This article shares a firsthand experience from a Spainguru community member applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa through the San Francisco BLS, highlighting the specific challenges encountered with financial documentation and BLS requirements.
“San Francisco BLS – Had a disappointing appointment yesterday (April 15ht 2025) and wanted to share. I had an appointment at 11am and they only had two people processing. One for Schengen and the other for NLV, student, etc. I wasn’t called until 12:45.
She went through my documents and all was good until she looked at my financials. She said the consulate will not consider investment accounts (wait, what?!?) and the money has to be in my checking/savings (liquid) and my bank statements need to include all of the transaction pages not just the summaries.
I have followed and researched so much and don’t recall ever seeing anything about investment accounts not being considered or only liquid assets. Had I known, I could have withdrawn/transferred ahead of time.
Nothing is mentioned on the San Francisco Consulate site (which BLS said to follow instead of theirs), but I did just look at the BLS site: ‘Bank statements of the last 3 months from all bank accounts with the transaction details (account summary will not be accepted) and any other source of income totaling the minimum required. Investment accounts will not be accepted.’
She said everything else was in order but didn’t sound confident that once I transfer to checking that the consulate would accept since it would be in there for a short period. She also recommended transferring $35–40k USD to be safe and clearly explain in my letter of intent how I came about the money and show the electronic trail from one account to the other.
I now have to liquidate and transfer investment money before my next statement date and schedule another BLS appointment which none are available in SF for now. My physician’s letter will expire on May 12th 2025 and I will most likely have to get another because it has to have a window before expiration while the consulate is reviewing.
Trying to stay encouraged, but it was quite a disappointment. Hope this helps someone in the future regarding showing liquid assets.”
Questions and Answers
Q: Do they keep your documents or money orders when you’re turned away?
A: “Turned away and instructed to remedy and book a new appointment (which there are none available). My FBI apostille is valid until early July, so I’m praying I don’t have to redo it. My health insurance starts in June 2025.”
Q: Can you provide a balance letter from Vanguard or Fidelity to prove liquidity?
A: “Yes, some users found that balance letters from Vanguard and Fidelity explicitly stating that the funds are ‘immediately available’ helped get approval at other consulates.”
Q: What if my physician’s letter is about to expire before my next appointment?
A: “Another consulate allowed someone to email the document before the appointment. It’s worth asking San Francisco BLS if this is an option.”
Q: Do you have to translate full bank statement transactions for San Francisco?
A: “Yes, according to what the intake person said. They require transaction details and not just summaries, and apparently expect them to be translated too.”
Q: Will transferring money shortly before the appointment be a problem?
A: “Yes. They want the funds in a checking/savings account with full transaction history. One user was told to include an electronic trail and a letter of explanation for the transfer.”
Q: Can you use an investment account with a letter stating the funds are accessible?
A: “Some consulates accept it. SF appears to follow stricter BLS rules that explicitly reject investment accounts. NYC and Houston consulates reportedly accepted investment accounts with supporting letters.”
Q: Is it possible to drop off missing documents the next day at SF BLS?
A: “Not in this case. The consulate wanted the cash reflected on official monthly statements.”
Q: What does BLS stand for?
A: “BLS is the outsourced company processing company for some Spanish consulates. They review and forward documents to the consulate.”
Q: How do you get a liquidity letter from Schwab or Fidelity?
A: “For Schwab, go to ‘Statements and Tax Forms’ and click ‘Generate a Balance Letter’. For Fidelity, you can request one via customer support or their online messaging tool.”
Comments
“This is incredibly frustrating. It doesn’t make sense not to count investment accounts when the funds are accessible within a day.”
“I also used an investment account, but I had a letter from the brokerage saying the money was liquid. NYC consulate accepted that.”
“It’s a maze and every consulate seems to have their own rules. Thanks for sharing—really helpful for those of us preparing.”
“I had the same experience in Miami. They needed a full 12 months of checking transactions. I had to provide a letter explaining how my linked accounts worked.”
