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[Enclave]

Hello all: New to the forum, looks great! I married an EU citizen last month. We have recorded our marriage with the French consulate in San Francisco, California, where we live now. I am told it will take about 10 months to get the document which confirms I am married to a French national. We want to go to Europe, but we don't know yet if it will be Spain, France or Italy. I'm pretty sure I can work legally in all EU countries, but I am also sure there are hurdles. Does anyone know what is in store for me in order to work legally in Spain? Specifically, if anyone can answer the following, I would be mighty grateful:

what are the lag times? If we don't arrive at the same time, can I still register or whatever is needed? Is there anything one can do in advance in the US before arriving?

[jr1965]

Hello Enclave,

I think I may be able to offer you some advice, as I'm an American married to a Spaniard. We moved here (to Madrid) from the States earlier this year.

To work legally in Spain, you need to get the Spanish version of an American green card (it's basically a residence card; all nationals have them and mine says "Extranjero" on it). My husband and I already had a document (actually, it's a Spanish "family book") stating that we were married. But, this wasn't enough for me to get work here legally. I had to apply for and get the residency card. With this card now, I can work legally here, visit doctors and clinics in the public health system without having to pay, open bank accounts, etc.

Before we moved to Spain, I started the application process in the States to get this card (there was quite a bit of paperwork to fill out and my spouse had to be with me). I did this at the Spanish consulate in San Francisco. When we arrived in Madrid, there was still paperwork to do (and long lines to stand in), but once I turned in my paperwork here, I received a document saying that my card was being processed, and then I was able to get work, go to the doc, etc. It took about 90 days (once I'd filed everything here in Madrid) to get the card. Pretty fast, actually. All total, I'd say the process started in San Francisco and finished here in Madrid took btwn 5-6 months.

I think that having Spanish residency will allow me to work in other EU countries, BUT...I'm not sure (as I've never tried to do this). So, don't assume.

So...in order for you to establish French / EU residency, I believe that you will need to go to the French consulate in San Francisco, and begin filing your paperwork. Then, you'll have to complete your paperwork in France, where your spouse is from. I don't think that you can come to Spain and try to establish residency here as you're not married to a Spanish national. That's what I'm assuming. And the process I've described above is based on what I had to do to apply for residency in Spain. France may very well be different. Yes, Spain and France are part of the European Community, but they're still different countries.

Also, can you speak French fairly well? I ask because when I filed the paperwork here in Spain to complete my residency process, only Spanish was spoken. I speak Spanish pretty well, but am not fully fluent, and so for some (legal) stuff, I had to ask my husband to translate. So, if you arrive in France to complete your paperwork, and your spouse isn't with you, make sure your French is pretty good before visiting that civil service office. And actually, make sure that you don't need to have your spouse with you. On one occasion here in Madrid, my husband HAD to be with me. And same was true when we filed paperwork at the SF Spanish consulate.

Does any of this info help?

[jr1965]

deleted double post

[Dave Tait]

Hi.
I'm a UK national and hope to go to Spain to teach soon. My wife is Chinese and we will enter Spain again with her using A shengen visa which last 6 months.As I understand it as a UK national I can work freely in Spain just as other EU nationals can work in the UK.
I belive I can apply for Spanish residency once there without any problems and again, since my wife is married to a EU national she will have the same status as I have.
Speaking to others teaching in Spain I am led to believe that by being registered in the Spanish tax system we will be covered for medical as per Spanish citizens and will also be entitled to Spanish pensions when the time arrives.
If anyone knows any different could you please advise?
Adios.
Dave.

[jr1965]

Dave,

I can't answer your questions, but one did come to mind for me as I was reading: Have you already established residency in the EU for your wife (i.e., does she have a residency card or permit of some kind)?

I ask about this because, like your wife, I'm not from the EU but am married to an EU national (from Spain), but when we came here to Madrid, I wasn't able to do certain things (e.g., see doctors in the public health system, open bank accounts on my own, etc) without having my residence card first (or, at least being able to show that it was in the works). So, in other words, just because I'm married to an EU national, didn't mean that I automatically shared his status. By the way, I also came to Madrid on a visa when we moved here.

In terms of being able to apply for residency here in Spain, have you thought about contacting the Spanish consulate where you are? I bet you could get some straight answers there, and perhaps even begin the paperwork before you come (f you even need to).

Good luck!

[Dave Tait]

Hi jr.
A shengen visa allows the holder to stay in Spain six months. I'm told that when I register to pay taxes this entitles me to medical care. If my wife registers ( as the wife of an EU national) she will be getting the same as me. As far as I can ascertain as an EU citizen I can work freely in any of the EU coutries. Paying taxes legalises my status.
Registering to pay taxes is the first step in the system. I've no qualms about paying taxes.I dont expect to be exempt in any way.
Now as the husband of an EU national I would think that the Shengen visa is your way into Spain. Check it out!
Dave.