Phone Number: |
The embassy has changed their policies and no longer takes phones calls for anything related to visas. Communication is via email or toll number.
You now have to call the toll number that has been provided on their official website.
Main Telephone Directory
Embassy Switchboard
Phone: 91-587-2200
Fax: 91-587-2303
Consular Services
Visas
807 488 472 from inside Spain or
(011) 49 9131 772 2087 from the United States
International access code + 49 9131 772 2087 from other countries (local call for Germany)
The Service is available to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Spanish time, Monday-Friday. From callers in Spain, the cost is 1.16 Euros per minute if you call from a landline telephone and 1,51 Euros per minute if you call form a mobile phone, including all taxes and costs. International callers will pay 10 Euros per transaction and they can charge to a Visa Card or MasterCard. In both cases, the first 20 seconds of the call are free.
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E-Mail: |
ivmadrid@state.gov |
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Address: |
Consular Section
C/ Serrano, 75
28006 Madrid
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Working Hours: |
Office hours: Interviews by appointment only.
For telephone inquiries dial: 906-421431 (only in Spain). The cost of your call varies depending on the time you call: 0,78 euros per minute for calls made from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and 0,71 euros per minute for calls made during reduced/after hours, vat included.
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Best Contact Method: |
Email or Toll number see above |
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Approx Waiting Time for Interview After Consulate Recieves
NVC Package: |
Updated for k1 on October 20 2017:
There was about 1 week from when the consulate received the case from NVC until "packet 3" was emailed. We also recieved a paper copy in the mail, which took two weeks. Once your paperwork is sent back, the embassy will review them and email you "permission" to move to the next step and schedule your interview - this took exactly one week from when they received our paperwork. You are then "allowed" to log into the website they provide in packet 3 to choose a courier, pay the visa fee, and schedule your appointment. When I initially logged in, the embassy showed appointments available between 2-4 weeks out.
Updated for CR1: (Information from Late 2016)
Within 1 day of the "case complete" status and packet being sent to the consulate, NVC had scheduled our interview appointment. It took 10 days for my husband to recieve his appointment letter in the mail, our interview was 5 weeks out from the date interview was made. Although the website states that appointments are made only on Wednesdays, appointments are made on other days as well. |
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Issues Packet 3? |
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Packet 3 Contains: |
Information about what to send them back. The embassy has changed its policy, and you now have to send them all the documents BY MAIL before you can choose an interview date/time. After you send them all documents, the embassy gives you permission to schedule your interview through the online system.
This is the exact information from Packet 3 for K1 (as of October 2017):
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIANCÉ(E) VISA APPLICANTS
This office has received an approved petition on your behalf; please, take the following steps to start the final process in your K-1 visa application. For additional information and frequently asked questions about the fiancé visa process, please, refer to the website: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/family/fiance-k-1.html. If you have specific questions relating to the status of your actual case, you may send an email, stating your full name and case number to: ivmadrid@state.gov.
While no specifics can be given at this time regarding the date and time of your visa interview appointment, you should now prepare for that appointment by taking the following steps. Please, be aware that you cannot schedule your appointment for the interview until you have completed all the steps in the first part:
FIRST
Obtain the following documents on this check list, which pertain to you (even if they were previously submitted to DHS/USCIS or NVC). As you obtain each document, check the box before each item. Once you have assembled all documents pertaining to your case, please send them to us by standard or registered mail or courier service, together with a completed page 3 of this information sheet. Do not separate original and the copy. Please, put the paperwork in the following order:
� 1. DS-160: You need to complete the online application form, DS-160 for each applicant included in the case. The Consular Electronic Application Center can be accessed directly through: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/. We cannot initiate processing of your application until the electronic form has been uploaded. Please send a copy of the confirmation page with the barcode.
� 2. PASSPORTS (copy of biographic page): A passport must be valid for travel to the United States and must have at least eight (8) months validity beyond the issuance date of the visa. Be advised that the visa will be issued in the same name as is listed in your passport. All children must have their own passport. Do not mail in your original passport unless specifically requested to do so!
� 3. BIRTH CERTIFICATE (original & one copy): A birth certificate is required for each person named in the application. Birth records must be presented for all applicants that wish to immigrate at this time. The certificate must state the date and place of birth and the names of both parents. If you, or any children were adopted, you must submit a certified copy of the final adoption decree. The birth certificate must be issued from the country where you were born.
UNOBTAINABLE BIRTH CERTIFICATE: In rare cases, it may be impossible to obtain a birth certificate because records have been destroyed or a government will not issue one. If that is the case, contact us following the instructions at the top of the page and we will provide instructions.
� 4. DIVORCE AND DEATH CERTIFICATES (original & one copy): Proof of the termination of any previous marriage must be submitted (e.g., death certificate of spouse; final decree of divorce or annulment).
