This is my second trip to Italy with my wife who is an Italian citizen. First trip was in 2011 for a duration of two weeks but at that time we were not married.
I am currently unemployed and worried they might refuse the visa. I will be able to prove that I have funds to sustain me for the duration of the visit but cannot prove I am permanently employed as I am basically freelancing. For my last application the Travel Agent, who is an accountant, gave a letter stating he is the bookkeeper of the sole-proprietor business I owned (a restaurant at the time) and they accepted it.
Will I be able to do it the same way?
As background, I am South African and the marriage is legitimate. We have even applied for an unabridged marriage certificate but only in November last year and apparently it takes up to eight months to obtain. In the previous visa, we submitted our Islamic Marriage Certificate.
We might travel to Germany as well, where my wife's sister resides. In theory, I would like to stay in Europe. I am 59 and my wife and I have known each other 30 years but never got married. We made Nikaah in 2009 and registered at Home Affairs in 2016; otherwise, I would hold an EU passport by now.
Should I rather apply for a spouse reunification visa, as my wife is applying for emigration from South Africa?
She has dual citizenship, so as to be able to cash her retirement annuity before the age of maturity.
I was thinking of applying for a spouse visa for a one month visit, and then remain in Italy for the 90 days and thereafter apply for a longer visa.