So just in case anyone who reads this is ever going to be getting a visa, I thought I'd share my experience. Although I should let you know that every country is different, so unless you're living in the midwest getting a visa to Spain, I'm not sure how relevant this is. But it's a crazy story so I'll tell it anyway.
So I was first accepted to my program (CIEE) to study abroad in April. CIEE does their entire process online--applying, being accepted, turning in all your forms to the program, etc. It's actually really nice because I don't have to worry about doing anything by snail mail and everything is right here online at my fingertips, but anyway I digress...
So like I was saying, I was accepted in April and then at the end of April they posted some readings saying that we should start applying for our visas ASAP. Well the first week of may I had finals and I was way too stressed out about that to even be thinking about filling out study abroad stuff. So I thought okay, I'll wait til finals are over to start that. BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went online to the Consulate General of Spain in Chicago's website to book my visa appointment only to find out that the first available appointment was JULY 20TH. Well great, considering I am supposed to be arriving in Spain September 1st for the first day of orientation and they tell you that it usually takes 6-8 weeks to get your visa after you apply. So immediately I panic, but there's nothing I can do. So I resolve to check the website every day in case any earlier appointments become available, and if not I'll just cross my fingers that it works out.
And now the real fun begins! The visa application requires a background check. At the time that I was starting this process, they only accepted federal background checks. So I looked online and they said that for UI students, they do them in the Old Capitol Mall. So I headed over there before work one day, got my fingerprints done, and mailed them in (with the application form and payment) to the FBI. Then as my appointment is getting closer and closer I still haven't received the background check yet. Finally it gets here Monday, July 9th only for me to realize that I need it notarized. Well to get a federal background check notarized, you have to bring the check IN PERSON to MARYLAND. Okay that works great since I have so much time to just drive to Maryland. Well turns out that there are these handy companies that do it for you! So all we had to do was mail my background check and an express mail envelope to the company and they took it in for me, got it notarized and mailed it back all in time for my appointment!
Well in the mean time (keep in mind this all took place over about two months), I was getting panicky about the FBI background check not getting here on time. Well I checked the Consulate's website again only to find that they had updated their requirements. Now a STATE background check was acceptable! Wish I would have known that earlier because the state checks are much quicker and easier. So in the time that we were getting the federal one done, we also got a state background check done and notarized here in WI as well. So I had both just to be on the safe side in case that company was a fraud or something--WHICH it wasn't just so you know. It turned out great! I only used the FBI background check to turn in at the Consulate for my appointment, but I have the state one for my own purposes now.
Besides that there are several other things that you need to include. One is a letter of acceptance from your program that says you will be studying abroad for a minimum of 20 hrs a week, etc. This letter was mailed to me from CIEE back in May and also included the proof of travel insurance and declaration of financial responsibility (also requirements). Other than that I had to get a signed letter from my doctor saying I was nice and healthy enough to go to a foreign country, copies of my passport and drivers license, an application form, an express mail envelope for them to send me my visa and passport in, and all for a small fee of $160...
Anyway so with needing to get all of these things taken care of, and the fact that my appointment was so close to my departure date, I was very very very VERY stressed. So Thursday, July 19th I drove to Chicago after work and met my mom and Irene at a hotel in Rosemont. Friday morning we took the metro into Chicago and got there at about 8:15. We were just sitting down to eat at Cosi for breakfast when it occurred to me that I probably needed a copy of the pdf they send you confirming your appointment. So I break into a panic and we run to the nearest Staples (yogurt parfait and iced chai in hand) to print out a copy of it (which thankfully was still saved in my overcrowded gmail account from back in May). Everything was good to go but I was still very nervous and just felt like something else was bound to go wrong.
We roll into the Consulate at 8:55 and the waiting room is empty. At 9:00 I go up to the window and the lady takes all my things, tells me she hopes I have a great time studying abroad and that my visa should be to me within a month.
ALL THOSE MONTHS OF STRESSING FOR A 5 MINUTE APPOINTMENT WITH A VERY NICE LADY THAT WENT REALLY SMOOTHLY.
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| Me and Irene getting ready to shop after my successful appointment! |
So it all worked out in the end, but I thought I'd share my experience. Even if it doesn't help any of you out, I thought it might be fun for you to see how crazy this has been--and I haven't even left the US yet!
I'm getting ready to move out of my apartment in IC tomorrow, and then it's back to WI for my last few weeks in the US! I'm so excited!!!
