Hi - I have been denied a VISA (along with my 3 children). My husband has rec’d his residency VISA . We are here for his sabbatical year abroad.  Obviously I do not want to return to the US and leave my husband here. Our children are enrolled in school here in Spain, etc.  I am wondering how I can get around his VISA issue for the time being. (We plan to be a here a year, and have been here 2 months so far.)

Could we fly to a Schengen country in order to get the passports stamped when exiting Spain, and then re-enter Spain via car so we avoid problems with re-entry within the 6 month period?  if so- would I then be able to travel later in this year within Schengen countries without trouble because the officials would not really see when I actually re-entered Spain?

I appreciate you all taking the time to read this and help me out. I am getting very worried.
Carol

Hi Carol,
There are quite a few others on the site who’ve written about this. I suggest searching through the forum to find out what happened to others.

I’m still confused though: you said your husband received his residency visa,  but then you say you’re wondering how you can get around HIS visa issue… It doesn’t sound like he has a visa issue.

No, you can’t fly to a schengen country to get stamped, you have to fly outside of the schengen countries to get stamped. You might be a bit better off if you had entered Europe via a different country, but not by much. They can still look you up.

Your best bet is to do whatever is legal, barring that then I’d just hunker down in Spain and soak up the sun whilst avoiding problems with the authorities. 😊

Watch out spain is screen all passport now on the way in to spain via Airlines even from Eu states aswell

Thank you for your advice and tips. To clarify, my husband actually does not have a VISA problem. HIS visa was accepted and he now he has his residency card as well. Only mine, and our three daughters have had ours rejected….go figure?!  So- we think we will stay put and be illegal here. There don’t seem to be any viable alternatives that aren’t risky with 3 in tow.

Thanks again.
-Carol

Hi, Carol: I had the same problem, almost, accompanying my daughter during her year of study here in Barcelona. I decided not to apply for an accompanying visa but to overstay my tourist visa. I have had absolutely no problems (other than being refused a volunteer position with a nonprofit for lack of a NIE), and have traveled within and outside Spain. Returning from Budapest in March 2008, there was no passport control on arrival (but people who looked Middle Eastern or African were being stopped and questioned at baggage retrieval).

However, I’ve decided that I want to live in Barcelona on a longer-term basis and have no idea how my illegal residency here will affect my re-entry. My daughter’s dad just left Barcelona after coming for a visit and said he was closely questioned at the airport about the number of bags they had for a one-week stay in Spain (they were bringing some of our daughter’s clothes back with them), and had to show their itinerary. So maybe they are starting to scrutinize people more closely…or it could be that my ex, although a U.S. citizen for decades, was born in Iraq…hard to say.

I’d be interested in your followup as to how your year in Spain with your kids is going. I’ve loved living here; that’s why I want to come back - legally!

Regards,

barcelonajane