“I’ve read investment accounts were fine at other consulates. This seems to be SF-specific.”
“Just a reminder—equity investments can lose value fast. That’s why consulates prefer cash in checking/savings.”
“Renewals are getting tougher too. Some are being denied unless the money is in a Spanish bank account, in euros.”
“Great insight about how consulates differ. Everyone should double-check with their consulate’s specific requirements.”
Conclusion
The experience shared by an applicant at the San Francisco BLS office in April 2025 highlights the importance of liquidity and consulate-specific expectations when applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa.
In this case, investment accounts were not accepted, despite being readily accessible, unless the funds were moved to checking/savings and clearly documented.
Applicants are advised to:
- Carefully read both the BLS and consulate websites—but understand BLS rules may be more strictly enforced.
- Transfer funds to checking or savings well before your appointment to create a paper trail.
- Include full transaction histories, translated if required.
- Provide supporting letters from banks or brokerages affirming immediate fund availability.
- Prepare for consular variation—what’s acceptable in NYC or Houston may not fly in San Francisco.
Finally, plan early, allow for expired documents, and be ready to explain every financial move. Spain’s NLV process continues to evolve, and preparation is key.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a personal experience shared within the Spainguru community and does not constitute legal advice. For official guidance, consult the Spanish consulate or a qualified immigration professional.
This article shares a firsthand experience from a Spainguru community member applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa through the San Francisco BLS, highlighting the specific challenges encountered with financial documentation and BLS requirements.
“San Francisco BLS – Had a disappointing appointment yesterday (April 15ht 2025) and wanted to share. I had an appointment at 11am and they only had two people processing. One for Schengen and the other for NLV, student, etc. I wasn’t called until 12:45.
She went through my documents and all was good until she looked at my financials. She said the consulate will not consider investment accounts (wait, what?!?) and the money has to be in my checking/savings (liquid) and my bank statements need to include all of the transaction pages not just the summaries.
I have followed and researched so much and don’t recall ever seeing anything about investment accounts not being considered or only liquid assets. Had I known, I could have withdrawn/transferred ahead of time.
Nothing is mentioned on the San Francisco Consulate site (which BLS said to follow instead of theirs), but I did just look at the BLS site: ‘Bank statements of the last 3 months from all bank accounts with the transaction details (account summary will not be accepted) and any other source of income totaling the minimum required. Investment accounts will not be accepted.’
She said everything else was in order but didn’t sound confident that once I transfer to checking that the consulate would accept since it would be in there for a short period. She also recommended transferring $35–40k USD to be safe and clearly explain in my letter of intent how I came about the money and show the electronic trail from one account to the other.
I now have to liquidate and transfer investment money before my next statement date and schedule another BLS appointment which none are available in SF for now. My physician’s letter will expire on May 12th 2025 and I will most likely have to get another because it has to have a window before expiration while the consulate is reviewing.
Trying to stay encouraged, but it was quite a disappointment. Hope this helps someone in the future regarding showing liquid assets.”
Questions and Answers
Q: Do they keep your documents or money orders when you’re turned away?
A: “Turned away and instructed to remedy and book a new appointment (which there are none available). My FBI apostille is valid until early July, so I’m praying I don’t have to redo it. My health insurance starts in June 2025.”
Q: Can you provide a balance letter from Vanguard or Fidelity to prove liquidity?
A: “Yes, some users found that balance letters from Vanguard and Fidelity explicitly stating that the funds are ‘immediately available’ helped get approval at other consulates.”
Q: What if my physician’s letter is about to expire before my next appointment?
A: “Another consulate allowed someone to email the document before the appointment. It’s worth asking San Francisco BLS if this is an option.”
Q: Do you have to translate full bank statement transactions for San Francisco?
A: “Yes, according to what the intake person said. They require transaction details and not just summaries, and apparently expect them to be translated too.”
Q: Will transferring money shortly before the appointment be a problem?
