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Hi my name is Thomas, I am from Australia. 

I came here in January with a one year working holiday visa.
When I first arrived here I went with my partner to the local police station to file a comunicazione di ospitalita to say I was living here with her.

While we were there we spoke to the police man about getting my permesso di soggiorno. He checked my visa out - it allows for two periods of work for no more than 3 months for each employer, total 6 months all up. He then rang the questura and spoke to them about it.
He gave us what we thought was good news. He said that I didn't need to get a permesso yet, he said to use my visa for the 2 x 3 months and then get a permesso di soggiorno and work permit with one of those employers so I could then stay longer than the original year.
We left and did not think much of it as we were busy for a few weeks and then covid 19 hit.

Now I am looking for work and we realised I might have made a huge mistake. It seems very clear and simple now that I should have still got the permesso di soggiorno within the 8 days and now we don't know what to do?
We have an appointment with a staff member from a work authority, but all other people we have called either don't know what to do or say that I should leave the country or tell me to do nothing including not work.

My aim is to be living here with my partner for 3 years while she studies, the last thing I want is to be deported.

Can anybody help please???