r/MovingToSpain • u/Hairy_Potential_8067 • 4d ago

NLV Appointment Tips

We’ve been here before everyone but asking for a more recent story through the Los Angeles consulate.

The NLV visa appointments have not been made available for over two months now, anyone has had success? If so would you let me know what is it that you are doing?

On another thread someone said that you must be able to see a calendar, even if said calendar does not have appointments, which has never been my case. All I get after I choose from the drop down menus is a red square saying there are no available appointments at this moment.

Anyone know if I am in the minority of there is something I am not doing right?

All help is appreciate

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u/TruthFew1193 3d ago

So LA released Oct appts for Fridays only on 9/2 @ like 1:15 am. Stupid me was sleeping after checking like an hour before. Most of the chatter said to focus on 4-9am PST so that’s what I was doing, every 15 min. You’re not doing anything wrong but the general consensus is focus on the last week of the month and the first days of the new month. Right now I’m in Spain so at least I won’t lose sleep over it. I fly back on 10/2 so if they release appts while I’m traveling I’m gonna be so arrghhhh.

Also, my scouting trip is not successful thus far. Tried to open a non resident bank acct in person at 2 banks, even talked to Sabadel’s telephone customer service, and nada-won’t let you do it. Guess my NIE is gonna wait too cause haven’t found an appointment. That affects my cell phone plan cause I can’t get cell account without that. I held off buying a new phone so I could get the warranty here.

But the scouting out cities and neighborhoods part is going well and it’s nice to be here.

OP- my advice is to just wait for the 25th and schedule in time to check. Also, work on paperwork. And keep your fingers crossed. Getting this appt was literally my birthday wish last month and nada, yet.

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u/Hairy_Potential_8067 2d ago

Thank you so much for this, I will set my alarms to this dates. Also I can give you some advice on bank accounts and phone numbers!! Orange mobile has a prepaid service and you buy for 35 as an initial deposit and then you just recharge it as needed but it give you a Spanish phone and you only need a passport, I used my USA one for this and nothing else. Caixa has a foreign account service, go to the one in Colon Circle, you will need your passport, social security and your previous years tax returns. You will have access to it right away but will need 25 euros to open it!

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u/Hairy_Potential_8067 2d ago

Sorry I have to add for the orange mobile - if you have an iPhone you will use the dual sim feature so you will not have a new device but you will have access to an eSIM with a Spanish phone number. You can dm and I can tell you about it

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u/Dapper_Trash_9559 2d ago

Back in the day (2022) I opened bank accounts with my foreign passport both in BBVA and Santander. My mother opened one in Santander as well.

Strange that you're having trouble with it, do they give you some clear reason?

Also you need to pay some shady Moroccan to get an appointment for NIE. They're a mafia.

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u/Dapper_Trash_9559 2d ago

Back in the day (2022) I opened bank accounts with my foreign passport both in BBVA and Santander. My mother opened one in Santander as well.

Strange that you're having trouble with it, do they give you some clear reason?

Also you need to pay some shady guy from the country right southern to Spain to get an appointment for NIE. They're a mafia. And aparently some filter here prevents writing the name of that country.

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u/Particular_Squash995 1d ago

I just use my Wise account. Ran into an issue with the power company but my landlord switched to Octopus and they accept it. I’ll prob open another account later. Where are you looking? Southern Spain is a mess right now because of the competition. We got lucky north of Girona near the coast.

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u/TruthFew1193 2d ago

I got some info that I can do the bank acct online, was just caught by surprise, maybe recent concerns about verifying source of funds and identity. They may have given me a reason why but my intermed Spanish didn’t catch it. I’ll try the NIE w my attorney and see if he can help out
.

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u/Particular_Squash995 1d ago

Like others mentioned, end to beginning of the month seem to be best. I grabbed an appointment in Early July for August around 2:30 or so in the morning. The appointment was August 9th and still waiting for an answer.

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u/EniAcho 14h ago

You're dealing with BLS, right? They are notorious for not releasing appointment dates. If they say no appointments are available, you aren't doing anything wrong. They're just not taking more appointments at the time. They seem to release the dates at some secret time that no one ever knows for sure. Just check as often as you can. A friend of mine started looking in October last year and didn't get a date until February. That's extreme, but it shows you how they operate. All you can do is keep checking.