I had heard from a lot of people who have already gone through the whole process of applying to something like auxiliares, being accepted, and then going about getting the student visa that the visa aspect was, by far, the hardest and most frustrating part. I am starting to see where they were coming from.
So, I went to go about getting my medical certificate notarized today. It was such a pain in the arse. So on a lot of the auxiliares forums and facebook pages, everyone mentioned that they went to the bank in order to get their things notarized. Well, seeing as how a notary is certifying that the signature on the document is ACTUALLY that person’s signature, it’s kinda hard to do that with a medical certificate when you aren’t the doctor! NO ONE had mentioned this on any of the forums…until now. Now, I have heard that in order to get around that aspect, what you should do is sign the medical certificate next to the signature of your doctor and have the notary certify your signature. Apparently, that should be enough in order to get the Apostille of the Hague. This information came from a girl who did this last year in order to get her student visa for auxiliares de conversación. So, this is what I ended up doing.
I have also emailed my consulate with a scanned copy of the certificate to verify with them that it’s okay. I’m hoping they answer me at some point tomorrow. I’d really like to know that my certificate is fine as is before going to the consulate next week to file for my visa and then be rejected. That would be a MAJOR bummer. I shall definitely post on here what they tell me so as to, hopefully, save some of you the hassle.
I wouldn’t be so stressed about this whole thing if it weren’t for the fact that I leave for Puerto Rico on the 26th of this month and won’t be coming back until mid-July. So that kinda puts me in a time constraint in terms of getting my visa filed. Pretty much, Monday the 26th is my absolute last chance of filing it and I’d really rather go a little before that in case something is wrong, I have time to deal with it before I leave.
So, basically, to sum everything up: The visa process is, by far, the worst aspect of this auxiliares application stuff. Granted, I’m sure I’ll be saying the same thing once I get to Spain and begin the wondrous task of filing for my NIE…
Have any of you already gone about the medical certificate aspect of the visa process? How did you go about getting it notarized?
Lady in Spain 
Jun 13, 2012 @ 22:02:07
Yikes, I’m kind of worried about this now. I’m in the States in July (until August) and have been told that my visa process takes 2 weeks usually – we Canadians do it quicker apparently – but I forgot about the medical certificate and all the rest. Definitely sounds like a pain!
I realize we’re taking part in the same program, so I’m wondering why they didn’t send us all this info. I’ve had to ask for specific instructions on what to do next because I have no idea!
Jun 13, 2012 @ 22:03:33
By the way, what do you think of all the economic unrest in Spain at the moment? I just made a massive post/rant about it!
Jun 13, 2012 @ 22:14:27
I am so jealous that Canada seems to be much more efficient in this process since I have been told it can take a minimum of 5 weeks for the visa and that it cannot be expedited 😦
And BEDA is definitely not the best when it comes to that stuff. If it weren’t for the fact that I also applied to the program through the Ministry and that they have wonderful instructions regarding the visa application process in their manual, I would be completely and utterly at a loss.
In terms of Spain’s horrid economic situation…I’m not too worried since where it will impact me the most will be in the exchange rate I get when I want to cash my USD for Euros. I know BEDA has never had issues in terms of paying their auxiliares on time like the Ministry program has. Plus BEDA didn’t even cut down the program this year the way that the Ministry had to. Luckily, since BEDA doesn’t get their money from the government, payment is not really a problem for them. Now, had BEDA not worked out for me…I’m not quite sure how comfortable I’d feel going to Spain with the Ministry program.
The main issue/fear that I have is that some Spaniards may resent me for being a foreigner and having a job in their harsh economy right now. However, I haven’t heard many stories from any of the auxiliares regarding them feeling ostracized in that regard so I’m trying not to worry about that too much.
Jun 13, 2012 @ 22:23:36
Woah, I had no idea BEDA didn’t get money from the government! I wonder where it’s funded from now, because I always assumed it was government-funded. It’s great to hear that they pay people on time – that was a big worry for me. The exchange rate is another tricky one, but I think around now might be the best time to buy euros because the dollar (American and Canadian) is rising against the euro from what I know – I’ve been trying to follow it a lot lately.
