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#45694 - 06/19/08 08:41 AM
the process of getting a student visa
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Executive Member
Registered: 01/06/01
Posts: 775
Loc: New York City
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Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on this process and wondering if you have any wisdom to share. My daughter is going to St. Louis University in Madrid in the fall. She leaves at the end of August. She will be back for Christmas. She has been trying for the last month and a half to acquire the student visa with no success. She has done all of the required steps steps to get a student visa and you need to go to the consulate and present these documents in person. She has now gone 3 times to the consulate, and each time they tell her she is missing something. The last time it was 2 copies of her passport, she only had one copy with her. (BTW: They were unable to make a copy from the copy machine right behind the clerk!  )and when she said she would run downstairs to make a copy and return, they told her she would not be attended since she lost her turn. When we tried to make another appointment their website was down and when we were able to get onto the website, the next available appointment is in mid July. (She started this process in early May!) Sorry for the long explanation, but my question is: Can she go to school without the visa and just leave the country before 90 days to have her passport stamped? She did not want to do this but it may turn out that she has to. We are going to Argentina in mid July and will be home mid August. She leaves for Spain the last week of August. If we cannot get an appointment with the consulate for mid August , she is not going to be able to have the visa in time. She cannot leave her passport with the consulate in Mid July, so she will have to return for them to attach the visa to the passport. Just wondering if anyone has any advice or words oof wisdom. ¡Qué lío!
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#45695 - 06/19/08 09:12 AM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Executive Member
Registered: 05/06/00
Posts: 9080
Loc: Madrid, Spain (was Columbus, O...
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Hello esperanza! I'm thrilled to know your daughter (I met her at least twice) will HOPEFULLY be attending university here in Madrid. That's great. Has St. Louis University (either here in Madrid or in St. Louis) been any help at all? Surely they've been through this a million times. Or maybe they simply to you all to "... just get a Student Visa and show up". I'd doubt your daughter would be able to attend classes without the visa. Maybe she has to show that upon enrolling - or has she already officially enrolled and paid the fees for the autumn semester? Also, while your region is NEW YORK, take a look at the Chicago region website category for Student Visas. I'd imagine the requirements would be the same no matter your region in the USA: http://www.consulate-spain-chicago.com/ - Compare & Contrast the information given. I'm not surprised to hear about the copy scenario. That happened to me too (in Madrid) and I had to go across the street to make an extra copy. But luckily I didn't have to wait in the LONG line - just the short one. Hope you'll be coming with her to help her get settled. It'd be nice to see you, maybe for "La Paloma" once again in August. Best of luck! Saludos, MadridMan
_________________________
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#45696 - 06/19/08 09:32 AM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Member
Registered: 06/18/00
Posts: 506
Loc: Pennsylvania, USA
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Esperanza, I'm so sorry to hear about this mess. A colleague of mine at work experienced something similar with his daughter, who was going to Sevilla to study. He, too, was ready to give up and send her without a visa. He told me horror stories of speaking to people in line at the NY consulate - all of them were having bad experiences there. In the end he was able to get it - easily - at the consulate in DC, closest to her US college, thereby avoiding the one in New York entirely. (We live in the New York office's jurisdiction.) Does your daughter go to college in another part of the country? If so, she may be able to go to another consulate. Here's the list: http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Embajadas/Washington/... If not, and if you can't get an appointment in August, I would send her without a visa. I know other people on this board will disagree, and I've read the stories of when that doesn't work. But if your daughter follows all the rules while she's there, doesn't tell the passport control guy when arriving that she's there to study, doesn't extend her stay, and doesn't get into trouble, my belief is that it would be highly unlikely that she would have trouble. Does she have another passport? My son is also studying abroad this fall, in London. Since he will be doing an internship while there, he was told he needed a visa until he pointed out he also has a Spanish passport. That makes things a lot easier. In any case, good luck, and have a wonderful summer! I will be in NYC in late July and just realized perhaps we could meet again, but you'll be in Argentina! That's wonderful! Un abrazo, Diane
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#45697 - 06/19/08 10:01 AM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Executive Member
Registered: 01/06/01
Posts: 775
Loc: New York City
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thanks for your thoughts, Diana and MadridMan. I am praying that it all works out in July when she goes for the next appointment, but if not I guess she will have to go without the visa and pray for the best scenario. MadridMan, we will be visiting her in Madrid for Thanksgiving. We will be there a week so hopefully we can get together again. I would love to go back to where we ate with you, so we can bring my husband too. I am so happy we will be getting to Spain in the fall. I love Madrid in the fall. Diana, Unfortunately, my daughter does not have another passport to fall back on like your son. Too bad we won't be in NY when you come up. It would have been so good to see you again. 
