Is this the right consulate for you?
The Houston consulate covers 8 southern and central states. You must apply based on your permanent address — or, if you're a student, the address of your US institution.
Hard July 31 deadline. The Houston BLS office states clearly that all student visa applications must be physically submitted by July 31 each year. Applications received or submitted after this date will not be accepted or processed. If you miss this deadline, you cannot apply until the following cycle. Plan your entire timeline — school enrolment, FBI check, medical certificate, insurance — to meet this date.
Visa fees
In-person appointments pay by debit card at BLS. Postal and batch applications pay by money order. All fees are non-refundable.
| Nationality | Consulate fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| United States citizens | $160 |
| UK nationals — stays over 180 days | $462 |
| UK nationals — stays under 180 days | $106 |
| Australia | $472 |
| All other nationalities | $106 |
| BLS service fee (all nationalities) | ~$20 |
For postal and batch applications, prepare a money order payable to "Consular Outsourcing BLS Services Inc". In-person applicants pay by debit card only at the BLS centre. The BLS postal pickup and drop-off service is available for student national visas but is strongly discouraged — in-person submission is faster and allows staff to flag errors on the spot.
Required documents
Bring originals and photocopies of everything. Documents not in English or Spanish must be translated by a certified sworn translator. Incomplete applications are not accepted.
1
National visa application form (Modelo EX-01)
Download from the BLS Houston website only. Complete every field — it can be filled out electronically or handwritten in capital letters. Include your email address clearly. Sign and date on the day of your appointment.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance on completing the form.
2
Passport photograph
Recent colour photo, US passport size, taken within the last 6 months. White or light uniform background. No dark glasses or face coverings. Printed on matte or glossy photo paper.
⚠️ Houston requires the photo to be glued to the application form — do not staple or use anything other than glue. Do not submit the photo loose.
3
Valid passport
Original and photocopy of the biometric data page(s). Must be valid for at least the duration of your planned stay and contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted. Your passport will be held by BLS for the processing period — you cannot travel internationally during this time.
4
Disclaimer form
Required at Houston — download from the BLS Houston Download Forms section. Sign and include with your application. Also required at Boston, LA, Miami, and Chicago.
5
Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction
A copy (not the original) of your US driver's licence, state ID, or university student ID showing your address within the 8-state jurisdiction. Non-US citizens must also submit a copy of their US green card or long-term stay visa. B-1/B-2 visa holders cannot apply in the US.
6
School acceptance letter in Spanish
From your Instituto Cervantes accredited school in Spain. Must be in Spanish and detail: programme name, start and end dates, full-time attendance (minimum 20 hours/week), address, telephone, and name of the programme director. Must confirm fees have been paid (post May 2025 requirement). Must be signed by a school representative.
All schools on this site are Instituto Cervantes accredited and issue acceptance letters meeting Houston consulate requirements.
7
Proof of financial means
Minimum $700/month for the duration of your stay. Houston accepts any of the following: your three most recent monthly bank statements showing at least $700/month; a declaration from your US or Spanish university assuming full financial responsibility (with official seal and signature); proof of financial aid, scholarship, or loans covering at least $700/month; or a notarised letter from a parent or guardian committing to $700/month, with their last 3 bank statements and a copy of your birth certificate.
If accommodation for the entire stay has been paid in advance and documented, this can be deducted from the minimum required monthly amount.
8
Health insurance
From a Spanish DGSFP-authorised insurer. Must cover all risks insured by Spain's public health system with no copayments, no deductibles, no waiting periods, minimum €30,000 coverage. Must be valid from at least one month before your course starts through 15 days after it ends (or one full year if course is longer than one year). Travel insurance is not accepted.
We partner with Atlántida — a DGSFP-registered Spanish insurer. Get a quote →
9
Medical certificate Bilingual template available
Required for all applicants. Must be issued within 3 months of your application date. Must include letterhead, doctor's signature, seal, and licence number. Must state you do not suffer from diseases that may have serious public health implications under the International Health Regulations of 2005.
✓ Houston provides a bilingual English/Spanish template — download from the BLS Houston Download Forms section. Using the official template eliminates the need for a separate sworn translation.
10
FBI background check Stays over 180 days
Required for applicants over 18 whose stay exceeds 180 days. Must be the federal FBI Identity History Summary check — state and local checks are not accepted and will be rejected. Must be apostilled by the US Department of State and translated by a certified sworn translator. Must not be more than 6 months old at the time of submission. Note: do not remove staples from the FBI check as this can damage it and make it unacceptable.
⚠️ Houston explicitly states that FBI background checks that have been altered or damaged — including damage from removing staples — will not be accepted. Handle the document carefully and do not staple anything to it.
11
Postal delivery authorization form Postal submissions only
If submitting by mail rather than in person, you must also include a completed and signed postal delivery authorization form — download from the BLS Houston Download Forms section. Not required for in-person submissions. Note that BLS strongly recommends in-person submission over postal to avoid delays and the risk of lost documents.
12
Visa fee payment
In-person: debit card at BLS. Postal/batch: money order or cashier's check payable to "Consular Outsourcing BLS Services Inc". The BLS service fee (~$20) is also debit card or cash. All fees are non-refundable. Courier prepaid envelopes are not accepted.
Step-by-step process
1
Work backwards from July 31
The Houston consulate has a hard July 31 deadline for all student visa submissions. Start by marking this date and work backwards. If your FBI check takes 3–4 months, you need to start it by April at the latest. Map your entire timeline from this deadline.
⏰ Do this first — the deadline drives everything
2
Start your FBI background check immediately
If your stay will exceed 180 days, use an FBI-approved channeler (3–5 weeks) rather than applying directly (8–12 weeks). Once received, get the apostille from the US Department of State, then a certified sworn translation. Budget 3–4 months total. Do not remove staples from the FBI check document.
