Student Visa Qualify for Residency in Spain?

[vjam 0]

I will soon hit the 6 month mark of being a Student in Spain, would that qualify me to reach the "six month residency" requirement to file through the DCF? Thanks for your help

[Lia792 5]

Hi Vjam, studying in Spain sounds like fun. You should contact the embassy you want to file at to make sure you can file there and to see if they will consider you a resident. Sometimes they will. Generally, it's difficult to get embassies to accept a student visa, but you never know until you try, and the regulations are very vague.

good luck!

[mspain 1]

A student visa is not the same as residency. You must apply for residency, and the only way you can apply in your case is with a visa for over 180 days of studies. If you have less than 180 days you cannot apply for residency- unless they have changed the rules in the last year.

I had my student residency in Spain in 2008. You have to have in your passport a visa for over 180 days of study, proof of your enrollment at university and payment of all fees, and proof of funds for living expenses while there. Next, you go to the comisaría de policia and apply for a NIE (Numero de Identificacion de Extranjeros) I applied for mine in November and didn´t get it until February. It is usually good up till the last month of your studies. You must file for this BEFORE the three month expiration on your student visa. You´ll probably have to wait in a long line- get there early in the morning, and you´ll probably have to go there several times. You´ll need to pay a ¨taza¨ which is a fee in a bank branch. You just bring the bank the info and pay the fee. And you´ll have to get fingerprinted when it gets approved.

I´ve attached a file of what mine looked like. It is no longer valid, but I submitted this with paperwork as proof of being in Spain for my K-1 visa. I knew I would need it back in 2008.

Edited April 30, 2010 by meghan.spain

[mspain 1]

,

Edited April 30, 2010 by meghan.spain

[mspain 1]

http://www.mir.es/SGACAVT/modelos/extranjeria/modelos_extranje/ex_15.pdf

This is the website for the solicitud de tarjeta de estudiante. I hope you can read Spanish!!

[vjam 0]

THank you very much for both your comments, My visa is for 180 days so I am a little wary of the chance that i can file DCF at this point. I'll keep searching for the best options!

Thanks

http://www.mir.es/SGACAVT/modelos/extranjeria/modelos_extranje/ex_15.pdf

This is the website for the solicitud de tarjeta de estudiante. I hope you can read Spanish!!

[mspain 1]

You may want to look into an immigration lawyer over there. Lawyers in Spain are cheap compared to in the US and usually work on a per transaction basis rather than hourly. They can definitely give you some insight into this. Or try contacting the US Embassy for advice.