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#45698 - 06/19/08 10:06 AM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Executive Member
Registered: 06/03/04
Posts: 321
Loc: madrid
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Sorry to hear about your problems, but it is so, so typical... Different consulates have very different processes, so you definitely need to do exactly what they tell you to do in NY (unless she has residency in another jurisdiction as Diana suggests).
She needs two copies of everything, because the consulate needs a copy and then they stamp a copy to make it official and give it back to you (this is what she'll take to the comisaría in Spain to get her residency card). Also, always copy every single page of the passport (this goes for when she gets to Spain, too).
Leaving the country won't make her legal for another 90 days. The law is really clear about you only getting 90 days within a six-month period no matter how much you come and go.
If she enters Spain with a return flight outside of 90 days, the airline could give her problems if she doesn't have the visa and not let her board. If you can change the return to be within 90 days and then change it back once she's there, she won't have any problems... but it would be best to just get the visa, if you can find a way to do it. Good luck!
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#45700 - 06/19/08 03:13 PM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Executive Member
Registered: 06/03/04
Posts: 321
Loc: madrid
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Yeah, they probably didn't mention the copies before because they knew they couldn't take the papers, so it didn't matter. Did she get her police record apostilled? Some consulates require this and others don't. She should do this to avoid problems. Here's what the official site says: Requisitos que debe presentar para solicitar el visado de estudios:
2 formularios de Solicitud de Visado . Los formularios deben estar firmados y rellenados con letra de imprenta.
Pasaporte . El pasaporte debe ser válido para el periodo de estancia en España solicitado y disponer de al menos una página en blanco para el visado.
Debe además aportar uno de los siguientes documentos de identidad: carné de conducir (“US Driver´s License”), documento de identidad estatal (“US State ID card”) o carné de estudiante en vigor (current student ID).
2 fotografías de pasaporte : Grape una fotografía de tamaño pasaporte, y reciente, en cada uno de los formularios de solicitud.
(I could swear that I had to bring 3 or 4--I would bring 4, just to be safe.)
Carta de aceptación de la Universidad o escuela española, o del programa estadounidense, que especifique: nombre, dirección y número de registro de la escuela con el Ministerio de Educación de España; pago completo de las tasas académicas; duración de los estudios; materias; horas semanales de clase, al menos 20.
Seguro médico (original): Debe aportar un seguro médico y de accidente con cobertura internacional para el periodo solicitado de estancia en España por un mínimo de 30.000 euros (o su equivalente en dólares).
Medios de subsistencia : Debe aportar uno de los siguientes documentos:
Declaración de la Universidad o escuela española, o del programa estadounidense, asumiendo plena responsabilidad financiera para gastos de alojamiento y manutención ( a menudo incluida en la Carta de aceptación).
Prueba de ayuda financiera o de beca de al menos 1.000 dólares por mes de estancia para alojamiento y manutención.
Carta notarizada de los padres o guardianes asumiendo plena responsabilidad financiera para gastos de alojamiento y manutención de al menos 1.000 dólares por mes de estancia. Texto sugerido: “Certifico por la presente que yo el (padre, madre, otro, etc.) de (…) cubriré su estancia en España con 1.000 dólares mensuales y que soy responsable de los gastos que ocasione cualquier emergencia”.