I think you and I would be fine as physically we might fit in more (last time I went, no one ever thought I had no ties to Spain, even when I landed there on a plane full of French/German/English Canadians) and therefore not really make people automatically assume that, but I just hope there aren’t a ton of protests or anything dangerous that goes on, mostly because I don’t want my family to worry.
PS when do you intend on finding housing? I’m asking a ton of qs but it’s only because it’s great to find someone else new at this too!
Jun 13, 2012 @ 22:36:10
Since BEDA is dedicated to Catholic schools only, they aren’t associated with the government at all. It’s like when you go to a Catholic school in the U.S., the money comes from the tuition the parents pay, plus from private grants and funding from other interested parties.
And I agree with you in that, physically, I will fit in a bit more that some of the others that participate in the program. I definitely won’t have people calling me “rubia” like some of the other girls currently doing the program. And I also have the added bonus of being bilingual so they won’t know right off the bat when I start talking that I’m from the U.S. They will definitely know that I am not from Spain, though, since I have a pretty decent Puerto Rican accent to my Spanish lol
And I’ve been trying to look into apartments. Trying being the key word. A lot of them want someone one pretty soon…like July/beginning of August soon. And that is a bit of an issue since I won’t be getting to Spain until the very end of August. I’m hoping to keep looking online and get a general idea of the apartment complexes that I like and the areas I like so that when I do finally get to Spain, I get move fast in terms of finding a place. How has apartment hunting been going for you? And I totally don’t mind you asking me questions…it’s nice to know I’m not alone in my newbie status with this whole thing 🙂
Jun 13, 2012 @ 23:24:18
Hey there
I’m definitely interested in hearing how the visa process goes for you. Good luck with it! I still have to get my stuff notarized, but the plan is for next week. Then I’ll be taking the medical certificate down to Annapolis for the certification and then Apostille. I wish I had gotten my police check through the state like you did! I got the FBI one and now I have to drive down to DC for the Apostille… I’m still looking for a place to live in Arguelles or surrounding area, but it seems like everyone wants a tenant who can move in immediately!
Jun 14, 2012 @ 13:51:00
I will definitely keep everyone posted on the visa process. Now I’m hearing that DC doesn’t require the medical certificate to have the Apostille of the Hague. I am getting so much contradictory information. I feel like I’d rather it just have the apostille since I feel like that will give me less issues in Spain, especially when I go to apply for the NIE.
And I’ve noticed the same thing in terms of apartments. All of the places I’ve seen in the Moncloa area want someone soon, which is frustrating since I won’t be arriving until the end of August 😦
Jun 14, 2012 @ 14:30:36
It would be crazy if we were neighbors! Haha
Jul 02, 2012 @ 17:07:15
I am also hoping to move to Madrid with Auxiliares later this year. Did y’all get your “cartas de aceptación”?
Jun 14, 2013 @ 00:48:18
Hi Yari,
Thanks for your post! I just creepily emailed you (I’m getting desperate) but I wanted to hear about how your medical certificate went. I’m an auxiliar starting in September, and I’m going to the Chicago consulate but I’m definitely in the same situation.
Were you successful doing the notarization the way you mentioned? (i.e. You writing on it that it was an official document and signing it in front of a notary?) Or did you have to do it another way?
I currently live in Iowa and I have to go to the Chicago consulate, so I can’t afford to go twice if I mess up. Thank you so, so much for any information you have!
Jun 17, 2013 @ 20:21:40
I was successful in doing it the way I mentioned. Make sure to double check that your consulate requires the medical certificate be certified because most consulates have gotten rid of that requirement since they’ve realized that, technically, it’s the doctor who would need to notarize the document.
Jul 27, 2013 @ 16:39:41
Wow, I didn’t see this until now! Thanks for the reply, though! 🙂 I ended up taking a notary with me to the doctor and I got my visa back within three weeks of my appointment.