� 5. POLICE CERTIFICATES (original): Every visa applicant 16 years or over is required to submit a police certificate from the country of the applicant's birth and current residence if the applicant has resided for at least six months since attaining the age of sixteen. Police certificates are also required from all other countries where the applicant has resided for six moths or longer. A police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been arrested for any reason, regardless of how long he or she lived there. Police certificates must cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that specific country. The certificate from your current country of residence must be of recent date (not older than one year) when presented to the consular officer.
The term "police certificate" as used in this paragraph means a certification by appropriate police authorities stating what their records show concerning each applicant, including all arrests, and the reasons for the arrests. The Spanish police certificate is known as “Certificado de Antecedentes Penales.†More specific information regarding these certificates and other required documentation is available here: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country.html.
Present and former residents of the United States should not obtain any police certificates covering their residence in the USA.
� 6. COURT AND PRISON RECORDS (original & one copy): Persons who have been convicted of a crime must obtain a certified copy of each court record and of any prison record, regardless of the fact that they may have benefited subsequently from an amnesty, pardon, or other act of clemency.
Court records should include complete information regarding the circumstances surrounding the crime of which the applicant was convicted and the disposition of the case, including sentence or other penalty or fine imposed.
� 7. MILITARY RECORDS (original & one copy): Military service record, if applicable and obtainable, is required.
� 8. ONE PHOTOGRAPH: All immigrant visa applicants, regardless their age, must send one color passport size photograph (5 cm X 5 cm), white background and taken within the past six months. No head covering or glasses should be worn.
� 9. EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT (I-134 form): An I-134 affidavit of support must be submitted and be accompanied by a copy of the most recent income tax return (1040 & W2) or evidence of assets. Form I-134 may be downloaded directly from the “Forms†page on the USCIS website: www.uscis.gov.
� 10. TRANSLATIONS (original & copy): All documents not in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made (Spanish), must be accompanied by certified English translations. Translations must be certified by a competent and registered translator. The original document that is being translated must also be presented with the original translation.
ONLY ONE COPY OF EACH DOCUMENT MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE VISA APPLICATION. YOU ARE ADVISED, HOWEVER, TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS IN DUPLICATE, AS THIS WILL ENABLE YOU TO PROVIDE IDENTICAL COPIES IN THE EVENT THE FIRST SET IS LOST OR DAMAGED.
SECOND
Pay the application fee/Schedule appointment. Once we provide you authorization to schedule your appointment for the visa interview you must register in the web page https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ES/iv to pay the fee and select the post office for correspondence. There you will be able to select an appointment date and time. For assistance with registering, payment or scheduling, you may call: from Spain: 91-123-8866; or, from the United States: 1.703.543.9306.
THIRD
Arrange for your medical examination. Visa applicants are responsible for scheduling their own appointment for a medical examination before the scheduled interview date with the approved panel physicians. You should note that the medical examination is only valid for six (6) months and the visa validity will be limited to the validity of your medical exam. Our approved panel physician is listed on our website at https://es.usembassy.gov/wpcontent/uploads/sites/260/2017/04/Instructions_Medical_Exam
_0916.pdf. You must print the letter on the website and take it to your medical appointment. DO NOT SEND THE MEDICAL EXAM; BRING IT ON THE APPOINTMENT DATE.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY
After this form and all applicable documents have been received and reviewed by the Immigrant Visa Unit, you will be provided authorization to schedule your own visa interview and pay the visa fee. You must enter in the web page https://ais.usvisa-info.com/es-ES/iv to pay and select the appointment date. For detailed information about fiancé visa fees please see the webpage http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/fees-visa-services.html. For assistance with registering, payment or scheduling, you may call: from Spain: from Spain: 91-123-8866; or, from the United States: 1.703.543.9306.
You do not need to contact this office unless you need to report a CHANGE OF ADDRESS or change in your situation such as marriage, death of petitioner, or birth of children, etc.
Please, note that due to the high volume of incoming mail and emails we are unable to confirm the receipt of incoming mail/documents. If you wish to receive a confirmation receipt you may arrange this through the mail service provided, such as Spanish registered mail, courier service, etc.
Before coming to your interview, visit the web page https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/IMBRA.html and read the IMBRA pamphlet.
REQUEST FOR INTERVIEW AUTHORIZATION
I have attached the original and one photocopy (if requested) of all the documents listed in items 1 through 10 which apply to my case. I fully realize that no advance assurance can be given regarding when or whether a visa will actually be issued to me, and I also understand that I should NOT resign from my place of employment, sell any property, or make any final travel arrangements until the visa has actually been issued and is in my possession.