Estados personales de cuenta de al menos 1.000 dólares por mes de estancia.
Pago tasa . El coste del visado es de 100 dólares para ciudadanos norteamericanos y de $ 92,40 * Dólares USA no-reembolsable en "money order" dirigido al Consulado de España (no se aceptan cheques ni dinero en efectivo). *Para ciudadanos de Rusia, Ucrania, Macedonia, (ARYM), Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania y Moldavia la tasa es de $ 53,90.
Sobre predirigido: Para devolverle su pasaporte por correo, traiga un sobre pre-pagado, tarifa “Express-Mail” de USPS. No se admitirá ningún otro servicio postal. La localización (“tracking”) de lo enviado por correo corresponde al solicitante.
Prueba de su estatus migratorio en los EE.UU. (sólo para no norteamericanos): Debe aportar su “Alien Registration Card” o “US Visa with I-20/IAP-66” (excepto B1-B-2).
Certificado de antecedentes penales “Certificate of Absence of Police Records” (sólo para estancias superiores a 180 días) del Departamento de Policía de todos los lugares donde ha residido el solicitante en los últimos cinco años. Debe certificar que no tiene antecedentes penales. Este certificado debe ser legalizado con la Apostilla de la Haya (contacte al “Secretary of State” del Estado en que se expida el certificado). Si el certificado se expide fuera de los EE.UU. deber ser legalizado por el correspondiente Consulado de España.
Certificado médico (sólo para estancias superiores a 180 días): Declaración de un médico en su papel con membrete indicando que ha examinado al estudiante y que lo encuentra en buen estado físico y mental para viajar y estudiar en el extranjero y que no padece enfermedades contagiosas, drogadicción o enfermedad mental.
Carta de autorización (menores de 18 años): Carta ante notario de los padres o guardianes.
•PUEDE SOLICITARSE DOCUMENTACIÓN ADICIONAL.•
Los interesados deberán presentar originales y copias de los requisitos anteriormente citados, una vez aceptado a trámite el expediente no se devolverá ningún documento.
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#45702 - 06/20/08 03:23 PM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Full Member
Registered: 01/12/07
Posts: 77
Loc: Atlanta USA
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... hi Esperanza...sorry to read about your problems. May i suggest that you put something in writing regarding your problems (and treatment) to the head of the consulate with a copy to the ambassador, a copy to the university and maybe even a copy to the Spanish Tourist office (in NY)!!!! ...Just FYI, my daughter has decided to do a semester of 'Spanish as a Second Language' course at University of Belgrano in BA starting in Sept. She e-mailed them the other day to find out what documents she may have to bring with her in order to sort out her student visa...the reply was, "nothing, but you must have a valid passport..we will do the application with you when you get here"....and they replied in less than 24hrs!! Just in case, she is going to get a police clearance etc anyway. ...My wife and i decided that we just HAVE TO escort our daughter to BA and see what Argentina is all about  ...Have a good trip and i hope the visa scene gets sorted out in time!!
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#45703 - 06/20/08 05:13 PM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Executive Member
Registered: 01/06/01
Posts: 775
Loc: New York City
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Neddie You will LOVE Buenos Aires! I recommend that you read the Trip Advisor Argentina Forum for lots of good info. Our friend from MadridMan, Bill from NYC, is a frequent contributor to that forum too. The people on that forum are super-helpful and are full of great ideas. And, if you have any questions for me about Argentina, I would be happy to help you too. I am happy to hear about your experience with the University in Buenos Aires, but I must caution you that things in Argentina are extremely lax. I think your idea about writing to the consul and the tourist board is very interesting. I might just do that! This entire experience is frustrating.
