Bill1243 has left 89 comments

Bill1243 comments on Entrepreneurship in Colombia

note Pay special attention to the infrastructure there. Doing business there is very tough. Things we take for granted here are very tough to deal with there. Just mailing a letter is hard, not knowing if or when it will get there. Paying bills is tougher. Internet speeds are slower. Getting paid is harder. Depending on the business you might have to pay off people. And on and on.

I have seen so many people go down there and start a business .... most regret it.

I am thinking of having a business there, but only over my computer, and not having to deal with anything else there.

Bill1243 comments on For Sale: Frequent Flyer miles

follow up Yes, trips from LAX, as well as Miami and a few other cities, mostly southern cities, can have a good regular rate at times, at least to Bogota. But from most other cities, and especially to cities other than Bogota, the regular cash rate is usually quite high...especially if you are flying from a class B airport. Also, if you are going more than 30 or 60 days, rates for regular tickets spike up exponentially to destinations in South America.

The needed miles, which is 35,000, which I sell for $550, is not for everyone, but it works out to save money in probably 3 out of 4 cases. And change fees are only $50.

It's best to advance book when using miles...and to avoid the holiday times.

Bill
bill1243 at yahoo.com

Bill1243 comments on Search: Apt in Bogota

you notice You notice that Ingrid doesn't bother to address the points above. No surprise there. Just like she doesn't answer her emails!!

Bill1243 comments on For Sale: Frequent Flyer miles

and Yes, many of the sale tickets are only good for 30 days rather than the usual 60 days. And seats are limited and sell out fast.

Some people choose to fly on bulk/consolidated tickets. This is an option, but usually change fees get real steep.

With miles tickets you can be gone for as long as a year. Even better, it is great for for bringing someone up here from down there...they can stay for a full year and then take a vacation back there. No need to buy a round trip cash ticket for them and end up throwing away the other half...or to buy a one way ticket, which can cost as much as a round trip.

Again, my price is $550 for the necessary miles, but you need some flexibility in your outbound and inbound itineraries. Also, I prefer people who travel more than one time.

Bill

bill1243 at yahoo.com

Bill1243 comments on Recommendation: Hotel in Bogota

follow up Even though it is easy to get the sites mixed up, there is a big difference between Ingrid's place, which I guess she calls Bogota Bed and Breakfast, and Bob's places, which is called Bogota Colombia Lodging. Don't mistake the two.

Bill1243 comments on Search: Apt in Bogota

note back to Ingrid Ingrid, your response to me above was so typical of you. You are so typical of the Colombian businessperson, who could care less about their clients. You show it in everything you do and say.

I know Bob but have never met him, but I know him to be a good, honest man and good businessman. My complaint with you is that you never bother to answer emails. As far as complaints in general, I have heard all over the net bad things about you and your business.

The above actions by you, as illustrated by Bob, shows that you are not only a dishonest businessperson, but also it shows your contempt for customers.

Why don't you try putting your customers first, instead of whatever the hell you are doing there.

I am the first one to say good things about a business, but I am also the first one to say what I think when I see such lousy service as you give. You Colombians never think about the future...all you do is think about the present and how you can get money today. Customer service sorely lacks with you people. You have so many people pissed at you that it is a wonder ANYONE goes there. And the upshot of the whole thing, Ingrid,is that you deny it and you make excuses and you blame others...for your own bad actions.

Bill1243 comments on For Sale: Frequent Flyer miles

comments I'm checking in here to read all your posts.

I prefer not to say the airlines here on the forum, but they are not American. Change fees are $50, and taxes/fees usually run at about $25, much less than for cash tickets.

Miles tickets are not much good for flights for people living in Miami, but for those in the north or west it is a good way to go. This is especially so if you are flying from a Class B airport, and often if you are flying to a city other than Bogota. And as I said above, if you are going for more than 60 days, it is the ONLY way to go, no matter where you're from.

Miles seats are harder to book however, especially around holiday times.

As for the references above concerning airline sales, they are usually only from select cities, they are usually short-term in nature, and seats sell out fast.

Email me at bill1243 at yahoo.com if you have any more questions.

I basically do this as a favor to people going to Colombia. My price is well under the price being charged by brokers on the net. Happy to help in any way. If you are able to buy the needed 35,000 miles cheaper than $550, please feel free to do so...

Good luck...and happy travels.

Bill1243 comments on Search: Apt in Bogota

question for Bogota bed and breakfast If you are so all-fired great, then why didn't you answer my email I sent off to you a few weeks ago about housing. Ever since you bought this business, the service has been going down down down. Many people have complained they have faced the same thing with you.

