Conversation Assistants - Auxiliares de Conversación NALCAP PROGRAM

July 6, 2023

Visa for stays exceeding 90 days to participate in the North American Language and Culture Assistant program (NALCAP) sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Spain.

The following family members may obtain a visa to accompany the student, requirements at the end of this page:

The spouse or unmarried partner.

Children who are minors or who have a disability.

Visas for family members do not constitute work permits.

This Consular Office will accept applications ONLY from legal residents in MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT OR MAINE.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

1. One national visa application form filled and signed by the applicant.

2. One photograph glued or clipped onto visa application form. Photo specifications: 2x2 inches (51x51mm) in size, printed on matte/glossy paper, taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance in front of a white/off white background, non-smiling. Copies of photos are not accepted.

3. Passport or travel document: Original and photocopy of the page(s) of the passport that contain biometric data. Emergency passports are not accepted.

- Issued in the last 10 years.

- With at least 2 empty pages.

- Valid for at least the intended period of stay.

4. Acceptance letter by the Regional Education Authorities (“nombramiento”) that must include:

- Information on the school the applicant has been appointed to, address, phone number and contact email.

- Grant information.

- Duration of the program (including any necessary orientation courses beforehand)

- Insurance policy information.

5. Proof of medical insurance: in the case that the insurance provided by the school the applicant has been appointed to does not cover the entirety of the student’s stay in the country (see required documents in General student visa).

6. Proof of legal residence in this Consular district through copy of a lease contract or a recent bill showing name and address of the applicant.

7. Payment of the visa fee: Must be payed only by cash. This fee is non-refundable.

- For U.S. citizens: $160.00.

- For citizens of Australia: $420.00.

- For citizens of the UK: for stays shorter than 180 days: $85.00; for stays longer than 180 days: $214.00.

- For citizens of Canada: $92.00.

- For citizens of Bangladesh: $96.00.

- For citizens of Mauritania: $255.00.

- For all other non-U.S. citizens: $88.00. (New visa fee will be $99.00 from September 24th 2024).

Visa fees are revised quarterly according to current exchange rates and can be subject to changes.

FOR STAYS OF 180 DAYS OR MORE:

8. Criminal background check: dated no more than six months before the arrival into Spain, stating that the applicant does not have criminal records where he has lived in the last five years. Not applicable for applicants under 18 years old.

You must request a background check verified by fingerprint comparison. The criminal background check must be issued by the US Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). We do not accept state or local police criminal certificates.

The criminal record must be legalized with the FBI Apostille certification and translated into Spanish by a sworn/certified translator. The translation does not need an Apostille and the Apostille does not need a translation.

INFO FBI BACKGROUND CHECK DEPARTMENT OF STATE

https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks

INFO AMERICAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION:

INFO DEPARTMENT OF STATE APOSTILLE:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/office-of-authentications.html

If the applicant has spent six month or more during the last five years in another country/State, he/she must submit the police records from that country/State, legalized with the Apostille Certification and translated into Spanish. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country.

Any criminal record certificate that has been tampered with or damaged (including staple removal damage) will not be accepted under any pretext.

9. Medical certificate : Original and copy of a medical certificate accrediting that "the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations

This certificate must be issued within 90 days of submitting the visa application. It must include a stamp from the issuing Medical Center, doctor’s signature and doctor’s License Number. The certificate must be written on letterhead paper from hospital/doctor’s office or directly on the provided template

When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR NALCAP VISA

Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in-person at the corresponding BLS International Services Ltd. offices (Visa Application Center). The address is 15 Court Square, suite 520, Boston MA 02108. Request your appointment in https://usa.blsspainglobal.com/Global/account/login

Visa application period: Visa applications must be submitted sufficiently in advance of the beginning of the pertinent study programmes, as the procedure entails consultations with other authorities.

Decision period: Once the application is accepted as complete, the legal period for reaching a decision is of 1 month from the day after the application has been registered on the visa system.The complete process time may take 4-6 weeks since we receive the application in the office.

Visa collection: Passports with issued visa and other original documents submitted will be available for in-person pick-up by the applicant or a duly accredited legal representative at the corresponding BLS International Services Ltd. office.

