Hola
I have successfully submitted all my paper work for Spanish citizenship and am now being called in for my first face to face interview.  I am applying as spouse of a Spanish national and I have had my residence card for about a year and half.  I don’t work in Spain yet (my husband does of course) and I have actually had to travel back and forth to the US to take care of family health issues (parents) and deal with selling our house.

Has anyone gone through this process?  If so, any tips for the interview?  I am hoping to avoid any snags in the process.
What is involved in the interview? What kinds of questions are asked?  What is the interviewer looking for in terms of responses?  Is there an issue with having traveled out of the country for family business?  Any/all tips would be welcomed!

Thanks!

hi there
by the way how was the interview did u get an answer ?do u have the spanish citizenship now
i’m ready to go and apply as i’m married to a spaniard to for 5 years plz let me know thanks

Greetings
I would be interested to hear your story as well… here is mine

I completed one year of the required Spanish residency for spouses of Spanish nationals and submitted all the various papers needed for the citizenship application.  About 5 months later I received a notice to go to an “interview” at the local police station in our barrio with more papers.  The list of required documents was posted on the notice and included items to demonstrate income, housing status, as well as US passport and any educational certificates such as degrees.  The “interview” only took about 20 minutes and really just focused on making sure we had all the paperwork (the spouse is supposed to attend the interview).  There really was not any question and answer about our life in Spain or our marriage.  So - though it was a bit nerve wracking - it was quite simple and straightforward if you provide as much documentation as possible to meet the posted requirements.

The downsides - I was not given any feedback on whether or not the documentation we provided was adequate or that we had “met” the citizenship requirements… I expect another government agent will review what we submitted.  Also - our “interviewer” just said that I would hear back in about a year.  From others I have heard that yes - it can take another 12 months or more!! But what exactly the next step is - sorry I can’t tell you.

Well - I do wish you the best and sure hope to hear how things went for you and what new or different information you may have gathered or learned about the next step(s).

Best Wishes -

hi there
i realy apreciate the effort that u made to tell me your story ,wow thats take a bit longer that i supposed to be the procedure !!! i’m going to spain the 30th of januray, as my wife is working the already, by the way i have a couple of question for u ?how long u have been married for ? did u get married in spain or in the US ? do u have a libro de familia ? did u hire a lawyer or no ? i wish u all the best and hopefully u will get your citizenship soon…i’m with u till the end if u need any help or u want to talk ,i’ll be here for u…by the mean time please keep me up to date and let me know if there is any news . i know a very good lawyer in spain for citizenship..if u want i can give you the phone number ...anyway take care of your self and i wish u the best in the futur.hasta luego.

Hello!
If you are just beginning the process - hold on, it can be a bumpy ride!  I am a US citizen married to a Spanish citizen for eleven years.  We married in the US and only this past year submitted the application for a Libro de Familia (which is required for the citizenship). We lived the majority of the first 8 years in the US. My husband is now a US citizen as well. BTW - the US has no issue with dual citizenship whereas Spain does not officially recognize dual status (you can get along with dual if you abide by the “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule of thumb).  We did not engage a lawyer, but rather learned along the way.  First step to citizenship via marriage is to become a legal Spanish resident, then only 1 yr of residency qualifies you to apply for citizenship in Spain (in the US it is 3 yrs legal residence status). 

There is lot’s of paper work and it is all rather confusing but do-able without a lawyer. Sounds like you are working with a lawyer and I imagine that might make you feel more confident.  If not, if you let me know where you are in the process I may be able to provide some more info before I go totally brain dead - I guess I just want to forget all the steps at this point.  Some tips now though ... you will need to get US “apostilles” for US official documents (like birth certificates, marriage licenses, criminal record reports) so be sure to allow plenty of time to research that aspect and get those papers together.  Apostilles are obtained from the Secretary of State of the state in which the document originates. I posted a reply to another thread regarding Apostilles here on the Forum… but you can “Google” apostille and learn plenty on line.  Also - the biggest annoyance factor is dealing with the immigration office at the main police station in Madrid.  The lines are so incredibly long!  My husband has an uncanny knack of “working the system” and he was able to gain entrance each time we had to go by stepping right up to the front door “gate keeper” and pleading a reason to get in right away.  If the lawyer could help you navigate through that department then he/she may be worth what you are paying.

I wish I had US expat/Spanish citizen contacts in Spain to learn more about the process - so I am interested to stay in touch to learn from your experiences since I have not yet made it through the maze completely.  What are typical lawyer fees? And, just what do they do for you?  Sure - if you send along a name & phone it might just come in really handy.

Well hope this all helps - thanks for your support ... looking forward to hearing good news from you too!

hi there
any other news by the way ,sorry i was away and i couldnt reply !!! good luck

No updates - just am waiting for the next steps but that can take up to a year. Take care

Hi Pacific
I hope all is going well for you.
just two quick questions. Did you have your interview in spanish? is it a requirement to speak spanish in order to get the citizenship?
thanks

Greetings on Thanksgiving… are you fixing the typical holiday goodies?

To your question - yes the “interview” at the local police station was in Spanish.  However, it was required that my husband join me and so he was able to address most all of the questions - in fact… most of the questions were directed to him since he is working and has the papers for our residence.  I speak some Spanish and was able to answer the questions directed to me.  The focus of my interview was really directed at having all the necessary paperwork in - there really were no questions about my experience adapting to life in Spain - over and done in about 20 min.  Also remember this interview came about 6 months after we submitted all the papers for citizenship and approximately 1.5 years after receiving my residence card.  Hope this helps - take care!

