28 September 2025

Visa and Travel plans

Up until a few weeks ago, I had been planning to return to the US in January to file for the new visa application. I have always known that if I change my visa to a Nonlucrative Visa (NLV/ retiree visa) after my student visa expires, that the time I’ve spent as a student would not apply towards gaining permanent residency (a process that takes 5 years). Now, I have learned that if I file for my NLV at the Spanish consulate in LA, before my current visa expires on January 2, that I will be able to preserve half of my time spent in Spain towards my permanent residency (that’s a year, towards that 5 year requirement)…which is why I’m rushing to get a trip back to the US.

The problem is, before I learned about this chance to shave a year off my residency requirement, I overscheduled myself, trying to get some travel done before going to the US. In addition to Portugal (Oct 17 – Nov 2), Vicente and I have booked a long weekend on Gran Canaria, the weekend of December 5-8.  Committing to getting to LA and back to Spain between November 3 and December 5, seems tight.  And the weeks after December 8, doesn’t give the time before the student visa expires Jan 2. Frankly, I had told Vicente that I may have to lose our airfare for Gran Canaria, in favor of saving a year towards the residency.  And, if that is necessary, he said he is fully supportive.

But!  

Today, Vicente asked if I have to complete the visa application process or just start it before January 2.  I don’t know the answer. I want to confirm with my attorney…but I may be able to go to the US after December 8, file the application and wait a month, until mid January to return to Spain. All that to say, I’m figuring all of this out. And I’ll let you know as soon as I can when I’ll be traveling to the US.

Apartment updates:

I still don’t have cold water in my kitchen. My landlady says she’s trying to get a plumber scheduled. I’m still waiting.

Meanwhile, I looked at a few more apartments this week. I haven’t found the right one, yet.

Weekend activities:

In Friday night, Vicente and I decided to make sushi together for the first time.

We bought some fresh salmon and all we needed in order to try out his new sushi roller. It took a few tries, but we got it figured out and decided we were pleased with the results.

On Saturday, we went to the market, before going to the beach. It was a lovely day and a lot fewer people than the summer.

On Sunday, we went to his swim club, adjacent to the port. Again, it was quiet, relaxing and beautiful.

As I write this, heavy thunderstorms have arrived, which is typical for the Fall in Valencia. The forecast is so extreme that they’ve moved my Spanish classes to online for tomorrow. We need the rain. Hopefully, we won’t have anything like the terribly floods of last October.

Here’s wishing you a great week.