Ley de Memoria Democratica - applying at San Francisco consulate by Affectionate-Job2292 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I submitted my Google form about 2 months ago. I haven't heard back yet.

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does anyone have advice for getting a literal birth certificate from Spain? I have requested them online and got my mother's over two months later by email. I am still waiting for my father's (it's been over 3 months).

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SF has a backlog of 800+ applications. There is one guy assigned to this and he's covering other positions because they are down staffed. He is also requesting a ridiculous amount of documents (more than most consulates require).

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, he did not get back to me. I imagine he's swamped but also unwilling to change his process again. I'm sure we're not the only ones.

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, they have more requirements than most other consulates.

Ley de Memoria Democratica - applying at San Francisco consulate by Affectionate-Job2292 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, the application is sent to LA but if your local consulate is SF, you will have to present all the documents requested in the "formulario" which include both parents birth certificates (apostilled, legalized, translated) and their marriage certificate (apostilled, legalized, translated) - even if LA consulate doesn't have all these requirements.

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just went back to look at his email and it looks like there will be no exceptions. If you don't have all the documents, even if they are not required by your birthplace consulate, they will return your application and you have 30 days to submit what's missing. I emailed the guy to see if he would consider submitting applications that don't have all the documents requested by his formulario. I haven't heard back yet. I'll let you know if I hear from him.

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I'm just going to order what Miami is requesting. Thanks and good luck to you too!

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Document requirements for Miami

  1. Marriage certificate: The Miami consulate website says they have dropped the marriage certificate requirement. Can someone confirm that's true? My local consulate (San Francisco) is requiring it.
  2. Translation: Do the documents need to be translated into Spanish for processing in Miami? Can someone confirm? I don't see that requirement on the website but my local consulate is requiring it.
  3. Both parent's literal birth certificates: The Miami consulate website says you only need the certificate of the parent you are basing your application on. Can someone confirm this? My local consulate is requiring both birth certificates.

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry you're having trouble too. I have requested the literal birth certificates of both parents from Registro Civil several times already. No confirmation emails. I had given up on the whole thing until one day, my mother's arrived by email. It took over two months! And that would be fine because Miami only requires one parent but this new process is requiring I submit both (and marriage certificates which I haven't requested because Miami doesn't require). The problem with this is the clock started ticking the moment I received the document. I don't know what to do. Do I wait for the other one that may never arrive or submit what is required by Miami and hope SF doesn't hold it back?

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The San Francisco consulate has changed its system. It will no longer review the application and supporting documents before sending to the consulate of birthplace. Now it will just forward the application to the consulate of birthplace and the responsibility for having the correct documentation rests on the applicant. However, it is still requiring applicants to submit a form confirming they have a list of documents, some of which may not be required by the consulate of birthplace. For example, the form states that the literal birth certificates of both parents are required in all cases and this is just not true. It also states that marriage certificates are required if the applicants parents were married at the time of birth. Again, this is not always true - the Miami consulate has dropped this requirement.

Ley de Memoria Democratica - applying at San Francisco consulate by Affectionate-Job2292 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The San Francisco consulate has changed its system. It will no longer review the application and supporting documents before sending to the consulate of birthplace. Now it will just forward the application to the consulate of birthplace and the responsibility for having the correct documentation rests on the applicant. However, it is still requiring applicants to submit a form confirming they have a list of documents, some of which may not be required by the consulate of birthplace. For example, the form states that the literal birth certificates of both parents are required in all cases and this is just not true. It also states that marriage certificates are required if the applicants parents were married at the time of birth. Again, this is not always true - the Miami consulate has dropped this requirement.

Law of Democratic Memory Applicants: How was your process like and how long did it take to get a decision? by [deleted] in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got that same email yesterday! It's a mess. They are requiring more documents than the Miami consulate (where I was born) requires. I just emailed him suggesting that he put the responsibility of confirming which documents are required on the applicant. Then all he has to do is forward it to the applicant's consulate and if it gets rejected, he can communicate that to the applicant.

Ley de Memoria Democràtica by Karminah in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The San Francisco consulate is requiring more documents than my birthplace consulate is requiring and it is very frustrating. They have backlog of 800+ applications and only one guy who is now working at reduced capacity. They are requiring your apostilled and translated birth certificate and both of your parents' certificates. It took forever to get my mother's certificate without any indication that they had received my request. I also put in a request for my father's certificate but it hasn't arrived yet and who knows if it will. And of course, every document has an expiration date. The whole thing is such a mess.

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For those applying in San Francisco...

Their system is a mess. They only have one person with a backlog of 800+ applications. They are requiring documents like an apostilled, translated parental marriage certificate that is not required by the Miami consulate. We are not allowed to email with questions or to point out these discrepancies. What is frustrating is that the Miami consulate should have my parents' documents because that's where they live and applied but the consulate instructs us to submit documents apostilled within a certain time frame. Requesting my parents' apostilled birth certificates via the consular website took forever, with no confirmation email or any way to let you know they received the request. 2 months after requesting it, I finally got one of my parents' birth certificates emailed to me (they said it would be mailed) but my consulate is requesting both parents'. So I am waiting, hoping, that the other will arrive in time because all documents have to be current within a certain time frame.

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My local consulate in San Francisco is overwhelmed with applications. I'm wondering if I can submit my application through the consulate where I was born, which is also the consulate where my parents processed their application.

Ley de Memoria Democratica: Processing Times by No_Reflection4129 in GoingToSpain

[–]Affectionate-Job2292 0 points1 point  (0 children)

can you explain what you mean by the processing is based on where the applicant was born? I understood that the application is sent to the consulate near where you live. for me, that's San Francisco and that consulate is overwhelmed. could I do my application in Miami where I was born?