Passports must be picked up in person.

Visa refusal: Refusals of the visa or study stay permit will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.

Appeals: If a study stay permit or visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.

Visa validity period: The applicant must enter the Spanish territory during the period of validity of the visa. The visa must be stamped upon entry into the Schengen area.

If the stay is shorter than 6 months, the visa will be valid for the whole stay and it will not be necessary to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card.

If the stay is longer than 6 months, the visa will be valid for a 90-day stay and the applicant will need to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) within the first month in Spain, at the Comisaría de Extranjería y Documentación in the city where the applicant will be a language assistant. The TIE will be valid for as long as the language assistant is part of the program in Spain.

INFORMATION FOR RELATIVES OF NALCAP VISA HOLDER

General information

For this purpose, a “relative” is understood to be the spouse, civil union partner and children under eighteen or children with disabilities and not objectively able to provide for their own needs due to their health status. Relatives will not be entitled to work during their stay in Spain.

Foreigners who have applied for a student visa or who are in Spain with a NALCAP visa may apply for the corresponding visas for their relatives so that they can legally enter and stay in Spain for the duration of such studies. The visas may be requested simultaneously with the application for the NALCAP visa or at any subsequent time during the period of validity of the authorized NALCAP visa.

Required documents

1. Documents required for applicants (same conditions apply, see above): One national visa application form; One photograph; Passport or travel document; Health insurance; Proof of residence in the Consular district and Payment of the visa fee. For stays longer than 6 months, FBI criminal record certificate and medical certificate.

2. Proof of financial means: Applicants’ must certify that he/she has sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of the family members accompanying.

The minimum monthly required amount varies each year and is calculated according to Spain’s Public Income Indicator of Multiple Effects (IPREM). For the year 2023, the minimum monthly required amounts are as follows:

- For the first accompanying family member: 75% of monthly IPREM (450€ per month of stay) must be added.

- For each additional family member: 50% of monthly IPREM (300€ per month of stay) must be added.

To certify sufficient financial means, applicant must submit:

- Three most recent monthly bank statements, which must include the applicant’s full name and a final balance that exceeds the minimum monthly required amount per month of stay for each family member.

- Any other source of income totaling the minimum monthly required.

- Last three years of tax IRS returns.

3. Documentation proving kinship with the main applicant:

- Marriage: Original or notarized copy of marriage certificate. Authenticated with the Hague Apostille and with Official/certified translation to Spanish.

- Civil union: Original or notarized copy of certificate confirming that the relationship is accounted for in a civil registry or documentation proving that couple qualifies for a civil partnership, even if not legally registered as such. Authenticated with the Hague Apostille and with Official/certified translation to Spanish.

- Children: Original or notarized copy of birth certificate. Authenticated with the Hague Apostille and with Official/certified translation to Spanish.

- For children with divorced parents: Original or notarized copy of final divorce and custody filings for the minor. Authenticated with the Hague Apostille and with Official/certified translation to Spanish.

Documentation issued by government authorities of countries that are not subject to the Hague Convention of 1961 must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Consulate of Spain in said country.

4. Health insurance: Certificate accrediting public or private health insurance subscribed with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain.

A registry of insurance entities authorized to operate in Spain can be found at the following link: https://rrpp.dgsfp.mineco.es/

- Must cover all the risks insured by Spain’s public health system (100% of medical, hospital, and out-of- hospital expenses). It must cover all the preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation assistance activities that are carried out in health centers or socio-health centers, as well as urgent health transport.

- Should not have coverage limits, grace periods for certain benefits, co-payments or deductibles.

- Must be valid during the entire intended period of stay.

Exceptionally, health insurance from international companies offering limited coverage may be accepted up to a maximum of $500.000 in medical expenses if it meets the other requirements (see above).

If the insurance company is U.S.-based, the supporting documentation must expressly say that the company offers coverage in the rest of the world, or at least in Spain.

Travel insurance and insurance cards are not accepted.

If the applicant is participating in a volunteer program, in addition to health insurance, they must provide an original or notarized copy of the civil liability insurance policy subscribed by the organization.