The Troubles

Hola, ladies and gentlemen. It’s been quite a while since I’ve written. During that time I travelled a bit in France, then to Maine to see my brother and his family, California to see my daughter and her family, and of course Texas, for various reasons, including seeing my son and his family. Here are a few photographic highlights.

SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ, FRANCE:

MAINE:

CALIFORNIA:

Austin:

After all of the traveling, it’s good to be back in the land of festivals, cheap wine, and great weather.

I’m continuing my quest to learn Catalán. This semester I am eligible to take an exam that would give me a B-1 certificate, which means you “understand the main points of clear standard speech and straightforward written texts and you can deal with most situations while traveling, describe experiences, plans, and opinions, and write simple, connected text.” That’s a bit of an exagerration, and I am pretty sure I won’t pass the test, but it’s been a fun ride. Any higher level class would be aiming towards a more professional certificate, and I think at this point I’ve reached the limit of my capabilities.

My current situation here is somewhat precarious, and this is the source of my troubles – my residency visa. I have expained this in other posts – that after years of holding short-term visas for one and then two-year periods, I would normally be eligible at this point to apply for a longer duration visa of five years. This would provide some greater privileges, and it would mean that I would not have to prove my financial status every time I renew. I’d be considered a permanent resident. After those five years, I would be eligible to receive health care benefits here and even to become a naturalized citizen if I so desired (I don’t think I’d ever go that far).

The hiccup is in the “fine print” that provides that during these past five years, I cannot have been outside of Spain for more than 300 days. I’ve been out of the country for at least 100 days over that limit. I’ve now met with three different attorneys, and of course with AI, and each one had a different opinion and advice. One attorney advised me to apply for the five-year visa, knowing that I lack standing, and hope they don’t notice! Another said that I need to return to the US before my current visa expires on December 2, and start from scratch, applying at the Spanish Consulate in Houston and waiting potentially three months for a new short-term visa! AI advised me to apply for a third two-year visa, which would be valid for four years. I haven’t seen this on any of the multiple official and un-official sites I’ve poured over for the last two years. So, I’m choosing to accept the advice of my third attorney who is having me apply for a third two-year visa, but not in the way suggested by AI. She seemed very confident in her advice, and said the words I longed to hear, which is that I don’t have to try to trick the Spanish government, nor do I need to start over at ground zero. So, I’m applying now and holding my breath. I’ll be in the US for Christmas, and hopefully I’ll have a letter of safe passage to return!!

Time will tell…Wish me luck!!