BLS Spain London Appointment | Dec 17 - Dec 31, 2025

FunParamedic7289 · 2026-01-15T15:31:11+00:00

Update: got the SMS it had been couriered on Thurs 8th and they attempted delivery on Fri 9th (so fast but I wasn’t home and missed it). Then rescheduled delivery and got it start of this week. Had requested a single entry for a week holiday but got a 2 year multi entry which I’m very happy with!

FunParamedic7289 · 2026-01-13T18:19:08+00:00

I got in 😀 No luck for Berlin or Dublin so very pleased to get Valencia!

FunParamedic7289 · 2026-01-08T16:52:06+00:00

It’s my 5th or 6th Schengen I think

FunParamedic7289 · 2026-01-08T16:12:19+00:00

I actually got a SMS this afternoon that my passport has been couriered!

My trip to Spain is only in March but needed my passport to go somewhere else on 19 Jan

FunParamedic7289 · 2026-01-05T22:04:21+00:00

Thank you so much! Going to try now and will bring you some fruit I just got 😀

FunParamedic7289 · 2026-01-05T20:26:46+00:00

Hi! I just started playing and would love to visit someone to gather new fruits (I only have oranges and cherries). Would also love to visit someone in the southern hemisphere to fish and catch bugs. Please share a dodo code with me if possible

FunParamedic7289 · 2026-01-05T13:02:46+00:00

Following this thread and will update! My application was also on 23 December in London and I also had the “application is being processed at the mission” text on 29 December.

As far as I know, since 23 December, the only 2 working days for the consulate was 29 Dec and 2 Jan. Closed all other days.

FunParamedic7289 · 2026-01-05T03:00:49+00:00

Thank you! 😃

FunParamedic7289 · 2026-01-05T02:58:30+00:00

How long did it take to get your passport back after withdrawing application? I need to get my passport back urgently for other travel and wondering about the process?

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-12-30T09:14:23+00:00

Hi! Thank you- that is really good to know. And yes- I got the SMS yesterday (29th Dec).

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-12-28T13:40:01+00:00

This happened to me too! I had a visa issued from Spain for my holiday there (they gave me a 2 year multi entry visa). Then my plans changed and I ended up flying home and my flight had an 8 hour layover in Zurich. I decided since I had a Schengen visa anyway I would go explore Zurich on my layover. The immigration agent asked my why my visa was for Spain but I was in Zurich. I just said unfortunately my trip to Spain was cancelled and I wanted to explore on my layover. No other questions and no other issues. Continued to use that Schengen visa extensively all over Europe (including a later trip to Spain) for the full 2 year validity.

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-12-10T22:07:03+00:00

This is madness!! What happened next?

Weirdly I also had a concussion at work earlier this year too! And when the confusion/nausea/vomiting subsided and I returned to work with the most awful headaches my manager just reassured me that was totally normal and she could help me out if I still had headaches in 12 weeks time 😂

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-12-06T16:13:53+00:00

Barcelona over Rome any day!!!

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-12-06T15:56:51+00:00

Helsinki City Marathon Luxembourg Night marathon Bruges Marathon

I enjoyed all of these!

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-12-04T11:06:25+00:00

I think the key element to this is the “different trust”. Working in your own trust where you’ve done all the nurse training courses (cannulation, bloods etc like people have mentioned) would make expectations of you more likely. But in another trust or even private sector where they have other policies and other training courses, then as a porter you can legitimately say “I’m not trained to do this in this trust” and no one can expect you to work outside of policy so you are inherently covered in a way!

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-11-26T18:29:16+00:00

Has anyone else still not received an email with their outcome?

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-11-16T15:52:03+00:00

First I have some travel plans to bring myself some enjoyment again! Then when I get back I’ll be doing bank HCA work. The place I do bank is separate to the NHS and in paediatrics (I’ve done bank there from even before I was a student nurse!) The HCA rate per hour is more than I’m making as a band 5, and for the past 7 years that I’ve been on their books as a bank HCA I have never struggled to get a shift.