Hi Pacific,
I’m finding this thread really interesting, as I’m thinking about applying for citizenship when I can. I got married here in Spain at the end of June. I’ve applied for the residency card, but I’m still waiting (4 months later!).
The first question I have is: Does the 1 year period of legal residency begin with the marriage date, or the issuing of the tarjeta de residencia?
Secondly, although we’re living in Spain at the moment, we might be moving to work in other country within the year. Is it necessary to be living in Spain when you apply?
If you don’t know that’s ok - I know that every situation it different. It’s just so difficult to get the infomation about these things on official websites!
Thanks in advance,
Kate

Hola Kate
Great to have you join this conversation and I hope you continue to share your experiences, as you say, it is difficult to get enough info on this subject!  I had communicated with the “administrator” of this website about some of my questions and lack of responses.  He/she mentioned that this site is used mostly by folks who are EU citizens but working through the residency bit for work permission - so there are not so many US (or non-EU) folks going through the process on this site.

Regarding your questions & comments. 
0- time frame to get your precious tarjeta…. it took about 6 months I think to get the notification to come to the office to pick up the card.  You will have to pay a tax of some kind (about about 6EURO as I recall) to pick up the card.  To do so you have to get a form of some kind (they gave it to us at the desk) and then we had to find a bank a couple blocks away to go to pay the tax and then return with the the receipt back to the office!  Wonderful Espana!  Goofy to not be able to pay right at the office but there you have it.  So… try not to wait in that long line twice!!
1- The one year residency period, to meet citizenship application criteria, began for me from the date if issuance of the tarjeta (we were married in the US and only 10-11 years later did I apply for the tarjeta).  One of the documents you will need for the citizenship application is a form from the immigration/police office indicating the date that residency began.  Wonderful Espana!  This date does not appear on the tarjeta!  However, my tarjeta was issued 2 years ago now and I hear there is a new card (not sure about this) so things may have changed.  (BTW - my reference to “Wonderful Espana” does not really mean exasperation - but crazy fondnes… every country has their wackiness… I really do love Spain!)
2- You ask THE most important question!!!  I wish I had the answer!!  So please share this info if you get it ... please please. I asked this question at the one of the many citizenship offices we visited… and was told in a very general way (there was no info “fact sheet” that gave explicit info) that I could travel back and forth from/to Spain freely but that I should not stay out of the country more than 6 months at a time but it was a bit vague.  I have to spend a lot of time out of Spain for family reasons and I am very concerned that this will interfere with my “one year” citizenship application timeframe.  And, in reading the thread, you will see that there seem to be several “one year” increments.  First one year with tarjeta, then apply…. then about 6 months more to wait for “interview”... then 12-18 months to wait for next step (which is what I am waiting for) in which… I don’t know what will happen except that I will get an appointment for something… an approval or rejection on the application? another task to complete? not sure.

So sure hope you can find out some info along the way and pass it along!  I have not yet made friends with US expats who have gone through all this so we are just figuring it out as we go!  Best wishes and hope this helps!!

Greetings -
I am back - Pacific here!
Well I made it! After a 1yr and 6 months after my “interview” I was called in to the Ministry of Justice to sign some papers and then make an appointment to meet the judge!  I am now official - a Spanish citizen!!

All the effort over the past 5 years was worth it!

This is for the Americans out there. I married a Spanish citizen in Spain more than a year ago, have had my residence card for at least a year. I’m back in the States for the holidays, and was wondering where I could go to get the Police Clearance Certificate.  Does anybody know?  Any police station? the FBI?  he he he I want to apply for Spanish Citizenship when I go back after Xmas.

Thanks a heap.

Answered my own question. I’m quoting from the US Embassy Madrid Citizen Services about how to obtain an Apostille.. sounds like a nightmare!

P: ?C?mo legalizo mis documentos U.S./obtenci?n de la Apostilla de la Haya para mis documentos emitidos en los Estados Unidos? (por ej. Certificados de nacimiento, divorcio o fallecimiento)

R: Deber? enviar el documento original a la Secretar?a de Estado u oficina equivalente en su estado que sea la autoridad competente para emitir la Apostilla para documentos generados en su jurisdicci?n, incluidos tribunales estatales (state courts). Los documentos originados en Hawaii y en las Islas V?rgenes (U.S.) pueden obtener la Apostilla de la oficina de Autentificaci?n (Authentication Office) del Departamento de Estado de los EE.UU. Las direcciones para las oficinas previamente mencionadas puedes conseguirse por petici?n o visitando los siguientes enlaces web:
- http://travel.state.gov/family/hague_foreign_docs.html o
- http://travel.state.gov/about/info/customer/customer_312.html
- http://travel.state.gov/family/family_issues/divorce/divorce_591.html - http://travel.state.gov/family/hague_foreign_docs.html

Greetings

Regarding acquiring apostilles: It is really not so difficult. Just google the apostille process in your home US state. The State Dept provides all the instructions and fees.  Just be sure to submit all your requests for apostilles well in advance for all your original documents. 

And… remember all documents must be translated in SPAIN.  The Spanish process will not accept translations completed outside Spain.

Regarding the question about how to get a criminal record:  Just google “criminal record” for your own US State to find specific details. In California the CA State Dept web site is very clear.  You will need to complete a “live scan” which is fingerprinting - available at various locations (like commercial mail centers) and police stations.  After submitting necesary forms and completing the live scan I recall it taking a couple weeks to get the report .

Regarding the question about dual citizenship:  Spain does not accept dual citizenship for US citizens. However, there is no official turn-over of your US passport.  The US does accept dual citizenship - go to the US State Dept for details.

This is the website from the California Department of Justice (each state should have its equivalent office) that explains how you can get the background check, or equivalent of the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales, which must then be apostilled by the Secretary of State (California).

http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/visaimmigration.php

(to get the back ground check via Live Scan fingerprinting)

then,
the Apostille

from the Secretary of State, Authentications & Notarial Service

http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/authentication.htm