Since we planned to make payments in instalments, we decided to meet with the company that seemed they offer four payment insallments. Before that, we took a walk around the streets of Bratislava, did some shopping, and enjoyed a wine tasting.

Yes, it’s cold—I’m referring to the weather. We had heard so many negative comments about Slovakia and its people that our expectations were quite low. However, those comments were not fair. Like in every country, we encountered a few unpleasant people, but our overall experience was very positive. Personally, I have no complaints about the people, the city squares, or even the food. In fact, I kind of liked how shops and restaurants close early. By 3 PM, most places were already shutting down. While this isn’t great for visitors, it must be nice for the employees—they get to enjoy time with their families and friends. I hope they actually do.

The language sounds familiar, yet I can’t understand it. The greetings and common phrases are almost the same as in Russian. It’s been six years since I last spoke Russian, and I realize I’ve forgotten so much. A month before coming to Slovakia, we were in Egypt, where I met a Kyrgyz family at our hotel. We had a chance to practice Russian, mixing it with English.

Oh, and have I mentioned my wife, Safiye? We are going through this long-term residence process together. Since I will be the guarantor, she has fewer documents to prepare. However, she didn’t really like Slovakia. She wasn’t impressed with the weather or the people. I, on the other hand, feel differently. After experiencing the attitudes of some Egyptians during our last trip, the people here seem quite decent to me.

Before our afternoon meeting, we spent time walking around. We ate poppy seed pastries, had some beer, and bought a few souvenirs. We saved the famous garlic soup for later, after the meeting.

I was curious to see what a migration consultancy office looks like; I’ve never used such a service before. We prepared well, noted down all our questions, and hoped to get clear answers.

Finally, we arrived at the office right on time. A young man welcomed us. He was the person I had spoken to on the phone and exchanged emails with. He seemed friendly and professional, which made me feel more comfortable. I was pleased to learn that he is Ukrainian. His English was excellent, and he answered every question quickly and clearly.

There were a few other people in the office, but most of the staff had already finished their work for the day. This felt a bit early for us, but maybe Slovakia has it right.

Once we felt we had asked everything and received all the answers we needed, we thanked them and left. It was a very positive meeting for us.

I have become quite skeptical because, in my own country, people often try to take advantage of others with lies and tricks. I hope that during this residence permit process, we will meet more honest and professional people who can change this mindset.

Here are the questions we asked and the answers we received:

1. Are the processes consecutive, or do we apply for everything at the same time?
   The process moves step by step, but they still require partial payments in advance. This makes sense to some extent. However, unlike other firms, this company does not ask for full payment upfront.
2. What happens if we change our address after getting the permit?
   They are flexible with address changes. They recommend getting a six-month address first and then extending it later.
3. Do we need to renew the residence permit every year?
   No. The first permit is valid for two years. After that, the second one lasts three years.
4. What are the annual costs of the company?
   Around €2,000 per year.
5. Can we stay in a different place without changing our official residence address?
   Yes, we can live elsewhere without changing our registered address. We will decide based on our plans after obtaining the permit.
6. Are our driver’s licenses valid?
   The conversion process costs around €200, and they assist with it.
7. How are translation fees calculated?
   Translation costs are extra, and a €200 charge was already included in the estimated costs. We will see how much we actually need for translations.

But we didn’t stop there. We also asked about finding a home, and they have a real estate agent within their company. They also have an accounting department to handle tax and business-related matters.

We inquired about education, veterinary services, places to live, e-commerce rules, and many other topics. They answered everything clearly. For housing, they suggested Karlova Ves, so that’s where I’ll start searching for a rental tonight.

We thanked them, paid the consultation fee, and left. Tomorrow, we have a meeting with another firm. I’ll write about that experience too.

Hope everything goes well for all of us!