Getting a Spanish Visa is not Impossible!

The Spanish visa process overwhelmed me initially.  I was confronted with a long list of documents to prepare, including a criminal background check and proof of health insurance. I would not be able to mail it in, I had to schedule an appointment at the office in San Francisco (meaning I would have to buy a plane ticket as well).  Getting an appointment was no small task.  I started looking at appointments in April, but only July appointments were available.  To get my visa on time, I needed an appointment in June.  I was anxious, I pondered delaying my start date.  After emailing my program coordinator, I realized this was normal for the San Francisco Spanish consulate.  They would release more appointments in June, I had to keep checking the calendar.

                Not all consulates require appointments.  It seemed unfair, but I didn’t have any choice since it’s based on which state you live in.   I started checking every day, then checking several times during the day.  I noticed appointments in July popping up; I figured these must be people like me, who needed June appointments, cancelling their July appointments for open June appointments.  There were one or two times when I would see a June appointment, cancel my July appointment, only to hurriedly rebook my July appointment because someone else had booked the June appointment.  Eventually, I snagged an appointment for June 15th.

                The documents I needed included a background check (requiring finger prints), proof of financial status (a notarized letter from my parents), a medical certificate from my doctor (confirming that I didn’t have Ebola or some other dangerous disease), proof of intended itinerary, copies of my driver license and passport, and letters proving that I had a program lined up, as well as insurance, which CIEE provided.  The consulate required proof of intended return itinerary as well. Most airlines will not book flights more than nine months in advance, so my proof of intended itinerary indicated I was returning three months before my program ends.  I will note my boyfriend, Kevin, is in the same program and there was a small snafu with his medical documentation: a registered nurse had signed it instead of an MD.  The consulate was understanding enough to let him mail in a new copy but take note for if you are applying for the Spanish visa.  It is difficult to get an appointment and you never know if they will be understanding or not.

                The San Francisco consulate was a lot smaller than I expected.  It makes sense they require appointments, the place barely is more than a lobby.  My appointment was at 9:20, but I was there at 9 and they took my documents.  After a few minutes, they took me to the back and told me my documents were perfect, but I needed different postage.  I was given conflicting information about the San Francisco consulate: I was told they wouldn’t mail my passport and I needed to fly back to pick them up.  I also found information online saying they would mail it to the nearest honorary consulate.  For anyone going through this process, they will mail it to the nearest honorary consulate.  Thankfully, there’s USPS a 10-minute walk away. I was able to buy the postage and return, much more affordable than flying back to San Francisco!

                It was quite an experience going to the honorary consulate in Seattle.  I got a call from the only guy there, telling me that my visa and passport had arrived.  A week later, I drove there.  It was confusing, the address was in the suburbs; not exactly the location I would expect for a foreign consulate.   I think it’s the guy’s home.  When I arrived, I was greeted by the man’s very friendly dog.   Once he confirmed my name, he handed me my passport.  Seeing my face on that official visa made the anxiety, hard work, and stress of the past two months worth everything.