My Visa Process Experience

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In hopes that this blog can serve both as a resource for those considering or preparing to teach English in Spain, and as a way to keep friends and family updated on what I’m up to, I thought it’d be worthwhile to reflect on my visa process. 

Spoiler alert. A lot went wrong. Many of the mistakes, admittedly, were my own, but some I can blame on the Boston branch of the BLS Spain (the company who partners with the Spanish Consulate to handle visa applications and other consular services for Spain). 

Mistake number one was made way back in May when I sent my fingerprints off to the FBI for my background check… I was a bit confused that it seemed I was able to submit the fingerprints I’d gotten done for free at Carleton Security without any payment, but I didn’t think too much about this and took it as a win. I had, in fact, not hacked the system. I had instead failed to fully read the instructions. Thus, when I got home a month later after graduation and was concerned as to why I still had not received my background check, it was because I’d never paid. So, my first piece of advice is: submit payment (or proof of online payment) if you send your background check in via mail. The other option, which I resorted to in order to save time, is to submit your fingerprints electronically. I did so by going to the closest USPS and then got my results within 24 hours!

Mistake number two also falls under the category of not fully reading the instructions. Not only does one need an FBI background check, but it must then be translated into Spanish and apostilled by the U.S. Secretary of State. I found this out 2 weeks before my appointment. It takes around 11 weeks for a background check to get apostilled. Luckily, for a fun price, this process can be expedited. Unluckily, I was one day too late for even the expedited process to get me my document in time. Thus, my second piece of advice is: leave time to apostille your background check!

I will spare you all the entire story, but essentially I went into Boston for my visa appointment without the apostilled background check. However, I soon learned that the application process can be started without this document. Yay, you might be thinking! But, wait. The mistakes didn’t end there. 

First, I went to the Boston Consulate of Spain instead of the BLS. So I had to run from Back Bay to the Finance District. Second, I did not have the proper documents, despite having checked and double cross-checked their website. 

Here’s what I learned: 

• The Boston BLS (and note that I am specifying the Boston branch because it seems that each district has slightly different rules) no longer accepts a notarized copy of your driver’s license as proof of residency. 
• They are picky with health insurance documents. I’d printed the exact document that my program sent me, which stated that I will be covered for my 9 months of employment, along with one month before and 15 days after I am scheduled to work. At my first appointment, they rejected my health insurance and told me it has to cover an entire year. My program director confirmed that this is not what the Spanish law says, so he wrote an extra letter putting the BLS in their place. So when I returned a week later I still had the same health insurance plan, but this time it was accepted. 
• They no longer accept money orders. Only payments with debit, cash, or check. 

So, although I had to walk out of that stupid building unsuccessfully, it was a relief to know it wasn’t because of the one pesky document that I was missing. Even with that document I would have been rejected! Plus, it was truly almost comical how much went wrong. 

You might be wondering, how did I eventually submit my visa application? Well, after learning that the BLS does walk-in appointments (something that could’ve been nice to know earlier), I hopped on the 4:30 AM train from Brunswick, ME to Boston in order to get to the office right when they opened at 8 AM. I’d notarized a copy of my bank statement to serve as proof of residency, and I was crossing all fingers and toes that my application would be accepted. 

It was looking likely at one point, but luckily I did not have to meet with the same lady who’d rejected me the week before. Instead, I was shuttled into the Spain office that was just big enough to fit two (extremely cluttered) desks and a printer. In the same fashion as before, I handed over my folder of documents to start. Then silence. Silence for the next ~ 20 minutes as she sifted through all of my paperwork. During this time, I chose to remain hopeful that the silence meant all was well and underway. She was typing and scanning, taking pictures and printing. A lot was going on. Lo-and-behold, she handed me a receipt and asked how I’d be paying. The payment breakdown was a bit insane. Although I’m sure nothing compared to what it takes to get a U.S. visa. But here is tip number three: bring copies of every document; one of mine had to be photocopied (I honestly don’t know which), and that cost $15. 

Since it has not yet been 4-8 weeks worth of business days, I am still awaiting my visa. Still, with enough time having passed, I can admit: despite my frustrations with the Boston BLS, much of the complication was my own doing. Overwhelmed by the feelings and logistics of graduating from college, I very much neglected the process while I was at Carleton. I convinced myself that copying and pasting the visa instructions from my boss into my Notes app would be enough until I got home mid-June. So my final piece of advice is, no matter how scary it seems, take a deep breath and fully READ the visa instructions sooner rather than later. Yes, there are a lot of steps. However, broken down, the process is so doable. It certainly takes time and patience, but YOU CAN DO IT. Just don’t leave everything to the last minute like I did. If you know me at all, it might be surprising to hear how heavily I procrastinated throughout this process. Never again.