The process for studying abroad can require a lot of footwork, and in my case some air travel before my actual program began. Being a year long student meant that I needed to apply for a visa prior to going.
Luckily my program, USAC, had an entire department dedicated to helping students with this process, including a group submission process where students could submit their application, and a representative for us would go to the Spanish Embassy. I would email them, constantly verifying that I understood the process correctly. They were great at getting back to me!
Not so luckily, the embassy in my jurisdiction cancelled our group appointment last minute. This meant that I had to fly from WA to CA after finding an appointment time online and using the savings I specifically had for studying abroad for this endeavor.
Fast forward, I obtained my visa from the consulate, I’m starting my first semester at the Universidad de Alicante, but the process for studying abroad for a year isn’t over. My program had to make an appointment for us in early October at Alicante’s city hall. Here, we had to present our visas, passports, where we’re staying, how long we’re staying for, to the city of Alicante. Before the appointment the staff at our local USAC office said it would be a quick appointment. Alas this was not to be.
Like any appointment involving government policies and procedures, patience is required. When we arrived there was no place for us to sit and a security guard would occasionally set off a siren to get everyone to lower their voices. Of course for our appointment a procedure on a specific policy had recently changed and that meant having to come back with required documentation we didn’t have. When we returned, they had forgotten that we were coming. Luckily a staff member stepped forward and assisted us with the necessary help needed.
Our next appointment was at the police station. Here they took more paperwork and our fingerprints. This was the last appointment that we would have as a group. We were told that it wouldn’t take nearly as long, but based on our last appointment I wasn’t very hopeful of this. I ended up cancelling a tutoring session later in the day, just in case. That ended up being the right thing to do as I would have never made it.
Today I picked up my identification card. I’m officially a legal resident of Alicante and I can also use this while traveling to show that I’m legally allowed to enter back into Spain and stay until it expires.
Here are some tips:
- The visa process is daunting no matter what country you plan to study in.
- BUT you can do it!
- There’s going to be a lot of paperwork and important dates/deadlines to remember.
- Stay organized
- Patience is key.
- In cases like mine, the process doesn’t end once you arrive in your host country.
- Patience is key.
- Even if you have an appointment.
- If you’re like me and studying abroad with a specific program, many times their staff are their to assist you.
- Trust them. They’ve been doing this longer than you.
- Ask lots of questions.
- If you’re confused, just ask.
- Your education / study abroad office
- Program staff
- local authorities (I had to get fingerprints at my local police station)
- If you’re confused, just ask.
- Start saving now
- I used specific funds I was saving for the cost of finger prints
- traveling to California for my Visa
- Visa
- Postage, sometimes FedEx
- You can’t wait on tuition to pay for these things while preparing to go. SAVE NOW.
- Above all else, take as many deep breaths as you need.
- Patience is key.
