I started making some decent progress on the visa stuff about 2 weeks ago. I had printed out the live scan request form (https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/visaimmigration) several weeks ago for obtaining my criminal history but that was it, the next step was to get fingerprints. I looked at the website to find the locations. One of them happened to be conveniently less than a block away from my office, and where I applied for TSA Precheck several months ago. There was no info on hours or anything, but I sent them an email and they emailed me back a couple days later, and told me the best walk-in times. So Thursday the 13th I walked in around 4pm and got that done. I had to bring my ID and the live scan form. It cost $57 and for some reason I wasn’t thinking and didn’t bring my entire wallet so I had to run back to the office to grab it.
I got something in the mail that said there was some sort of delay but then I got my criminal history print out the following week so it was a pretty quick turnaround. The next step is to get the “Apostille of the Hague Convention” which I still need to figure out. Plus it needs to be translated into Spanish by a certified translator. The criminal history report also can’t be older than 3 months from the visa application date, and in turn when I get approved for a visa it will only be valid for 90 days until I go to Spain and register for a Spanish ID card which will allow me to stay for the remainder of the time (up to 1 year), so I need to actually start making some solid plans…
I had requested the medical certificate from my doctor the same week. I actually need to update the documents required for the non-lucrative visa from my first post. Once I am done I will do a final post of everything that I needed in detail and how much the entire process cost. I failed to mention that for the medical certificate it needs to contain specific verbiage. I had a routine doctor appointment and while I was there I just asked if she could write up something saying I was in good health, which she provided, but then looking over the visa application I realized it needed to specifically say “the patient has been examined and found free of any contagious diseases according to the International Health Regulation 2005” so I emailed my doctor and she said I had to come back and get a TB test. So I got that done today and once the results are back hopefully that’s all she will need to provide the letter. Then I have to get THAT translated into Spanish.
Also, the SF consulate doesn’t seem to require proof of accommodation which is interesting. I confirmed that it wasn’t mandatory via e-mail but they also said “if you want to present any additional document that you believe might be of benefit to your application, you are free to do it.”
Also, another plug for Two Bad Tourists, I took them up on their offer of unlimited e-mail advice/Q&A for $25. Well worth the money so far, it’s nice to have people to bounce questions off of who have been through the process before. Thanks guys!
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