Spain Non Lucrative Visa: My Application Experience at the Los Angeles BLS Office – June 2025

By
Bruno Bianchi
-
first hand experience community answers

First-hand experience with the Spain Non Lucrative Visa application at the Los Angeles BLS office in June 2025.

“Detailed notes from our NLV BLS LA appointment this week:
We arrived the day before and stayed at a hotel on Wilshire within walking distance of the BLS offices.

We arrived at about 10:30 for our 11 and 11:30 appointments. After taking the elevator to the 10th floor, we rang the doorbell and they asked for our IDs and double-checked them against the list of appointments. We sat in the chairs on the left side facing the offices. The chairs on the right are for those applying for German visas.

About 6 people were waiting in all the chairs. The office doors were open and we could glimpse nice views of the Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign. There was a water cooler in the waiting room and locked bathrooms in the hall. The BLS agents were dressed casually: jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes.

While we waited, they called around 20 names that were no-shows, probably student visas. We were called at 11:20, and we were able to go in together.

Spain Non Lucrative Visa: My Application Experience at the Los Angeles BLS Office – June 2025

The officer was polite, patient, and helpful. We spoke in English and Spanish. We each had our bundle of documents with post-its labelling everything. First my wife presented her documents, and then me.

This is the list of documents we provided, in order:
1 – Copy of passport (only took the photo page)
2 – National visa form (with our Schengen photo glued on)
3 – Proof of residency (our driver’s license)
4 – EX-01 form
5 – 790-052 form
6 – Letter of intent (translated)
7 – Sworn statement/proof of not working letter (translated)
8 – Private health insurance (originally in Spanish)
9 – Medical certificate (in English and Spanish)
10 – Criminal record certificate: FBI report original with apostille and translation
11 – Financial means: bank balance statements, 3 months of bank statements, 2024 tax return (first 2 pages), pension letters. They didn’t ask for the financial means letter (with translations), but we provided it after and the agent took it. They asked for our marriage certificate here too.
12 – Money order for $151 each
13 – Appointment confirmation paper

We were told it could take up to 12 weeks, but might be sooner. We paid $16 (with debit card) for text notifications of the visa process. After we checked out of our hotel, the status said ‘In process.’

They bundled everything up, including our passports. We had a brief panic, as my wife hasn’t updated her driver’s license to a Real ID and we wondered how she’d get on the plane without her passport—but she had her passport card, so crisis averted.

Start to finish: 25 minutes for both of us. No mention of the new financial requirements.

Questions and Answers

Q: When filling out the 790-052 form, what address did you provide?
“A: We used the address of our short-term rental in our destination city.”

Q: How long did it take to get an appointment at the BLS office?
“A: Two weeks of trying every hour from 3:30 am to 10 pm. I finally got a Prime Time slot for an extra fee.”
“A: It feels like winning the visa lottery. I’ve been trying for weeks at the SF office with no luck—they don’t take walk-ins either.”
“A: Don’t give up. I committed to checking hourly. Intrusive, but worth it to be in Spain by September.”

Q: Do you get your originals back, like marriage licenses and birth certificates?
“A: This wasn’t clearly answered in the original post, but others shared that LA may keep originals and that if a packet is incomplete, a new appointment is required.”

Q: Which hotel did you stay at near the BLS office?
“A: The Kimpton Wilshire.”
“A: Also good options: AC Marriott, Park Plaza Lodge (funky but clean and close).”

Comments

“This is the best post I’ve seen on the process. Best of luck on getting the visa.”
“Congratulations! The one thing my daughter wanted to see in LA was the Hollywood sign—and it was right there while we waited!”
“Interesting to hear the inconsistencies with BLS. LA accepted money orders and required an appointment confirmation letter, while Chicago did not.”
“I had one glitch—they accepted my updated doc after I had it notarized and brought it back 15 minutes later. Now there’s a banner saying incomplete packets will require a new appointment, so be extra careful.”
“Thanks for the play-by-play. So helpful!”
“Welcome to my hood! Great to hear it was a good experience.”
“Also from Tucson, AZ. Looks like we have a community here.”
“Where will you celebrate when you actually pick up your visas? That’s the real occasion!”

Conclusion

The Spain Non Lucrative Visa application process at the Los Angeles BLS office can be efficient and even pleasant—if you’re well prepared. A detailed bundle of labeled documents, awareness of processing steps, and help from experienced advisors can go a long way.

The appointment took under 30 minutes, and no issues arose regarding the new financial thresholds. However, applicants should be cautious of changing requirements, such as potentially needing a new appointment if documents are incomplete.

For those still waiting for an appointment, persistence pays off. And for those traveling to LA for the appointment, planning a comfortable hotel stay and a post-appointment celebration may turn a bureaucratic task into a memorable experience.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is based on personal experiences and contributions shared by members of the Spainguru community. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified expert for guidance specific to your situation. The images used in this article are for illustrative purposes and do not depict real individuals or actual events.

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