I felt really lost once I was accepted to the Auxiliares program through the Spanish ministry of education and started my visa application process. I wanted a step-by-step guide on how to navigate all of the paperwork and bureaucracy, so I've tried to lay out just that below. This guide will be particularly helpful if you are applying to the program from Pennsylvania and are assigned to be a teaching assistant in the province of Seville, like I am.
1. I know it sounds obvious, but read the instructions pdf titled "VISA APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR AMERICANS" on the program website. It explains that you are actually applying for a STUDENT visa not a work visa. Knowing this would've saved me a lot of trouble. Realize that not everything in this instruction manual is up to date. For example, the instructions say you must apply in person for a visa appointment. This is not necessarily the case depending on your consulate. Also, the application materials vary from consulate to consulate. They simple list everything they think you might need in the instructions. For this reason, it is important to visit your respective consulate website to figure out the specific requirements for your visa (see 2). 2. Go to the NYC Spanish Consulate website. (If you don't live in PA, you may be assigned to a different consulate, so be sure to use your respective consulate and not necessarily the one in NYC.) Under "LONG STAY VISA", there is a link for the required student visa. This lays out all of the required documents you need to apply for the visa in NY. 3. Obtain all of your documents. Everything you need to obtain/fill out is listed on the second page of the student visa pdf (see 2).
4. Now you have to bring all of these materials in an envelope to the consulate: 150 E 58th St New York, NY 10155 YOU DO NOT NEED AN APPOINTMENT. There is a drop box in the building to put your envelope in on the 30th (I think it's the 30th, but the man at the front desk will tell you) floor. I have heard you can pay someone to bring it to the consulate, but being from the Philly area, it was easy enough to bring it myself. It stinks that you have to bring it all the way to NYC, but you don't need an appointment which is nice. They said it takes 2-4 weeks to process a visa, but I got my visa in exactly 7 days! People applying through other consulates have not been so lucky. Best of luck to anyone applying and happy travels!
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AuthorI'm Emma. I love food more than anyone will ever understand - specifically cheese, chocolate, bread and pretty much every fat & carb combo you can think of - apple cider donuts, ice cream, the list goes on. Fats and carbs just go so well together. Don't you think? Why is it when I'm tasked to describe myself, I always talk about food? I guess if you want to learn more about me, you'll have to read my posts about my year as a teacher in Spain. Archives
May 2018
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