Hmm, I just assumed that they require proof of health insurance (as they do for other visas), but, now that you mention it, maybe they don't, since you will be paying into social security and will have the right to use the socialized medical system.

We're trying to find out about the criminal records, too. Christian will most likely need one from Spain, but we haven't had that confirmed yet. I also wonder if they will accept a medical certificate from Spain. It isn't all that easy to get a quick medical appointment in DC--it would be better to take care of that here, if possible.

I'll definitely keep you posted!

yikes, i sure hope my miami letters work. i´m pretty sure i´m techinally not supposed to be here now. or maybe i can be here but not doing the job i´m doing. in any case, for me it´s safer for me to use my US letters.

UPDATE: I got my Spanish work authorization!! It took just under three months, which is the legal timeframe, although I told this was rarely obeyed. But, it has come through and now I take that back to the Spanish Consulate in my district and present it along with my: Visa application, medical record, criminal record, fee, and some other goodies. I have one month to go there (hmm, but I won't even get the actual letter in my hands for 1-2 weeks, yikes), and then I wait for my visa to finally be approved...

Will keep updating. But for now,

Woo-hoo--that's great news binkx. Your super-enchufe definitely paid off... here it's been one year since the start of the process and it's not looking good at all. Two ends of the spectrum...

When you get a chance, can you post the name of the law firm that did your paperwork?

Oh, and please post all of the minute details of the process in DC. I'm really curious to find out how long it will take to process everything.

Hey Mariposita, Yes, I'm super psyched. Although I haven't checked it myself online yet, but I trust what they told us... The law firm is Bufete Prolegue.

Yep, will post about DC. Although this first step was the potentially more difficult one to get passed, the DC part is definately more meticulous and paperwork-heavy...

Just as an aside Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU on January 1st and I think every single one of them arrived in Madrid to work. The wife finally got her NIE number (3 months latter) and so on Friday (5th) she took a few hours off of work down to start the process of me getting mine (She's German but I'm Canadian) simple. Well not quite, the lines ups are bad but doable. But as I mentioned everyone in Bulgaria and Romania came to Madrid and it was a total madhouse. hundreds of people lining up with nothing but a passport, no photographs , no paperwork nothing. It was total chaos. We managed after 6 hours of pushing a shoving to get in the office and what was discouraging was they were only accepting the front page (no photos or finger prints) this is going to mean several more trips before everything is sorted out.

Now he's the really stupid part, you don't need your NIE number to work but you do need a Social Security number. And getting your SS is a super simple process, show up with your passport fill out a bit of paper work and volla you can work. Getting your NIE number can wait a few months. Besides all that 99% of them will be employed in the black anyways, regardless of their residency status.

Are you trying to imply that Canadians who are married to Germans should get to wait in a shorter line to get their residency cards than EU citizens should?? Aren't you currently working under the table? Don't most Canadians who live here do the same? Let he who is without sin... I think a sense of solidarity with others who have come here in search of a better life might improve the quality of your time spent waiting in line next time.

bien dicho (well put) mariposita!

Rob, there is no reason you should not wait in line like the rest of the immigrants.

saludos,
jer...

I wasn't complaining about waiting in line, that I was prepared for that (we were told to expect a 2-3 hour wait), brought along a newspaper reading glasses warm coat etc. What I wasn't prepared for was how choatic and disorganized it was. We stood in lIt wasn't till about 10am that they finally got some semblance of crowd control going. For us it took 6 hours alot of pushing shoving and a very nice policeman before we finally got in the door (and they didn't even look at my appication). A little bit of planning and preparation on their part would have gone long way. The process of getting your NIE number for EU passport holders is a royal hassle as it is without adding in 1000's and 1000's of people who don't have a clue on how to do this . It is going to take them them months and months to work through the backlog, if they ever do. All they did was take the first page of the application show it in an envelope and set it aside for latter. That means someone has to go thought that backlog and contact everyone and have them do the whole process all over again, which for a lot of us means taking a day off of work, standing line for 3-4 hours for a two minute appointment and then repeat all again 3 months latter when you go to pick up your card. That's of course assuming your application doesn't get lost in the system.