Case Number __________________________________________________
Name and date _________________________________________________________
Current Address _________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Telephone number _______________________________________________
E-mail address___________________________________________________
YOU WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL YOU HAVE MAILED THIS FORM, TOGETHER WITH ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, TO THIS OFFICE. DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO US VIA FAX OR EMAIL WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. YOU MAY SEND YOUR DOCUMENTS VIA STANDARD OR REGISTERED MAIL OR COURIER SERVICE. AFTER WE HAVE RECEIVED AND REVIEWED YOUR PAPERWORK, YOU WILL BE PROVIDED AUTHORIZATION TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSABILITY TO KEEP THIS OFFICE INFORMED OF YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS AT ALL TIMES. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN TERMINATION OF YOUR REGISTRATION.
On the appointment day please bring the following items:
- Your original passport
- Medical exam
- Proof of visa fee payment.
- Proof of relationship (photos, emails, letters…)
Original documents will be returned to you if you have provided a copy after the visa interview with the consular officer.
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Issues Packet 4? |
Yes |
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Packet 4 Contents (if known): |
US Consulate Letter with apppointment date and time.
Your name will be on the security list for day of interview so the interview letter is not essential.
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Forms to Consulate? |
What needs to be sent back: see information about PACKET 3.
NOTE I-134
I didn�t use this form and instead provided my own financial details. They were�
Certificate from my Bank showing balance.
Proof of a monthly income, by way of letter from the source and a copy of a letter I sent to the company who administer my income, directing them to send the money to my new bank in the US.
This was accepted without problem. I don�t know what the financial level is to complete your own sponsorship but I did overhear another person being told that they didn�t have enough and that they needed �a few thousand� more than the �5k the person had.
BIRTH CERTIFICATE
The original and a copy must be sent by mail. They will keep the copy. I've had about 5 copies of my Birth Certificate notarised by the British Consulate in Spain in case I need them in the US.
POLICE CERTS
Again these must be sent by mail. In Madrid, they are provided at Calle Bolsa 8 (Ministerio de Justicia). Go early in the day, as the line is hours-long. You should pay the fee at the bank beforehand. Look up the info on Ministerio de Justicia website. Certificates are provided on the same day.
According to email from the embassy in January 2015, they are valid for one year. In Barcelona, police certificates are issued on the same day.
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Other Forms (if any)? |
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Direct Consular Filing Offered? |
No |
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If DCF Allowed: For all or only US citizen lawfully resident in country?
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Can fiance(e)/spouse attend interview? |
Yes |
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Visa fee payment "same day" or "in advance"? |
Advance |
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Did embassy schedule interview or could you walk-in? |
Embassy Scheduled |
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Visa issued same day? |
No |
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If not what's the waiting period? |
This is mailed to you and you should receive it within 14 days. I asked for mine to be sent by courier due to the appalling postal service in my area and the consulate obliged, though I do pay on delivery.
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Is the Medical exam same day as interview? |
Prior to Interview |
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Cost of Medical Exam? |
313€. This is payable on the day at the doctor's office. They accept cash or credit/debit card.
PROCEDURE
I had a quick and painless blood test. This is for HIV and Syphilis.
After that I was shown to the Doctor�s office. He took my medical history. My height and weight were done along with my blood pressure. He also listens to your heart, chest and takes your pulse.
They have now added a urine test to test for gonorrhea, hence the price update. This is done in the same clinic.
X RAY
For this I had to go to a hospital by Plaza Marques de Salamanca, which was a 5 min cab ride away. It�s a very nice hospital though I did have to wait about an hour for the X-ray and result. Your X-ray is delivered to the doctor the following day with your result.
RESULTS
These are available the following week. You will be given a sealed envelope and the X-ray. Keep the X-ray in the folder or bag in which it is handed to you. Do not open the sealed envelope. This must only be opened by the Consulate staff.
NOTE
The Medical Information from the Embassy states that one photo is required. This is not the case. SIX passport-sized photos are needed and you must also take the Medical Info form provided in your packet three.
I used Unidad Medica Angloamericana. They are located a ten minute walk from the Embassy. The offices are quite sumptuous and the staff very helpful. Your fiance or anyone else accompanying you will be able to wait with you. I found them more helpful than Centro de Radiodiagnostica, which is why I elected to have my medical there.
Please note: Unidad Medica Angloamericana says in their propaganda they will fill out vaccination records for K1s if requested, but they DON'T. I asked them twice to give me a vaccination record and they refused, saying that "they don't have a vaccination form for K1", giving me the link to USCIS findadoctor site and asking me to get in contact with a US civil surgeon from here. Lame.
