Houston Consulate: Anyone Else Having....

[Natori]

a hard time accessing information on the website?  I tried to click on the visa requirements link and it just takes me to a 404 error page.  The same thing happened when I checked two weeks ago.  I need to review some info but I cannot...

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[I Am Zlatan]

a hard time accessing information on the website?  I tried to click on the visa requirements link and it just takes me to a 404 error page.  The same thing happened when I checked two weeks ago.  I need to review some info but I cannot...

The website for the Houston consulate is god awful.  I've been using the visa requirement information from the Chicago consulate and then calling Houston to confirm things if need be.

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[Natori]

I went ahead and emailed them...I've emailed them many months ago asking just a general question and never got a response. Let's see what happens this time..

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[Natori]

So I never got a response  ...figured I wouldn't and I'm sure the freaking site still doesn't work.

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[Natori]

I called (I prefer email but whatevs) and spoke with a nice lady (for some reason I didn't get her name).  Anyway, I got some very useful info.  Since I do not live in Texas, I will have to fly into Houston (don't want to drive  ) to apply. However, she said instead of coming back to Houston,  I can  have my visa mailed to me but I have to sign a paper pretty much stating that I accept responsibility should it get lost in the mail (meaning I have to apply all over again should the post office delivers it the wrong address).  My only concern is getting a state police background check instead of a FBI background check. I understand its quicker but so far my local police station (I called) nor my state government website has any information on how to obtain one...what the ________? 

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[Natori]

Link from http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1201.html

Okay this link says I can go directly to my local police department...um why the lady acted like I needed to go elsewhere?  She was like they only do background checks for the county not the state....which confused me.

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[I Am Zlatan]

I called (I prefer email but whatevs) and spoke with a nice lady (for some reason I didn't get her name).  Anyway, I got some very useful info.  Since I do not live in Texas, I will have to fly into Houston (don't want to drive  ) to apply. However, she said instead of coming back to Houston,  I can  have my visa mailed to me but I have to sign a paper pretty much stating that I accept responsibility should it get lost in the mail (meaning I have to apply all over again should the post office delivers it the wrong address).  My only concern is getting a state police background check instead of a FBI background check. I understand its quicker but so far my local police station (I called) nor my state government website has any information on how to obtain one...what the ________?

That is SUCH good news about them being willing to mail the visa to you.  I was dreading having to fly to Houston twice.

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[Atiyah1001]

I just called again (713-783-6200) to clarify some information and this is what the woman told me what needed to be submitted to the Houston consulate.  It seems to be correct, because I've called numerous times on different occasions and it's the same info I was given the other times.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Placement letter (with all the info in regards of how much $ you'll be making, health insurance, etc)
• Medical certificate
• State Background Check (not a local police - must be state)
• 2 Passport Pictures
• 2 Application Forms
• Current Passport with another form of ID
• $140 Money Order

I live in Texas and the woman I spoke with said the TX SBC takes about 2 weeks to receive. (Don't know how true or false that is, since I've never had one done b4.)  She also said, do not bother getting the FBI BC, because they (I don't know if that's Spain or just the Houston consulate or both) do not need it.  I also didn't ask about any other past travels (like the ones "if you lived in another country for a certain amount of years type of travels") because this does not apply to me.  But I'm pretty sure they will be glad to answer that for you via phone if you have any questions.

According to her, it takes about 4 weeks to receive your visa back.  Supposedly (using this term somewhat lightly) you can pick up your visa or have it mailed to you.  Wish would be fantastic and cost efficient for the people who don't live in Texas nor down the street from Houston.

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[trébol]

I just called again (713-783-6200) to clarify some information and this is what the woman told me what needed to be submitted to the Houston consulate.  It seems to be correct, because I've called numerous times on different occasions and it's the same info I was given the other times.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Placement letter (with all the info in regards of how much $ you'll be making, health insurance, etc)
• Medical certificate
• State Background Check (not a local police - must be state)
• 2 Passport Pictures
• 2 Application Forms
• Current Passport with another form of ID
• $140 Money Order

I live in Texas and the woman I spoke with said the TX SBC takes about 2 weeks to receive. (Don't know how true or false that is, since I've never had one done b4.)  She also said, do not bother getting the FBI BC, because they (I don't know if that's Spain or just the Houston consulate or both) do not need it.  I also didn't ask about any other past travels (like the ones "if you lived in another country for a certain amount of years type of travels") because this does not apply to me.  But I'm pretty sure they will be glad to answer that for you via phone if you have any questions.

According to her, it takes about 4 weeks to receive your visa back.  Supposedly (using this term somewhat lightly) you can pick up your visa or have it mailed to you.  Wish would be fantastic and cost efficient for the people who don't live in Texas nor down the street from Houston.