Bill1243 comments on How to get from Bogota to Cartagena and where to stay....for very little $$

note If your ticket costs more than $700, I can sell you miles for $550. Just email me.... bill1243 at yahoo.com

Bill1243 comments on If your ticket is over $700 to get to Colombia

to Crazy4 Cali Crazy is right to a point... The amount you save depends on your city you are flying from. If you are from the north (most cities anyway), or if you fly from a Class B airport, you will save a lot with a miles ticket.

As far as getting a seat, booking in advance is best, but it is not always necessary. It is the domestic flights that are toughest to get. With some airlines, you can waitlist and wait for a seat to open up. I myself do just the opposite...I book a day or two before the flight...when they have freed up the seats. Costs another fee of $50, but it works!

As far as routing, I always get the route I want.

Bill1243 comments on My Colombian Girlfriend

note Profesoras remarks were way offbase. I could just imagine what she looks like! Putting down the western man for wanting something better than what is here. So many men here have had it with American women. I meet tons of great men when I am traveling and many many of them have had it up to here with the attitudes of gringos.

As far as her comments on the sex industry, the women have made a choice to be in it, and the men are simply buying the available services. No harm done....been going on for centuries. Without it these women would not be able to feed their kids!! Especially since 90% of them have kids, can't find a regular job, or if they do it doesn't pay enough to feed the family.

Bill1243 comments on Western Union, Moneygram, RIAENVIA or another.

The ATM route is the best,....make sure it is a plain ATM and not one with a Visa or MC symbol on it. My credit union allows the first five for free per month.

It is the best way to go by far.

Bill1243 comments on 1 Day in Bogota

note I would choose a guesthouse to stay in...instead of a hotel...

For fun, what kind of fun are you looking for?

Bill1243 comments on If your ticket is over $700 to get to Colombia

To toknight50 Toknight50... you are right, in that you can do what you suggested, but their are downsides to your way. First, you have to go and retrieve your baggage and then re-check it and put up with the security hassles again. Also, and most importantly, if you ever want to change your flying dates you have to pay not one, but TWO change fees...one for each airline.

To get a ticket with miles for about the same price, which is very low, you get one small change fee if needed, no luggage or additional security hassles, and the ticket is good for a whole year if need be.

Bill1243 comments on If your ticket is over $700 to get to Colombia

Miles still the best in most cases First, $500 from Ft. Lauderdale to Bogota is a high price...rarely are regularly published fares that high.

As for the posts by Vic and Hollywood, I can agree...to a point. But flying on frequent flyer miles is still the lowest cost way to fly to Colombia. Flying from the north, including my city, normally costs a bit over $800 for a regular fare. Also, flying from Class B airports oftentimes yield higher fares. Finally, if you are flying for over 60 days the price of a regular ticket skyrockets. Don't use them flying from Miami, or if some super sale is on from the city you are flying from.

So to get the 35,000 miles you need to get from the U.S. or Canada to Colombia is a good deal if you can get them for $550 I feel. Personally, I don't care where you get the miles... I am just saying I have them if anyone needs them. If anyone has questions on this, feel free to ask me at bill1243 at yahoo.com

Again, if you can get them from your family, go for it. Use me as a last resort.

Hopefully that info took it away from being an ad and more as a public service announcement!

Bill1243 comments on Frequent Flyer miles to Colombia

a bulk ticket is A bulk ticket is also often called consolidated tickets. They are sold by wholesalers who buy up big blocks of seats from the airlines. They then turn around and offer them to retail travel agents. The price is usually less than the regular price, but not always. For instance, if an airline is having a big sale the bulk ticket usually cannot beat it.

The whole system is built to get around the "set" rates of international flights.

For Colombia, I have found that from my area I save about $100 by getting a bulk ticket...usually.

I have no idea if they are available to people in other countries outside the U.S.

Again though, flying on miles is the best way to get there, especially if you live in the north, or are flying from a Class B airport, or if you are traveling for more than 60 days, since those length tickets cost a lot more when purchased the regular way.

Write me if you want more info on traveling on miles. bill1243 at yahoo.com

Bill1243 comments on Interesting conversation on buying homes in Colombia

and It sounds like the interest rates on home loans are high there...and they must be adjustable types, where interest rate changes dictate the going rate.

