Don’t do it.
End of blog!
Just kidding! Sort of!
There is no shortage of Facebook groups for people who want to move to Spain or expats who already live here, and, not surprisingly, they all have VERY strong opinions about, well, pretty much anything anyone can think to ask about. Whether you want to ask a question about a certain type of visa, are looking for advice about schools in different areas, or want to know where to get the best tapas, there are hundreds of people waiting to type to you and insist that they are right while everyone else is wrong. Even with something as innocuous as tapas, one person will recommend a place and then next person will deride that place as “garbage” and recommend their own.
In a recent example, someone wrote asking if they would have an issue arriving in Spain with a one-way ticket and no extended stay visa (all tourists are allowed to stay in the Schengen Area for 90-days without a visa). A spattering of responses:
I’ve flown to Spain last year & this year. Nobody asked for anything except my passport.
When you check in at the airport to depart the U.S. (if you don’t have a long stay visa), they will ask for proof of your return flight within 90 days.
I had a 1 way ticket from U.S. when I hiked the Camino de Santiago. No questions asked.
I can guarantee you Iberia will stop you. Many of the European airlines will and now many U.S. airlines are doing it, too.
And my favorite from a Top Contributor: This is why I love crowdsourcing info. You get all possible answers! Sounds like you may or may not be asked about a return ticket!
The fact is, every person traveling to, from, and around Spain has had their own experience, but that doesn’t mean that will be everyone’s experience. A quick Google search will show that even the different Spanish consulates in the U.S. have different requirements for each visa type!
The ones that shock me most are the people who are asking for complicated tax advice from the masses. I find myself yelling at the computer, “Ask a tax attorney!!! Why would you trust something so important with potential legal ramifications to a random Facebook group??”
The fact is, navigating the sometimes labyrinthine requirements for getting and renewing your visa, establishing residency, and paying your taxes, are things that should not be left to chance. If you have questions, ask the experts, and be willing to pay for their time and expertise. It never ceases to amaze me how many people think that lawyers, accountants, tax advisors, or any other professionals want to, and should!, provide answers for free.
If you are ready to start your journey getting yourself or your family to Spain, contact us. Our professional teams of immigration lawyers will give you advice you can trust (and tell you where you can get the best tapas in Sevilla!).