⏰ Start immediately if stay exceeds 180 days
3
Enrol at an accredited school and get your acceptance letter
Your school must be Instituto Cervantes accredited. The letter must be in Spanish, confirm enrolment unconditionally, and confirm fees have been paid. This sets your course dates.
⏰ As soon as you decide to go
4
Buy health insurance
Purchase from a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer. Coverage must start at least 1 month before your course and run 15 days after it ends. Certificate must show €30,000 minimum coverage, no copayments or deductibles.
⏰ 6–8 weeks before your submission
5
Get your medical certificate
Download the bilingual template from the BLS Houston Download Forms section. Book with a licensed physician. The certificate must be dated within 3 months of your application date. No separate translation needed if using the official template.
⏰ Within 3 months of your planned submission
6
Book your BLS appointment
Book at usa.blsspainvisa.com/houston. You must submit at least 2 months before your course start date and no later than July 31. In-person is strongly recommended over postal submission. If you want your passport returned by courier rather than collecting in person, arrange this at the time of your appointment.
⏰ Book early — well before July 31
7
Complete the application form and download the disclaimer
Download both from BLS Houston. Fill in every field. Glue your passport photo to the form. Sign and date on the day of your appointment. If submitting by post, also complete the postal delivery authorization form.
⏰ 1–2 days before your appointment
8
Attend your BLS appointment in person
At 2500 West Loop South, Suite 350, Houston TX 77027. Bring originals and copies of everything. Pay by debit card. If you want courier return of your passport, arrange and pay for this at your appointment. Your passport will be held for the processing period (~6 weeks).
⏰ Day of appointment
9
Collect your visa or receive by courier
Houston offers courier return of your passport — a genuine convenience advantage over most US consulates where you must collect in person. If you didn't arrange courier return at your appointment, you must collect in person at the BLS office. Do not book non-refundable travel until your visa is in hand.
⏰ After approval notification
Houston-specific quirks
July 31 hard deadline — no exceptions. Every student visa application must be physically submitted to BLS Houston by July 31. Applications received after this date will not be accepted or processed regardless of circumstances. This is the single most important thing to know about the Houston consulate. Plan your entire timeline — school enrolment, FBI check, insurance, medical certificate — to meet this date.
Passport courier return available. Houston offers the option to have your passport returned by courier once your visa is approved — you don't have to travel back to the BLS centre to collect it. Arrange and pay for this service at the time of your appointment. This is a notable advantage for applicants who live far from Houston.
Do not remove staples from FBI background check. Houston explicitly states that background checks damaged by staple removal will be rejected. Handle the FBI check carefully from the moment you receive it — keep it flat, don't staple anything to it, and don't try to remove any existing staples.
Photo must be glued to the form. Like Chicago, Houston requires the passport photo to be glued to the application form — not submitted loose. Use a glue stick, not tape or staples.
Bilingual medical certificate template available. Download from BLS Houston's Download Forms section and take it to your doctor. No separate sworn translation needed — the Spanish is already included in the template.
Mail-in accepted for student visas, but not recommended. Unlike non-residence visas (which must be in-person from April 2025), student national visas can still be submitted by postal mail via BLS's pickup and drop-off service. However, BLS strongly recommends in-person submission to avoid delays and the risk of lost documents. If you do mail, include the postal delivery authorization form.
Debit card for in-person fee payment. Individual in-person applicants pay by debit card at BLS. Postal and batch applications require a money order payable to "Consular Outsourcing BLS Services Inc". Courier prepaid envelopes are not accepted for return of documents.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss the July 31 deadline? +
Your application will not be accepted. The BLS Houston office is explicit: applications submitted after July 31 will not be accepted or processed, and if submitted by post, will be returned at the applicant's cost. If you miss the deadline, you would need to wait until the following year's application cycle opens. This is why starting the process early — especially the FBI check — is critical for Houston applicants.
Can I have my passport sent back by courier instead of collecting in person? +
Yes — Houston offers a courier return service that most other US consulates don't. You arrange and pay for this at the time of your BLS appointment. This is particularly useful if you live far from Houston (e.g. in Alabama, Tennessee, or New Mexico) and don't want to make a second trip to collect your passport. Ask about this service when you book your appointment.
Why can't I remove staples from my FBI background check? +
The Houston consulate's page specifically states that FBI background checks that have been altered or damaged — including damage caused by removing staples — will not be accepted. The FBI check is an official government document and any sign of tampering or damage makes it invalid. Keep it in its original condition from the moment you receive it. If you need to attach it to other documents for organisation, use a paper clip, not staples.
I'm applying in March for a September course start — is that timing OK? +
Yes, and it's actually ideal. You're well within the July 31 deadline, you're applying more than 2 months before your September start date, and you have time to get your FBI check if needed. Just make sure your medical certificate is dated within 3 months of your actual application submission date — if you get it in March but don't submit until June, it will have expired. Time the medical certificate carefully.
I'm not a US citizen — what extra documents do I need? +
Non-US citizens must submit a copy of their US green card or long-term stay visa as proof of legal residence. B-1/B-2 visa holders cannot apply in the US — you must go to a Spanish consulate in your home country. If you have a US student visa with I-20, work permit, or other long-term status, you should be eligible to apply at Houston if your address is within the jurisdiction.
How does Houston's ~6-week processing compare to other US consulates? +
Houston is slower than Miami (2–4 weeks), Chicago (~4 weeks), and LA (~4 weeks), but faster than Boston (~8 weeks). The consulate's official page states the legal period is "at least 6 weeks" — note the "at least", which means it can take longer. Combined with the July 31 deadline, this means you should aim to submit no later than mid-June to give yourself a buffer before your September course start.