Expat iron lady Anne Hernandez MBE in Spain warns against a non-existent visa to remain in Spain.
Expat ‘people’s champion’ Anne Hernandez, who was this year awarded the MBE from Her Majesty The Queen for her services and advice to the 800,000 Brits living mainly on the Costa Blanca & the Costa del Sol, is now warning in regards a visa that some ex-pats feel will assist them in extending their time in Spain.
The subject regards what is known as the non-lucrative visa has brought about a warning from Anne, who told on social media this morning how she read someone say:
“Oh, dear. Just seen this comment posted on another group – ‘we are thinking of applying for a non-lucrative visa to give us more time in Spain, 8 months. Has anybody done it and any recommendations on who to use?”
Anne responded with a warning advising:
I so hope that whoever is recommended to them is a scrupulous professional who will clearly and fully explain the requirements of an NLV!
In the words of ‘Allo Allo’ – ‘listen very carefully, I shall say this only once’ (or in my case I shall say it for the umpteenth time!) – it is not suitable for those of you who just wish to extend your leisure time here! No such visa exists!!!
The warning comes as unscrupulous ‘agents’ operating on the Spanish coasts taking money for so-called advice and claims.
Anne went onto explain to somebody who questioned her statement, saying,
“Please read about the NLV because it does not suit them best, and much as I dislike gullible Brits being ripped off by unscrupulous ‘professionals’, I hate to think of them believing that this visa is a way around the 90/180-day Schengen rule.”
Being ripped off on Spain’s Costa’s is nothing new for unsuspecting British ex-pats, but it appears the scammers are moving in on the Visa advice market.
Christopher Manlow residing in Valencia, tells Global247news how he got caught out, he said: ” I’m embarrassed to say I was one of those caught out, I parted with just under 800 euro to somebody who claimed to be an expert, he was supposed to obtain me a visa, and I paid upfront for both the advice and the application, he never mentioned the fact to get what he was claiming, I needed 30k in a bank account, I hadn’t heard of Anne before, oh I wish I had!”