ANDALUCIA Language and Cultural Assistants 2010-2011

[diecinueve]

Hello everyone!  Just wanted to start a thread for those who have been notified that they are placed in Andalucia - thought we could use this board to get more region-specific convo going on school assignments, our orientation, and housing info.

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[andaluciagina]

Great idea! I am super pumped to be going to Andalucia and can't wait to find out which city I'll be in...

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[dizzymizzy]

I'm headed to Andalucia. :-)

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[ginajcbsn]

Got accepted to Andalucia aws well Very excited!! Does anyone have an idea of how long it takes to find out your city assignment?

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[dizzymizzy]

Does anyone know anything about the following school in Sevilla:

Instituto de Educación Secundaria Vicente Aleixandre


Thanks!

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[diecinueve]

No, I haven't heard anything about it - did you get a school placement?

I have no idea how long it takes but I can't wait!

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[dizzymizzy]

Yes I did. The school is in Triana

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[cmb04012]

Dizzymizzy, are you a second year applicant?

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[scatterpillar]

I found out today that I'll be in Andalucia and I couldn't be happier!!

Dizzymizzy that is so cool that you've gotten your school already! I heard that some schools take a while to actually send you the letter, is that true? I am anxious to hear where in Andalucia we will all be placed!

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[edina]

I just got notified that I'll be in Andalucia this morning!! 
I wonder how long we have to wait now....

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[esperika]

Hi everyone.  SOOOO excited to be placed in Andalucia! 

This weekend I spent hours and hours reading past posts on Expatriate Cafe and Facebook.  It looks like in the past, people placed in Andalucia found out about their city/school the 2nd week in July.  Some other regions notified people in June, but I didn't see anyone in Andalucia who found out in June.  Hopefully this year will be different and we'll find out sooner!!!  But just wanted to let you know what I found so we don't worry if we don't hear anything at the same time as other people.

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[jenoweno]

Hello,

i've been placed in Andalucia, but need to be in Catalunya.  Does anyone know someone who wants to switch?

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[serendipity]

Hello,

i've been placed in Andalucia, but need to be in Catalunya.  Does anyone know someone who wants to switch?

how come you need to be in catalunya?

if it's a compelling reason, you should check with the embassy first before soliciting a switch.

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[diecinueve]

Thanks esperika for the date projections!  Although with the FBI fingerprints taking 13 weeks to process, at this point the letter itself arriving feels like the least of my worries, visa-wise.  Grr.  But obviously I can't wait to see where exactly I'll be!

And about transfers - I'd check with the program first - people have often transferred in years past, but it was my understanding from the program materials that they have changed policy on that and aren't allowing any this year. 

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[dwhiteside]

Dizzymizzy, are you a second year applicant?

Please tell us, dizzymizzy...first-year or second-year applicant? 

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[swizzle]

Oh hey everyone,
I got placed in Andalucia too! I found out last Friday. I'm wicked excited! So, from reading the 2010-2011 main thread, it seems like the next step is to get documents ready to apply for the visa? And we should be doing that before we get the letter, since some things take a long time to process?? Has anyone actually made a visa appointment?

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[Carlita32]

Hi Everyone! I found out two weeks ago that I will be placed in Andalucia and I am very excited. I'm wondering if anyone can talk about the visa process and what will be the most important to start gathering before we get the letter. I live in Los Angeles...anyone else live in the area? 

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[Kamela]

Hi All,

I'm also headed to Andalucia and I'm super excited! The visa thing does seem like quite the complicated process! Especially since the timing is so tight if we don't get our official acceptance letters soon. But, hundreds of people do this very year, so it must work out alright!

I am thinking I will make an appointment in anticipation of having the letter by the 3rd week of July. Does anyone happen to know if past participants to Andalucia got their letters via email or snail mail?

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[diecinueve]

I am thinking I will make an appointment in anticipation of having the letter by the 3rd week of July. Does anyone happen to know if past participants to Andalucia got their letters via email or snail mail?

I live in Arizona, but am serviced by the LA consulate (which has tightened up their regulations on the background check this year), so I would say definitely get your FBI clearance process going today!  It takes 13 weeks!

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[Carlita32]

Hello! I am a little confused as to whether California residents need to do the FBI check or if that is just for people living outside of California that report to the Cali consulate. I emailed the consulate today and I am waiting to hear back. Anyone else know details about this???

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[Carlita32]

I live in Arizona, but am serviced by the LA consulate (which has tightened up their regulations on the background check this year), so I would say definitely get your FBI clearance process going today!  It takes 13 weeks!

