A few weeks before her flight, a newly assigned legal team reviewed her paperwork and told her she was missing a document increasingly requested by immigration authorities. There was almost no time to resolve the issue before her departure. Panic set in. In the end, they decided to submit the application anyway.
After arriving in Madrid and formally applying for the visa during the first week of January, she received the news she hadn't expected: the visa wasn't approved on the first attempt. For the first time, she feared the entire move might fall through and she might have to return to the United States.
Those early weeks in Madrid felt like living in limbo. Mendez moved between temporary Airbnbs while waiting for a decision. She had originally booked one through the end of March but shortened the stay, confident the visa would be approved sooner. When it wasn't, she had to move again while continuing to wait.
Every day came with uncertainty. She checked her email constantly for updates from immigration authorities and her legal team. Everything depended on paperwork she couldn't fully control.
At the same time, life in Madrid slowly unfolded around her. She walked through different neighborhoods, tested new cafés, and watched daily routines from park benches and bakery counters. Even in this transitory phase, she was learning the rhythm of the city and gradually beginning to feel more comfortable.
The emotional turning point came after Three Kings Day, one of Spain's most important holidays. For weeks, Madrid had been filled with festive lights and crowds of tourists. Mendez had felt like one of them.
Then, suddenly, the season ended. The streets quieted. Offices reopened. Madrileños returned to work. But she didn't leave.
That was the moment it hit her: she wasn't visiting anymore. She lived there.
Then, finally, relief arrived. On February 25, her visa was approved. The next day she signed a lease. On February 27, she moved into her new apartment to officially start her next chapter.
Moving abroad, Mendez says, is often romanticized. The reality includes paperwork, uncertainty, and moments of real stress. But she's still proud she did it.
For her, the move was never only about Madrid. It was about creating possibilities, whether that means staying in Spain long-term or eventually exploring life in Portugal or Italy.
For now, though, she's exactly where she needs to be.
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