We here in the U.S. have a very different system than other countries. The banks and other lenders make the loans, but then they are packaged into a security, and then sold off to the financial markets. In other words, the interest rate risk is transferred away from the lenders. This has created a very vibrant market in home building and home ownership here in the states. In countries that don't have this kind of system, you find lesser amounts of home ownership...in fact, in Europe, for instance, it is rare to even see any new houses even being built!

Back to the point, it must be this high and fluctuating interest rate that is what is making her so adament about not wanting to take out a loan on the home purchase. She actually sold her home for 30 million pesos...and then went right out and bought another one with the same money....paying exactly the same price for the new home--in cash!

Bill1243 comments on Can I live on $600 per month in Colombia?

and Social security pays according to your contributions. Tinto's comment about the 10x minimum wage includes ALL your income from all sources.

I have for a long time questioned whether it is cheaper to live there than in the U.S. Certainly rents are cheaper, yet they run all over the map. Food is cheaper for some items, but not for others. Utilities, at least in Bogota, depend on the part of the city you live in...and can get high in strata 6. It would seem that having a car would cost the same as here. Schools are usually private. Tis an interesting topic though.

Bill1243 comments on What about the men?

yep Yes, it boils down to economics.... Colombian men with any money at all will almost always have more than one woman. They may do it stealthily on the side but I haven't met one yet who isn't dabbling a bit on the side!

For gringas, you need to be careful....because not only are you a novelty, but most gringas down there don't compare in looks to the Colombianas. Also, they too need to look out for the green card sharks.

Bill1243 comments on Frequent Flyer miles to Colombia

to Gomez Gomez,

My experience and miles are with Delta, and I've noticed that a day or two before the flight they clear the wait list and then open up more seats...after all, why waste seats that are not going to sell the regular way. American may restrict to 8 seats total, but again, my experieince is on Delta. Also, being on a waitlist for the days you really want to go, even after you've ticketed it, gives you a better chance at getting the seat. Waitlisting is tougher on their partner airlines however.

As far as flexibility with changes go, yes, it is a necessary element of miles tickets.... if you have that flexibility, they are great. And if you are staying more than 60 days, they are the only way to go, since tickets of more than 60 days get very expensive when purchased the regular way. I have sold many to guys for their fiancees as they bring them up here.

And as far as price, for tickets less than 60 days, it's not going to save money if flying from Miami or a few other gateway cities. But if flying from the north, or connecting from a Class B airport, it will save money just about every time over the cost of regular or bulk tickets.

Bill1243 comments on Frequent Flyer miles to Colombia

response Gomez, you are exactly right...people who are flying should know the name, city and job of their new "friend". Some airlines are pickier than others. As to MiamiMike, a bargain is anytime you can fly for less than the cost of regular or bulk tickets. This is especially so with miles, since the flights can be changed at NO cost, which is a huge advantage to many people. In addition, the ticket is good for a whole year...which is great for those living there who want a trip back once a year. Or also for bringing up people here for long periods of time. This is because if you price regular tickets over 60 days, the rate starts to skyrocket.

It doesn't work for everyone, but it does work well for people whose flights normally cost them $650 and above. This is particularly for people from many northern cities, or for people who have to connect from Class B airports.

As far as changes go, I have to disagree with you on that. Airlines generally free up their seats a day or two before a flight....particularly to destinations that are not well traveled. Many a time have I just called them up and changed it on very short notice. It requires some flexibility, but it always has worked great.

Bill
bill1243 at yahoo.com

Bill1243 comments on Frequent Flyer miles to Colombia

to Arthur Yes, several people have, although I don't always know their user ID.

I can give you references if you need them.

Bill
bill1243 at yahoo.com

Bill1243 comments on Frequent Flyer miles to Colombia

answer to Wildcat Technically the airlines don't like it, but it is done all the time. It is totally ok to give away miles to friends. The fact that money changes hands has no bearing since the airline doesn't know it. There is a big market in miles, primarily because many of the people with the miles have no use for them while other flyers need them badly. And it is such a much better ticket than regular tickets....and cheaper too.

Bill1243 comments on Cheapest Way to Buy Tickets to Colombia

a hint There are ways around the rapid redemption fees and also ways to book at the last minute. I can help anyone with this if they need it.
bill1243 at yahoo.com

Bill1243 comments on place to stay in Bogota

note to Inge, I know of a great apartment, fully furnished...in the north....but you would have to start paying for it as of the 5th of January. It has everything,,,,even a washer. Write to me at bill1243 at yahoo

Bill1243 comments on Exchanging large amounts of dollars ====Question

Hunter Good info.... I had no idea of the high costs of wiring.

