We went to BLS LA on January 27 for our Spain Non Lucrative Visa application. The interesting part of this is that four people were scheduled for 10:00 am, but I was only called at 10:40 am.
The reason? The person before me was the very first to apply for an Spain Non Lucrative Visa at BLS Los Angeles. We were the second.
The staff was very nice, but there was a young lady overseeing the NLV process, and it seemed like she was training the one person working on these applications. Up until now, they had mostly been processing student visas, so this was a new process for them.
Since this was new, they were very particular about the requirements:
- We had to add to our non-working statement that we would not work remotely from Spain.
- We then had to run out and get this statement notarized.
- They required our FBI background checks to be apostilled and translated.
- Since we didn’t have translations, we had to send them to a stateside translator on a rush basis, which cost $700.
- They allowed us to email the translated documents later upon receipt.
- We were placed in pending status with BLS and were charged $187 for this.
It’s all a very stressful process, but we had no choice but to go with the flow.
One more thing: our lawyer in Barcelona put her address as ours in Valencia, but without a specific address. The BLS staff insisted that we needed to remain in Barcelona until we had all resident documents before moving to Valencia.
This is incorrect. Our attorney called the police department, and they confirmed that:
- The address on the application form does not determine where you must live.
- When you apply for residency, you will need to submit a different form in the city where you intend to live.
So, BLS is still learning, and this process is new to them. We are still waiting for updates and will hopefully be heading to Valencia soon.
Also, Los Angeles requires a letter of intent, so make sure you have that ready!”
Questions and Answers
Q: “Do we need to state that we won’t work remotely from Spain?”
A: “Yes, in Los Angeles, they required us to include that statement in our non-working declaration and get it notarized.”
Q: “Did they require FBI background checks to be translated?”
A: “Yes, they required apostilled FBI background checks to be sworn translated. We had to rush this translation stateside, which cost $700.”
Here are Spainguru’s recommended sworn translators.
Q: “Did BLS LA allow pending applications?”
A: “Yes, they charged $187 to place our application in pending status, allowing us to email the required translations later.”
Q: “Did they say we need to stay in the city listed on the application?”
A: “Yes, but this is incorrect. Our lawyer called the police department, and they confirmed that the address on the application does not determine residency. The actual residency application form is done in the city where you intend to live.”
Q: “Did they require a Letter of Intent?”
A: “Yes, BLS Los Angeles required a Letter of Intent, so make sure to include it in your application.”
Conclusion
Applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa in Los Angeles comes with its own set of challenges, especially since BLS only recently started handling these applications. Key takeaways from this experience:
- BLS Los Angeles is new to NLV applications – Since this is a new process, expect extra scrutiny and possible confusion from the staff.
- Non-working statement required – Applicants must declare they will not work remotely from Spain and get the statement notarized.
- Apostilled FBI checks must be sworn translated
- Pending status comes at a cost – If you don’t have everything ready, expect to pay $187 to place your application in pending status and submit missing documents later.
- Residency application location is flexible – The city on the application form does not lock you in. The actual residency process happens in the city where you plan to live.
- Letter of Intent is required – Make sure to prepare this document before your appointment.
While BLS Los Angeles is still learning, being prepared for these additional requirements will help make the process less stressful.
