Hello everyone,

Here�s some information I picked up on the Amnesty. This pamphlet and more information is available at CC.OO (Comisiones Obreras)/Calle Lope de Vega 38. Metro Anton Martin or Atocha. Telephone: 915365320/5210. Now I gotsta say dat I am a distant memory on multimadrid and I won�t be able to check Requirements often, so hopefully this info is sufficient. Good Luck everyone!!!

Requirements
� To have been registered (�empadronado�) on the local census for at least 6 months (by August 7, 2004) before the regulation comes into force (February 7, 2005)

� To have a job contract that guarantees employment for a minimum of 6 months.

� In the construction sector and hotel and catering sector, employment shall be 6 months out of total of 12 months.

� For the agricultural sector, only 3 months� employment is required

� If you are self-employed and in domestic service, a minimum of 30 hours per week under two or more employers.

� A clean criminal record in country of origin and in Spain

Legalis(z)ation Process (Duration:3 Months)

� Documents are presented by your boss or employer at designated offices.

� The application is assessedby the Government, to see whether the boss or employer can enter into a contract and whether the foreigner meets the requirements:

o If requirements are not met, the application is refused

o If requirements are met�

� The application is provisionally authorised on the condition that the foreigner registers with the Social Security Office.

o If this registration is not effected within one month, the authorisation is withdrawn

o If registration with the Social Security Office is effected�

� Authorisation comes into force.

� The worker must apply for a Foreigner�s Identity Card within one month of authorisation being granted.


Shavon

Oops! Forgot to add...

Office hours of CC.OO: Mon, Wed, Thurs 10-2 and 5-7:30

thanks Shavon!!!

few posts are better than no posts.

i only hope that you and other multimadriders can take advantage of this

saludos,
jer...

�Que Pena! that bit about the empadronmiento. Surely PSOE knows that many immigrants were afraid to "empadronar" themselves under the reign of the PP since they periodically used those lists to find and expel people. And who would of thought that you would want to tell the local authorities that you were here living and working under the radar?!

An asylum attorney I know that works for the government has suggested to me that this restriction is a way of controlling the flow at the initial stages of this process and that after the 3 months of the so-called "amnesty" there will be a permanent change to the immigration law that will have different requirements, i.e you may be able to use other forms of proof like a "cuenta bancario" or a "bono de transporte". Although this is not certain yet, it is in the best interest of the government to bring all workers into the social security system eventually, so keep up hope all you folks who don't make it through this round. Your day will soon come.

i hear ya boneshaker.

in my case i was just lazy.

i have lived here for 8 years and have only been "empadronado" for 4

saludos,
jer...

Hi all! Anyone out there going through the process care to share a bit of what is going on? From the news it seems nightmarish and confusing. It also seems that loads of people are having empadronimento problems. That is the only qualification I lack. I keep wondering can't I make up for that lack by the fact that I have a jamon in my kitchen and know camilo sesto songs by heart????

Please someone give some updates!
c

candy,

we can probably meet up and talk about this in more detail, but this is what i know at the moment which was learned from an immigration attornery here in spain.

the empadronmiento thing is definately a setback. it doesn't seem as thought the gov is going to back down on this one. i've been told by an official at the ministry of interior (who is overseeing the process) that they won't even accept a solicitation without a certificate of empadronmiento dating before august 7, 2004. this doesn't mean that they will deny your soliciation, it means that they won't even accept the papers.

however, i have been told that there is another chance. once they (the social security people i think) refuse to accept the papers, you demand a document that says that they refused to accept them. this they have to provide by law. with this, and a lawyer at your side, you sue the government over the empadronmiento issue, claiming that it is unfair and that you have other proof such as a certificate of use of the monthly bono of the emt (this you have to ask for as well at the emt offices). supposedly there are many judges waiting for these cases and they will be more open to other proof. however it is still possible that you get denied. the cost of the whole thing can be somewhere between 800� and 1200� based on the fees set by the sindicato de abogados, unless you find a friendly lawyer to do it for less or abono.

there will be other possibilities as well that involve denouncing your employer, but i wouldn't go that route unless you already have another job lined up and aren't afraid of burning any bridges.

also, you need to get a criminal release or letter of good conduct from the united states which is a bit time consuming and complicated as well. the us consulate is not very helpful in these matters or at least they have been giving contradictory advice to several people i know. i suggest you call them yourself and see what they say and then we can talk. maybe they have figured it out by now. the impression i got from the us consulate is that they were surprised that so many us citizens might actually want not to go back home for awhile. funny huh?

About the letter of good conduct...

You get it from the local police in the last US jurisdiction that you lived in.

For a regular visa, they want to know about the last five years (the amnesty could be different). So if you lived in more than one city/state in the past five years, you might have to get letters of good conduct from each jurisdiction. Also, the police record/letter of good conduct must have an "apostille" or be "certified" by the local goverment. This usually entails an additional step and $10 more dollars or so.

You can do this all through the mail, or in some cases online--how long it takes to receive the document depends on how cooperative the bureaucrats in your last place of residence are.

I think there are also web sites where you can pay extra and someone will do the legwork for you and fedex the documents (for a hefty price, of course).

oh jesus! does anyone know a nice madrid boy who will marry me for 1000 euros???? it would help if he is tall, but i am willing to negotiate!