SPAIN: Homologación. How Is It Done?
It has been a while since my last post…
…so much for trying to be consistent.
Since I returned to the U.S. I have been working on gathering everything necessary to apply as a full-time student to the University of Deusto. Trying to get all of the needed paperwork completed has been super frustrating, not because the process is difficult, but rather the details about what needs to be done are annoyingly evasive. I tried for weeks to find information online about the process called homologación, which in this case is essentially having diplomas and other educational records validated and accepted into another schooling system.
Now that I have my hands on the applications I can easily fill out the three partial pages and send everything in to be processed, but the difficult thing was finding these forms, and instructions on what to do with them. I live in Georgia so throughout this process I have to work with the Spanish Consulate, and Office of Education in Miami. I imagine the process is the same regardless of which region you live in.
After quite a few weeks of frustration searching for this information online, and no luck finding results in Spanish or English regarding the exact process, I decided to call the Spanish Consulate in Miami. Once I was on the phone with the operator, I quickly explained my situation, what I was looking for, and asked if he could help. He gave me the number to the Office of Education, which is also in Miami, and wished me a good afternoon.
I called the Office of Education and once again explained my situation, and what information I was trying to find, and the woman quickly asked for my email address and explained that she would send me a link with all of the information I needed. After getting off the phone I waited a few seconds and the email appeared in my inbox. When I clicked on the link I smiled as it opened a page I had never seen before. A page which finally had instructions, links to applications, and everything I had been looking for for the past 2 months!
So I decided as I go through this process, as long and unexciting as it may be, I will be documenting it, so anyone else in the same situation has things a bit easier.
-One thing that has been confirmed by all of my calls to this consulate, as well as stories from friends, is that no one will answer the phone if the English line is dialed, and the operator will only speak in Spanish.
-The link they gave me was: http://www.educacion.es/exterior/usa/es/homconv/eeuu.shtml
-The link to the list of certified translators is broken but I have emailed asking for a copy of the list, which I will post or make available once I receive it.
If you have any questions, leave a comment and make sure to include your email address so I can respond.
-Woz