A: “Yes. They want the funds in a checking/savings account with full transaction history. One user was told to include an electronic trail and a letter of explanation for the transfer.”
Q: Can you use an investment account with a letter stating the funds are accessible?
A: “Some consulates accept it. SF appears to follow stricter BLS rules that explicitly reject investment accounts. NYC and Houston consulates reportedly accepted investment accounts with supporting letters.”
Q: Is it possible to drop off missing documents the next day at SF BLS?
A: “Not in this case. The consulate wanted the cash reflected on official monthly statements.”
Q: What does BLS stand for?
A: “BLS is the outsourced company processing company for some Spanish consulates. They review and forward documents to the consulate.”
Q: How do you get a liquidity letter from Schwab or Fidelity?
A: “For Schwab, go to ‘Statements and Tax Forms’ and click ‘Generate a Balance Letter’. For Fidelity, you can request one via customer support or their online messaging tool.”
Comments
“This is incredibly frustrating. It doesn’t make sense not to count investment accounts when the funds are accessible within a day.”
“I also used an investment account, but I had a letter from the brokerage saying the money was liquid. NYC consulate accepted that.”
“It’s a maze and every consulate seems to have their own rules. Thanks for sharing—really helpful for those of us preparing.”
“I had the same experience in Miami. They needed a full 12 months of checking transactions. I had to provide a letter explaining how my linked accounts worked.”
“I’ve read investment accounts were fine at other consulates. This seems to be SF-specific.”
“Just a reminder—equity investments can lose value fast. That’s why consulates prefer cash in checking/savings.”
“Renewals are getting tougher too. Some are being denied unless the money is in a Spanish bank account, in euros.”
“Great insight about how consulates differ. Everyone should double-check with their consulate’s specific requirements.”
Conclusion
The experience shared by an applicant at the San Francisco BLS office in April 2025 highlights the importance of liquidity and consulate-specific expectations when applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa.
In this case, investment accounts were not accepted, despite being readily accessible, unless the funds were moved to checking/savings and clearly documented.
Applicants are advised to:
- Carefully read both the BLS and consulate websites—but understand BLS rules may be more strictly enforced.
- Transfer funds to checking or savings well before your appointment to create a paper trail.
- Include full transaction histories, translated if required.
- Provide supporting letters from banks or brokerages affirming immediate fund availability.
- Prepare for consular variation—what’s acceptable in NYC or Houston may not fly in San Francisco.
Finally, plan early, allow for expired documents, and be ready to explain every financial move. Spain’s NLV process continues to evolve, and preparation is key.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a personal experience shared within the Spainguru community and does not constitute legal advice. For official guidance, consult the Spanish consulate or a qualified immigration professional.
This article shares a firsthand experience from a Spainguru community member applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa through the San Francisco BLS, highlighting the specific challenges encountered with financial documentation and BLS requirements.
“San Francisco BLS – Had a disappointing appointment yesterday (April 15ht 2025) and wanted to share. I had an appointment at 11am and they only had two people processing. One for Schengen and the other for NLV, student, etc. I wasn’t called until 12:45.
She went through my documents and all was good until she looked at my financials. She said the consulate will not consider investment accounts (wait, what?!?) and the money has to be in my checking/savings (liquid) and my bank statements need to include all of the transaction pages not just the summaries.
I have followed and researched so much and don’t recall ever seeing anything about investment accounts not being considered or only liquid assets. Had I known, I could have withdrawn/transferred ahead of time.
Nothing is mentioned on the San Francisco Consulate site (which BLS said to follow instead of theirs), but I did just look at the BLS site: ‘Bank statements of the last 3 months from all bank accounts with the transaction details (account summary will not be accepted) and any other source of income totaling the minimum required. Investment accounts will not be accepted.’
She said everything else was in order but didn’t sound confident that once I transfer to checking that the consulate would accept since it would be in there for a short period. She also recommended transferring $35–40k USD to be safe and clearly explain in my letter of intent how I came about the money and show the electronic trail from one account to the other.
