General Consulate Of Spain

Service: ⁵⁄₅
Because I carry an Indonesian passport, I have to get a Visa to every country. Last time I went to Europe, I had to go to the French Consulate to get my visa and it was a big hassle. They had to reject us because we didn’t have all our necessary documents so this time around I wanted to avoid that. I quadruple checked to make sure that I had all the necessary documents needed and copies of everything. There were a lot of alternatives to those documents because of my legal status and that i’m self-​employed, but luckily and thanks to the internet, I had all the documents in order and was in and out of the office in 20 minutes. They are quick, friendly, and organized because I got my Visa two days after I got it done. The guy who handled my Visa said that I was super organized and overly prepared for it! What is so helpful is the checklist that they put on the website and to also make sure you read the directions carefully because one page on the website is more detailed than the checklist so it’s best to double-​check that way. The appointment website is very simple and easy to use so I was able to book it quickly and choose the time and date easily. The guy who handled my Visa said that the thing that most people mess up on is their travel insurance so just check the website for those 3 requirements and print out the Insurance Overview page that lists those requirements in English/​Spanish.
Parking: ⁵⁄₅
I parked on the street on the right side of the building so I didn’t have to pay for parking. It is 1 hour parking, but you’ll be in and out so fast that it’s plenty of time.

I emailed the Consulate with very specific questions with what paperwork to file once I arrive to Madrid since I have a difficult case. They responded the same day with step by step instructions for my visa and also provided contact information once in Madrid. I am pleased with the service and level of competency– definitely saved me a headache. Highly recommended !!

I went to send my vote to the next elections in Spain and they were fast and nice! Can’t wait to go back home actually

I scheduled an appointment months in advance, so that I can get a visa for my study abroad in Spain. When I arrived, I was displeased to learn that I had not gotten the correct background check, especially because I had called them specifically to ask which check I needed, and they told me that any check would work. Because of this wrong information, I was set back by about a month, as I waited for a new check and got that one certified. When I returned to the consulate, two of the women that were in line with me experienced the exact same thing. I think that the staff needs to be more knowledgeable about the process, so that they do not spread misinformation and end up costing us more time and money by repeating steps in the visa process. Also, it would help if they occasionally answered the phone or emails, when people have questions that cannot be answered by reading the information on the website. I understand that the consulate is a busy place, but their performances are unacceptable.

Can’t make an appointment, they online system always not available… Its stupid, I have my trip booked already, but I cant make an appointment…

I had an interview at 10 AM in the morning but had an early morning flight from Phoenix and ended up at the LA consulate at 8.15 AM. I was interviewed at 8.30 AM (they frequently keep calling every person’s name who are scheduled to be interviewed on that day). The visa officer was fluent in English and I had no issues communicating with him. (I once had a terrible experience with the French consulate where the VO could hardly speak in English and it was really hard for me to comprehend what she was asking/​saying). I had all the documents except the original copy of my employment letter. The VO told me to send the original by mail in-​order for my visa to be processed. It took exactly 2 weeks to get back my passport in hand from the interview date. The website can be more clear as everyone who were being interviewed before me/​after me that day had some document missing. You need to be prepared with so many documents that it easy to miss on some of them. I would say check the documents that are required for other consulates like Switzerland/​France and make sure you also have those documents. They are very particular about all the documents (original + copy) and infact look for more than what is mentioned in their website (here is where the information mentioned in other consulate website helps). I took a super shuttle from the airport to the consulate and didn’t have to deal with parking.

I think it helps to understand that, like any government agency, the staff are extremely busy and certainly feeling the effects of the financial crisis in Spain. Laws change every day. We have, however, found the staff extremely helpful and friendly, their website reasonably easy to use, their appointment scheduling system very good, and they go out of their way to help navigate the maze of different rules to work with the European Union. We went for a passport application recently and since we made an appointment we were done in 20 minutes. They tell you exactly what you need. I made a mistake scheduling a recent appointment and because we had driven so far to get there they took us in right away and got it processed.

Why are there no reviews for this Consulate? There are many reviews for the one in San Francisco.
Today is June 6^th… I need to get my daughter an appointment for a student visa… the earliest appointment is September 3^rd. Now I question if she will make it in time to start classes October 1. I hate to pay the $ 4,000 tuition and she doesn’t make it in time to even start the classes before the first trimester starts.
Impossible to get a human being on the phone… and I emailed them with about 5 questions and the only answer I got was one sentence telling me how long a tourist visa is good for.
I can tell now what I am dealing with. It isn’t any better than it was 11 years ago when my oldest went. it took 6 months to get a student visa, and we were picking it up the day before her flight…