Bill1243 comments on More tourist visa questions..... plus a rant

long tem flight To avoid the change fees, the best thing is to fly on frequent flyer miles, where all changes are free. Also, they are the best for long flights, since the prices for regular tickets for long term flights go way up if they are more than about 60 days. I have tons of miles if you are interested.

bill1243 at yahoo.com

Bill1243 comments on What's the Possibility of My Novia Receiving a Tourist Visa??

none of Elmo's None or few of Elmo's comments apply, as per usual. And Tinto is right... the Japanese would have fought to the bitter end if we didn't have a weapon they couldn't answer to. Untold numbers of people from both sides would have died if Truman didn't make the decision to use the bomb. Anyone who denies this doesn't know their history and the history of this decision.

Bill1243 comments on Exchanging large amounts of dollars ====Question

overall I have done some more checking, and I think for large amounts it is best to just wire the money down there....but still checking on the fees and the exchange rates for doing this.

Bill1243 comments on Exchanging large amounts of dollars ====Question

to Atrevido Atrevido,

The thing you won't be able to avoid when using a credit card to get money is the cash advance fee, which I have heard can be 3%. This is on top of all the other charges. Highway robbery!

The cheaper way is to use a debit card....period. In fact, even using your credit card for purchases of goods usually carries a 1 or 2% additional fee!

You don't have to declare cash on the plane, unless it is over $10,000. But why would you want to carry cash down there....since the exchange rate to be had is probably not that good, except in a black market place, which I avoid.

Bill1243 comments on Exchanging large amounts of dollars ====Question

to all Atrevido,

This I know...the LAST thing you should do is take out cash advances on a credit card. In addition to all the other fees, there is a huge cash advance fee added on.

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And Salma, you said that the black market people tend to want to buy $$$, but that's what I am wanting to do....is to sell them dollars, so wouldn't that work out good?

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Don Negro,

No, not illegal. My friend needs to pay a dentist for dental work there...they want it in pesos. It is a big job. How could it be done electronically, and for what kind of exchange rate and fees?

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Litost,

The daily limit on debit cards is usually about $500. This is whether you go to the ATM's or go into a bank. At an ATM you can usually do about three withdrawals a day. DON't use credit cards for cash, for any amount..... the fees are huge.

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Bill1243 comments on ATMs

To Dan Unfortunately, that is not the case. What you are seeing is the dollar amount that was charged to your account, plus what YOUR bank charged you as a fee. What you didn't see and won't see is all the other charges. You won't see this because they are not required at present to show you and its a real ripoff for not revealing this. There are court cases now to try and change this.

What I mean is that the amount in dollars you were charged is not showing how they arrived at that figure. The figure is net of all fees....fees for the currency exchange, fees for Visa or Master Card, fees for the actual transaction itself and fees that go to the ATM you are using. NONE of these are shown to you or broken out.

What they should do is start with that day's interbank rate, and then show how it all computes down to the amount of money charged to you in dollars.

The ONLY things you can do it this.... continue to only use a debit card....and get one that at least does not charge a fee, like your does. For instance, my card gives me 5 free a month at foreign ATM's. It comes from a credit union.

Bill1243 comments on ATMs

There are many fees when using cards, most of which do not show up in the detail. The key is to use one that doesn't charge a fee, at least the fee charged by YOUR bank. Credit unions offer this a lot. But you will still face the exchange fee, a fee from Visa or Master Card, and a fee to the bank that owns the machine.

Bill1243 comments on What's the Possibility of My Novia Receiving a Tourist Visa??

Litost,

You talk conscience.....how much conscience do you have when you advocate the breaking of laws. I get so sick of Colombians coming up here and bringing their own values with them, many of which are circumspect at best. They seem unable or unwilling to do the most basic things in our "rule of law" society. And you, being the way you are, are totally unqualified to judge the efficacy of our current president.

Thank you very much for showing me how you foreign-born people think about our country and our laws. To you we are only a place to make money and send it back home. And anyone who stands in the way of that is "selfish" according to you. In addition, you make it sound like it is a piece of cake to be from here....even though there are millions of poor people here and anyone running a business here knows how tough and competitive it is.

It is why it usually takes two or three generations to truly acclimate foreigners to our way of life and to truly appreciate what we are working hard to build here.

But I can understand your thinking...coming from a country where people buy off cops, run stop lights, and a myriad of other things to skirt the laws of your land.


