More visa complaints (sorry)

[clickerish]

This Sunday we have to drive to Chicago to try to get a Spanish tourist visa for my partner. This is a process that has taken two months just to figure out thanks to the fact that nobody at the consulate or embassy will answer ANY visa questions, and the rules are less than clear sometimes. They are asking not only for signed letters of invitations so the poor thing can attend a bloody conference and visit two friends, but they have to be signed letters of invitation authorized by the police who, of course, take over 4 weeks to process a stamp. We've been gathering paperwork for months.

My fury helps nothing, so I try to restrain it, but could they answer the DAMN phone sometimes? And the next time some ignorant idiot tells me that illegal immigrants should just do it legally as if it were such a simple and clear process, I swear to god I will kick them.

[crimsonandclover]

Blah. It's stories like these that make me thank my lucky stars that the American consulate/embassy is Germany is great at being responsive to calls/e-mails. The info in them isn't always helpful, but it often is, and the response is always prompt, which is helpful. Sorry you're dealing with this crap just for a conference!

[Cheesecake]

Oh wow, I never knew that Americans actually need tourist visas anywhere in the EU. That blows! Good Luck!!

[travelingturtle]

I used to work with study abroad students and Spain was always very difficult for the students that needed a visa. And it's amazing how many countries keep their visa requirements kind of mysterious. Once we did get a call back from an embassy (not Spain, I don't remember which though) and told us that the students didn't need a visa (even though the website strongly suggested that they do), but he refused to email us that information because he didn't want to leave a paper trail.

[mrsukyankee]

Is your partner an American? Cause if so, they don't need a visa to visit Spain (or any EU country) or to go to a conference. You would only need it if your partner was getting paid to give a speech at the conference but not to listen to others speaking.

[clickerish]

May 14, 2012 13:39:47 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Is your partner an American? Cause if so, they don't need a visa to visit Spain (or any EU country) or to go to a conference. You would only need it if your partner was getting paid to give a speech at the conference but not to listen to others speaking.

Alas, no. Not an American. Hence the constant visa drama. I spend a lot of time in Chicago these days being supportive I can never say anything to calm the fears either because I have dual and am basically walking on sunshine with zero experience in fear of rejection and having plans destroyed.

[mrsukyankee]

That is seriously a bummer. Good luck!

[travelingturtle]

What if he flies into another country where he doesn't need a visa (or such a difficult visa to get) and then takes the train to Spain? He shouldn't need a visa then since it's part of the Schengen area. I think the only issue is if he's in Spain for more than he's not in Spain. And then there's the added expense/travel/time. Not sure if that would work, just thought of it.

[clogged]

Dude. Brilliant.
I puffy pink heart Schengen.

[clickerish]

May 14, 2012 15:20:31 GMT -5 travelingturtle said:

What if he flies into another country where he doesn't need a visa (or such a difficult visa to get) and then takes the train to Spain? He shouldn't need a visa then since it's part of the Schengen area. I think the only issue is if he's in Spain for more than he's not in Spain. And then there's the added expense/travel/time. Not sure if that would work, just thought of it.

This is our new plan B. Thanks. If this fails, we'll be scheduling for Portugal where I will be. I have a place, and they actually like tourists. Win-win.

[allibally]

What a pain. Do you manage to spend a little time in Chicago to offset stupid visa issue visits. Would drive me mad to do all that driving just for that.