It only took 9 months...and so much paperwork, but we now have our residency visas and will get our identity card within 5 weeks. That lets us get our NIF number, the key to opening a bank account, getting cable TV and Internet service, ordering products online and being able to pay bills at the ATM. Ah, we are happy. It would not have worked, we are certain, without our attorney. Doors were opened, meetings conducted only due to her intervention. There is more to it than we'd seen online previously, but truthfully this changes often, so it's a new regimen frequently.