This is a firsthand experience applying for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa at the Houston BLS office with a family group.
“Just had our NLV appointment at Houston BLS today! With young kids and a dependent parent (mother-in-law).
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.
- Step 1. Walk into the Beal Bank! Yes.
- Step 2. Ignore the office directory that says BLS is on the 2nd floor. That’s BLS Germany. BLS Spain is on the 3rd as stated on the appointment confirmation, suite 350.
- Step 3. Arrived early? (We were only 10 min early for the 8am appointment). Wait for BLS to open the door (maybe 8:10am).
- Step 4. Get handed their internal checklist. They ask us to put the documents in the order following this document. It is slightly different from the requirements list on the website. In a small waiting room, frantically shuffle papers on your lap, then wait a bit more.
- (Website says no phones and such. Everyone in the waiting room was on the phone or laptop even. No complaints from staff.)
- Step 5. Get called to the clerk’s office where the magic happens. It’s a small room and there are 6 of us, kids bouncing off the walls.
- Step 6. The clerk reviews the papers one person at a time. They didn’t actually need to talk to all the applicants. My husband did the whole thing, the rest of us were just sitting there (I was trying to prevent my kids from destroying the office.)
A few things not on the official requirements:
- They asked us for kids’ school IDs/enrollment in the US – we were prepared and handed them the report cards.
- The clerk (who was super patient and helpful) insisted we add more proof of funds even though we had enough in savings. We quickly downloaded and emailed a brokerage balance statement.
- He copied our marriage certificate to add to each of the kids’ files “to show that we are a family.”
- In the affidavits, he highlighted where we promised not to work in Spain and marked our temporary address.
- For our dependent parent, he asked for her own bank account activity, but accepted what we had: doctor’s letter, social security, and property taxes.
In the end, we were charged a collection of fees (walk-in and courier), which ended up being less than expected. Three hours total for six applicants!”
Questions and Answers
Q1: “Can you post the internal checklist you mentioned?”
A1: “Here they are”
Q2: “The passport requirement seems unclear. Is the rule really three months from the end of the visa?”
A2: “Yes. Although the website says one year, we were told passports must be valid for three months beyond the end of the visa. If your passport expires close to the margin, it’s safer to renew before submitting.”
Q3: “Why did they ask for the kids’ school enrollment in the US? Do you need to show proof of Spanish school enrollment?”
A3: “We don’t know why. It might’ve been a form of secondary ID, though we ended up using passports and birth certificates. Someone had mentioned bringing report cards, so we did. They didn’t ask for any Spanish school enrollment—thankfully.”
Q4: “How long did it take to get your Houston appointment? And how did you manage group scheduling?”
A4: “We booked ours when May slots opened on April 4 2025. June opened on April 29. You have to keep checking. We were only able to schedule four of six, but BLS allowed us to bring all six with a walk-in fee.”
Q5: “Why is there a family appointment option if it doesn’t work?”
A5: “No idea. Despite the confusion, emailing BLS and being persistent paid off. We had to book individual appointments and then confirm the group could attend together.”
Comments
“Good luck! Please report back when you hear. I’m interested in how long this office takes to process.”
“I’m glad you posted. This helped me realize I need to renew my passport earlier than expected.”
“Thank you for sharing. Super helpful. We are also applying with kids.”
“OMG, how long did it take to get appointments? We’ve tried a billion times.”
“Thank you for all this information! We have our appointment next month in Houston with 3 little ones.”
“The more I read about BLS the more I’m convinced they are a money making sham.”
“Some consulting services charge a lot to help with the process.”
Conclusion
This firsthand account of a Spain Non Lucrative Visa appointment at the Houston BLS center in April 2024 offers practical insights, especially for families.
Despite appointment scheduling challenges, the consulate allowed flexibility for walk-ins with a fee.
Applicants should be aware that the internal checklist may differ from the official website, and clerks might request additional documentation such as report cards or extra financial proof, even when not formally listed.
Parents applying with children should prepare for a chaotic but manageable process. US school records may help as additional ID, and enrolling children in Spanish schools isn’t required at the visa stage.
Also, having proof of your dependent’s financial activity, even if not requested online, could smooth the process.
Persistence, preparation, and patience are key.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the contributions and experiences of Spainguru community members and is no legal advice. Consider consulting a legal expert for personalized guidance.
