Spanish Consulate Los Angeles – 4 Easy Steps to Apply for Spain Schengen Visa

Visitors to Spain usually flock to well-known destinations like Barcelona, Madrid, and Alicante and with beautiful beaches, museums, stunning architecture and plenty more, why wouldn’t they? But, get off the beaten track and go in search of other cities and villages for charming tapas bars which serve some delicious Spanish cuisine or walk on the volcanic beaches at sunset to end the perfect day. From old quarters which still hold ancient ways of life to hilltop castles which provide spectacular vistas, Spain, among the Schengen countries,  should be one country you want to visit. In this article learn more about how to apply for Spain Visa at the Spanish consulate in Los Angeles, California, Spanish visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Spanish visa application center and Spain Visa Application Process at the Los Angeles consulate.

Schengen Visa

The total number of Spanish Schengen visas applied for in 2017 was 1,624,276. 8.27% were rejected. The Spanish consulate in Los Angeles issued 1,321. There is no data for the number of applications rejected.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States

If you wish to travel to Spain and you are a non-US citizen who permanently lives in the United States, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa. If, however, you hold a B1 or B2 type visa you must apply in your home country for an Airport Transit visa which is the only type you are eligible for in this instance.

First of all, you have to make sure you apply at the right Spain embassy and consulate.  The Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles deals with applications from residents of the following areas:

1. Southern California counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura
2. States: Arizona, Colorado, Utah

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles

There are two types of visa and the one you should apply for will be determined by the duration of your trip.

1. Up to 90 days: Schengen visa
2. Over 90 days: National visa

There are different categories of visas available from the Spanish consulate in Los Angeles and you should ensure that you apply for the correct one depending on why you wish to go to Spain.

Schengen visas:

1. Tourist
2. Business
3. Transit
4. A family member of EU citizen
5. Lost or stolen Spanish residence card
6. Work with exception work permit (artist/performer)

Student visas:

1. Studies less than 90 days
2. Studies between 90 and 180 days
3. Studies 180 days or more
4. Language and cultural assistant program
5. A family member of the student
6. Au pair

Residency visas:

1. Residency (non-lucrative)

Work visas:

1. Work visa with exception work permit (artist/performer)
2. Self-employment work
3. Work employment
4. Temporary residence and work within the framework
5. Temporary residency and research work
6. Exempt from requesting a work permit

Visas for the entrepreneurial law:

1. Residence for entrepreneurs and business investors
2. Residence for highly skilled professionals
3. Buyers of real estate
4. Residence for capital investors
5. Residence by intra-corporate transfer
6. Residence for training, research, development, and innovation

Visa can be:

1. Single entry – Maximum of 1 entry during the validity of the visa
2. Double entry – Maximum of 2 entries during the validity of the visa
3. Multiple entry – Unlimited entries during the validity of the visa

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles

Begin by reviewing the Spanish consulate’s website to understand everything about the application process. Then, there are 4 steps to follow.

Step 1: Make an appointment

The consulate of Spain does not accept walk-ins, so you must book your appointment by using their Bookitit system. Go to the consulate’s website, scroll down, and click on “Make an Appointment”:

On the next page, scroll down until you see “Visados/Visas” and choose the visa you wish to apply for:

You will be able to book a convenient date and time for your appointment:

You must book one appointment per person. If you can’t book a convenient time, continue to check the system for cancellations.

You’ll need to either register or log in to the system in order to book your appointment.

The Spanish consulate in Los Angeles has different processing times for different visas:

1. Schengen visas – 1 to 4 weeks
2. Student visas – 2 to 4 weeks
3. Work visas – 1 to 6 weeks
4. Residence visas – 2 to 6 weeks

The consulate does not guarantee that your application will be processed in those timescales, it depends on the type of visa you have applied for, so you must apply well in advance of your trip to be on the safe side. For example, don’t apply within a week of your intended departure date and think that it will be processed in time because it is unlikely. You should apply anytime from 3 weeks up to 12 weeks before your trip, so keep that in mind.