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List of doctors? |
Centro de Radiodiagnostica
Alberto Aguilera 29, Iro Izda
Madrid 28015
Tel: 915 474 527
649 280 952
Unidad Medico Anglo Americana
Conde de Aranda 1
Madrid 28001
914 351 823
Email: um@unidadmedica.com |
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How many Passport Photo's Required for the medical? |
4 |
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How many Passport Photo's Required at the interview? |
3 |
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Estimated waiting time at the consulate on the day of interview? |
Around 2 hours. Strongly depends on the amount of people that day.
Make sure you take a number outside of the wait room and ensure for the K-1 visa you select the option for Immigrant Visa. Depending on which office/website you are reading there is confusion whether K-1 is immigrant or non-immigrant. For the purposes of the interview, select Immigrant Visa button. |
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Vaccination requirements? |
Here is the link to UnidadMedica's website that states exactly what is required for and what will happen at the medical exam, in English. It also lists what vaccines are neccessary for each age - http://www.unidadmedica.com/images/visados_english.pdf
Centro de Radiodiagnostica advised me that I needed my MMR and Tetanus before the exam or they would fail me. The Unidad Medica Angloamericana say this is not the case and did not want to see my vaccination record on the day. The Embassy staff corroborated this. However my understanding is that it is needed later for AOS so it�s worth having it done beforehand if you do not have a vaccination record. Bear in mind that I am a K1 so it may be different for K3 applicants.
Please note: Unidad Medica Angloamericana says in their propaganda they will fill out vaccination records for K1s if requested, but they DON'T. I asked them twice to give me a vaccination record and they refused, saying that "they don't have a vaccination form for K1", giving me the link to USCIS findadoctor site and asking me to get in contact with a US civil surgeon from here. Lame.
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Cheap and good hotels near the Consulate? |
I stayed at Hotel Convencion. This isn�t the cheapest hotel and at �110 a night it seemed overpriced for the facilities and quality offered. Two drinks at the bar and a sandwich cost �14. It was however centrally located and I never had to pay more than �5 for a cab ride to the Embassy, Doctors Office or Ministry de Justica. I wouldn�t stay there again and if I had to go to Madrid in the future I�d stay at either a Sol Melia or on Serrano.
The High Tech Hotel President had reasonable rates and is conveniently located between the Embassy and the Doctor http://www.petitpalace.com/hotel-president-castellana-en-madrid/. I booked through Hotels.com at a rate of $120 USD/night but they often have specials directly through the website. |
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Additional Info? |
Visa fee payment:
It is now done ONLINE, prior to the interview. The embassy will send you the information on how to pay on PACKET 3, and you will have to bring proof of payment to the interview.
Scheduling Interview:
Once you have sent back your packet three following the instructions given,
the embassy will review your documents, and if everything is in order, they will send you a packet 4 with your appointment date information.
Again remember that the people you speak to will be the ones processing you on the day so be nice! I did eavesdrop when I was there and they do seem to get a hard time from some applicants
Medical Exam Info:
The medical exams must be completed BEFORE the interview. There are two doctors on the list and both can provide the results the next day so it�s possible to have the medical the day before the interview to save two trips to Madrid. Appointments for both doctors must be before 11.30am. The X-rays are in a different building so expect a short walk or cab ride after your exam.
My mother was applying for an IR 5 visa. She was required to attend the medical 8 days before the interview meaning two separate visits to Madrid.
GETTING THERE
Iberia has some great offers flying within mainland Spain. I got a return flight from Valencia for �57, which worked out a lot cheaper than either driving or taking the train. If you�re searching for flights you may have to take ones that get you in very early in the morning and leave later at night but I find it the more stress-free way of travelling around Spain. A cab ride from the airport to downtown Madrid will cost you no more than �20.
TIPS
Madrid has a problem with street robbery so be careful when you�re there. They seem to target people who look �foreign� and Americans are a favourite. Make sure your American fianc� takes care and it may be an idea to leave the obvious white sneakers and baseball caps out of sight. One American I met in the Embassy actually had his jacket ripped from him as he was wearing it and two of my American friends have been robbed in Madrid on their way back from seeing me. I counted six other Americans when I was at the Consulate who were all getting replacement passports following robberies.
That being said Madrid is a great city and in my opinion far superior to Barcelona. Plaza Mayor is a great place to watch the world go by if you have enough time, and there are plenty of very reasonable cafes there. My own favourite is The Mushroom Bar just off Plaza Major, and yes they do serve mushrooms.
OVERALL
My experience from I-129F to K1 has been fantastic and took just 49 days. It could have been even quicker had I asked for an interview sooner and not had a week with my fianc� after receiving my NOA2.
I found the Embassy staff very helpful and even a pleasure to deal with. Madrid does seem to be a quieter embassy for K visas and on the day I went I was the only K applicant that day. I know that each person�s experience is different but I have been incredibly impressed so far.
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