Hi Diecinueve,

I have not heard back from the consulate so I'm just going to go ahead and fill out the FBI fingerprint form. It says on the bottom that you can request it to be expedited by a certain date. Did you fill out this portion? I'm just wondering how soon we need these documents so that we can get our visa in time...Any idea? Thanks!

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[serendipity]

carlita 32:

Regarding LOS ANGELES consulate,

I e-mailed them and explained that I was a California resident, and asked if the California Department of Justice state-wide clearance would be sufficient, this is what they said

You need to receive the letter from the school where you have been assigned a position in order to apply for the Visa.   The requirements to apply must be checked at your Consulate:
 
http://www.maec.es/Subwebs/Consulados/LosAngeles/es/home/Paginas/postingHSW.aspx
 
To date  an  FBI certificate is required but negotiations are going on at the moment to make an exception with Auxiliares and admit a standard police certificate. Please check the web regularly for any changes.
Best
 
.................................................................
Carmen Fernández Santás
Asesora Técnica Docente / Education Advisor
Agregaduría de Educación / Education Office
Consulado General de España / Consulate General of Spain
ADDRESS 1: 6300 Wilshire Boulevard, suite 830, Los Angeles, CA, 90048.
Phone :               323 852 6997  Ext  124 - FAX: 323 852 0759
carmen.santas@educacion.es
ADDRESS 2:
Centro Español de Recursos en Los Ángeles
University of Southern California
Spanish Resource Centre at USC 3375 S.Hoover Street, suite F204.
 Phone: 2137405896 . Fax: 2138212304
cer.losangeles@educacion.es
http://www.educacion.es/exterior/centros/losangeles
www.educacion.es/exterior/usa
 

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[diecinueve]

Hi Diecinueve,

I have not heard back from the consulate so I'm just going to go ahead and fill out the FBI fingerprint form. It says on the bottom that you can request it to be expedited by a certain date. Did you fill out this portion? I'm just wondering how soon we need these documents so that we can get our visa in time...Any idea? Thanks!

Hi Carlita!  I did fill out that portion, and asked for it to be done by July 15, giving them 8 weeks, but when I called the FBI they told me that they don't expedite for any reason (which is obviously different that what the website/form says!).  So anyway, I filled it out but I don't know if it will do any good.

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[Carlita32]

Hi Carlita!  I did fill out that portion, and asked for it to be done by July 15, giving them 8 weeks, but when I called the FBI they told me that they don't expedite for any reason (which is obviously different that what the website/form says!).  So anyway, I filled it out but I don't know if it will do any good.

Thanks diecinueve! Apparently , based on the post from Serendipity, we might not need the FBI report after all but I think it's better to play it safe and just  go ahead and apply for it anyways.

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[paracaidista06]

Andalucia letters -

In the spirit of sharing information, I sent an email to the individual at the Junta de Andalucia who runs the program/takes care of placements regarding when we would get our school assignments and our letters.  I have not heard back yet, but I will share as soon as I hear something.  If anyone else has any info about it, please share!

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[Carlita32]

Hi everyone.  SOOOO excited to be placed in Andalucia! 

This weekend I spent hours and hours reading past posts on Expatriate Cafe and Facebook.  It looks like in the past, people placed in Andalucia found out about their city/school the 2nd week in July.  Some other regions notified people in June, but I didn't see anyone in Andalucia who found out in June.  Hopefully this year will be different and we'll find out sooner!!!  But just wanted to let you know what I found so we don't worry if we don't hear anything at the same time as other people.

Can you please send me the link for the new facebook page for 2010..I can't seem to find it. Thanks!

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[cmb04012]

It is hard to find for some reason. Search "NORTH AMERICAN LANGUAGE & CULTURE ASSISTANTS IN SPAIN 2010-2011"

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[cmb04012]

whoops that seems to be a smaller facebook group someone started. Here is the main one:

"Auxiliares de conversacion / English Language Assistants Spain 2010-2011"

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[scatterpillar]

I'm still kind of confused about the police clearance--does this vary from consulate to consulate? And where can we find out the exact details of what's needed for our consulate? I already emailed the Washington DC consulate which is mine but have gotten no response to the next steps in the process. I'm getting worried because I read that it can take up to 13 weeks to get the police clearance and I wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to apply for my Visa. Thanks for any help!

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[cmb04012]

Where is everyone hoping to be placed?

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[dwhiteside]

Where is everyone hoping to be placed?

Ojala que vaya a Granada!

