For any future Spain Study Abroad Students

Here is my list of things you need to know as you begin the process. This is going to be an ongoing post that I keep updating as I find things out.

FIRST OFF: Go here. http://studentsabroad.state.gov/

You can register yourself with the US government so that if there is an emergency they can help. And there is information on visas, documents, what to do in case of an emergency, etc. It also has info on: Smart Traveling, Voting while you are abroad, travel insurance, and finding your nearest embassy.

Visa Info: For students staying over 180 days, here is the info explaining the process of your visa and residency card. Here is the website for more info- http://www.spainexpat.com/spain/information/student_visas_for_spain/#morethan

and here is what is important for you to know so you don't have a panic attack:

student visas in spain for more than 180 days

In order to apply for a student visa that lasts more than 180 days, you will need to complete the procedures for a student visa per the section above (Student Visas for Up to 180 Days). In addition, you will need to prove that you have no criminal record in the form of a Certificate of Absence of Police Records (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales) and prove that you are in good physical and mental health by submitting a letter from your doctor attesting to that effect.

You are initially given a student visa for only three months. But don’t panic. This is just part of the process. Therefore, within one month of your arrival in Spain you will need to go to a Foreigners’ Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) or an office of the National Police (Policía Nacional) closest to where you live in Spain and apply for a student card for your Autorización de Estancia por Estudios. The student card will replace the student visa that you were issued in your home country. The card is generally valid for one year, but it can be renewed every year as long as you continue to fulfill the requirements.

To apply for the student card, you will need to bring to the Foreigners’ Office or office of the National Police:

• An EX-15 form that you have filled out. (Download the EX-15 form here.)
• Your passport.
• Three recent passport-sized photographs in color.
• Your student visa.
• Proof that you have been accepted into a program of study in Spain.
• Proof that you have sufficient financial resources during your program of study in Spain.
• A receipt that you have paid the student card fee.

One month later you must return to be fingerprinted, and another month later you will be able to pick up your student card.

Free TV for those of you addicts who can't survive without your shows, be warned that Hulu, ABC, CBS and the NFL are impossible to watch on their actual sights so here are some places to get you by:

tv-dome.net (this one is the best, rumor has it.)

fastpasstv.com, Project Free TV, and ch131.com will all get you by.

There are more so I'll figure that out soon.

For radio, if you google country radio or whatever type you want, you should be able to find something. Site like Pandora do not work here yet.

Ya'll love me because of this: Grooveshark.com.

gettt it.

Even if you aren't in Spain yet. You'll love me forever I promise

Starbucks: get it when you can aka in Madrid.

Cell phones: You can get a cheap phone here from Vodafone, Orange, Moviestar, etc and you load up minutes at Tabacco shops. If your program offers Realcom I recommend using that because it gets billed to you (or your parents hint hint) each month and as far as I can tell, I have used 20 euro a month on my cell phone and I don't have to keep going to fill up minutes.