residence permit

residence permit

Back to Square One

Published by Owen Jones on 19 September 2016
Back to Square One

Back to Square One

Back to Square One

As some of you will know, I tried to fulfil my twelve-year-old promise to my wife during the summer and move us to Europe to live. We were both looking forward to it, and I was sure that I had done enough research to make it work. However, when we arrived, I sought the advice of a few expats and hired a solicitor to help me obtain my residency permit. As a member of an EU country, I am entitled to one, so long as I show that I can support myself. When that has been granted, my wife is allowed to live with me, again, so long as we can support ourselves.

The solicitor agreed and we set the wheels in motion. I was advised that it would take three or four weeks. My interview was scheduled for six weeks later. However, the day before it, it was realised that my paperwork was not in order. The next appointment was for a month later. That went the same way. We now had ten days to get both our permits. I got mine a week before my wife had to leave, so we left together.

We are now back in our Thai village, back at square one like in a real life game of Snakes and Ladders – a very costly one. My wife took the who affair personally and it has made her ill. The problem, said the solicitor was that our marriage had not been validated.

However, a couple doesn’t have to be married! Partnerships have the same rights as married couples, so there was absolutely no need at all to have to leave. Now, though we have to wait three months in order to reapply. We are both as sick as dogs about how this has turned out, but I have not had to see a doctor, my wife has.

Does anyone have any advice on the matter? (Only serious replies, please, I’m not in the mood).

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All the best,

Owen

Podcast: Back to Square One

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Disappointment 19-7-2016

Published by Owen Jones on 20 July 2016
Disappointment 19-7-2016

Disappointment 19-7-2016

Disappointment 19-7-2016

Today my wife and I suffered the biggest disappointment for years. I was supposed to be going to the police today to obtain my residence permit, which would make it infinitely easier for my wife to remain here with me, which is obviously quite natural. However, my appointment was cancelled because my paperwork was not in order.

My appointment has been rescheduled for August 11th, but that lops three weeks off my wife’s visa, giving her only three weeks to get her residence permit. Mine was a ‘simple matter’ because I am European, but it has taken me eight weeks to get to this point of failure. My wife is Thai, so your guess is as good as mine how long that might take.

The disappointment is intense, but my wife feels it more than I do, because it could mean deportation and all the ignominy that that entails for her. It would be a tremendous loss of Face to her, and to Asians, Face is all important.

Misunderstanding

The problem came about because of a misunderstanding. Our solicitor told me that I need to prove that I have 5,200€ in the bank, with which to support myself. That was the easiest of the requirements for the permit, or so I thought. The problem was though that the solicitor meant that the money had to be in a Spanish bank, whereas mine is in the UK.

The police would not accept my evidence that I can support myself (us), so rather than a refusal (which looks bad on the record), our solicitor cancelled the meeting.

However, why was she not more specific about where the money had to be? I have a Spanish bank account and could have transferred the money easily.

Let down

She said that she thought I would know that, but I have lived in Thailand for twelve years, and paid her to do my thinking for me. It is such a bitter disappointment to lose another three weeks. My wife is certain that this is an omen for her future in Europe, especially after the UK referendum.

We had been planning going for a meal tonight to celebrate passing the first hurdle, but instead…. massive disappointment.

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All the best,

Owen

Podcast: Disappointment 19-7-2016

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A Great Day

Published by Owen Jones on 17 July 2016
A Great Day in Fuengirola
A Great Day in Fuengirola.

A Great Day.

We have had a few good days since we have been in Fuengirola, and by that I mean that we have felt that we have made some progress towards our goals. Moving into our apartment was a great day and that was only a week ago. Since then, we have spent most of our time trying to fulfil the requirements necessary to obtain a residence permit.

NIE

First you need a national registration number, called an NIE. This is where the problems (for us) started. Our solicitor said that we needed health insurance to get that. So, obviously, we started down that track. However, no health insurance company will give you a policy unless you have a Spanish bank account to pay the monthly direct debits.

Sounds fair enough, but no banks will open an account without an NIE.

So, you can’t get an NIE without health insurance and you can’t get that without an NIE!

We trudged from office to office meeting office assistants who were delighted to meet us at the prospect of new business, only to see their faces fall when we explained our predicament.

The last place we called into was a clinic, hoping for a recommendation. Nothing. Then, as we were on the way out, the man behind the desk came after us and suggested an office we could try.

It was only 500m away, so off we went.

It is a small office opposite the block called Las Camellias in Fuengirola. We entered and were greeted warmly by a woman who spoke English well.

Bank Problems

All was going well until she asked for my bank account number. I gave her my Citibank number. ‘No, sorry, it has to be a Spanish bank’.

‘I can direct debit from my UK Citibank to you,’ I said hopefully.

Health Insurance

But, it was against the terms of the insurance. She suggested that I obtain an NIE, so I ran through the complications. However, she and her partner did not agree, so the lady phoned the police station. She did not reveal to me the results of that call, but after a brief chat with her partner, she suggested that the company used its own account to pay my first premium.

Five minutes later, my wife and I were insured!!! It looked as if it was going to be a great day after all!

‘But you do need a bank account’, she advised. ‘Do you want me to try to find a bank that will open an account with only a passport, no NIE?’

‘Yes, please!’ I said gratefully.

Ah hour later, she had found me a bank that would do it, but I would have to do it in person. That will give me an instant bank account number, which they can put on my policy instead of theirs and everything is pukka, as it should be.

It was a huge weight lifted from our shoulders and we will never forget what the people in that small unpretentious office did for us.

Oh, and the premium for both of us?

BUPA?

Less than half what BUPA wanted for me alone. If you are having any problems similar to the ones I had above, go and see the great staff in the Adeslas insurance office and have a great day like we did.

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All the best,

Owen

Podcast: A Great Day

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