Left BLS Los Angeles on Friday 21st February 2025 – I was turned away
You do not need proof of any lease agreement or accommodations here. I had it and when asked, they said you didn’t need it.
Your letter of intent and sworn statement that you will not work need to be separated. I had one letter combining the two things done in Spanish since I am a fluent speaker and notarized.
The BLS agent said no. They had to be two letters. One telling your intentions which can be casual and no need to notarize – the sworn statement letter though, needs to be in English with the official Spanish translation (????) and notarized. Not sure why! I speak fluent Spanish. They gave me a form for the sworn statement so I will attach below.
Any child above 6 years old must have a letter of placement in a school in Spain. This was news to me as I did not see this anywhere on either the Consulate or the BLS website.
Even though we have passive income that well meets the 400% IPREM, they said we must have about $30k in assets to show as well. Not at all what the consulate website states as a requirement, but I guess since we have it, we will just gather the documents.
Seems unfair though to a family who may not have that and just in general that it is not what the visa requirements on the Consulate website state. We even got a ‘checklist’ that I had never seen before… it states $34k per person! Which is not what the agent told us in person. Again, so many discrepancies.
They also told us we must bring in a sworn statement notarized from my husband stating that he is willing to support me and the kids! Even gave me a form that he said we can use – which I will post below.
790 Form: even though the BLS website instructions on the form state you should put a US address if you don’t have a Spanish one yet, they will not accept that. They asked us to print out new ones for our future visit that states only the province in Spain.
They said as long as the FBI check is within 6 months it is acceptable by the Consulate. News to us again! The Consulate website strictly states no older than 90 days, but this was a relief.
We are just crossing our fingers that when we go back they don’t tell us otherwise.
Good luck everyone applying. The BLS agents seemed to be all over the place with information and I think it may just come down to who you get.
Questions and Answers
Q: How does one prove they are debt-free?
A: It’s unclear. Some speculate it could involve showing no liens or loans, while others wonder if a credit report is required.
Q: What if you own rental property with a mortgage?
A: This was not clarified. However, questions remain about whether a mortgage disqualifies someone from being considered “debt-free.”
Q: Can you get a school placement letter without being in Spain?
A: Some noted that it’s likely only possible with private schools and may even require payment in advance. Another user stated a lawyer confirmed this is not a formal requirement.
Q: Do documents need to be translated by an ATA (American translators association) certified translator?
A: Official translations can only be provided by Sworn Translators, appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Q: Do we need to provide a sworn support statement if the breadwinner is the spouse?
A: Yes, at least at the LA BLS. The author confirmed they were given a form for this and told to have it notarized.
Q: What about the apostille wait time?
A: Several users warned this process is currently taking up to 10 weeks. One user got a congressional representative involved, which expedited the process. Monument Visa was mentioned as a helpful agency.
Q: Do you need your full tax return or just part of it?
A: Most members submitted only the first two pages of their tax returns. One lawyer advised doing so, while others suggested bringing full returns just in case.
Comments
“This is crazy. Sorry to hear the run around. We are about to apply through LA.”
“I’m worried about the apostille delays. Today I applied for the FBI background check and plan to use Monument Visa for the apostille.”
“BLS is inventing new requirements. I show close to 70K in passive income but might not meet the $30k asset demand.”
“The same thing happened to us last year at the Washington DC BLS, crazy how they get to interpret the requirements.”
“This is why it is so incredibly important to hire an attorney to assist with the process.”
“Thank you so much for this post. Extremely helpful to know they want separate letters and sworn translations.”
“Thank you for your update! This information helps all of us!”
Conclusion
This firsthand experience highlights the inconsistencies in the Spain Non Lucrative Visa process at the Los Angeles BLS center.
Applicants are encountering varying and sometimes undocumented requirements, such as needing separate letters for intent and non-work statements, unexpected asset thresholds, and demands for school placement letters for children over 6.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on the personal experience of a community member. It does not constitute legal advice. Visa requirements and procedures may vary and are subject to change. For personalized guidance, we recommend consulting with a qualified immigration lawyer and always check official consulate/BLS requirements.
