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?

I would like to do things legally and stay on a student visa, but it would be very difficult for two reasons:

1. In order to be eligible for a student visa, I have to show a letter addressed to the Spanish Consulate stating that I’m enrolled as a full-time student (20 hours weekly minimum) for more than 90 days and have paid full tuition. I’ve looked at several language schools, and 20 hours of weekly classes is INCREDIBLY expensive, and many of them have very limited dates in which they accept applications, and I would need to be accepted and apply for my student visa now as I’m leaving in September.

2. In order to obtain my student visa, I have appear in person (no exceptions, I’ve checked) to the Spanish Consulate in Washington D.C. (I might be able to go to Miami as I just graduated from university in South Carolina and have all of my student identification). Both consulates are over 9 hours away by car, and I’ve heard that the required paperwork often conflicts depending on whether you are reading the website, listening to the answering machine, or working with a specific agent at the consulate. And even if I’ve made an appointment, the consulate says that they are often so busy that I might have to return the next day to be attended. Requesting off work, driving for two days, and getting a hotel knowing that I might very well be rejected seems ridiculous.

I don’t know what to do! Does anyone know of any inexpensive language courses that consist of at least 20 hours a week? This visa process looks like it will cost well over $1,000 in the long run ... would I be fined that much for simply overstaying a tourist visa?

rward - 07 July 2008 07:35 PM

I would like to do things legally and stay on a student visa, but it would be very difficult for two reasons:

1. In order to be eligible for a student visa, I have to show a letter addressed to the Spanish Consulate stating that I’m enrolled as a full-time student (20 hours weekly minimum) for more than 90 days and have paid full tuition. I’ve looked at several language schools, and 20 hours of weekly classes is INCREDIBLY expensive, and many of them have very limited dates in which they accept applications, and I would need to be accepted and apply for my student visa now as I’m leaving in September.

2. In order to obtain my student visa, I have appear in person (no exceptions, I’ve checked) to the Spanish Consulate in Washington D.C. (I might be able to go to Miami as I just graduated from university in South Carolina and have all of my student identification). Both consulates are over 9 hours away by car, and I’ve heard that the required paperwork often conflicts depending on whether you are reading the website, listening to the answering machine, or working with a specific agent at the consulate. And even if I’ve made an appointment, the consulate says that they are often so busy that I might have to return the next day to be attended. Requesting off work, driving for two days, and getting a hotel knowing that I might very well be rejected seems ridiculous.

I don’t know what to do! Does anyone know of any inexpensive language courses that consist of at least 20 hours a week? This visa process looks like it will cost well over $1,000 in the long run ... would I be fined that much for simply overstaying a tourist visa?

There is this school called Mediterano, you can pay 300? for 3 months and take 4 hour day courses., 2 hours gramme and 2 conversational.

TIP: you can apply for one month of school., but try it before paying all., get the paper and go to the embassy.

Thanks Gabriel, but I e-mailed them and they told me it would be 875 euros for 3 months of classes at 20 hours per week.

In Barcelona they have free Catalan and Spanish courses., i am sure in Madrid they also have Portuguese or Basque aka Euskera as well., they seem to start in mid September.

I met a few people from Japan taking courses like that 5 times a week adding up for there Embassy’s requirements.

I think you can find them here: http://www.gencat.net/index_eng.htm

Bayt Al-Thaqafa 933198869 In barcelona has info., http://www.bayt-al-thaqafa.org/index.html

Some Asian type association which allows anyone school for free and you can take several courses adding up to 4 hours a day or MORE!  😊

Why don’t you just apply to take a few courses at a public university?  I paid 300? per year for 8 classes- about 40 hours a week.  Just transfer your SC credits or whatever and apply as a foreign student.  Lots of times you can even get the government to pay for your schooling, since they set aside a percentage of scholarships for foreigners.  They completely paid for my last two years of college.

Oh and welcome to the whole “getting to know what it feels like to be an immigrant”.  Frustrating, huh? The States is so much harder on immigrants trying to get into their country.  Makes you empathize.

Emily

It’s there a problem entering Spain via Belgium??, I am traveling to Belgium from the Dominican Republic and them I’m flying into Spain via Barcelona.
Will I have a problem enteing Belgium?

Tallman1818 - 23 July 2008 12:36 AM

It’s there a problem entering Spain via Belgium??, I am traveling to Belgium from the Dominican Republic and them I’m flying into Spain via Barcelona.
Will I have a problem enteing Belgium?

its all europe., same rules.

its all europe., same rules.

Fantastic, thanks!!!!!!!