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And Lionheart, you are right, that countries always have imported labor, sometimes to keep wage rates low, sometimes because people in the host country don't want to do those jobs. A certain amount of legal importation of labor is in order in these situations. But when borders are porous and the masses flock in, driving out our own workers, NO country condones this, nor should they.

As a kid, I was imported to work in Switzerland to do jobs that no one wanted to do there. But when my visa was up, I left, as the law demanded. We are a world of nation states, and one country cannot be the saviour for the entire rest of the world.

Everybody has a right to feed their family, but that does not include the right to break the laws of host countries in order to do this. Period ...end of story.

Bill1243 comments on What's the Possibility of My Novia Receiving a Tourist Visa??

True Hollywood, you are right,,,,that there are also tons of poor people here that are using ER services and don't pay, but at least they are legal. Why compound the problem exponentially by allowing illegals to also do this?

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And well spoken, Martiin, but once again, how do you justify breaking the laws of the land. You are from a country where apparently laws mean little...I see it all the time.... while we are from a country of laws...and compliance with those laws. Using Litosts philosophy, he would let in EVERY person on earth, just because they have a need to feed their family. This moral argument completely negates the law of our land.

Bill1243 comments on What's the Possibility of My Novia Receiving a Tourist Visa??

notes Kernow,

Ok, you got me there....I have no idea why Ireland is high on the list.... But I don't pay too much attention to the lottery, since at most it only brings in 50,000 people a year...from ALL countries.

And yes, you see many illegals working in Orlando. Some have fake social security numbers and some are working under the table. BOTH don't deserve government services, whether they pay tax or not.....they are ILLEGAL. Period.

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Hollywood, you are right, many illegals never claim refunds, but then again, they are working on fake social security cards, and certainly don't deserve refunds.

But you make a good point....Calif. needs ag workers. It's a very tough issue.

As to medical, yes, I was talking about the drain on emergency rooms, which causes ever higher medical costs, which causes our insurance rates to go up. Again, a very tough issue.

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Litost,

You always go back to the moral ground, and also from your Colombian viewpoint. Like so many Colombians, you skirt the law. I see it all the time in Colombia.

And I say again, except that you don't seem to get it....ALL other countries will not let "deadbeats" in. This includes Colombia. I hate to use that word, and I should have said the poor masses, but the same is true. So what right does a poor Colombian have to illegally enter our country, just to get a piece of the American Pie? Answer this Litost. Somehow you think that just because we have what Colombia doesn't have that we should offer it up to EVERYONE. Tell that to the private hospital who has to take in non-paying illegal alien patients. And you continually forget that we here in America have millions of our own poor to take care of.

Litost, you are not an idiot...you are a very caring person. But when you decided to come here, you knew that we are a country based on capitalism. The survival of the fittest is how this country was founded. It is very hard, even for us who were born here. WHY should we lay open our borders just because we've worked our asses off to make a great country? I am sorry that most of the world grows up in countries with lousy governments but that's the way it is.
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As an aside, it continally amazes me how we live in a world where half the world hates us, yet they would be the first ones to move here if they could!!! A whole different subject!!

Bill1243 comments on Calling Frequently Between US/Canada and Colombia

note good post Lionheart.

Perhaps MSN and Yahoo aren't as hard to use for audio as I said above, but it just seems that Skype works every time, while the others don't. In fact, I can't get them to work at all, and am not computer savvy enough to be opening ports to get them to work, so I gave up and just use Skype. Skype also has a lot of other neat features too.

Bill1243 comments on Tell me about the women to avoid

note It's very simple..... take your time, just like you would if you met someone up here. Get to know their family and friends. You are essentially trying to avoid the green card sharks, but there's not really a lot of them there.

The biggest thing is time....and also, if you're 50, don't go for a 20 year old. Only idiots would do that. And quite frankly, even though beautiful women are all over down there, think twice about bringing one back sometime,.... after all, this is America, land of the fat chicks, so bringing back a 10 might be just a bit much to put up with. Get to know a nice, cute, smart, caring lady and you'll do fine...

Bill1243 comments on Calling Frequently Between US/Canada and Colombia

To Hollywood You are exactly right, with one exception. I wasn't aware that AIM offered voice, but indeed both Yahoo and MSN Messenger does. They seem to kind of hide it, but it is offered. Skype is primarily voice, with instant messaging as the backup.

The exception is this.... I have used them all, except for AIM, and Skype seems to work the best. And if you add money to your account you can indeed call to phones, but probably not a good deal what with all the cheap phone cards out there. But I have found that Yahoo and MSN screw up all the time. Even now I can't get them to work no matter what I do. It has something to do with the firewall. Skype works every time.

