Immigration Process

The Office of Study Abroad will send you several detailed emails about steps you need to take to obtain your student visa starting approximately 5 months before your departure for Spain. Visa requirements are always subject to change, but here are some general comments about what to expect: 

• You must complete everything ON TIME or else you might jeopardize your ability to go abroad due to Spanish Government restrictions.

• The visa is the student’s responsibility, meaning that if students do not get it, it is a liability incurred by the student as per the Study Abroad Contract. However, due to the complex nature of the process, we help you as best we can. This includes submitting and retrieving all application materials to the Spanish Consulate, also known as “batch processing.” We will do this process in Boston if the Boston Consulate of Spain allows it, regardless of your home state.

• Please keep in mind that nothing our office solicits during the visa process is required by Holy Cross, but rather by the government of Spain. We do not make any of these rules, but guide you through the regulations. As always, we are advising you to the best of our ability, but we have no sway over the consulate of Spain, the Spanish Government, State or Federal Governments. 

• If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if you have international travel plans over the summer, please notify the Office of Study Abroad immediately so we can guide you through the process.

• Expect changes and updates. All updates, instructions and materials will be sent out to you via email.

• We highly suggest you involve your parents/guardian and that you share all visa and study abroad information with them as well. Please have a conversation with them to talk about your shared responsibilities. If you do not have a guardian who can help you with the visa process, please let me know and I will work with you.

• The Consulate reserves the right to solicit additional documentation.

Spanish Visa Process 

You will be guided through submitting the following documentation to the office of Study Abroad throughout the 5 months prior to your departure for Spain. All requirements are subject to change and come directly from the guidance on the Spanish Consulate's website:

https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/boston/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-estudios.aspx

1. FBI Background Check, Apostilled & Translated 

1.1 Complete the online FBI background check form by clicking here. Scroll down to where it says "enter your email to get started" and follow the instructions! Be advised: One of the steps is to get fingerprinted at a participating electronic fingerprinting location. You can find the list of participating locations here. Call in advance to make sure they can take you for an appointment! 

1.2 After you receive your completed background check (normally within 3-5 business days), you need to send the document to a professional translation service. For this service, we recommend you use Robyn Nelson. Once you email her the document and the translation request, she will send you a fair price and instructions for payment! Robyn Nelson <robyn@verbatimsolutions.com> 

1.3 Get your FBI Background check Apostilled.

After you have digitally sent your FBI background check to Robyn for translation, you need to get a federal Apostille of the Hague. In order to do this, put the following documents inside a flat UPS or USPS envelope. DO NOT USE FEDEX. DO NOT FOLD THE DOCUMENTS:

-Complete Form DS-4194. I put a sample form DS 4194 in the Google Folder for Spain visas. Use this sample form and edit the information with your personal details 

-Your FBI Background check

- A money order for $20 paid to the U.S. Department of State

-One self-addressed, prepaid envelope for return of your document

-Cover Letter from Emma (pick up in her office: Smith 213)

Mail your completed envelope to:

Office of Authentications
U.S. Department of State
CA/PPT/S/TO/AUT
44132 Mercure Circle
P.O. Box 1206
Sterling, VA  20166-1206

More info here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/requesting-authentication-services.html 

2. One national visa application​ form​ AND ONE COPY printed DOUBLE-SIDED

Each applicant will complete and sign one application form. Remember to fill correctly your ALL DATES: DAY/MONTH/YEAR (Spanish way) and do not forget to write your email address and to sign the form. Don’t forget to SIGN THE VISA APPLICATON FORM IN BLUE INK. THE DATE AND LOCATION SHOULD ALSO BE HAND WRITTEN IN BLUE INK-NOT TYPED.

3. Two photographs. 

A RECENT passport-size, in color, with a light background, taken from the front, without dark glasses, reflections, or clothing that hides the oval of the face. Please send a photo with all these requirements. Copies of photos will NOT be accepted. You need to get this done professionally- try CVS, Walmart, or Walgreens.

4. Valid and current passport with at least 2 blank pages and valid for at least the entire duration of the intended stay and have two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted. They must also be valid at least until 3 months after the end of the stay in Spain. Apart from the original passport, send us also a normal copy of the passport as we will need it to keep in your file.

5. Color copy of your current passport-photo page only

6. Color copy of your Holy Cross Student ID Card

7. Notarized letter of financial support from Parent/Guardian accompanied by 3 months bank statements and your birth certificate, ORIGINAL & COPY SIGNED IN BLUE INK

You need to provide a notarized letter from the parents or legal guardians assuming full financial responsibility for at least $700 per month for room and board. I have dropped the template for this into our Google Folder for visas-please use this template. 

8. Acceptance Letter to Universidade da Coruña verifying enrollment as a full-time student, leading to obtaining a degree or certificate. The certificate must detail: name of the program, duration (start and end dates), address, phone number, name of the person in charge of the program (the certificate of admission must be presented in Spanish) and his/her signature (handwritten or electronically). It must be translated into Spanish if the original is in English.

9. Disclaimer form​ SIGNED IN BLUE INK

A copy of the disclaimer form can be found in the Spain Student Visas Google Folder. 

10. Payment of the visa fee

ONLY money order paid to "CONSULADO GENERAL DE ESPAÑA" is accepted. The fee is USD 160 for American citizens. DO NOT SEND PERSONAL CHECKS OR CASH, ONLY MONEY ORDERS ARE ACCEPTED. Do not forget to fill all the information: pay to: "CONSULADO GENERAL DE ESPAÑA” and your name. The visa fee is non-refundable.

11. Medical certificate. ORIGINAL AND COPY-Please have your doctor sign in BLUE INK!

 You need a medical certificate accrediting that "the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations". 

The certificate must have been issued within 90 days prior to the visa application, and must include a doctor's signature and stamp/letterhead. If it is written in English, it must be accompanied by a translation into Spanish. Medical certificates do not need to be apostilled. 

---------------Provided by the Office of Study Abroad---------------

1. NOTARIZED COPY of proof of residence in this jurisdiction. The visa applicant must be legally residing or studying on-site in the consular jurisdiction of this Consulate General (states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine and Vermont). As a proof, both student cards and enrolment in your U.S university are accepted.

2. Health insurance from an insurer recognized and authorized to operate in Spain. ORIGINAL AND COPY. The insurance must cover all risks normally covered for nationals and must be valid during the whole stay in Spain. It must cover at least all the preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation assistance activities that are carried out in health centers or socio-health centers, as well as urgent health transport. The health insurance must not have a deficiency, copayment, or coverage limit, that is, it must cover 100% of the medical, hospital, and out-of-hospital expenses. The document from your health insurance company must show that covers you:

- At least $500,000 

- Without deductibles, copays or waiting periods

- 100% of medical/hospital/out-of-hospital expenses (all risks insured by the Public Health System in Spain).

- The entire length of your stay in Spain.

If you are lucky enough to be a European Passport Holder, you do not need to apply for a student visa to study in France. Simply travel using your European passport!