in point (a) or an application for asylum;


Before this article on EU website, it was little bit confusing, whether this new circular allow us to travel to schengen countries or not. To avoid further confusion. I wrote an email to German embassy. At first reply they wrote to me that " unfortunately I have to inform you that the new circular only speaks about transit via Schengen countries on the way to your home country, not about business, holiday or family visit visa without leaving the Schengen area."

After few days, I received one mail from German embassy, Rome, which says that now german embassy has accepted this circular ans also allowed the foreigners in Italy having applied for their renewal of permesso can travel to Germany for a short visit (upto 90 days in every 180 days). Here is the mail

============================
Dear Sir

About two weeks ago we were informed by Italian officials, that, in contradiction to the new circular given by the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the postal receipt and the old Italian residence permit should also allow to go for short visits to other Schengen members. This information was given to us on demand and not circulated by Italian officials.

We verified the information, with the German border police, which was also not informed by the Italian authorities about the new regulations. Finally the German Ministry for Internal Affairs decided to accept the new Italian regulation, though it had not been published the correct way.
About a week ago the German Officials send out an order to all border controll postings, to accept the old Italian residence permit together with the Postal receipt and a valid passport as a valid travel document to enter Germany.

My reply to you was dated August 6th, so some time before the new regulation came out. By then the information was complete and correct.
I'm sorry that confusion is caused but I want to reiterate , that it is not the German authorities taking one decision and communicating another.

Sincerely
b.o.
Jana Kirch


Generalkonsulat der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Consolato Generale della Repubblica Federale di Germania
I - Via Solferino 40, 20121 Milano
Tel: 0039 02 62311030
Fax: 0039 02 6554213
===============================

Its a good news for US, now enjoy travelling to schengen coutries with your expired permit.

If you want the copy of the mail, please leave your email ID, I will forward it to you.