For those that have to go I suggust going very very early (by 6am there was a line up several hundred people deep already) so you stand a chance of getting though that day.

What I don't understand is why you can get your SS number in a matter of minutes (can be done on a lunch hour) but your NIE takes months and is a royal hassle.

Jer please delete the above post (can't edit it) thanks


I wasn't complaining about waiting in line, that I was prepared for that (been through this once already), brought along a newspaper reading glasses warm coat etc. What I wasn't prepared for was how choatic and disorganized it was. It wasn't till about 10am that they finally got some semblance of crowd control going. For us it took 6 hours alot of pushing shoving and a very nice policeman before we finally got in the door (and they didn't even look at my application). A little bit of planning and preparation on their part would have gone long way in getting everyone through. Getting your NIE number for EU passport holders is a royal hassle as it is without adding in 1000's and 1000's of new residents to the equation. It is going to take them them months and months to work through the backlog, if they ever do. All they did was take the first page of the application shove it in an envelope and set it aside for latter. That means someone has to go thought that backlog and contact everyone and have them do the whole process all over again, which for a lot of us means taking a day off of work, standing line for 3-4 hours for a two minute appointment and then repeat all again 3 months latter when you go to pick up your card. That's of course assuming your application doesn't get lost in the system. I figure if after 6 months I redo it again. For me target date is Sept when the new school year starts (I'd like to work legal)

For those that have to go I suggest going very very early (by 6am there was a line up several hundred people deep already) so you stand a chance of getting though that day.

What I don't understand is why you can get your SS number in a matter of minutes (can be done on a lunch hour) but your NIE takes months and is a royal hassle.

(note: edited for clarity)

Tim,

I have heard many people complain about the system and with the last amnesty, things are really backed up, like you said in your post. I know that you are frustrated, but like all things in life, you have to work with the hand that you are dealt and make the best of it.

Please try not to get too frustrated.

Shawn

What's even worse Rob is that you have to go through the whole thing again just to renew a residencia Welcome to the real spain!!!!

I don't think that people who went through the amnesty or non-EU people trying to get residency were in the line that Rob is talking about... that's an infinitely worse process. Believe it or not, Rob, you are lucky to be able to wait in that line. If you weren't married to an EU citizen, you would have a lot harder time establishing yourself here legally.

quote:

What I don't understand is why you can get your SS number in a matter of minutes (can be done on a lunch hour) but your NIE takes months and is a royal hassle.

It's because getting your NIE makes you an official resident of Spain. Which means that, in the future, if you stay long enough--and don't get into trouble--you will have the right to become a Spanish citizen, have a Spanish pension, benefits, etc.

Getting a social security number here in Spain just means that you can pay tax. Almost anyone can do it and it does miraculously take about 15 minutes. But, if you aren't here legally, having a social security number does not allow you to work here legally and/or contribute to the SS system (cotizar).

I'm glad you edited your post to remove the somewhat disparaging remarks about Romanians and others recently joining the EU. I know it's traumatic to have to wait in one of those monstruous lines, but it's not their fault that the bureaucracy of immigration is a nightmare and they have every right to be here and to participate in the chaos.

A helpful hint from someone who has waited in many of these lines: if you make friends with your neighbors in line, they will hold your place while you go to have coffee, make phone calls, make copies, relieve yourself, etc. Seriously. Also, if it's like the process that I have gone through, you will actually get your NIE (the number) before you get your card. It is usually on the letter that you receive when you are invited back to leave your fingerprints, photos, and pay the "tasa" (fee).

Mariposita,

I was not talking about anyone waiting in line. I was talking about the backlog and how the last amnesty has really made the waiting process much longer.

Shawn

Ok, back to my situation and not about Romania/Bulgaria...

I just got my official work authorization letter from the government and to my surprise it comes with an NIE. So one less thing I have to worry about. But, now my question is- what is the difference between a "tarjeta de identidad de extranjero" and a "tarjeta de residencia".

Once my visa finally comes through on the DC end (btw, I leave for home this weekend and will be going to the Spanish Consulate next week) and I enter Spain, I have one month to get that foreigner ID card. But I have also read in other places that I need to get a residence card. Can someone please explain the differences (if any)? Thanks.