I now have to liquidate and transfer investment money before my next statement date and schedule another BLS appointment which none are available in SF for now. My physician’s letter will expire on May 12th 2025 and I will most likely have to get another because it has to have a window before expiration while the consulate is reviewing.
Trying to stay encouraged, but it was quite a disappointment. Hope this helps someone in the future regarding showing liquid assets.”
Questions and Answers
Q: Do they keep your documents or money orders when you’re turned away?
A: “Turned away and instructed to remedy and book a new appointment (which there are none available). My FBI apostille is valid until early July, so I’m praying I don’t have to redo it. My health insurance starts in June 2025.”
Q: Can you provide a balance letter from Vanguard or Fidelity to prove liquidity?
A: “Yes, some users found that balance letters from Vanguard and Fidelity explicitly stating that the funds are ‘immediately available’ helped get approval at other consulates.”
Q: What if my physician’s letter is about to expire before my next appointment?
A: “Another consulate allowed someone to email the document before the appointment. It’s worth asking San Francisco BLS if this is an option.”
Q: Do you have to translate full bank statement transactions for San Francisco?
A: “Yes, according to what the intake person said. They require transaction details and not just summaries, and apparently expect them to be translated too.”
Q: Will transferring money shortly before the appointment be a problem?
A: “Yes. They want the funds in a checking/savings account with full transaction history. One user was told to include an electronic trail and a letter of explanation for the transfer.”
Q: Can you use an investment account with a letter stating the funds are accessible?
A: “Some consulates accept it. SF appears to follow stricter BLS rules that explicitly reject investment accounts. NYC and Houston consulates reportedly accepted investment accounts with supporting letters.”
Q: Is it possible to drop off missing documents the next day at SF BLS?
A: “Not in this case. The consulate wanted the cash reflected on official monthly statements.”
Q: What does BLS stand for?
A: “BLS is the outsourced company processing company for some Spanish consulates. They review and forward documents to the consulate.”
Q: How do you get a liquidity letter from Schwab or Fidelity?
A: “For Schwab, go to ‘Statements and Tax Forms’ and click ‘Generate a Balance Letter’. For Fidelity, you can request one via customer support or their online messaging tool.”
Comments
“This is incredibly frustrating. It doesn’t make sense not to count investment accounts when the funds are accessible within a day.”
“I also used an investment account, but I had a letter from the brokerage saying the money was liquid. NYC consulate accepted that.”
“It’s a maze and every consulate seems to have their own rules. Thanks for sharing—really helpful for those of us preparing.”
“I had the same experience in Miami. They needed a full 12 months of checking transactions. I had to provide a letter explaining how my linked accounts worked.”
“I’ve read investment accounts were fine at other consulates. This seems to be SF-specific.”
“Just a reminder—equity investments can lose value fast. That’s why consulates prefer cash in checking/savings.”
“Renewals are getting tougher too. Some are being denied unless the money is in a Spanish bank account, in euros.”
“Great insight about how consulates differ. Everyone should double-check with their consulate’s specific requirements.”
Conclusion
The experience shared by an applicant at the San Francisco BLS office in April 2025 highlights the importance of liquidity and consulate-specific expectations when applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa.
In this case, investment accounts were not accepted, despite being readily accessible, unless the funds were moved to checking/savings and clearly documented.
Applicants are advised to:
- Carefully read both the BLS and consulate websites—but understand BLS rules may be more strictly enforced.
- Transfer funds to checking or savings well before your appointment to create a paper trail.
- Include full transaction histories, translated if required.
- Provide supporting letters from banks or brokerages affirming immediate fund availability.
- Prepare for consular variation—what’s acceptable in NYC or Houston may not fly in San Francisco.
Finally, plan early, allow for expired documents, and be ready to explain every financial move. Spain’s NLV process continues to evolve, and preparation is key.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a personal experience shared within the Spainguru community and does not constitute legal advice. For official guidance, consult the Spanish consulate or a qualified immigration professional.
