The Consulate and its procedures

I could talk about lots of things you have to wrestle with when you land in the US as a foreigner, like getting your Social Security number, getting your driver's license, having no credit history and trying to get a credit card.... But all these are common to all the cities in the US.

I'd rather focus on those things that make Miami unique when it comes to cultural shock.

One thing that is different to any other place is the procedure to register yourself in your consulate. I have done this at least once before, in the Spanish Consulate in Zurich and, although it is not an extremely pleasant experience, it is something you need to do, get over with and move on. The process in Switzerland was quite easy.

But the uniqueness of the Spanish consulate in Miami resides in the fact that many Latinamericans are trying to claim their Spanish origin way back in their family tree to get a Spanish passport.

So, if you want your passport to be renewed in the Spanish Consulate in Miami, even if you are a Spanish national with a previous Spanish passport, you still need to bring your birth certificate with you!

Lesson learned, carry ALL your official and important documents (even if they go back back in time) around with you.

... I guess I am the only one not doing it...