You know I have time when the paper process wait isn't bothering me in the least.  The luxury of not working and having the time to deal with this.  But goodness, you must have a sense of humor about it. 
I speak Spanish relatively well.  Not to brag, but the average Spaniard tells me I speak it perfectly.   I might give myself a 9 out of 10 – but the point is – this process is darn confusing – even for someone that can speak the language.  I am also relatively internet savvy and like to think of myself as a search expert – at least when it comes to finding things online.   But I tell you – figuring out how to maneuver the Valencian bureaucracy to legalize residence here has been a challenge!

I love this next picture because it actually shares a lot of information that should be on government websites.  A Spaniard passed by me as I was taking this picture and asked his wife - what is so interesting there that she is taking a picture of?  I answered that the entire process and the difficulty in getting a straight answer on where and when to process papers had me amused. 

Here is what I have learned.

Non-European union (i.e. Americans) need to process their paper work on Calle de Maestres – in the old town.  Please don't confuse that tiny street with another street that you may find in the city street directory named Calle de Maestret near the beach.  That street isn't paved and you will just find some stray cats and hanging laundry.   I did however discover a public library on that trip so it wasn't totally futile.  (By the way, you need four photos to get a library card and you can take out a maximum of three books )

 Be sure to read the signs posted outside the Ministry.  I found them to be informative and necessary albeit a bit amusing.  Why was all of this not so clear on the website?

European Union members or Comunitarios as they are called here have all the rights in the world.  Still however, you must line up at Calle Joaquin de Ballester 37, near Nuevo Centro at 8:30 in the morning.  Since I am also a "comunitaria" this is where I needed to process my paperwork.  They open at 9:00 am but I got into the line at exactly that time today and was given number 109.  (They started in the 50s – so that's more or less number 60 in line) 

Luckily, someone in broken Spanish/English of apparent Indian descent asked to switch numbers with me.  From what I understand, they were waiting for a friend to appear.  They had number 80.  I lucked out but hmm – it looks like their friend is here. 

Should I switch back?  Ok – I feel better.  I offered but it was a different friend.  The good karma continues.  Ah. 

Updated to say that as I was about to go in, the friend arrived and they asked for the number back.  I agreed but didn't feel so great about it.  I called my wonderful husband to complain about it and he told me I should rejoice at the fact that I helped someone else.  What a guy he is.  If you know him, you'll agree that he has a great heart.

Back to the paper process…

I was actually here for a good 4.5 hours last Friday.  A long wait without stuff to read or write but it was informative.  I made good use of my time talking with folks and found all of the necessary forms I needed, photocopied them, filled them out and was able to process at least my "NIE" (similar to social security number) and I also met some interesting folks.  I met a couple who had moved here from Holland because although they were both comunitarios (Dutch and Slovak) the Slovak could not work in Holland because of special provisions prohibiting Slovaks, Poles etc from working.  Another couple consisted of a Nigerian man and a Polish woman.  She spoke very little Spanish so the Nigerian was helping here maneuver the system.  It looks like she came for love and might be having a hard time integrating.  She was a Jehovah Witness – as was he – and they had met on a bus somewhere in Europe.  There are lots of Latin Americans in this office as well.  In Spain, they are also granted certain rights, making it easier for them to emigrate.  Today I met a Spanish woman who was helping a Pakistani friend.  The Spaniard's husband was Pakistani and mentioned that it was taking a long time to process his paperwork as well. 

Well, my number 109 was called around 12:30pm and the paperwork I was missing last Friday was processed, or should I say, accepted, quickly.  (I was missing my Enpadronamiento – a document from city hall confirming that I am who I say I am and that I am really living here with a copy of my lease to prove it) 

Now all I have to do is wait to receive something in the mail with further instructions.   Sounds like a message from the CIA :)