URGENT!
It has been reported that people are receiving email communications with the photo of the Ambassador of Spain in the U.S., with the letterhead and address of the Embassy. We would like to confirm that these messages are completely false and the Embassy of Spain does not contact with individuals or companies regarding prizes and sweepstakes issues. Please refrain from answering and please report these incidents to the Embassy (Department of Interior) as soon as possible.
Attention: Lottery Scam
In this Department, we have noticed many cases of fraud using the method known as "Nigerian letters".
The Nigerian scam, also known as scam 419 (the article number of Nigeria’s penal code that it violates) is a fraud in which the scammer gets the victim's money as an upfront payment or security deposit in exchange for a supposed millionaire sum of money that has been promised. This scam is particularly prevalent today through unsolicited email.
For more info please click.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DRIVING PERMIT:
SPAIN HAS NO AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. OR ANY MEMBER STATE ON THE VALIDITY OF THE SPANISH DRIVING LICENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.
1) The Spanish consulates in the U.S. have the capacity to renew Spaniards driver's licenses for Spanish residents in the US.
2) Spaniards US Residents must obtain a driving license (Driver's License) in the State where they are residing. Attached it is a WEB link of each State regarding drivers licenses.
Alabama; Alaska; Arizona;Arkansas; Bahamas; California;Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware;DistrictofColumbia; Florida;Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois;Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky;Louisiana; Maine; Maryland;Massachusetts; Michigan;Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri;Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina;North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma;Oregon; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico;Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Utah;Vermont; Virginia; Washington;Washington,_D.C.; West Virginia;Wisconsin; Wyoming.
3) Spanish tourists or business travelers in the USA must obtain an INTERNATIONAL DRIVERS LICENSE, which is valid for one year and is recognized by the U.S.
URGENT AND VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE: Starting from January 12, 2009, all passengers traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program are obligated to obtain an authorization of approved travel before traveling to the United States by air or by sea. Even minors, who did not pay for a ticket, are obligated to obtain the waiver, if they do not have a visa to travel to the United States. A third party can apply for an authorization of approved travel in the name of a traveler under the Visas’ Exemption Program.
The application should be presented electronically at any time before the trip and, once approved, will be valid for a period of two years or until the applying passport expires if it is before this period. The authorizations should also be valid for multiple entries into the United States. To facilitate the process of authorization, The National Security Department of the United States recommends presenting the application as soon as the applicant starts planning the trip to the United States and no less than 72 hours before traveling.
For detailed information about the application of authorization, validity and effects, as well as how to complete the application form, travelers should check the web page of the Embassy of the United States in Spain (http://madrid.usembassy.gov/index.html), for a link to ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
If you have any questions, call the United States Consulates in Madrid and Barcelona.
Due to the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, there has been a considerable increase in the security measures of airports, similar to the measures that have already been put in place in the transportation terminals, resulting in further delays and the need for the traveler to arrive at the airport with a greater time in advance.