For Americans dreaming of moving to Spain, securing a Spain visa appointment in the US has become one of the toughest steps in the process. Across consulates from Miami to Los Angeles and San Francisco, the Spainguru.es community reports overwhelming frustration and endless attempts to find available slots. Below, we’ve compiled real stories and experiences from the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) Facebook group to highlight the ongoing challenges applicants face.
Miami Consulate – BLS Miami
- Hugo S. (October 2025): “I’m currently dealing with the frustrating task of trying to book an appointment for a non-lucrative visa for Spain through the Miami consulate, which has proven to be nearly impossible since there are absolutely no available appointments. I’ve been trying every single day, around 20 times a day, at different hours including in the middle of the night. I’m even starting to have nightmares about the BLS website.”
- Anonymous member (late August 2025): “Has anyone been able to secure an appointment at the Miami Consulate lately? I have been trying for months with no luck. Is there a better time to check for appointments? I thought that now that we are coming to the end of August, they would release some appointments.”
- Gloria H. (September 2025): “My journey of booking an appointment in Miami has begun. First attempt: no appointments available, try again later. It does not even say what month! Do they open the calendar one month at a time?”
- Laura G. (September 2025): “Family appointments are difficult to get and many book individual appointments, spouses go together on one of their individual appointments and pay an extra walk-in fee. I am also aware that the consulate is no longer taking walk-ins. Would this apply here, or only to early morning?”
- Anonymous (Aug 2025): “Has anyone been able to secure an appointment at the Miami Consulate lately? I have been trying for months… is there a better time?”
- Gloria P. (Sept 2025): Documents the “first attempt: no appointments available, try again later. It does not even say what month!”
- Laura G. (Sept 2025): Discusses the challenge of getting family appointments: “Are walk-ins no longer allowed?”
Los Angeles Consulate – BLS Los Angeles
- Samuel (September 2025): “Hey guys, my appointment’s in two weeks in LA. Did you use staples or paper clips for your documents? I don’t want to ruin all the forms if I can’t use staples.”
- needappointment (October 2025): “We just got the appointment! As a family of 5 we did prime 5 individual appointments.”
San Francisco Consulate – BLS San Francisco
- Angus (September/October 2025): “I am seriously starting to doubt the very existence of these things they call ‘Available Appointments’ at BLS San Francisco. I have literally been trying since 1 April to get an appointment. I’m typing this as I sit playing the Captcha game on their website hoping to get a rare glimpse of the microsecond when they release these unicorns into the wild.”
- Colleen (September 2025): “San Francisco appointments gone within an hour? Just like that? Now nothing until the end of September? Seriously?”
- Anonymous member (October 2025): “Been dutifully refreshing the San Francisco BLS website like it’s my side hustle, only to be greeted—day after day—with the ever-elusive ‘no slots available’ message for the Non Lucrative Visa (NLV) appointment. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if the appointments exist at all, or if they’re just a myth like unicorns…”
- Trina (October 2025): “Does anyone know if there is a specific time that the San Francisco BLS opens new appointments? Every time we have checked so far, there have been no available appointments. I gather from others’ comments that they only release appointment dates a few weeks in advance. Just so worried about missing the window when we do need an appointment in May.”
- Angus (Sept/Oct 2025): Details a multi-month struggle starting 1 April 2025: “Trying since April to get an appointment! Still nothing but ‘no slots available’.”
- Anonymous (Sept 2025): “At the end of every month, ramping up my scheduling efforts—1st try at 6 am, last after midnight with a gazillion in-between. Anyone have any luck?”
- Donna (Sept 2025): Reports that staff at the BLS SF were helpful, “but most applicants seemed anxious from the lottery-like appointment system.”
Washington DC Consulate
- Anonymous member (October 2025): “Very exciting: today, the BLS office in DC finally opened up appointments for October. My husband and I got two back-to-back time slots. Just celebrating small successes!!!”
- Tara (Oct 2025): “Having trouble getting a visa appointment in DC. Is there a trick?”
- Amanda (Sept 2025): “Just able to book prime time appointments for end of October on the first try after months of trying, be persistent!”
- Katy (Sept 2025): “Couldn’t get a family appointment—booked individually and sequentially for DC. Anxious about getting an appointment.”
Boston Consulate
- Anonymous member (October 2025): “Boston consulate appointments reopened yesterday. Has anyone heard back from the Boston consulate about scheduling their visa appointment?”
- Anonymous (Sept 2025): “First email to Boston consulate on 9/5, still waiting to get an appointment to submit my visa. It’s excruciating.”