On a separate note, does anyone know the contact person/e-mail address for the program within the Junta de Andalucia. I was super excited when I saw on the May newsletter that we can request certain city placements, but I couldn't find any names or contact information on the Junta website. I did find a general contact link, but the message I sent using this link was responded with this:

Estimado/a usuario/a:
Gracias por usar el servicio del portal http://www.juntadeandalucia.es

Le informamos que este buzón de correos está destinado a resolver dudas, sugerencias e incidencias del portal de la Junta de Andalucía: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es

Si lo desea puede remitir su consulta a la Consejería de Empleo,  para su comodidad le facilitados los datos de contacto:

Avda. de Hytasa, 14 CP: 41071 Teléfono: 955 04 85 00/ 902 50 15 50 Sevilla (SEVILLA) Fax: 955.04.84.58 Web: www.juntadeandalucia.es/empleo
Webmaster: webmaster.cem@juntadeandalucia.es

Esperando haberle sido de utilidad, le enviamos un saludo,

Basically, what I used is for general questions regarding the region of Andalucia or the use of the website.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Felicidades to all who get to return/go for the first time to this wonderful region! 

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[julie]

hey everyone!! so i JUST got accepted to Andalucia!!!! so excited about meeting everyone!!!!!!

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[kyky22]

hey everyone!! so i JUST got accepted to Andalucia!!!! so excited about meeting everyone!!!!!!

Congrats Julie. 

Hi everyone, I haven't introduced myself but I got accepting into Andalucia last week and looking forward to meeting everyone as well!

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[Carlita32]

whoops that seems to be a smaller facebook group someone started. Here is the main one:

"Auxiliares de conversacion / English Language Assistants Spain 2010-2011"

Thanks!

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[julie]

Is there a way to make a group totally open to those who can't join it?  I can see the wall and stuff but can't post unless I join - I'd love to join but can't because I work full-time and my work doesn't exactly know that I'm leaving in a few months - and Facebook is so dang public that I can't hide stuff, grr.

Also, I see on there that a bunch of people have their city placements already? And said they got them in an email? WHAAA?

ummm, I have no idea about that. I think you have to be a member of the group to post on the wall... anyone else know?

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[beachp]

Is there a way to make a group totally open to those who can't join it?  I can see the wall and stuff but can't post unless I join - I'd love to join but can't because I work full-time and my work doesn't exactly know that I'm leaving in a few months - and Facebook is so dang public that I can't hide stuff, grr.

Also, I see on there that a bunch of people have their city placements already? And said they got them in an email? WHAAA?

people who are returning for a 2nd year already received their city placements.

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[Ruthie]

Heyy, i'm from Ireland and got my placement todayy for Andalucia!!!! i'm been assigned to a school in Chipiona near Cadiz! does anybody know anything about it?

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[cmb04012]

Heyy, i'm from Ireland and got my placement todayy for Andalucia!!!! i'm been assigned to a school in Chipiona near Cadiz! does anybody know anything about it?

Hi Ruthie,
Sorry to tell you I can't be of much help in regards to Chipiona. But I was wondering if you received word of your placement via email? Thanks!

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[js103]

I am SOOOOO excited to be going to Andalucia...I really hope to be in Granada since I've lived there before, but Sevilla would be awesome too!

I can't wait to get my letter but considering it is coming from the province sin prisa, I'm betting I'll have to be veryyyy patient!

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[edina]

So am I right to assume that those who have received city placements are either second years or those applying from Europe?

I can't wait to find out so I can start obsessing and googling the hell out of whichever city I get!
 

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[Ruthie]

Hi Ruthie,
Sorry to tell you I can't be of much help in regards to Chipiona. But I was wondering if you received word of your placement via email? Thanks!

Hey,

well i got an email looking for my home address and then they posted me the details!I'm from Ireland though so I know its done a little differently!

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[paracaidista06]

Again, in the spirit of sharing - I emailed my point of contact for Andalucía last night and when I woke up this morning here is the response I got-

"Trabajamos tan deprisa como podemos, se lo garantizamos.
Recibirá su carta dentro de diez o quince días.

Un saludo."

So, we'll see what happens in the next 10 to fifteen days. 

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[diecinueve]

Again, in the spirit of sharing - I emailed my point of contact for Andalucía last night and when I woke up this morning here is the response I got-

"Trabajamos tan deprisa como podemos, se lo garantizamos.
Recibirá su carta dentro de diez o quince días.

Un saludo."

So, we'll see what happens in the next 10 to fifteen days.

Thanks for sharing!  Also, the process is pretty radically different depending on which country you are applying from. Are you American by any chance?

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[paracaidista06]

Thanks for sharing!  Also, the process is pretty radically different depending on which country you are applying from. Are you American by any chance?

Yes, american here.

