Hello,
Last week I applied for a student visa in DC. I
was wondering how long it took americans to get their visa back in the mail. I am in a bit of a crunch and need to get to Spain ASAP. The lady at the embassy said 2-4 weeks, but I was
wondering how long it typically takes (closer to two or to four?). Responses welcomed.
Gracias!
Elizabeth

You are able to get yours by mail? The Spanish Consulate in Chicago has new rules: you have to drop off your visa application in person; then you must pick up your processed visa in person as well, no exceptions. Bit of a hike if you're from Ohio...It took them about 20 days to process mine.

Good Luck!

SpainTutor

hey Elizabeth, did you provide them with a pre-paid courier envelope to send it to you? many on this board have mentioned that is a good way to speed up the sending.

saludos,
jer...

Every consulate in the US has their own set of rules and requirements for student visas. As SpainTutor said, you're very lucky you can do it by mail. Things have gotten very tight and ugly lately due to diplomatic reciprocity. The US has gotten nasty with the requirements for Spanish students who want to study in the US and so Spain is doing the same thing and making many of the very same requirements. I guess if a student from Canarias has to get on a plane and come to Madrid to do the visa in person then a hike from Ohio to Chicago is only fair. It all sucks and there's nothing school officials can do to help much, it's being a very frustrating process for a lot of people. Good luck.
Lena

Thank you for the information. I was wondering if all of these regulations had something to do with our own new laws (post 9-11). What a drag.
Anyone else out there have helpful info?

Saludos.

hey Elizabeth, not to get too off-topic here but more than post-9/11 policy, it has to do with the political distancing/tension between spain and the u.s.a. since the new spanish govt. pulled spains troops out of iraq.

bush and zapateroo are not very buddy-buddy (btw: that is the only good thing i can say about the shoe maker :jeje: ).

saludos,
jer...

Yes, my dear friends. Things will only get worse. We'll have to ride it out and see what happens. :lo:

Since I lived in Richmond, VA and went to the Spanish Embassy before 1:00pm, I got my visa back the same day. This was in 2000 and I am sure that things have changed.

Shawn

This is a little late because your probably here already but to help anyone else. I also applyed for my student visa in D.C and they told me the same thing or I read it on one of those papers they have. But I got mine like in two weeks or a week and a half. It was really fast and I provided the envelope. Only probelm was that before that I kept having to come back because I didn´t have this paper or that paper or this was wrong or that was wrong. So I got mine in March so I could come in April. I think in the summer and September it might be very busy. But they only except a certain amount each day so it´s good to get there right when they open.

the consulate in new orleans is horrible. they told me 4 weeks and then went through all my papers twice. i had to go back once with additional documents. finally after 6 weeks and with a week until my plane left i called and they asked me to come in for an interview.

when i arrived they told me that the spanish ministry in madrid had issued my visa, but that the louisina consulate was withholding it because a) they wanted a different police record from the one they requested originally b) they wanted a notarized letter from the owner of the house i would be staying in in Madrid...even though the housing info is right on my student acceptance letter as paid in full, and c) my full coverage sanitas card wasn't enough...they told me to cancel the monthly policy i bought and pay up a year in advance.

each of these things required a min of a month to complete. in fact the sanitas thing is still not resolved as sanitas doesn't normally cancel monthly contracts to convert to yearly...and with all the key people on holiday..it has been very frustrating.

i've checked the laws and the consulate is within his rights. he has one month to cancel or release the visa. that is what he gave me to do all of the above in...one month. on top of that he can request another personal interview requiring me to fly home at any moment. even if i do all this, the most he will commit to is that "maybe i will get the visa."

moral of the story....depends on the day and the lack of sex being had by the pertinent consulate.

no one i know has ever had the problems i have had.

cross your fingers, pray to whatever god you like, and who knows...you may be lucky.

me?? i continue sht out of luck.

anyone want to get married?????

Candela, I also had to deal with the New Orleans consulate and it was somewhat of a nightmare. In addition to having to buy TWO roundtrip flights to New Orleans from Nashville, (not covered by financial aid, of course), I also was hit with a whole new list of visa application "requirements" upon arrival that certainly weren't in the paperwork the consulate sent.

Who have you been working with? I dealt mostly with Juanita, who is much nicer in person than over the phone, by the way. If you can, try to form a (good) relationship with her. I found that she's able to expedite things when she feels like it, and if she likes you she'll let you get away with more. (read: kiss her arse.) Anyhow, best of luck to all of you with your visas ... I know exactly what you're going through.