Language and Culture Assistants: instructions 2007

from: "norteamericanos@mec.es"
date: May 25, 2007 10:47 AM

Dear Award Recipients,

The Education Office of the Embassy of Spain would like to congratulate you on your selection to the North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain Program. We thank you for having accepted this position for the 2007-2008 school year.
Below you will find information about the steps you need to take before your departure for Spain:

You will be in Spain under a Student visa. REMEMBER you cannot leave for Spain before obtaining a visa. You will need to apply for this visa within the next few weeks.
Please read the following instructions carefully:

1. To locate the specific Consulate General of Spain where you will have to apply for your visa, please, consult the attached document which lists the consulates throughout the U.S. You will need to apply for the visa IN PERSON at the consulate that has jurisdiction over your residence. That means if you reside in Tennessee you will apply to the consulate in New Orleans. If you reside in South Dakota, you will apply for your visa in Chicago.

2. Please consult the web page of the Consulate General to get information about the documents you will need and start preparing them as soon as possible. The process may take up to 8 weeks.

3. Before applying for the visa you need to receive an original acceptance letter from the Autonomous Community (no faxed letters are accepted). You will need to present this original to the consulate

4. You will need to call the Consulate to schedule an appointment to apply for your visa. When you schedule the appointment, please mention the following:

o You will participate in the “Auxiliares norteamericanos” program.
o You will be starting your assistantship during the last week of September or the first week of October (see point 7 for exact starting dates).

5. PLEASE: Do not purchase any flight tickets before you have your visa.

6. Any questions regarding visa applications should be addressed to the Consulate. Questions about other aspects of the process, including failure to get an appointment at the Consulate, should be addressed to the Spanish Office of Education nearest you place of residence:

CONSEJERÍA DE EDUCACIÓN Y CIENCIA
2375 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20037
Tel.: 202-728-2335
Fax: 202-728-2313
norteamericanos@mec.es

AGREGADURÍA DE EDUCACIÓN – LOS ÁNGELES
6300 Wilshire Blvd, Suite #830
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel.: 323-852-6997
Fax: 323-852-0759
losangeles.usa@mec.es

AGREGADURÍA DE EDUCACIÓN- MIAMI
2655 Lejeune Road, Suite 1000
Coral Gables, MIAMI, FL 33134
Tel.: 305-448-2146
Fax: 305-445-0508
infocenter.usa@mec.es

AGREGADURÍA DE EDUCACIÓN – NEW YORK
358 Fifth Avenue, Suite # 1404
New York, NY 10001
Tel : 212-629-4435
Fax: 212-629-4438
carmengarciaa@mec.es

7. Before starting your assistantship, you will need to attend the orientation scheduled for your particular community. The dates are listed below:
Andalucía - (specific city to be announced) - October 1 and 2
Madrid - Madrid - October 2
Other Communities - Madrid - September 26, 27, 28

8. After your arrival in Spain:
The visa you will get is only valid for three months. Immediately after your arrival you need to take this visa, your health certificate and the police record to the closets police station or immigration office (oficina de extranjería) and request your student card (NIE).

This will cover the full stay in the country. DO IT AS SOON AS YOU GET THERE. It may take a few weeks to get an appointment. Do not let your visa expire or you will have to return to the USA or Canada and apply for a new one.