I moved from the US to Spain; It took months to get a visa, mistakes

As a child of the first generation of immigrants living in New Jersey, my worldview has always expanded beyond the US. In January 2023, I took a leap of faith and began the process of moving abroad.

Knowing I wanted to learn more Spanish, I started in Mexico. But after six months I decided to book a three-month trip to Barcelona.

That quick taste gave me the confirmation I needed to apply for a one-year visa and join the other foreigners who make up more than 25% of Barcelona’s population.

Even though I got started right away, the logistics of moving abroad took longer than I expected, and there are a few things I would do differently next time.