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[dwhiteside]

Again, in the spirit of sharing - I emailed my point of contact for Andalucía last night and when I woke up this morning here is the response I got-

"Trabajamos tan deprisa como podemos, se lo garantizamos.
Recibirá su carta dentro de diez o quince días.

Un saludo."

So, we'll see what happens in the next 10 to fifteen days.

Awesome news! Thanks for sharing

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[julie]

Again, in the spirit of sharing - I emailed my point of contact for Andalucía last night and when I woke up this morning here is the response I got-

"Trabajamos tan deprisa como podemos, se lo garantizamos.
Recibirá su carta dentro de diez o quince días.

Un saludo."

So, we'll see what happens in the next 10 to fifteen days. 

Thanks!  by the way, what email address did you use? whenever I tried I only got an automated message

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[ginajcbsn]

Hey everyone! I'm also going to Andalucia! I live in Southern California and am going through the LA Consulate. I've been e-mailing back and forth with them about the Visa requirements and thought I would share all of the information! So here it goes! Sorry that its so long!

Gina,
The answers to your questions will follow the questions themselves.

1. Is the FBI clearance required? (someone from the consulate office said they were considering making this NOT mandatory for those in this program.) Yes, the FBI clearance is mandatory.

2. Could a notarized police clearance from our city/cities of residence be enough for the Visa application? No, the certificate must be issued by the FBI, it is a federal clearance.

3. If the FBI clearance is still necessary, can we bring proof that we have started the clearance process to the Visa appointment and get started on our Visa? Or do we have to wait until after we get the FBI clearance to make our Visa appointment? Yes, you may bring proof that you have begun the clearance process, you must however, send the original with apostille and copies of each page to the Consulate before we can issue your visa.

4. Does the FBI clearance need to be notarized before it is sent to the Apostille? No, it only needs to be apostillized.

5. What home address do we put on the Visa application? (I do know, along with many others, yet know where I will be living in Spain.) Should we put the address of our school instead? In number 17 put your home address in the United States.

6. Will the letter we receive from our school with our work information be enough for the funds/health insurance requirements? The letter states our stipend and that we will be covered by European health insurance. As long as the proof of funds and insurance meets the requirements detailed in the visa application directions it will be sufficient. Make sure to check that it does.

7. Can we buy a ONE WAY ticket to Spain since our program lasts longer than 180 days? Yes, you only need to purchase a one way ticket to Spain.

8. How long does it take from the DAY of your VISA appointment at the LA Consulate to when you receive your actual VISA? Is it mailed or can we pick it up? A visa takes 10-21 days to be approved assuming that all of your documents are presented on the day of your appointment. If your application is incomplete it will likely take longer. We will email you when your visa is ready. You may then pick up your visa or we will mail it to you if you include a self addressed prepaid express envelope with paid postage.

9. Does the Medical Certificate have to have the Hague of the Apostille or be notarized? No, but it must be an original from the doctor on his/her letterhead and signed in his/her hand. This document must also be translated by a certified translator or the original must be in Spainsh. You must also present copies of the original and translation.

Warm regards,
The Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles
Visa Department


Sorry I couldn't do the rest in red, the forum is acting up. Anyways I hope this helps!

I also had a few questions! If you go to the LA Consulate website: http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Consulados/LosAngeles/en/MenuPpal/RequirementsEntrSpainVisas/Estudios/Paginas/noticia1.aspx      and click on the Visa Application Form, a 4 page "Application for National Visa" form comes up. If you download the instructions, I saw that they do not match that visa Form. Then I also googled the "Schengen Visa form" which is what I was under the impression we needed and came up with this: http://www.immihelp.com/visas/schengenvisa/application_form_english.pdf

Does anyone have any idea which we should use? I emailed the consulate and am waiting to hear back but thought maybe someone already knew.

Good luck everyone in your Visa process and I hope to get to know all of your in our upcoming adventures!! Oh and if anyone else is in Newport Beach area and wants to meet up send me a message! Feel free to add me on facebook : Gina Jacobson (UC Berkeley )

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[diecinueve]

Wow Gina, thanks for all the info!  I'm applying through LA too and it is a big motherlovin' mess    This is really helpful!

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[ginajcbsn]

No problem! Just also wanted to let you know the sherrif's office does the fingerprint thing you need to send in to the FBI for $10 so don't waste your money on Livescan like I did!

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[Carlita32]

Thanks Gina! I am wondering for everyone...did you make your appointment at the consulate? And if you did, what date did you make the appointment for?

For the medical certificate, I wonder if I should contact my doctor's office back and see if someone in their office can type the letter in Spanish and then have the doctor sign it? Seems easier then having to pay for a certified translator to do it!

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