Making appointments with the embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Step 2: Preparing your documents

Step 2 is preparing your documents in time for your appointment. It is extremely important to be aware that incomplete or incorrect applications will be rejected, so it’s best to take your time with this part of the process. If you hold documents which are in a foreign language they need to be translated and legalized. You must also provide originals and photocopies. The documents you need include:

1) Visa application form fully completed and signed

2) Passport-type photo (white background, the face should be visible, 2×2 inches)

3) Passport or official travel document (Valid for minimum 90 days after the end of your trip, not older than 10 years, 2 free pages)

4) Proof of residence

5) US residence alien card or valid US long-term visa/I-20 and F1 visa (students)

6) Airline reservation tickets and itineraries (showing entry and exit points in Spain)

7) Travel insurance (Minimum €30,000 to cover sanitary assistance, accidents, emergencies, evacuation, medical repatriation, the return of remains with complete international coverage)

8) Letter from employer (to include: type of job, length of time employed, annual salary/Self-employed applicants must provide the latest tax return and/or good standing certificate)

9) Proof of financial means (last 3 bank statements and credit card statement)

10) Hotel reservations or letter of invitation or tour/cruise itineraries

11) Notarized parental consent (Minors under 18 years of age)

12) Birth and/or marriage certificate (must state “Apostille of the Hague Convention” or be legalized)

13) Police record certificate (issued by state police/FBI, translated into Spanish, issued within 3 months)

14) Authorization and/or proof of residence

15) Notarized passport and Spanish residence permit

16) Details of income for investment

17) Medical certificate (translated in Spanish and must state “Apostille of the Hague Convention” or be legalized)

18) Details of events/activities (translated into Spanish)

19) Notarized letter of intention

20) Letter of acceptance/enrolment

21) Forms EX07/790 – C052/990

22) Diplomas (translated into Spanish)

23) Self-addressed, pre-paid envelope (for returning passports by mail)

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2. Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 3: Arriving for the interview

The Spanish consulate has a fun video on their website that gives an overview of what happens on the day of your interview, but there are still some things that you need to consider before you get there.

1. Arrive on time – not only to give you time to relax and check that you have everything you need but if you are late, your appointment will be cancelled and this could delay things
2. Dress the part – you want to make a good impression and this is a good way to do this
3. Have all your paperwork with you – you must have everything to support your application. You must also provide originals and photocopies, so don’t forget to do that

Please note that there is no check-in and no ticket allocation. You must wait patiently for your allotted time.

You will also pay the relevant fee on the day of your appointment. You can pay with cashier’s check or money order payable to General Consulate of Spain, Los Angeles. No personal checks, credit cards or debit cards are accepted.

Schengen Visa Fees

Also, on the appointment day, you’ll need to have your photograph and fingerprints taken, This biometric information is then scanned onto the consulate’s system and is used by immigration authorities when entering and exiting countries abroad.

If the official interviewing wants to know any further information regarding your application, they may well ask you additional questions. All they want to know is that you have genuine reasons for traveling to Spain and that you will return within the visa period. Answer any questions sincerely and be open about your intentions.

Some of the most common questions are:

• Have you traveled to Spain before
• How will you pay for this trip?
• Are you meeting friends there?
• Do you know anyone in this country?
• What’s your salary?
• What do you know about the Schengen area?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

Step 4: Receiving your visa

When your visa has been processed, you will be notified by email when it is ready for you to return to the consulate to collect it. The consulate does not provide status updates nor are you able to track the progress of your application. You’ll need to remember to take ID with you to be able to collect it.

Hopefully, your Spanish visa will be in your passport, but be aware that there are times when these applications get refused. Some common reasons for rejection are:

1. Damaged passport
2. Intention to return to the US cannot be established
3. Documents not consistent throughout
4. Lack of accommodation
5. Missing information
6. Documents not notarized

You don’t want your application to be rejected, so the best thing to do is to ensure your passport is not damaged, be open and clear about your intentions, and make sure you present your documents correctly to the requirements of the consulate.

Contact detail for the Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles

Address: 5055 Wiltshire Boulevard, Suite 860, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Email: cog.losangeles.vis@maec.es

 Tel: 1-323-938-0158/59

Fax: 1-323-938-0112

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 1.00 pm

Conclusion

There are 4 easy steps to apply for your Spanish Schengen visa:

1. Make your appointment
2. Prepare your documents
3. Attend the interview
4. Receive your visa

Hopefully, the day you collect your passport from the consulate will end positively and you’ll have your visa in your hand. Then you can start to think about your exciting trip of a lifetime to Spain.

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa and much more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.

See Also

How To Apply for Spain Schengen Visa at Spanish Consulate in Boston, Massachusetts
How To Apply for Spain Schengen Visa at Spanish Consulate in Chicago, Illinois
How To Apply for Spain Schengen Visa at Spanish Consulate in NYC, New York
How To Apply for Spain Schengen Visa at Spanish Consulate in San Francisco, California