And just like that I get to stay....

 

    I received confirmation this morning that I have been granted residency of Spain until November of 2028. I would need to reapply every 5 years after that if I wish to stay. It is a process that began more than a year ago. As a family we wanted to embark on this journey and have worked to navigate the bureaucracy of two countries and two languages to make that happen. There have been so many twists and unexpected turns that the email was both a relief and a surprise.

We began by trying to apply for visas that would allow us to work and live in Spain. We gathered what we believed to be all the appropriate documents, completed forms, took passport/visa photos, got money orders to pay the fees, made photocopies of EVERYTHING and got an appointment at the Royal Spanish Consulate in Chicago. Our meeting there did not go as planned. Almost immediately we were told that the visa route was not happening. We did not meet the criteria of highly desired skilled labor. 

    But the wonderful employees at the Spanish consulate noticed a link in our paperwork that allowed for a direct route to citizenship for Carlos via ancestry. We left the consulate after a very long day with a success an unexpected one at that. But that changed my ability to go and stay in Spain I would now go as the spouse of a citizen and needed to register upon our arrival. We headed home to wait for Carlos's registry to arrive by mail.

    Three weeks later his paperwork was delivered to our next door neighbor's house...new mail man. And we began with a new round of paperwork. Some for a Spanish Passport for Carlos and some more forms to register our marriage in Spain a get a family book. We watched some videos on YouTube to make sure to have them right before making our next appointment. Many emails with the consulate and some hijinx with getting another appointment but we finally got one. 

    So back to Chicago we went. Once again the employees at the consulate were fabulous. They smoothed over our forms. Helped us acquire the some additional items that were required that day. They sent us on our way assuring us that we were fine to make our way to Spain. We would simply need to register in our town and I would apply for residency as the spouse of a Spanish citizen. I would have 90 days and since we have already submitted our marriage paperwork it would be a formality.

    

    So we made it to Spain. In our first 30 or so days we sold our house, rented an apartment, and registered with the city. I can tell you that during that time I told my Spanish teacher that I wanted a class on "how do you..." pretty much do anything....like understand what form to complete for anything. Almost everything seemed like we would do the research and not have the correct form when we got to where we thought we were supposed to be. But at every turn some clerk or security guard would take to time to help us get the right form or get to the right building.

    As August came to an end we went to register me for residency. We still had not received our family book and the certification of marriage in Madrid. The consulate gave us the unwanted news that since we had been married in Vermont, they had to send our forms on to the consulate in Boston to make the certification. Boston was running on a 6 month back log. Alas I was down to 45 days left on my tourist visa. 

    We did some more reading and secured an appointment at the Foreigners office and took ALL of the paperwork along with copies. Of course the reading, google searches and YouTube videos meant that we had completed the wrong form....again. And once again the clerk that helped us was amazing. She explained the Spanish rules about document dating (Certain documents are only considered good for 90 days, or 6 months, or 3 years depending on the document). Alas our wedding certificate was 14 years old. We needed one certified by the State of Vermont that was no more than 90 days old. In Spain local police handle some types of crime while the national police handle other types of crime so you must have two background searches. She said that I would also need a current certified background check from the state of Kentucky. 

    I had 25 days until my FBI background check expired. That took almost 3 months to get certified the first time around. My time was running out and we were headed into Labor Day weekend. I wrote some desperate emails to the state of KY and to VT. Vermont replied that everything could be done via email and credit card and expedited our internationally certified wedding certificated. Kentucky said my appointments had to be in person and paid for by check. I made some emergency travel plans and headed back stateside.

    My last minute flights were cheaper than expected (Win). But my flight was delayed in Jersey and my phone did not work in the US (Lame). My amazing friends picked me up at 2 in the morning from the airport and let me snuggle their dogs (Win). They also took me shopping, and got me Mexican food...twice and chicken! (Win) I got to have some quality time with our Louisville family (Win) But had to navigate around to 3 different offices in Frankfort with no working phone or GPS on a day when the Capital's network was down (Lame) I ultimately came away with the internationally certified background check (Win). I snuck in a visit to work and with my neighbors (Win and Win) I felt the love! Then headed home to avoid 2 hurricanes brewing in the Atlantic. That is 7 wins versus 2 lames..it was a good trip, whiplash fast but good.

    My follow up meeting at the foreigners office went well. Our clerk that day assured me that even though my tourist visa was expiring the provisional paperwork she provided mt that day was enough to remain in Spain. My trip to Portugal squeaked in within the tourist visa window. But then I was in limbo. I was granted a stay but not able to work and not sure I wanted to risk travel. The limbo has been for a month and a half.  But then today an email arrived that said I have been granted residency for 5 years if I want it. I can work I can travel. And just like that I get to stay.