You said the Consulate sent a long list of things you need. You should only need copies of your passport, copy of spouse's DNI, 4 passport size photos, marriage certificate or libre de familia, a police record and a health certificate (basically that you are aids free). You will need these things in Spain as well. They will probably ask that you get an Apostille (the official stamp). It what we call notorized, but they have certain people licensed to do it. Your lawyer will make sure everything is in order and you will need to have your paperwork presented at a consulate in the States (Not all of them require you in person). When your visa is a approved you will have to go in person and pick it up. Then return to Spain go to the Oficina de Extranerjos with you spouse (all of your paperwork) and apply for your residency card. It can take a few months to a year. But you can be here with your spouse. Spain is one of the slowest countries to deal with, but they never check anything.

I don't have a lawyer to recommend, the person I used has moved to the south of Spain.

 

dbeach
You have it easier married to a Britsh Citizen.Once you are in Spain go to the Oficina de Extranerjos with your visa and your spouse to apply for your resident card. She will need to register there as well and you can usually apply at the same time.

 

Thought I'd post an update on my progress towards obtaining the Schengen Visa through the Los Angeles Spanish Consulate.

I have all of the below except the Spanish residence card as there is a 3-month backlog to obtain. They NOW want notarized copies of his rental agreement and proof of employment.

This is all just insane to me as he is a UK citizen. Why does LA have to be different than NY or London? We have been apart 6 months and at this rate the end is still 2 months away. One person at the Consulate said the Empadronamiento should be fine but now they want more. They said anybody can just walk in and get an Empadronamiento.

The LA office is unable to assist you with traveling with pets. NY and Washington Consulates have info online but LA hasn't a clue when you speak to them over the phone and refer you to the Spanish Embassy.

I called up to find out whether I needed an appointment to apply and what hours they accepted applications and the attendant yelled at me saying I should READ THE INSTRUCTIONS which I have pasted below. I tried to explain to them that the answer to my question is not on it and they insist that it is.

Every inquiry I have made whether it be phone or email, no matter how specific and particular I am, they always tell me to READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Maybe that's the only English they know because my questions and particular situation are not answered by the instructions.

The link below is to the NY consulate site instructions. I like the last item on it where it says "AND/OR official certificate of residence in Spain" which is the "certificado de empadronamiento" stated in the previous item.

<http://www.spainconsul-ny.org/%21consula.doi/!reagrupsp.html>

I told LA about it and they said well you are not applying through NY. This is LA and this is what we require. I have given you an alternative to the residence card by requiring notarized rental agreement and proof of employment.

I wish GOOD LUCK to anyone else applying through the Los Angeles Consulate.

Oh, I should add the information that they insist is on this list.
They are open from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Monday through Friday. No appointments. Phone (323) 938-0158 / 0166 and the extension for visas is 23 (so you don't have to listen to all the menu options) and operator is 10. Ah but they don't answer any of the phones until after 8:30 a.m.


CONSULATE GENERAL OF SPAIN
5055 Wilshire Blvd. Ste, 860
Los Angeles, CA.90036


FAMILY REGROUPING VISA (WITH EUROPEAN UNION CITIZEN)

- This visa process takes around 20 days.
- Your visa application will not be accepted if is incomplete (missing the required documents or photocopies)
- There is no legal right to a visa. Your visa may be denied or its validity limited.
- All applicants must come in person to apply and pick up the visa
- A European Union citizen may regroup his/her spouse, children, and parents. In the case of parents and /or children over the age of 21, the European Union citizen must be fully financially responsible for them.

Instructions to request a Regrouping with European Union Citizen Visa
* A duly completed visa application form, plus three photocopies.
* Passport valid for a minimum of six months, plus two photocopies. Your passport must have a blank page to affix the visa.
* 4 recent color passport-size photos, one stapled to each application.
* If you are not a US citizen, resident alien card plus 2 photocopies
* If the applicant is the child of the European Union citizen: Original Birth Certificate with the “Apostille of the Hague” affixed to it, and two photocopies.
* If the applicant is the spouse of the European Union citizen: Original Marriage Certificate with the “Apostille of the Hague” affixed to it, and two photocopies.
* 2 notarized photocopies of passport and valid Spanish residence card of the citizen of any state member of the European Union that you are regrouping with- if he/she lives in Spain.
* Official certificate of residence of the European Union citizen- “Certificado de Empadronamiento”- and two photocopies. If the European Union citizen does not live in Spain, “baja consular”, as well as proof of employment in Spain, housing, notarized invitation from family in Spain, etc.
* If regrouping parents or children over the age of 21: Notarized letter from the European Union citizen stating full financially responsibility for the parents or children over the age of 21, and one copy. Also, two copies of the latest bank statement
If the visa applicants are parents of the European Union citizen, they must also present original Birth Certificate of the European Union citizen with the “Apostille of the Hague” affixed to it.
* This type of visa is free of charge.

[%sig%]

 

Hi Dbeach,
The Schengen visa is to regroup with spouse/family, good for only a limited amount of time. You have the right visa as that is what I'm trying to apply for myself. I was told the same thing that I will have to apply for residency once I'm in Spain.

It sounds like you have been told the same thing I have been told, which I hope is a good sign.

Good luck!
~K

 

Uk man wants to marry Colombian woman who wants to live in S

Hola, I have a rather complex relationship situation that I would be grateful for some advice on. My girlfriend is a Colombian national. She has been living and working in Spain for four years and overstayed her visa. She returned voluntarily to Columbia November 15th 2004. I am a British born national and I live in London. While my girlfriend was living in Spain, I visited regularly and we have been in a relationship for about 14 months. We want to get married and eventually live together in Spain.

Ok, that's the background info . . . this is the problem.

My girlfriend, Rocio, wants to return to Spain to live and work. I have business commitments in the UK and cannot emmigrate to Spain immediately, niether can I yet afford to. We anticipate that Rocio will have difficulty obtaining another visa due to her 'illegal' overstay.

My question is one of strategy. Where would it be best to get married in order to secure a visa for her to re-enter Spain?

I understand that, if we get married in Colombia, there is a procedure to follow in order for her to enter and reside with me in England (being married to a British national) but, she would then have to reside in England for 2 years to get nationalized. My question is, if we take this route, what passport would she hold, and can she immediately travel freely to Spain and apply to set up residence in Spain as my spouse who is living in England?

Or, where do we get married if she wants to live in Spain but is refused a visa to enter Spain (if, for example, we needed to marry in Spain for her to obtain a Resident's Permit). A Catch 22 senario . . .

Any ideas?

[%sig%]

Post Edited (18-11-2004 21:16)

 

Re: Uk man wants to marry Colombian woman who wants to live

I would go to the Spanish Embassy in London and Spanish Consulate and see what they have to say about your situation. They will probably tell you you can marry anywhere you like, as they told me.

Your situation is tricky but that is where I would start. It sounds like you'll need a Schengen visa for Spain for your wife though.

Best of LUCK!
~K