New York Consulate
- Anonymous Member (October 2025) “Hi! I have been trying to book an NLV appointment for weeks on the BLS website for Spain (Note that NYC does not use BLS for NLV, might be a user mistake). Nothing in NYC and nothing in DC. Are you all experiencing the same thing? My docs are gonna expire and I got no appointment. I would greatly appreciate any tips and tricks!”
- Anonymous (August 2025):”I just emailed yesterday for an appointment and the earliest is Aug 21st. The agency I’m using advised me not to request an appointment until all the papers were ready and translated… now some of my documents will be outdated. I got bad advice related to timing. Wanted to share hoping it helps someone else using NYC consulate.”
Chicago Consulate
- Anonymous member (October 2025): “Chicago BLS. I’m trying to make an appointment for my husband and I. There are no appointments available at this time. However if I ask for ‘individual’ 1 person, there are slots at. Anyone know why this is?”
- Amal (Oct 2025): “Trying to book at Chicago BLS, no luck—is there a particular time slots are released?”
- Anonymous (Oct 2025): “Chicago BLS—trying to make an appointment for two, no availability, but if I ask for just one, slots appear. Why?”
Houston Consulate – BLS Houston
- Anonymous member (May 2025): “We were instructed to schedule a separate appointment for each applicant but were only able to get 4 out of 6, all on different dates of course. They did see all of us at the first one with a walk-in fee.”
Conclusion
The testimonies above paint a clear picture of the ongoing Spain visa appointment issues in the US. Across consulates from Miami to San Francisco, applicants face technical glitches, phantom appointment slots, and a lack of transparency — all while anxiously refreshing the BLS website for months on end.
These community stories show that the struggle isn’t isolated to one region but systemic across multiple consulates. Families are forced to book individual appointments, endure walk-in fees, or navigate unclear scheduling systems just to start their visa journey.
The frustration shared by hopeful expats highlights a growing gap between demand and administrative capacity. Resolving these bottlenecks should be a priority for Spanish authorities if they aim to maintain Spain’s appeal as a welcoming destination for international residents.
For the latest updates and ongoing community discussions, readers can visit the Spanish NLV Facebook group, where applicants continue to share tips, breakthroughs, and firsthand experiences.
FAQ: Spain Visa Appointment Issues in the US
1. Why is it so hard to get a Spain visa appointment in the US?
Many applicants report that appointment slots at Spanish consulates in the US are extremely limited due to high demand, technical problems on the BLS website, and inconsistent release times. Some consulates prioritize student or work visas during certain months, leaving fewer slots for Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) applicants.
2. Which Spanish consulate in the US is the hardest to get an appointment with?
Based on Spainguru community feedback, the Miami and San Francisco consulates are among the hardest to book. Applicants report months of daily attempts without success, while others manage to secure appointments only through luck or persistence.
3. Are walk-ins or “premium” appointments available for Spanish visas in the US?
Some BLS centers, like Miami and Houston, have reportedly allowed walk-ins or charged “premium service” fees in limited cases. However, these options are not officially guaranteed, vary by location, and may have been discontinued (Case of Miami). Always check directly with your assigned consulate/BLS office before attempting a walk-in.
4. How often do BLS websites release new appointment slots?
There’s no official schedule. Applicants report that slots may appear at random hours, including late at night or early in the morning. Some believe that new dates open around the end or beginning of each month, but the system remains unpredictable.
5. What can I do if there are no appointments available at my consulate?
Persistence is key. Refresh the BLS website frequently, try different times of day, and monitor community groups such as the Spanish NLV (Non-Lucrative Visa) Facebook group, where members share real-time updates when new slots open.
6. Are family appointments available for Non-Lucrative Visa applicants?
Family appointments are often limited or unavailable. Many applicants have had to book separate individual appointments for each family member and attend together, sometimes paying an additional walk-in or service fee.
7. Do all consulates in the US use BLS for Spain visa appointments?
Yes. As of 2025, all major Spanish consulates in the US — including Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, and Houston — use BLS International for visa scheduling and processing. New York City still processes NLVs directly.
8. Where can I find community advice or updates about visa appointments?
You can join the Spanish NLV Facebook group or visit Spainguru.es, where applicants share real experiences, appointment updates, and useful tips to help others navigate the visa process.
Spanish consulates in the USA: https://spainguru.es/find-your-spanish-consulate-for-non-lucrative-visa/
Non Lucrative Visa Guide: https://spainguru.es/spain-non-lucrative-visa/
Non Lucrative visa Webinar: https://spainguru.es/spain-non-lucrative-visa-webinar/
