In continuation of our series of articles on applying for a Spain Schengen visa for green card holders, this article will help visa applicants learn how to apply for a Spain Schengen visa in Boston, including other states that are processed under the Boston jurisdiction.
By the end of this article, you will know all that is needed to get a Spain visa from the Boston consulate. But if you do not want to do the legwork yourself and instead outsource your visa headache to us, then fill out the below form, and we will help you.
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As a green card holder, can I travel to Spain without a visa?
No. Only full citizens of United States can visit Spain (for a duration of 90 days) without a Schengen visa. If you hold a green card or F1 (I-20), H1B, G1, J1 types of visa, you will need to apply for a Spain visa.
The Schengen Area Free Movement Agreement says that your citizenship (the country from which you get your ID) is more important than where you live. So, if your country doesn’t have a free movement deal, you will need to get a Spain Schengen visa before you go.
Can I apply for a Spanish visa in the US with my green card?
Yes. You can apply for your Spain visa in the US itself, and you do not need to go back to your home country to do so. However, all short stay visas for Spain in the US are handled by BLS International and not the General consulate. They do have a center in Boston where you can apply for a visa.
Do I need to book my flight ticket before I apply for a Spain visa in Boston ?
No, you do not need to have a flight ticket booked before your visa processing, you can use app like FlightGen where you can make temporary bookings for your visa application. Once your visa is approved you can book your actual flight tickets.
Can I walk-in to BLS Office for my Spain Schengen visa in Boston ?
No . You will need to get a prior appointment and have a printout with you when you apply for Spain visa with BLS International, For Boston, you can book your visa appointment here.
https://usa.blsspainvisa.com/boston/book_appointment.php
Do note the following before you apply
- Only permanent residents of Florida, Georgia or South Carolina can apply for Spain visa in Boston
- Apply for Spain tourist visa, only if your main destination in the Schengen area is Spain
- If you are visiting other Schengen countries, then you can apply in Boston Consulate only if you are spending more days in Spain
- Your travel date is within the next 6 months.
Important Note: You must check all the details of the passport matches with the appointment before confirming. The details cannot be modified once you have saved and you will need to cancel your appointment if your details are not mathching.
Residents of which states can apply with BLS Spain VAC in Boston ?
If you are staying in Maine, Massuacheussets, New Hampshire, Rhode Island , Vermont, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina can apply for Spain visa in Boston BLS VAC.
Are there any additional charges/services that is provided by the BLS Spain VAC ?
Yes. There are several “value add” (upsells) services that is provided by the Visa Application Centers. But they tend to be expensive.
| Photocopy | USD 0.50/page |
| Courier(In the city) | USD 35 |
| Courier (Out of City) | USD 35 |
| Photo Booth | USD 15 |
| Internet Kiosk | USD 10 |
| Form Filling | USD 10 |
| Prime Time Service | USD 70 |
| Flexi Hour Service | USD 35 |
| Premium Lounge | USD 60 |
| SMS | USD 5 |
So it is best that you have all your documents in order before you visit for your appointment.
Can you apply for Spain Schengen visa if you are on B1/B2 visas ?
No,. Holders of a B1/B2 visas must apply in the country of their origin or permanent residence.
What is the fee for Spain Schengen visa in the Boston BLS VAC ?
| Tourist | 85.00 |
| Children between 6-12 years | 42.00 |
| Nationals of North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia | 37.00 |
| Nationals of Cabo Verde | 64.00 |
| Nationals of Cabo Verde (Children between 6-12 years) | 32.00 |
Applicants applying at the Spanish visa application Centre shall be levied a service charge of 20 USD /- (inclusive tax) payable in Cash or Debit Card. Children under 6 are exempted from service charge.
The Visa Fee is subject to change without notice’
The fee is non-refundable
Spain Schengen visa Requirements in Boston
The documents you need to submit when applying for Spain Schengen visa is as follows:
- Visa fee is non-refundable and can only be paid with a debit card or cash (no money order).
- Two Schengen visa forms filled out and signed by the applicant or both parents if the applicant is under 18. (If the information is incorrect, it can affect the visa approval). You can download your Spain visa application from here.
- Two Recent US passport size pictures in color, 2×2 inches (51x51mm) in size, printed on matt/glossy paper, the specifications are as standard Schengen visa Photo Specifications.
- Passport of your home country.
- Driver’s license or state ID (from Florida, Georgia or South Carolina) with correct physical permanent address. (You must include this document with your application.)
- Permission to go back to the United States in the form of a Residence Card, a Student/Work Visa, a stamp in the passport, or parole. The validity of your Residence Card or US visa must be at least three months longer than the length of time you plan to stay in the Schengen area.
- Complete travel itinerary (Round Trip from USA- Flight reservation with booking reference number). Do not purchase travel tickets until we approve your visa. You can make your flight itinerary for visa online using FlightGen App.
Proof of Accommodation
such as hotel reservations official invitation letter form the inviting person, a trip arrangement from a tour operator or if on cruise day wise itinerary with ports.