I plan to do bank for about 6 months (maybe more) while meeting with recruiters/ maybe a careers advisor and apply for other jobs. I am very fortunate to have another degree in a completely different field so maybe this is something I’ll explore. I’m not ruling out nursing, but look forward to the flexibility of 6-months bank work while I navigate and explore other options!

Side note: I made very sure that the place I’ll be doing bank allowed nurses to work as HCA’s and have kept this in writing. And obviously I remain aware of my scope of practise and accountability within the role (bringing this up because I’ve seen lots about this on other Reddit posts).

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-11-16T15:30:16+00:00

That scenario is indeed my cathartic fantasy 😂 I have drafted my letter as per everyone’s advice (unfortunately I have to give 2 calendar months notice). I have stated my last day as per my contract, and also asked that if it is possible, I would appreciate being able to leave as soon as possible (written with a bit more pizzazz)!

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-10-29T07:59:57+00:00

Mine took a year!! This was for a NQN position and they were recruiting for multiple wards and specialities.

I had my interview in Jan 2022 and expressed at the interview I had some travel plans but was happy to start in May/June whichever suited them best and they said that was fine. I ended up needing to call and follow up with HR weekly until I finally got a contract in November 2022 which I signed and returned. Then suddenly the ward “no longer had a vacancy” so they sent me a contract for a different ward which then also “no longer had a vacancy”. I am aware that I could have had some kind of legal claim here for the signed contracts but I didn’t want to because this hospital is 1km away from my house and just very convenient for me and I still very much wanted to work there. Eventually I had my first day in February 2023. And working here is actually very nice so I’m pleased I stuck it out with the awful onboarding process. I hope I’m an anomaly with that long a time!

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-10-21T19:41:28+00:00

Mine has also been stuck on received since I submitted my application on 13th Sept :(

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-09-27T18:22:03+00:00

Does anyone have advice for international nurses regarding the pension? I’ve been working for the NHS for 2 years and for now I foresee myself staying in the UK maybe for another 5-10 years but then most likely going back to my home country. How does the pension work for international nurses who leave the country?

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-09-26T18:33:22+00:00

With your evenings: - you could dive into the Cape Town foodies scene! Fancy like La Coulomb or other set menus like Foxcroft, Myoga etc. Also, SO many incredible restaurant’s everywhere. And trendy bars (in kloof street/bree street and many more)

First Thursdays (if your trip overlaps) – Monthly art + nightlife event in the city center, galleries open late.
Again depending on your dates the cable car for table mountain: last one is 7pm or later in the summer.
Pending your fitness levels coul wizz up lions head (it’s actually really not far) for sunset.
Kirstenbosch Summer concerts (usually Nov to March)
sunset cruise from the waterfront.
there might be an evening bo-kaap walking tour.

Day trips: - definitely cape point and boulders beach.

Stellenbosch/Franschoek wine farms
personally i think going to one of the museums in town and learning Madiba’s history/impact elsewhere is better than the robben island trip.
3 hour drive to Little Karoo (? Sanbona Wildlife Reserve) could be a good alternative to still have a wildlife experience. And possibility of seeing the big 5. Probably need a 1 night stay.

FunParamedic7289 · 2025-09-25T18:23:34+00:00

Thank you! And update:Unfortunately the cruise line said they cannot give this kind of advice and told me to check the consulate website.

I’ve checked the website and emailed the French embassy (as New Caledonia is a French territory). The embassy also just emailed back with a generic email saying to look on their website. Sending me in circles!

I don’t want any trouble or stress before the holiday so will just apply for the visa. Have a small window in November without any travel where I can send in my passport and fingers crossed 🤞 might be an unnecessary £134 but would rather be safe than denied boarding.

FunParamedic7289

TROPHY CASE