Originally Posted by brisca (Post 5923853)

Our local police station doesn't deal with Residency issues either, and we have to go to the Office for Foreigners in the capital of our region.

Originally Posted by Fred James (Post 5923959)

The local police work for the town hall and have nothing to do with residency issues.

For residency issues you have to go to the office of the Policia Nacional and they will normally have a Foreigners Department. They will only be found in larger towns.

Originally Posted by lcortez (Post 5922236)

I didnt ask about the difference in freedom of movement,Iasked about the relevance of race to the discussion.
Let me explain why this has struck a cord with me,whilst I am of pure Spanish heritage (or as pure as it gets:))of olive complexion,I have been the subject of racist abuse on my own country by English immigrants,I have been told to go back to my own country,I've had the same immigrants say to me "the last thing we need in this country is more of your lot",whilst checking onto a train at Alicante to visit relatives in Madrid I've had English immigrants say "they should check his bags properly,you know what their like"
The last thing we need in this country are foreign xenophobes bringing their prejudices with them,and stirring up problems. I do however accept that not all Brits are racist,they are also no the only ones to hold these views either.I also accept that we have racists of our own in this country.
This is the reason I questioned the OP,having read his reply,I am satsfied he does not fall into this category,and I welcome him to Spain.:)

Originally Posted by The Oddities (Post 5924166)

Makes me ashamed to call myself British when I read of this type of behaviour. Unfortunately there are racist people in all nationalities but there is no need for the ignorant comments that you have heard.

Rosemary

Originally Posted by brisca (Post 5923853)

Our local police station doesn't deal with Residency issues either, and we have to go to the Office for Foreigners in the capital of our region.

I recently read in the newspaper, that as from today, they are going to adopt an appointment system.....................which will hopefully help everyone with all the waiting times (which are an inevitable part of doing pretty much anything that involves paper and rubber stamps here) ;)

It may be that your local office might have also adopted this system??
You could do a Google search for the telephone number of your local office and ask them; or get a Spanish friend to do this for you if you're not too confident about using the phone (it takes time!)

Originally Posted by John & Kath (Post 5929111)

There are ways through the system as you see Gestors get to the front and get admitted very quickly and once inside know just which desk to approach and what to do. Maybe the moral is to use a Gestor.

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy (Post 5929119)

You have to apply for the residency certificate in person :(

Originally Posted by John & Kath (Post 5929151)

He might accompany you since he will know everybody in the office and the security guard on the front door and will speak the official "Spanish"

Originally Posted by John & Kath (Post 5929111)

Huelva Province have exactly the same system and have had for some time now. When we got our NIE in 2004 we had to go to the Provincial Capital Huelva and wait in line with everyone else. At that time it was just outside the dock gates and it seemed very Ellis Island like.

There are ways through the system as you see Gestors get to the front and get admitted very quickly and once inside know just which desk to approach and what to do. Maybe the moral is to use a Gestor.

Originally Posted by bonon (Post 5930467)

You may be aware that they have now moved to a back street office next to the car park in Huelva. We did go to the front of the queue to ask the guard if we could make an appointment, he told us to join the queue so it would appear you can queue for days just to make an appointment, then queue for days, as the appointments run late.
Ps- Are there any other people in the Huelva area trying at the moment to get Residency.

Bonon

Originally Posted by John & Kath (Post 5929111)

Huelva Province have exactly the same system and have had for some time now. When we got our NIE in 2004 we had to go to the Provincial Capital Huelva and wait in line with everyone else. At that time it was just outside the dock gates and it seemed very Ellis Island like.

There are ways through the system as you see Gestors get to the front and get admitted very quickly and once inside know just which desk to approach and what to do. Maybe the moral is to use a Gestor.

Originally Posted by lcortez (Post 5922299)

Sound like you'll need one by the time you get out of that qeue:D
Will look around and see if theres not anywhere you can get sorted out quicker:)
Have sent Karma:D