Job Discussion Forums

[peque�o_saltamontes]

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum, and I'd like to make an introduction.

A little about me and my situation: I am American, male, 24 years old, looking to return to Spain. Pretty typical right? Well, I studied abroad last year, fall semester, my final semester of college. I met a girl, fell in love, and I am looking to go back to her in September. It's been pretty stressfull.

My first plan, even before I met her, was to apply to the North American language assistant program. I did apply, but it does not appear I am going to get a spot. So we've been looking at other options.

We want to be together this year. She is a student in Granada, and she's in her final year this year. We've discovered that the "pareja de hecho" option is probably our best bet. She's been to her ayuntamiento and all appears copacetic. She is in kind of a rush because she is empadronada in another city than Granada, and she wants to have the whole process done before she goes back to school in October.

The ayuntamiento told her that all I really need to bring is a "certificado de f� de vida y estado". I'm not real sure what this is, but I understand that it's basically just a letter stating I am single and able to marry. Does anyone know how to go about getting this? Can I get it in America? Or do I have to wait to go to Spain to get it.

One last thing, recently my girlfriend put me in contact with a friend of hers who works at a language academy in Cantabria. Her boss expressed interest in hiring me, which rather surprised me. I sent my CV and all that and asked if she(the boss) could assist in getting me a contract/visa. She said she was willing but seemed rather clueless as to the process. I told her all I knew was that I needed to be sponsored for a job in order to get a visa, but I had no idea how to do it on her end. The position begins in September, and I am guessing if she knew anything about hiring a non-EU resident, she wouldn't go through the trouble in hiring an American. Wouldn't the process of getting a visa take a couple months, probably past September? My girlfriend insisted I look into this opportunity before we committed to the pareja de hecho, seeing as if I could get the work visa in say, two months, I'd already have a job, and one less thing to worry about.

Thoughts? Sorry for the long post, your help is greatly appreciated.

Matt

[Grimace420]

You basically won't get a work visa for reasons explained over and over again in other threads. Your clueless potential employer will probably give up on the idea once she realizes the hoops she has to jump through and how likely your request is to be declined. I wouldn't even bother trying.

Getting residency and permission to work for 5 years via the pareja de hecho option is far easier. However, how long it'll take before it's granted depends a lot on your luck and where you're processing it. When I got mine in Madrid, we went to the town hall with all our documents in mid September and I picked up my card in mid December. That was exceptionally fast as my girlfriend knows people working in the department where it's processed and we jumped the queue. Other people who started their application in September had appointments to pick up their cards in like April or May. So yeah, good luck getting everything done by October.

If I were you, I'd just go back to Spain and apply for your pareja de hecho residency without worrying how long it took, because there's a good chance it'll take friggin' ages. Just work under the table for a while and do whatever you have to do to survive until you get your residency card and then you can work wherever you like.

I can't help you with advice about your certificate as I'm not American. Hope it all goes smoothly.

[spiral78]

[peque�o_saltamontes]

[peque�o_saltamontes]

[spiral78]

[Grimace420]

[spiral78]

[naturegirl321]

[Grimace420]

It seems that you can apply for permanent residence after 5 years of living in Spain legally if you meet certain conditions. http://www.conpapeles.com/resi.php3


To obtain Spanish nationality, I believe that the standard wait is 10 years of legal living in Spain before you can apply for a Spanish passport, unless you have other ties (like proof of a Spanish ancestor) in which case the time can be reduced. Detailed on this site: http://www.mjusticia.gob.es/cs/Satellite/es/1215198282620/Estructura_P/1215198291413/Detalle.html

[pr455]

Grimace,

Thanks for posting this. It should help a lot of people out.

This makes my 6th year as a Language Assistant and I will be looking at this route for the following year because doing the job that I have (on a student visa) is not compatible with having residency.

This PDF explains what you have to do (IN SPANISH)

http://extranjeros.empleo.gob.es/es/InformacionInteres/InformacionProcedimientos/documentos2/104.pdf

To apply for permanente residency, fill out MODELO EX18

http://extranjeros.empleo.gob.es/es/ModelosSolicitudes/Mod_solicitudes2/index.html

Good luck,

Shawn

[naturegirl321]

[peque�o_saltamontes]

So I've figured out what to do about the paper. The woman with the job offer has emailed me back, and said she is going to Ireland for two weeks but when she returns she says she wants to discuss salary, hours, and everything. Should I just tell her that this opportunity is not worth it?

Anyway, sticking to the original plan. Since I will be moving to Spain, it only makes sense to buy a one-way ticket. Is it possible for me to buy one and not be questioned about a return ticket? Or will I have to explain my situation?

Some help with this, thanks in advance.

Matt

[spiral78]

Unlikely they will question you, but if so just tell them. You're not technically illegal upon entering the country in any way.