Thank you so much for making this easier to figure out! I live in Texas, too, but it would be nice not have to take a *second* trip to Houston to pick up the visa.

I did some hunting on the consulate's website and it looks like this is the page for the student visa requirements, and this is the application form.

2/3 of a month more until April!!! Then we hear about the placements. O_O Can't wait!

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[Atiyah1001]

Thank you so much for making this easier to figure out! I live in Texas, too, but it would be nice not have to take a *second* trip to Houston to pick up the visa.

I did some hunting on the consulate's website and it looks like this is the page for the student visa requirements, and this is the application form.

2/3 of a month more until April!!! Then we hear about the placements. O_O Can't wait!

No problem! I spent an hr-90 minutes today trying to figure out how to do the state background check, since I live in TX too.  I made an appointment today for March 23 to get my fingerprints done, since that's the first step according to the DPS.  The rep said it takes about 3-4 weeks for the entire background check.  So if everything goes as planned I'll get my background check in mid April along with the regional placement.  I'm doing things a bit early, because I'll need my visa b4 the end of June, because I'll be in Spain for a study abroad program b4 the actual program begins.

I don't wanna drive back to Houston to pick up my visa, but I think I'll have too depending on when it's finished.    Oh well. 

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[Atiyah1001]

Does any1 know if we need the state background check "apostilled with the hague? I've been trying to touch base with the consulate (the consulate Houston of course, since this particular thread is regarding Houston) and I've had no sucess. It seems like theyve changed their options when you call in and 0 does not get you to the operator.  I've looked n2 the manual and they said to check with ur consulate. So yea...If anyone knows if the SBC needs 2 be apostilled that would be great. I'm going to keep trying to contact the office though.

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[trébol]

Heh this whole visa process makes me think of short Spanish film I watched a few days ago about dealing with bureaucracy.

Anyways, an apostille of the Hague is like getting a document notarized but instead it's legally valid in the countries that signed the Apostille convention in 1961; e.g., Spain. Thankfully the Texas secretary of state can apostille the state background check for us (for a fee, of course).

I'm going to go ahead and get my (as of yet unobtained) SBC apostilled before the consulate appointment—just to be safe—cuz I don't want the whole trip to be a waste if they need that little stamp, which it seems like they do.

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[Atiyah1001]

Heh this whole visa process makes me think of short Spanish film I watched a few days ago about dealing with bureaucracy.

Anyways, an apostille of the Hague is like getting a document notarized but instead it's legally valid in the countries that signed the Apostille convention in 1961; e.g., Spain. Thankfully the Texas secretary of state can apostille the state background check for us (for a fee, of course).

I'm going to go ahead and get my (as of yet unobtained) SBC apostilled before the consulate appointment—just to be safe—cuz I don't want the whole trip to be a waste if they need that little stamp, which it seems like they do.

Yep.  You are right.  I just got off the phone with the lady.  It does need to be apostilled.  Thanks for the info! 

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[Atiyah1001]

So I called the lady on the phone (I really need to get her name...  ) and asked her if the Houston consulate would still process the visa and allow one to keep the passport while traveling abroad like some of the other consulates and she said yes.

The funny thing is, this was one of my 1st questions I asked the lady when I first began to start my visa process (or just to find out info about it) and she told me no.  She's told me no on some other questions in the past and when I re-asked them last month she said yes.  So either things have changed within the Houston consulate or she "now knows what she's talking about" (not to say that she didn't).  I asked her what documentation I needed to bring and she said none.  Then she asked me what nationality I was and I told her American.  Then she said no, you'll be fine as long as you bring in something saying that I was traveling abroad, where I was staying - basically an itinerary.  But her initial answer was no; so I really don't know about that. 

So.... good news... if you were looking to travel abroad during the summer and wanted to process your student visa while you kept your passport - you can.

Before I leave this summer and get my school placement for the program, I am going to clarify again just to be on the safe side.

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[totaltollpatschig]

It was probably the same lady I talked to- at first she said we didn't need anything to apply for the visa other than the money, and then I started asking her specific questions (like 'do I need a background check?', etc) and then she would give more detailed answers.

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[Natori]

So I FINALLY got in contact with the lady that does the police background checks in my state and it's so simple.  IT WAS SO HARD finding the right department in my state that does this background but I just spoke with her. She's going to email me the form and I only return it with $32 money order.  They will also write a letter and notarize it. I got the check with the Houston Consulate to see if I need the state secretary's seal...but I just want to shout YAY! from the rooftops but I won't...lol.

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