Do we really need to prove they are related?

My wife and I are trying to travel to Spain this summer. I am a US citizen but my wife is a Peruvian citizen here on a Green Card.

While trying to get her a Schengen visa, we came across this requirement: "A Local Police invitation from a family member or friend who resides in Spain or a detailed hotel reservation with the complete address."

OK, so her cousin, where we intend to stay, went to the police station and they gave her a hard time. They said that she has to PROVE that we are related? How do we do that? Get all of our parents birth certificates? So what? That just proves that they had their grandparents had the same name.

And why do we have to prove relation anyway? Couldn't we just stay with friends? Would we have to prove that we are friends or is there a higher bar for family? Or could our cousin simply charge us $1/day and say that we are renters?

I'm I misunderstanding something, or is the policeman in Madrid confused?

GPapenburg

I think the police officer in Spain did not really catch what your cousin wanted. A resident of Spain may invite relatives and friends to stay at her house, provide she has the financial means to invite guests and can provide proof of sufficient space available to accomodate guests.

This official invitation form is called "Carta de Invitacion". Maybe the police offer has misunderstood and was under the impression that your wife wanted to apply for a long term residence permit in Spain for a family unification which has other requirements.

Schengen embassies usually only ask for an invitation if the visa applicants cannot provide fully proof of financial means to cover their stay ($700 for up to 9 days; $70 per additional day of stay).

I would advice that your wife's cousin goes to the Police station again and clearly states what she needs.
The following information of your wife must be provided for the invitation:
name, surname, place and date of birth, nationality, passport number, US adress, relationsship with applicant, accompanied by (your name), invitation term (from - to). Maybe she got a hard time since she did not have all that data.

If your cousin however should be unemployed or lives in a small appartment she probably will not be able to get that invitation. In this case it would be better if she get's a reservation statement of a local hotel which may be subject to a later cancellation without a fee. It should not be a problem for her to get something like that bargained.

To rent a room for $1 would not be a good idea since she would need governmental approval to do renting business.

Source(s):
http://www.nyidanmark.dk/NR/rdonlyres/8F3A05CA-3215-42CF-96F7-0D12E0A29674/0/16260_samlet.pdf (see page 143)
http://www.consulate-spain-chicago.com/

Sidwell

if they want you to prove then you need to prove.

your wifes BC, the cousins BC, both lots of parents BC and wedding certs as well.

if they have the same grandparents then they are cousins.

1avocat

It is simply the occasionally typical behavior of "badge happy" officials and it would seem that you should simply make a reservation at a hotel and omit the police from this equation.

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