Patrick
Last year, I wrote a post about The Top 5 Mistakes When Applying For A Colombian Visa which I know has already helped a lot of visa applicants. Since then, I have noticed that when people get their visa approved and stamped into their passport, they automatically assume the whole process is done, and that they don’t need to worry about anything else… but there is a couple of things to have in mind to make sure you don’t lose your visa after jumping all the hurdles to obtain it.
- Register Your Visa:
After getting your visa stamped into your passport you have to fill out another application online to register your visa and order your cédula de extranjería (the local ID for foreign migrants / residents in Colombia). Both procedures will be done in one application. Remember to do it within 15 days of getting your visa approved – if not – you will have to pay a fine ranging from 1/2 – 7 monthly minimum wages to complete the process.
¡No bueno!
After making the application online, you’ll receive a case ID (número de radicado) which you need to bring to the local Migration Office to finalize the process, get your picture and fingerprints taken, and pay for your cédula which costs $196.000 COP (2020).
2. Picking your Cédula de Extranjería up:
After ordering your cédula, it takes 5 weekdays for Migration to produce it before you can pick it up. You have 6 months as a deadline to pick it up. While it may sound obvious, but many people tend to forget about this step and will have to pay again to have a new cédula issued. And remember, you can’t open a bank account, etc. in Colombia until you have the cédula in your hand.
3. Don’t Leave Colombia For Too Long:
Make sure you don’t spend more than 6 months (180 days) out of Colombia in one calendar year. Doing so and you will loose your visa immediately as Migration logs all of your entries and exists and automatically cancels your visa in their system if you pass the 180-day mark. If this happens to you, don’t be afraid of getting rejected at the airport because if Migration cancels your visa, can still enter the country as a tourist for 90 days (if you are on the list of visa-free countries), and during which period you will be able to re-apply for any type of visa again.
4. Define Your Visa Strategy For The Next Year:
You should start collecting all the documents you will need for your visa 3 months before renewing you current visa to avoid the headache of not having them on time, and potentially losing your record. This is especially important if your goal is to become a resident or citizen of Colombia where you need at least 5 years of uninterrupted (less than 180 days outside the country in a given calendar year) residence in Colombia. Ask your visa agent about any (new) regulation for the type of visa you plan to apply for.
5. Use a Visa Agency:
Last but not the least, a visa agent will know from the beginning what you will need to apply, will examine your documents, fill out your application, prepare you for a potential interview with Migration, and will tell you if you are OK to proceed before spending your money on the application. Even if you feel like doing the process yourself, it is highly recommended to pay for a consultation. The last couple of years Colombia has a huge inflow of immigrants (more than 1.5 million) due to the political situation in Venezuela, and that is making it harder for the migration officers to accept all the visa applications they get. Migration is becoming a lot more rigid with their requirements, and you can end up paying many times for visa study or getting your visa application rejected, in which case you can not reapply for 6 months.
Finally, remember it is at the full discretion of the Colombian Government to accept or to not accept your visa application, so having a Visa Agency is not a guarantee, but it will help you avoid many of the potential pitfalls and mistakes that countless applicants commit.
Call Cali Capital for a visa consultation, visa application, or to get extensions as a tourist. Also, if you have overstayed your current visa and don’t know what to do, they can help you solve you answer your questions, solve your problem and give you ideas on how to live the Colombian dream if your plan is staying long term in this beautiful country.
