Points to whoever answers some questions about MOVING to Spain (PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED OR LIVE IN SPAIN ONLY)

Question

My Mother and I have been wanting to move to Spain for sometime. We're US citizens, although my mother was born in Latin America. We both know Spanish and are educated. So, language is not an issue. She has a major in Psychology and I have a high school diploma and Nurses Aide experience and license.

What is the process a US citizen has to go through to immigrate there?

--I assume, we'd need a workers visa in order to stay there.

How long does it take for a foreigner to gain citizenship?

How easy is it to find a job there? and how is the price of living?

--I've heard it's one of the cheapest European countries, is that true?

Any other information you can add would be of great help. Thank You, in advanced.

Answer 1

--I've heard it's one of the cheapest European countries, is that true?

Ooooooh not anymore!  One of the more expensive countries...about the same as France.

To find a job, they are in recession right now, so, pretty difficult for the time being, but these things always go in cycles, and as they come out of the recession, you will see more jobs being created.

For the citizenship question, call the nearest consulate.  They would have the most accurate information, but I'm going to warn you, red tape in Spain is an incredible nest!  Even the Spanish don't know what the rules are on some things, because they change, almost with the mood of the person you are speaking to.

If language is not an issue, and you want to live where they don't speak a lot of English (and they are ALWAYS unfailingly impressed when you can use verb forms correctly, etc.)  go inland, or north.  Stay away from Barcelona, Madrid, and the tourist centers, as everywhere you go there's English speakers.  For a truly Spanish experience, live in Central or northern Andalucía, or the West, or one of the small cities in the Eastern part of the country, like Zaragoza.  Hey!  you  might be able to get work at the expo...

Your degress won´t make you that exceptional, but are probably marketable.  

I didn´t have to worry about all those details when I lived there.  Times were different, and I was, after all, a student.  No job, no work visa, and none of those worries...but if you really want to make the move on a permanent basis, you need to check with the Spanish authorities.  They can give you the most up-to-date information, and start the paperwork, because I know that Visas are getting harder and harder to come by.

Answer 2

I know that you'll have to find a job here before you come so that they can sponsor you to come over but I don't know how easy that will be when it might be easier for them to just hire a European who requires no paper work and is multilingual.

I have no idea how long it will take to gain citizenship but I think it's a pretty long time - my friend just married a Spaniard and she's American and it's she can't technically have both citizenships but I think she told me the process is long anyways.

I guess it depends on the type of work your looking for to judge the relative ease of getting a job here.

If you come from a different European country or are traveling around Europe and reach Spain it will certainly look like it is a lot cheaper but if you are living in Spain it will feel just as expensive because the wages here suck. They haven't had a significant pay increase in years.

Answer 3

What is the process a US citizen has to go through to immigrate there?

--I assume, we'd need a workers visa in order to stay there.

Im sorry i dont know the true answer to this one because i came to Spain from England and needed no Visa to do anything, i think you may need one if you are from America, look it up on google that would be very helpful to you, espcially the embassy's they will have this sort of info.

How long does it take for a foreigner to gain citizenship?

10 years, to get a Spanish passport you have to have been a registered resident in Spain for 10years, when you get here you just go to the local town hall and register, it takes ages for papers (like 1year or can be more, but it gets done) it doesnt cause you problems in the mean time, ive lived here 7years and never got these papers and i know there are hundreds of people just in my town that havent bothered either, its not a major thing, the N.I.F. number is more important (that is very easy to get and takes like a week) this lets you work etc.

How easy is it to find a job there? and how is the price of living?

--I've heard it's one of the cheapest European countries, is that true?

Right now things are hard for us, where i live it was a major industry to build and sell houses and now (like with most of the world right now) no one can get mortgaes and so cant buy houses, this has put 14 estate agencies out of business in my town alone this year!!! and builders are suffering because they cant sell the houses they are building, food prices have gone up!!! this will fix itself though (soon we hope) depends where you go for work if you go to the coast its all about tourism so it is easier to get a job in summer than any other time, finding work has never really been hard (for my family and friends anyway) and with what you both have i dont think it would be a problem for you either.

good luck

here are some helpful links:

http://www.spain-visas.com/

http://www.theexpatcoach.com/program_one...

http://www.embusa.es/