- Approved Schengen travel insurance covering atleast EUR 30,000 $50,000 for the entire duration of your trip throughout Schengen territory for urgent medical assistant, hospitalization, repatriation due to an accident or death, and Zero deductible. The insurance must be valid in all the Schengen countries and covers the entire length of stay. (Insurance card not accepted. You must submit a full breakdown of coverage/visa letter.
- Proof that you have sufficient money for your trip, proofs such as 3 months of latest bank statements, if your current statement is over 1 week old, then you need to get a bank seal on the same. We recommend that you maintain a minimum average balance of USD 110 per day during your stay in the Schengen area or a minimum of $1100 if your trip is less than 10 days.
- Sponsorship letter (only immediate family member):
- Signed and sealed Letter offering to pay for all of the candidates’ costs…
- Signed and sealed Proof of job is a letter from the company where the sponsor works and the last three paystubs.
- The last three bank statements.
- Tax Return,
- Forms W2 and 1040Proof of link (such as a birth certificate or tax return that shows you are a dependent)
- Proof of Employment such as offer letter indicating employment, position, salary and a leave approval letter. Also you will need to bring your last 3 pay slips, Taxes list 1040 forms or W2.
- Self employed members must provide last 3 months corporate banks statements along with IT returns, If you have any professional license or certificate of incorporation.
- If you are retired, the Social Security Administration will send you a letter confirming your monthly retirement income or pension statement.
- Proof of enrollment such as an F1 copy, school ID card, or transcripts are accepted if you are a student.
- Business travelers must bring a letter from their US Company indicating purpose and length of stay and a letter of invitation from the Spanish company or conference, invitation letter of the host.
- If you are minor then parents or legal guardian with proper legal documentation: Birth certificate, legal custody, notarized letter signed by both parents giving permission to travel and notarized copy of parent’s ID and financial assets (3 latest bank statements, Taxes (W2 and 1040 Form) last 3 paystubs, notarized green card copy in specific cases).
- If one of the parents does not reside in Florida, Georgia, or South Carolina, they can do it before the Consulate of Spain corresponding to their place of residence. (active voice does not change the meaning of the sentence, only the structure)
The judge issues the final sentence of divorce and includes provisions on custody of the child when parents are divorced.
Please note that you must pay for all visa processing fees in cash or with a debit card. To know more in detail, the documents required for Schengen visa visit here.
How long does it take to process my Spain Schengen visa in Boston ?
We need at most 15 working days to make a decision on your Spain visa application. The Spain Visa Application Center will send applications accepted to the Consulate General of Spain the next business day.
After sending in the application, the organization may ask the candidate for additional proof to support it.
Please remember that according to the instructions we got from the Consulate General of Spain, the minimum time it takes to process your application is 15 working days.
However, it may take longer in some cases. You must send all applications at least 15 days before the planned trip date, in case of any processing delays.
How to Apply for Spain Schengen visa in Boston ?
We recommend you follow the below list chronologically to improve your success rate for Spain Schengen visa :
- Confirm your jurisdiction is Spain Boston BLS VAC
- Book an Appointment and note down your ARN number.
- Prepare your cover letter for Spain Schengen visa (Know more about cover letter for Spain Schengen visa)
- Fill your Spain Schengen visa Application Form (Download in English ) (Download in Spainish)
- Get Travel insurance for Spain Schengen visa.
- Get Flight itinerary and proof of accommodation( if you do not have one)
- Now fill the Checklist of Spain Schengen visa in US. You need to tick all the documents that you will be submitting, you must also keep then the same order.
- If someone else is sponsoring your trip, then they must fill Sponsorship letter on your behalf.
- For minors, the parents must also accommodate the child during the interview and must also have the parental authorization letter filled.
- You must also fill the visa collection acknowledgement notice: Here you need to declare that you will be having medical insurance during your trip and will not cancel it before your travel.
- Prepare and collate all the documents as per the requirements.
- Take a printout of your appointment and attend the appointment.
- Fill in your biometrics, sign and submit all your documents.
- It usually takes 7 days to approve the visa.
Address of BLS Spain visa Application Center in Boston
Address
15 Court Square Suite 520 Boston, MA. 02108
Timings
Passport Collection Time
15:00 to 16:00 hrs (Monday to Friday)
Submission Time
10:00 to 14:00 hours (Monday to Friday)
Phone
+1 516-888-1169
Who is BLS International ?
BLS International is a trusted partner of the Diplomatic Missions for administrative. And non-judgmental jobs like outsourcing Visas, Passports, and Attestation Applications in India and abroad. It has 101 offices that serve Diplomatic Missions in 22 countries, and a few more are in the works. It has shown that it can outsource Visa, Passport, Consular, and Value-Added Services for the benefit of its customers. Every year, BLS International handles more than 14.3 million applications.
It currently has operations in:
Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Singapore, India, and South Africa. It employs more than 500 honest people in these countries. A few more operations are in the works.