I feel as if I was an irregular immigrant here.

I have been living here for three months now, and today I got a provisional residence permit. Provisional! It is only valid until January.

I don’t feel European at all. I understand they have to register all the people living here, but I don’t see the point in asking me to bring such a big amount of documents to prove various things: that I have a doctor, that I am a student, that…

Weren’t we part of the European Union? The Old Continent as one, no frontiers, free movement of workers and all that ear-pleasant stuff…Where is that now? All lies?

It is unbelievable. After being waiting for two months for an appointment, when I eventually went there today they told me the ERASMUS learning agreement is not valid as a proof that I am studying here. 

Later, they asked me if I was able to support myself financially during my stay here. I told her that i was, but i didn’t know how to prove it. The civil servant asked somebody and finally I only had to write it on a sheet of paper and sign.

Isn’t it a little bit strange? On one hand, they tell me that an official document -as the learning agreement- is not valid but, on the other hand, they accept a simple manuscript. Bureaucracy. Ha!

The worst came when they asked me for an insurance. The conversation was as it follows:

-Do you have an insurance here?
-Insurance?
-Yes, in case you fall sick
-Oh, I have the European Sanitary Card
-No, that is not valid.
-…
-No? But if i fell sick, can’t I just go to the hospital and ask for medical assistance?
-No, the card is only valid in case of urgence.
-Hmm…. (sceptical face)
-For example, if you catched the flu, you would have to pay for the doctor. You cannot go to the hospital and ask there for some medicines.
-Then, what kind of document do I need?
-An insurance.

[Long silence...If i would have been chatting, I would have used ¬¬ to describe my feelings in that moment]

(the conversation continues…but we don’t reach any clear conclusion)

-Well…I think it is better if I ask the consul. I will call her tomorrow.

Resume: a 3-months residence permit, a bothered ME and two more things in my to-do list.

I will probably get the permit once I am in back in Spain in July! XD

Spaans

Me da pereza escribir el blog en los dos idiomas, así que hago un resumen XD

Resulta que hoy, finalmente y tras tres meses viviendo aquí, voy al Ayuntamiento para conseguir mi permiso de residencia y me encuentro que (¡cómo no!) me faltan aportar algunos documentos.

Entre otros, me piden un justificante de que estoy estudiando en la universidad, un seguro médico (y la tarjeta sanitaria europea no es válida, para mi asombro -y preocupación*-) y una prueba de solvencia económica**. El contrato ERASMUS no lo aceptan como válido y, sin embargo ¡Me aceptan un papel escrito como prueba de que puedo mantenerme economicamente! Desde luego,…esto sólo tiene un nombre: burocracia .

En resumen: un permiso provisional con validez de tres meses, una Earel bastante indignada, y dos cosas más en mi lista de tareas pendientes.  

—

*Tendre que llamar al consulado a que me lo expliquen. ¿Va a resultar ahora que tengo que pagar el médico? O.o

**A veces yo misma me asombro del dominio del español que tengo XD