From the Pacific Northwest to Porto: Jason and Amy’s D7 Visa Story

Jason and Amy went to their D7 appointment at VFS San Francisco on 2 July 2026. Their lease had been signed twelve days earlier. Four weeks later their visas were issued.

By August they were living in Porto. Jason’s income is his US military disability pension, which is exactly the kind of steady monthly income the D7 is built for.

We’ve changed their names and some dates at their request.

Applying through VFS in the US has its own frustrations. Here’s how their application went, and what we’d tell anyone starting the same route.

Starting with the NIF and the bank

Jason and Amy started small. In February 2026 they ordered their Portuguese tax numbers (NIF) and a joint bank account from us. A few weeks later Jason asked whether we could also help them find a VFS appointment. That’s when they moved up to our Premium visa package, with Amy added as his dependent.

Doing the NIF and bank first is a sensible order. Both are needed for the visa, and the bank account can take weeks.

Getting a VFS San Francisco appointment

This was the hardest part, and it had nothing to do with their documents.

• Slots are scarce. VFS San Francisco releases appointments in batches, and they go within minutes. Jason checked the site several times a day for weeks.
• The payment page broke. In April, every slot he tried failed at the payment step. It was happening to many applicants at once.
• Rescheduling didn’t work. He eventually booked 22 May, which turned out to be too early because the bank account wasn’t ready. The reschedule button failed, so Jason booked a new date, 2 July, through Amy’s own VFS account and cancelled the first one. The consulate confirmed by email that her application was attached to his file.

If you’re a couple, it helps that each of you can hold a VFS account. It gives you a second way in when the system misbehaves.

US paperwork, Portuguese rules

A few things caught them out that catch out most US applicants:

• A4 paper. The Portuguese bank forms have to be printed, signed and posted. US printers are loaded with letter-size paper, so Jason had to go out and buy A4 first. It sounds trivial, but it cost a day.
• The FBI background check needs an apostille. They used an expedited apostille service to get it back in time. Allow a few weeks either way.
• Documents have a shelf life. The criminal record should be issued no more than 90 days before your appointment, and the marriage certificate no more than six months. Time them so they’re still valid on the day.

The money arrived late

Their savings were coming out of US retirement accounts, and the transfers took longer than planned. That held everything up: the bank account opened at the end of May, and the rest of their savings landed in early June.

The knock-on effect was the lease. They couldn’t commit to a flat until the money was there, so the search only started on 4 June for an appointment on 2 July. In 16 days they found a flat in Porto, our partner lawyer reviewed the lease, and they signed it. The registration with the tax office, the rent receipts and their insurance all came together in the last week.

It worked, but it was tight. If your savings are moving from retirement accounts, start the transfer early.

The appointment

On 19 June our team went through the complete file, and our partner lawyer signed it off. We also edited both cover letters.

The appointment itself was quick and not especially friendly. The VFS agent was rushed and questioned the bank statements. Jason explained them on the spot, and nothing had to be sent afterwards.

28 days from the VFS appointment in San Francisco to an approved D7.

VFS quotes around 60 days. Their visas were issued on 30 July, 28 days after the appointment.

After approval

The visa is valid for four months, and you use it to enter Portugal and apply for residence. Their AIMA residence appointment came with the visa: June 2027, in Viana do Castelo, even though they live in Porto. That’s normal now. AIMA appointments are often months away and in a different city, sometimes after the visa itself has expired. Your appointment confirmation is what covers you in between.

If you’re applying from the US

• Do the NIF and bank account first. They take the longest and the visa needs both.
• Watch VFS release days, and if you’re a couple, keep a VFS account each.
• Buy A4 paper before your bank forms arrive.
• Time your FBI check and apostille so they’re under 90 days old on the day.
• Move your savings early, especially out of retirement accounts. Everything else waits on them.
• Start the lease search as soon as the money is in. It’s the last piece and the easiest to run late.

Names are pseudonyms, used at the clients' request, and some dates have been changed. Images are illustrative. Every application is different, and consulate requirements and timelines change. Novomove is a relocation technology platform that coordinates licensed Portuguese lawyers, not a law firm.