Misson India-Spain

I was working in India in a Development Traineeship in Bangalore (South India). I signed a 6 months contract with Artemisia Social Business in a partnership with Maya LabourNet. First of all, the Indian Consulate in Brazil gave me a wrong time VISA. I applyed for a Student Visa from March 1st until August 31st this year, but they gave me from February 18th until August 18th (I had specify very clearly the dates on the Acceptance Note). When I was in India, I started to look for opportunities in Europe. Actually my first place to go was Europe, but I received a proposal from India in a very good perpective and I just accepted it. But certainly, with an intention to move to Europe after that. So I found a very suitable TN Form (Novasoft Corporation) in Spain/Portugal and applyied for it. I tryied to exchange my VISA in India but it was not possible. I tryied by myself and after that other two times with AIESEC representatives, but It definetly was not possible (The public service in India is very poor and due to the big population they don´t help visa extension from there). Because of that, I knew I had to move from India on August 18th. On July 27th, I received the response (that I was selected) from Novasoft (Management Traineeship) by Karishma (the ex TN Manager) and I started the "real mission". I understood that it would be very complicated but I never give up. I was fighting against the time first of all; against the swine flu consequences (special certificates asked - I had to do some exams in India and get an authentic certificate saying that I don´t have any disease listed on the quarantine international policy); the diplomatic relation between Brazil and Spain which is not good at all; the fact that I applyied from a different country which is not my natural place; the fact that no one in AIESEC was able to specify information about required documents and even the International Offices were giving me wrong information in a vey rude way of working. But anyway, I was ready for the challenge and I thought with strategy. First thing I had to do, was provide orientation to the new TN Manager Amal about the whole process, and despite She wasn´t able to give me proper document information (due the fact AIESEC in Spain is not used to receive interns and there´s a clear lack of information), She was very kindly, comprehensive and help full. Second thing, I asked my mother in Brazil to go to the Spanish Consulate in Rio de Janeiro and ask for someone to put a seal and sign some documents and send it to me scanned as another "resource". The most important documents with authentic seal from the Spanish Consulate in Brazil were the Federal Brazilian Police letter saying that I had no problem at all (Criminal Records) and the letter from my University. I´ve done a Masters in Social Responsibility in Brazil and they made a letter saying that this Internship in Novasoft (CSR oriented company) would be very important to complement my studies in Social Responsibility. By the way, the University is the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Unfortunetly the only good thing from the Spanish Consulate was the seal and signature in all documents, because they gave me completely wrong informations about the process. They told me that If I couldn´t get my Visa on time (I applyied personally in Mumbai at the Spanish Consulate over there), I could get it in Spain (at the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores in Madrid or at the Extranjeria in Malaga - which was not possible).

Ok. I took a flight to Mumbai, contacted AIESEC over there for a place to stay and I waited for the VISA until it was (could be) ready. Before I applyied, I had showed my passport with the Indian Visa expiring date (18th of August) and I asked If it was possible to get it "on time". They said to me: "It is very possible, let´s try". So then, 2 weeks has passed and I had to move. My Visa wasn´t ready. So I came back to Bangalore on August 17th, packed my stuff and took my flight to London and then to Mallorca. I entered as a tourist and I stayed on my friends house over there. Before that, I spoke to the Officer (El Cónsul) in Mumbai and He said that my Visa was in process and I should find a way to get it, but as the Spanish Consulate in Rio de Janeiro (Officer Isabel) told me that I could get the Visa in Madrid or Malaga, I came to Spain without any worries. So then, I started to expose the whole case to Novasoft and they were very compassionate to me and they told me to feel confortable with that and to come to Malaga with my documents ready. I called the "Ministerio de Asuntos Exterioes de Madrid" and my Visa was ready but they said that I couldn´t get it in Spain (I had to comeback to Brazil to apply for another one or come back to India to get it - can you imagine that?). The only solution would be talking to the Officer in Mumbai (El Cónsul) and it would be his responsibility for being flexible. After some conversations with him by Voip (cheap way to do international calls) He told me that I could send my passport with an authentic authorization letter to a friend of mine in Mumbai and He could get it personally and send it back to me in Spain. And guess? it came delivery as a "hot pizza" to my place in Mallorca and thank GOD now I´m in Málaga very happy working at Novasoft Corporation. Anything else? Best Regards, Arthur Cunha (the brazilian 007) =)