RE: SELF EMPLOYED VISA (related to teaching English as a private instructor).
Originally sent to Tracy directly at
www.expatriatecafe.com Hi Tracy -
You wrote on the Visa page of your lovely Expat site http://www.expatriatecafe.com/visas.php:
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"In order to obtain a visa for self-employment without having to go back and forth to Spain and without having to need a valid job offer or contract the below requirement is substituted for the above "valid job offer from a company in Spain..." *Remember however, that you will NOT be permitted to work in an Academy or for anyone else for that matter, if you have one of these visa types. You can only work independently.
Copy of the Work Authorization Application (Solicitud de Permiso de Trabajo) filed with the Ministry of Labor in Spain and one photocopy. This document must be submitted at this Consulate General within thirty (30) days from the date stamped by the Ministry of Labor in Spain."
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Tracy, where do I obtain a Solicitud de Permiso de Trabajo application form without having to go to Spain? Then, when I fill it out do I send it directly to the Ministry of Labor in Spain? What is the typical "turn-around" time for them to respond?
The reason I ask, is according to some really uptight Spanish woman at the consulate in Los Angeles, I had to actually go to Spain, in person, to get this particular form, fill it out, have them stamp it there, then bring it back to the consulate in Los Angeles. She was adamant about this!
How ridiculous is that!? Paying several hundred dollars to fly to Spain, simply to get a form and a signature in person, to then return home to provide it to the consulate, to then turn around and go back to Spain seems very unreasonable! I told her that didn't sound accurate and asked her if the consulate could supply a copy of this form. She said they did not have any copies of this form and that she was absolutely sure that I needed to go to Spain in person to obtain one!
You, however, are suggesting that we do no have to “go back and forth” to Spain, which is GREAT!
What's the secret? Where can I get this form on U.S soil or on the Internet? I searched far and wide on the Internet and haven't found anything, including the Ministry's main web site at
http://www.mtas.es/ There were no forms that I could see for printing out. Based on my research, it sounds as though the woman at the Spanish consulate in L.A. is correct, but I hope she is wrong!
I am self-employed in the U.S. and would like to continue to run my Internet business from Spanish Soil even if I do teach English and study Spanish part-time. Therefore, instead of a Student Visa (and worrying about having to pay for Spanish Lessons for the entire time I’m there), what about this Self-Employed Visa? Or, would I have to be generating Spanish income to have it? They probably wouldn't check? I suppose if I’m self-employed, then legally I’m self-employed!!! ??? Shouldn’t matter where?
Based on all the posts in both Expat and Madrid Man, it seems strange that so many people even slightly worried about working “illegally” or teaching English privately under the table (if that is their intent), wouldn’t apply for this type of Visa. If they don’t need a valid job offer (and I don’t see the high $75k yearly income proof req) then why doesn’t everyone who PLANS to teach English under the table fill out for a self-employed Visa and teach English privately and legally? What am I missing?
Thank you very much for your time!
edr
[ 12-09-2001: Message edited by: edr ]