Spain Forum

Convalidation of U.S. bachelor’s degree

2008-07-19T00:26:46Z

Hi there,

I’m new to the forum but not to Spain. I am an American married to a Spaniard and hoping to eventually do the Oposiciones to teach either English or History at Secondary school level. I’m wondering if there are any Americans on here who have done this already (and preferably recently) that can clear up a few questions. I know I have to have my degree ‘homologado’, then I have to do the C.A.P., THEN apply for oposiciones, right? Does anyone know how long each of these processes take? Also, is there a way to get out of doing the C.A.P.? I have my Trinity certificate of TEFL and was wondering if that might be accepted as equivalent. Really would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks!

Translation Service Recommendations?

2008-07-18T22:39:44Z

I’m in the process of applying for a student visa and the consulate that I’ll be going to requires that my police certificate of good conduct is translated into Spanish and notarized by a certified translator. I’ve contacted several services (local companies and national websites) and I’ve been given quotes between $60-$180 for this one-page document that basically consists of 2 sentences.

Anyone have any companies/individuals that they would recommend?

Thanks!

All-American girl to become criminal?

2008-07-05T01:20:39Z

I’m an American recent college grad who will be going to Barcelona in September to work as an au pair. I would like to stay for six months to a year. I’ve discovered that U.S. citizens may only stay in the Schengen nations for 90 days without a visa. I’ve looked over the requirements for the student and work visas, and neither of them are logistically feasible for my circumstances. What will happen when I’m ready to return home and it’s clear that I’ve overstayed? And will it be a problem that I won’t be able to present a return ticket when I enter Spain? I’m set on going to BCN, but my family would be devastated if they knew I was there illegally!
What should I do?

Questions about Freelancer’s Visa

2008-07-16T16:41:04Z

I’m confused by this site’s article on the freelancer’s working visa here: http://www.spainexpat.com/spain/information/freelancers_working_visa_in_spain/

It says:

“Another great thing about this visa is that your work contract with the outside media source is only an informal contract. This makes it easier to get media outlets on board as they don’t actually have to employ you once you’re in Spain. The contract is only a suggestion - the embassy doesn’t have to know that.”

But how would it work to “get media outlets on board” with “only an informal contract,” “only a suggestion,” if you need to submit a work contract and letter from your employer indicating your salary to apply for the visa?

I just graduated from college (BA in English, writing emphasis), and I would like to do freelance writing anyway while I work as an au pair in Spain next year. So I’m really interested in figuring out how to make this visa work for me (especially since the only alternative seems to be to overstay my tourist visa), but I definitely won’t be employed full-time. Any suggestions?

Maria

filipino with spanish citizenship needs help

2008-07-14T22:03:38Z

greetings! i have read really helpful messages and hope you too can help us. Got my Spanish citizenship after years of wait since I have a Spanish father. Was raised and born in the Philippines and my dad died when i was very young and never learned the language. recently registered and they gave me and my 2 children spanish passports and my marriage with my wife is registered in my libro de familia. recently moved my family to Ireland to work since i don’t speak spanish and feels it will be difficult to survive in spain without knowing the language but needed to flee the terrible Philippine Government. Would want to move to spain so my wife too can get her own spanish citizenship but its so hard to ask help at their embassy here in Ireland and we’ve been scorned for holding a spanish passports and not speak the language so i opted to ask for your expert opinion since medium of language here is english. people at the spanish embassy was not even helpful when we tried to register here and had difficulty cause their forms did not have english translations, routine for most forms right since English is the international language?

we plan to visit spain soon and see if moving my family to spain will be a good move for us. hope you can give us input on this. my wife (filipino also) is holding a residency card here in ireland but pending the issuance of her EU spouse documents (they say can take 6mos to 1 year) she needs visa to travel still. am i correct to assume that i just need her to apply for a short term stay visa and if we like spain, what are the steps to do so she too can have her spanish citizenship.Will it be better for us to just wait for her EU spouse documents next year and probably make her apply for Irish citizenship (but this takes 5 years stay in ireland before they process it and after processing, another minimum 1 year wait versus being told that she only needs to stay in spain for a year and she can have her own citizenship, is this true?) Do i have to be in spain with my wife or i can continue to work here in ireland and just visit my wife and kids regularly in spain?

thank you and more power to your website!

hope you can help us.

maryg

Residency/work permit for American married to Spaniard

2008-07-15T21:45:07Z

I’m hoping someone on this board has been through this process. My Madrid-born husband and two children and I will move to Madrid in Septemer. I have a transfer with my job and expect to start work in mid-November. We are gathering the necessary paperwork needed for me to file for a residency/work permit. His brother has made an appointment with immigration for us in mid-October, which was assume is the first one he could get.
My question is this, how long does it take to get the residency/work permit through. Do they grant you a temporary work permit so that you can work legally without waiting for the official residency papers to come through? I’ve given my boss a date of mid-Nov. but we are a little concerned that we could be waiting much longer for this paperwork, which would be a big problem.
When my husband came to the U.S., he got his temporary work visa fairly fast. Is it a similar situation in Spain? We’ll be living just outside Madrid.
Thank you

50cc Scooter Licence

2008-07-14T14:33:58Z

What sort of licence do you need to ride a 50cc Scooter?

Can I use a UK provisional or do I need to get a Spanish one?

Recognition of Foreign marriages here in Spain

2008-07-14T11:52:42Z

A little poser for the legal experts out there in Expat land.
We are UK nationals.
We were married in Florida some 11 years ago but never registered it with the Consulate there, or when we returned to England.
We subsequently moved to Spain back in 1999 and have always declared to the Spanish Authorities that we are married, never have they requested proof. If they had we would have produced our Florida Marriage Certificate.
We now believe that as far as the British authorities are concerned we are not married, but the question we would like to find the answer to is whether or not the Spanish authorities except we are married. In essence are we legally married here in Spain?
We would be grateful for any light that can be thrown upon the subject
Thanks in anticipation
Rod

Two questions! Tourist visa technicalities and working with a student visa

2008-07-08T12:26:41Z

Hi all..
I know that with a tourist visa I can stay in the Schengen zone for 90 days of every 6 months. However I’m confused, mathematically…
I entered Italy December 27th of last year, and left January 6th of this year.
I entered Barcelona May 16th of this year and plan to leave on August 6th.
So I’m not sure about how the days are calculated… The 6 months would have started on the 27th of December, right? That means my 90-day limit ran out around June 27th, and restarted June 28th… So I should be able to stay until August 6th and come back to Barcelona for a little while in September with no problem… is this correct?

Also, I’m thinking about getting a student visa so when I return I can stay much longer. I know that I have to go to school for 20 hours a week, and I can work for up to 20 hours a week. Can I work with my student visa or do I need to get an additional work visa? If I get a work contract for longer than my student visa, do I have to go get a work visa?

confusing.... thank you

PLEASE I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME OUT

2008-07-12T23:16:51Z

please i have a problem can anyone help me out,i am an illegal immigrant leaving in spain,but now i want to marry my german girlfriend in spain,we the spanish gorverment give me a resident permit after the marriage.
hope to hear from u guys
DAVID