Residency Blues by Steven Hajdu |
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21 Jan, 2006 Since the beginning of the New Year, the Hungarian immigration rules have allegedly changed to comply with new EU obligations. Of course, we're students and our first year is hard enough. Who wants to jump through hoops to get residence permits, when it's not really enforced? What most of us did was remain here on 90-day tourist visas. This is the way it's been done and the way it will be until we graduate, right? Well, actually… no. Rumors have been flying around about how to tackle our relentless procrastination. Some students say that tourist visas will be adequate up until the day of graduation. Others gossip that some of our classmates have been deported because of their illegal habit of ‘border-jumping' or more specifically leaving Hungary to Vienna/Bratislava before their 90-day tourist visa expires and then re-entering Hungary with a new 90-day tourist visa. Regardless of what's been floating around, I thought it would be wise to contact the English Secretary, but my questions fell on deaf ears. If anyone has read some of the most current messages on the Neptun system, they'll notice that the English secretariats have emphatically refused to support us on this issue. Moreover, most embassies are not familiar with the new Hungarian immigration laws and often times refer students to the Immigration office, which does not offer services in English. Whatever your situation, it would be wise to comply with the official immigration rules, which states and this is a quote from the office of the foreign minister: One may enter the territory of the Republic of Hungary without a visa and may stay
there for Hungary unfortunately does not cater so well to English speakers, so information flow sometimes resembles the childhood game of telephone. For all those interested in getting a residence permit, try to ignore the rumors, follow this checklist and travel to Vienna/Bratislava under more pleasurable pretenses. • Apply at LEAST 30 days before your STUDENT visa expires. • Download and fill out Residents Permit Application Form for Studies at http://www.bmbah.hu/nyomtatvany_mintak/pdf/tanulm%E1nyangol.pdf • Certificate of Enrollment in Hungarian from the English Secretary • Bank Statement or statement of Funds from your bank or creditor. • Address Registration Form ( lakasbejelento ) filled out and signed by your LANDLORD and then submitted to district municipal office. Available at the immigration office ( Budafoki út 60 see directions below) • Certificate of property ownership ( tulajdoni lap ) filled out and signed by your LANDLORD available from your LANDLORD • 5000 HUF DUTY STAMP ( illetékbélyeg ) available at the Hungarian Posta. • Medical test results from ANTSZ not older than three months available at ANTSZ (Vaci UT (not UTCA) 174 next to Duna Plaza). Takes around 10 days to get results. • Passport valid for at least 18 months from the time of application. • 2 passport photos available at most metro stations (Arany Janos Metro station for example) • Proof of medical insurance available from your insurance company or college international depending on your carrier. • Copy of your passport Take all of this the immigration office (Bevándorlási és Állampolgársági Hivata) at Budafoki út 60. Student hours are: Regular office hours: Getting there: Website: http://www.bmbah.hu/a_bah_ismertetese.php If you have anymore questions, please do not hesitate to reach me over the MSN messenger: doohidoo@hotmail.com .
Steven Hajdu Warning: the author does not assume responsibility of the content of this article. Official information on immigration issues is available at http://www.bmbah.hu .
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