15 Days to Exit EU as Unjust Visa Rejection Forces Me Out

On September 6, 2025, I arrived in Barcelona legally with a valid Schengen visa issued by Germany. Accepted into a master’s program at the University of Barcelona, I contacted SAIER with all required documents (invitation letter, health insurance, 5-year criminal record, etc.). In mid-September, SAIER confirmed my eligibility for an in-country student-visa application and scheduled an appointment for October 13, 2025. When I inquired about the 30-day rule after arrival for in-country applications, they falsely assured me I was within the timeframe. This misinformation cost me my student visa eligibility and a year of studying.
With no other option after my visa expired, I registered my partnership with Lydia Krifka-Dobes (which I am deeply happy about, and we are planning to marry once I obtain my visa), a German/American citizen, and applied for temporary residence on March 20, 2026. Our application included financial proof exceeding Spain’s threshold. After waiting over two months, on June 4, 2026, Barcelona’s immigration council requested an updated bank statement, which confirmed the funds remained untouched and well above requirements. Days later, we received a rejection: "insufficient resources and the potential to become a burden on social assistance."

My Personal Concerns
As a Baha’i, I am barred from higher education in Iran. Spain was my chance to pursue academic and professional growth. Now, I face forced removal from the EU within 15 days, separated from my partner and my future, practically entering a dangerous state if forced to return to Iran. The rejection is not just a bureaucratic error—it is a life-altering decision based on misinformation, ignored evidence, and arbitrary power. The fact that they denied us for insufficient resources when only a bank statement was requested exposes a procedural violation: the scope of evaluation should match the documents requested.
This case is not isolated. It reveals a system where bureaucratic quotas override justice, and arbitrary decisions replace the rule of law. If this can happen to me—someone who followed every rule, provided all documents, and exceeded financial requirements—it can happen to anyone.

Supporting Context
Spanish Organic Law 4/2000 (Ley de Extranjería) governs immigration procedures and requirements.
Royal Decree 1155/2024 specifies documentation and timelines for residence applications.
EU Directive 2004/38/EC guarantees freedom of movement for EU citizens and their family members, which applies to my partner’s sponsorship.

What I Am Seeking
Your support to:

• Appeal this unjust rejection in Spain.
• Alternatively pursue a German visa through my partner’s citizenship.
• Expose and change a system that prioritizes arbitrary decisions over the law.