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#45704 - 06/21/08 06:25 PM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Full Member
Registered: 01/12/07
Posts: 77
Loc: Atlanta USA
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...esperanza....i'm sure i don't need to suggest that the letters be polite and with bessos (sp?) LOL...those Spaniards (men) love the ladies flirting with them!!!!!!hehe
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#45705 - 06/21/08 06:30 PM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Executive Member
Registered: 06/03/04
Posts: 321
Loc: madrid
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But what exactly is the complaint? They couldn't process the visa request the first time because she didn't have the police report. The second time, she didn't have the copies that they need... Sure the person could have made a copy, but I can understand why they don't... if they did this for everyone it would cause total chaos. I think it's best to chalk it up to experience and move on. Compared to what the US puts foreign students through now--something that we might actually be able to fight, since it's our own government--it's minor.
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#45707 - 06/21/08 09:29 PM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Member
Registered: 06/18/00
Posts: 506
Loc: Pennsylvania, USA
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I think the problem is the lack of civility and understanding in helping a young girl through what is obviously a tricky process. If she had been treated politely and with kindness, she would still have learned her lesson (a good one), but the whole thing would have been less stressful and more positive for everyone. I adore Spain and the Spanish, but after countless experiences with Spanish bureaucracy, and the frequent changes to the rules with no explanation or advance warning (not that that happened in this case, but it does happen on a shockingly regular basis), and an accompanying rudeness, I think it could have been handled better.
And sometimes it is. A few months ago I requested official documents via email from two towns outside Madrid. The people at the ayuntamiento in the one town ignored me completely - no explanation. In the other town my request was answered in less than 24 hours, and completed, with a series of very polite and formal e-mails, within two days. The official document was in the mail - literally. At the same time I was also gathering government documents from various places in Pennsylvania, and even though they were fairly efficient, it was a lot of red tape, done with long faces, and even expensive! (I was charged nothing in Spain.)
My point is that there are different approaches to doing things. Spanish customer service is an interesting issue to discuss. Sometimes it's great, and sometimes it's appalling. I think this case was in the latter category.
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#45708 - 06/22/08 09:42 PM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Executive Member
Registered: 06/03/04
Posts: 321
Loc: madrid
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I think the real problem is that the US schools don't properly prepare the students for the process. For the amount of money that it costs to study abroad via a US program (usually 35x--yes thirty five times as much--as what a Spanish student pays to study full time!), the schools surely have the resources to research exactly what is needed for each consulate and provide solid checklists to the students. Back in the day, schools took care of all of this for students studying abroad... seems like those days are over.
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#45709 - 06/25/08 06:53 AM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Full Member
Registered: 02/07/02
Posts: 200
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Back in the day, schools took care of all of this for students studying abroad... seems like those days are over. Yes, those days are over. With shrinking budgets and many study abroad advisors wearing many hats, the days of personalized attention are a thing of the past. Many universities do give you checklists, but it's up to you to do the research to find out exactly what's needed for the student visa. It's not just the universities either. Many embassies and consulates are very hard to get a hold of, or better yet, try to talk to someone in person. Good luck in the process.
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#45710 - 06/25/08 09:36 AM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Executive Member
Registered: 02/23/06
Posts: 1158
Loc: Hastings Old Town , England .
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Yeah ... I have to agee with that ! Try dealing with the Russian embassy in London !! I now pay someone to do all the work ( getting a visa ) for me . I contacted the Russian embassy here in Madrid and it seems even more of a "pesadilla " nightmare .. Crazy when , as has been talked about on this thread , that our reasons for a visa are entirely good natured .. Study , family , tourism etc .......
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#45711 - 06/26/08 08:09 AM
Re: the process of getting a student visa
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Executive Member
Registered: 01/06/01
Posts: 775
Loc: New York City
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As Diana says there are different approaches to doing things. Spanish customer service is an interesting issue to discuss. Sometimes it's great, and sometimes it's appalling. It isn't the amount of documentation that is needed that is the problem, it is the ATTITUDE! The feeling of real inferiority that she felt when she was talking to the clerk. Also, if the website says copies of the passport, it is not clear how many copies! . At least now she is prepared to go next time with extra copies of everything...and my husband is accompanying her...hopefully we will be able to get her the visa, so she is legally there. I agree with you, Steve, it is frustrating when the reason to get the visa is totally good natured!.
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