Here’s a good route to follow... our process wasn’t so efficient... Comically, if you ask for directions to the DNI office, even the police will only point you vaguely in the direction of this odd building. It felt like everyone was a bit embarrassed or confused by the whole thing. In one conversation with a policeman in a marked car:
“Officer, can you point us to the DNI offices?”
“They’re that way” [gestures along the road]
“Oh, are they inside the jail?”
“Jail?”
In another one with a random stranger:
“Excuse me, do you know where the DNI offices are?”
“Do you mean the jail?”
Elena and I had an appointment at 2pm, but we found the DNI office late - and after waiting in line at the DNI office, the admins told us to find a bank and return after we’d paid.
Aside: In Spain it’s common to pay official fees at a bank and present the receipt at the government office. It’s the same sort of headache as how some U.S. offices only accept Postal Money Orders...
After trying to use both ATMs at the train station we found a BBVA branch and after failing to use their ATM as well, we were finally able to pay the fee directly to a teller.
Next up: surreal government officials...
For more on my journey to legal residency: