Author Topic: deportation (Read 4971 times)

Carolyn · « **on:** March 27, 2004, 10:14:40 PM »

Ok,

I've read just about everything on this site, and have concluded that it is virtually impossible for an American to obtain a work visa, or any other type of residency permit that would make him a legal immigrant/worker in Spain.

Obviously there are tons of Americans, and other Non EU people, working and teaching in Spain illegally and under the table. But my question is: Does the Spanish government actively seek to find these people and deport them? Would I have to be constantly looking over my shoulder out of fear of being caught and sent home? Does the government even care?

I ask this because I want to go to Spain and teach English, but obviously I do not want to be caught and deported. So, what are the risks? If the risk is very high, are is there anything that I can do to protect myself from gaining the attention of the government?

Can any non-EU person who has lived illegally in Spain share their experiences?? I think that the info could be very helpful for all of us who are currently in the States looking to go to Spain, but are a little hesitant due to the scariness of the \"deportation\" idea.

Thank you very much.
Carolyn

Dina · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2004, 04:46:51 PM »

I will be moving to Spain from the States as well and would love to hear from American's currently living there. This would be very helpful information.

forrest · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2004, 05:32:29 PM »

I have a funny story about that. I lived in Spain for two years from 1995-1997. One of the towns I lived in, Ceuta, is where most of the Spanish military train. Me and another American were stopped by one of the \"trainees\" who was on patrol, and asked for our passports/residency card. We didn't have either on us. He said he'd have to take us back to his captain. Anyway, we followed this guy, and he took us to the captain of his group. He told the captain about us not carrying our documentation, and the captain replies, \"So what! This is Spain! You guys want a Coca-Cola?\" I wouldn't worry too much about deportation. In reality, the Spanish are pretty laid back when it comes to that....

whitney davies · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2004, 03:17:29 PM »

Hi Carolyn , Dina,

I´m American and I´ve been in Madrid since Feb of 2003. I work between 20-25 hours/week teaching English and I´ve never heard of any American being deported. Having been in Madrid for more than a year, I have met a lot of non EU teachers (Americans included of course!) and I still have to hear a story of deportation.

The question of deportation is a question we are asked all the time and all I can say is that what you hear back home is different from what really happens in Spain. You will find that a lot of Americans have the same opinion as I have.

Basically if you don´t break the law, the immigration people are not going to arrest you just because you look or sound foreign.

Good luck!

whitney

Carolyn · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2004, 04:40:53 AM »

So, Whitney, there is really no trouble???

I guess that I maybe let my imagination run away with me, but sometimes I feel like it is a real possibility: deportation.

So, I guess the trick is to not go looking for trouble and then you won't find it?

Carolyn

whitney davies · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2004, 01:05:30 PM »

I guess you can put it that way.

¡Hasta luego!

whitney

tjamesjeff · « **Reply #6 on:** August 05, 2004, 08:24:01 PM »

WHEN THINGS GET MORE COMPLICATED

:huh: I am moving just north of Valencia next month for a MA program and in the process of getting my student visa. However - it gets complicated when my boyfriend will be joining me in December. He is Honduran and I can not bring him to the states with me, so we have compromised on Spain. He will be arriving as a tourist, but will be illegal after 90 days. I was wondering how difficult it is for non-US immigrants to live illegally. He speaks Spanish and English and is Spanish-looking so I am hoping he will be able to fit in. Does anyone have any experience with this

RebeccaG · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2004, 11:20:40 AM »

Quote

He speaks Spanish and English and is Spanish-looking so I am hoping he will be able to fit in.

This is a really subjective statement. You say he is \"Spanish looking\"... by whose standards? Many South Americans and most Central Americans are not \"Spanish looking\" by European Spanish standards. I am referring to the ones who have native indian blood in their family heritage. A former boyfriend of mine, (many moons ago! :lol: ) was Ecuadorian and he looked nothing (racially) like what the \"typical\" Spaniard looks like.

Which begs another point... what does the \"typical\" Spaniard look like? They come in all \"colors\" meaning from fair-skinned to deep olive toned (especially in the south).. from blond and blue-eyed to dark and mysterious (like Antonio Banderas).

\"Fitting in\" means different things to different people. Although he speaks Spanish, he will \"stand out\" as he speaks it with a different accent. That, in and of itself is not a problem and, in fact, there are many latin Americans living here in Spain both legally and illegally. He may want to see if there is an ex-pat honduran community where you will be living. It will help make the transition and isolation a bit easier until he finds his feet so to speak.

Where in Valencia are you moving to? Maybe I can do some digging around for you.

tjamesjeff · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2004, 08:18:20 PM »

Thanks Admin.!
It was right of you to call out my generalized statement of \"Spanish-looking\". I suppose I should have said that he is not dark-skinned or have strong Native American features, which our US Border Patrol obviously would target - I just am not sure of how the current situation in Spain is with increasing immigration from Africa and Eastern Europe and increasing hostility towards immigrants.

We will be living in Castellon de la Plana where I will be studying at the University. He does have Honduran friends, who are now residents living in Madrid, but I would be interested to hear of any community in and around Valencia.

RebeccaG · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2004, 10:15:22 PM »

Hi tjamesjeff --

I did a superficial google search and didn´t come up with anything regarding a Hondurian community in Castellón. I did, find this website about Castellón.While it didn´t seem directly helpful, you might be able to contact the city hall to see if they can point you in the right direction.

Let us know if we can help you out in any other way!

mballorre · « **Reply #10 on:** September 02, 2004, 07:58:39 PM »

One more question about being illegally in Spain, how does it work if you want to leave the country? If I leave the EU for a few days, and come back and get my passport re-stamped, do I get another 3 months?

Mikahl · « **Reply #11 on:** November 08, 2004, 09:40:38 PM »

I needed to edit this...it was rather corse. People of european decent are not subjugated by the politic in spain. If your were morrocan then you would have a problem. But I've also seen a morrocan selling a newspaper to a motorcycle cop...I'm betting he was not a naturalized citizen.

Mikahl · « **Reply #12 on:** November 08, 2004, 09:57:35 PM »

oh yeah...corse is spelled coarse. I'm going to teach english. Feel sorry for my students! haha

cadykat · « **Reply #13 on:** November 15, 2004, 03:33:39 PM »

I´m also getting very nervous of this, with the new laws that are passing zapetero is getting stricter on illegal immigrants.. and I have run into my own problems. First of all I have moved 2 times now due to the fact of problems with roomates and that they can hold over my head, do anything wrong and I will turn you in.... right now Im living with really nice people but the man whom Im renting from has given me till the first of the year to regulate my papales problem. If anything were to go wrong in his home he would be the one responsible, this I understand. He has been talkin to his lawyer to help me out and he pretty much told my landlord that if I were to get caught in the street they will put me directly into jail, then send me home on the next plane, without time to get my things... NOW i have a sneaking feeling this is more of a threat to morracans and other south americans but the truth is, its always a possibility and one has to ask oneself- are you ready to live knowing this... I am and its not easy. I even have it all made- boss who wants to get me my papers and an EU boyfriend who at absolutley last resort i could possibly marry him.. now im not trying to warn anybody off and i so far (knock on wood) have had no problems but the idea of one, scares the hell out of me!!!! hopeing to figure out something with my job and the new law for immigrants to grant me papers, I just hear it was very difficult before, wondering if things have really changed!!! anybody have any advice I would love some on what to do with the new law!!!!! good luck all
katy

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Author Topic: deportation (Read 4971 times)