Barriej

Not for a few months at least. We are waiting for the fingerprint (second phase) of our first time application.

The solicitor who is dealing with us has been turning already resident people away as she has over 100 first timers like us and all the appointments at Alicante are gone within 5 minutes of them being put up. She got 2 (yep 2) appointments the other day.

We've been waiting just under 3 months for the appointment now.

Im not that bothered but would like it all sorted.
Although a friend of ours and his wife (who have not travelled outside of Spain for the last 8 years) went to get his green card changed, when I asked why he said that he was told by his Gestor that the TIE was now the ONLY form of ID for a British resident here now and if he were stopped it would cause issues if he didn't have it.

Im making no other comment here but Ive heard the same story a few times.

Joppa

At Malaga, it took me 4 months to get TIE (first-time applicant). First application online mid-September, fingerprinting early November, TIE collected late January (though was available early January).

The official position is green A4 paper/credit card-sized cardboard is still valid and there is no need to change. But as we know, some passengers with green certificate were refused boarding a flight to Spain or turned away at the border and flown back. It seems not every official, airline staff or border agent is aware of the rule and insists on TIE from 1st January. Some gestors/lawyers are advising Brits to exchange for TIE to avoid any hassle or confusion, even discounting the fact that the service they provide in helping to exchange will earn them fees.

bobd22

The green residencia card does not mention anything about rights to work. However as it was an EU certificate it didn't need to as being EU citizen provided that right. The TIE specifically mentions right to reside and work. So I can see how that leaves the situation with the green residencia open to interpretation by Spanish officials. There is too much confusion to be honest so I have an appointment made to change my green card to TIE. Little point in being legally correct trying to convince a Spanish official of that when for 12 Euros I can change to the TIE.

Rita1

Yes, the issue is that the delay in the padron means, for the moment, no right to work, whatever the rules are.
Any queries to extranjería get the same response, ie that changing to TIE can be done at any time and isn't obligatory. Any queries anywhere else either don't get answers or get directed to Extranjería.

At the moment there appear to be 3 options
patience (and hope that an eventual application for the TIE isn't prejudiced by a 2021 date on the padron
move to another town where the padron is dealt with more efficiently
move to another country and start again but at least with the right to work. Clearly that's not a favoured option for someone who has spent so long in Spain.

DLC

If you're exchanging the green certificate for a TIE you apply using form ex-23 and you don't need the padrón for form ex-23 unless your address on the green certificate is not the same as your current address.

If the worst comes to the worst, get an appointment at Extranjería instead of the local cop shop and come armed with a print-out of the requirements where it specifically states that they're not necessary if you haven't moved house.

Rita1

He has moved house, the green card thing dates from quite some years back now.

dougal03

I returned permanently to UK late January & I had my passport stamped by Border Control on arrival.We came to Spain in the early 1980´s & that is the only time that was done previously.And never after Spain joined the EU.

Chipmonk

So all UK nationals get their passport stamped when entering UK? Surely that cant be the case?

Fred James

I had assumed it would be stamped on exit from the Schengen area.

DLC

Assmuming you're carrying a British or Irish passport, why would they do that?

Joppa

Not if they had shown residence certificate (green) or new TIE.

Chipmonk

But it reads as if to say it was stamped on arrival of UK. No?

DLC

Even if it were stamped on exit from Schengen (which is not necessary with a green certificate or a TIE), it would be Spain's job, not the UK's.

Joppa

It reads like that but there is no way UK border agency will stamp British passports.

bobd22

Why are the UK stamping UK citizens passports when returning to the UK. The UK is and never was part of Schengen, so schengen rules surely are irrelevant as far as ukk border control applies re British Citizens.