Back To Square - One Dilemma!

Oh dear, here we go again, just when you think you are doing well and getting ahead, another stumbling block, hurdle to cross and a battle to fight. We are used to getting knocked back, but even we can't find an answer to this problem. All day I have been searching for solutions, to what is quite possibly the most difficult dilemma we have faced yet and all because of a driving licence.

A few weeks ago, Darrell surrendered his British driving licence to Trafico, believing he could exchange it for a Spanish one. The process is a legal necessity if you have lived in Spain for a qualifying period of time. Under normal circumstances this is a straight forward process and shouldn't cause any problems. In mine and Darrell's case, nothing could be further from the truth.

Darrell is of course an Australian citizen; he exchanged his West Australian Licence many years ago in the UK, for its British equivalent. Britain has a reciprocal agreement with Australia to allow the transaction to take place. In Spain no such agreement exists; so although he has an EU licence, he is not legally allowed to exchange it for a Spanish one; this is because it was exchanged in the past, from a country not recognised by Spain. In his case he will have to take a Spanish driving and theory test....IN SPANISH!

During this interim period, it seems he wont be able to work in his current job, which, yes you guessed it, involves driving. This leaves us in a precarious position. If either of us lose our jobs right now, we will be left financially destitute and unable to keep a roof over our heads. We have no idea what we can do, we literally don't have any viable options in these circumstances.

Getting a Spanish license with all the expense involved, while not working is not practical, so it looks like we are on plan B....We've been here before. Darrell is going to have to return to Australia once again, try and find work, care for his Mother and save money, so we can both relocate there long term; I will have to stay in Spain. Neither of us can afford the $7000 for a visa to allow us to stay together in Australia, as well as the moving costs involved. Once again we are left in a situation, where we are both split up, living away from one another. Yes we have done this before, but this time it will be for good, until I am able to join him.

We have considered returning to the UK, but once again the expense involved is prohibitive, especially with no home to go to, income and financial support; we are literally in a no win situation and have no where to turn. The next few days will be crucial; Once we know the final outcome we can then make plans accordingly.

Both of us have done everything possible to follow the draconian rules here in Spain and have paid a price for doing so. Despite loving this country, there comes a point when enough is enough and you have to hold your hands up and say 'I've had it!' That's where we both are today. We are not rich or even comfortable; we are barely getting by, money is our biggest challenge. We have no help and no options for surviving under these circumstances. Once again our future lies in the hands of others. It is only a matter of time, before we are well and truly back to square one!

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