You are very smart to have Voip (Vonage). Did you know they now offer an international virtual number service too? This allows a person in a foreign country to call a LOCAL number and call you back to the states for free ($4.95 a month). However, so far it is limited to only Mexico, Canada and England.

Bill1243 comments on What's the Possibility of My Novia Receiving a Tourist Visa??

comments to all Viewpoint,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it isn't that easy for Cubans to come here. Could that be why they aren't leaving in droves? How easy is it to leave when they have to not only risk their lives crossing the ocean, but they have to actually make it to shore ....or be sent back!! That doesn't sound like an easy immigration policy to me!!

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Kernow,

Being a professional does indeed aid in your chances of getting a visa. My friend, who is a Colombian dentist is here now visiting due to this. She needs to attend dental conferences here, and it is a very legitimate reason for granting a visa..... and with her practice back there, with her office, it doubles the chances.

And England is low on the lottery list, because in general, people don't want to move out of England to come here. Also, they can freely travel to most countries, just like we can.

Tourists spending money in Orlando are welcome....but our policies are in place to keep people from coming here at random, with nothing at all, and then putting a huge drain on the resources the rest of us are paying for....such as is happening to the medical industry in California.

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And litost, I knew there was more to the story than you originally let on. It's always easier for a foreign-born person to condemn our laws and practices. Also, you say foreigners are trying to put food on the table....look around you man....millions of Americans are trying to do the same thing. So you think it is right for them to lose their jobs to foreigners who "want a better life"??!!

Trying to compare this to blacks on buses and women getting the vote is like comparing apples to oranges.

Most all of America is foreign born, at least at one time or the other...but to just let unlimited immigration run roughshod over us is CRAZY. Your social motives have little reality in the real world. And as I said before, NO other country allows it either!

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Hollywood,

You said you were going to address both the tax situation AND the medical situation. You only addressed one of them. You are partially right about the taxes....they do indeed get withholdings taken out, albeit at rather low marginal tax rates. And many don't get refunds. And in reality, many are using fake social security numbers to even work in the first place....

As to medical costs, which you didn't address, read up on the humongous drain that is being brought about by illegal immigrants in California.

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Gringo in Bogota,

You are exactly right!!

Bill1243 comments on What's the Possibility of My Novia Receiving a Tourist Visa??

note on above posts Amen, Gringo in Bogota. My own ex girlfriend came up here on a tourist visa, and after we split up she proceeded to overstay her visa...

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And to litost, you said "I realize it's illegal".... so why didn't you stop there..... You obviously have little predilection to follow the laws of our land. If we had it your way, and ignored the laws, HALF the world would come here, and don't kid yourself...they would.

And you get on your high horse and claim that morally we owe the world a living and that the downtrodden masses should be able to freely come here....to feed their families....yet I guarantee you that the countries they are coming from would never allow you the same privilege in similar situations.

And brush up on your Econ 101, because by exporting production we are, in effect, providing jobs for the world's masses, at market rates for those particular countries...and this indeed does help to keep our prices down. We don't need to import workers in order to do this, at least for non-service jobs!

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And Tinto, you are right, if a foreigner has skills or money, they are welcome, just as we are in other countries. The one exception to this is the J-1 visa, where non-skilled people can come here for a short time to work and to vacation, doing jobs in labor-short areas.

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Finally, a question.... Someone mentioned above about her having property, which might aid her in getting a tourist visa. But can't she just sell the property and pocket the cash...even having her family do the transaction? And anything she needs to sign she could just do by mail.

Bill1243 comments on Calling Frequently Between US/Canada and Colombia

Voip---peer to peer The industry standard peer to peer VOIP service is Skype.com
It works great for talking from computer to computer. But the main problem with this type of service is that it is only between computers and not to or from regular phones. Also, most people don't have computers at their ready disposal there in Colombia. And if they do, it is often a dial up, which costs on a per minute basis.

Bill1243 comments on Working In Columbia-Suggestions for Phone Service and Internet

Jeff and others --For Voip, check out Vonage.com It will explain how you can call back and forth to the US and Canada for just $25 a month.


Also:
--What does PSTN stand for?

--And how much is a broadband connection in Colombia?? And is it cable or DSL?

--And as far as Voip goes, you need to bring the device down with you or have someone bring or mail it down. Vonage, for instance, will not mail it down there.

Bill1243 comments on What's the Possibility of My Novia Receiving a Tourist Visa??

to Litost Litost,

Your post said TOURIST VISA, so I don't know how you assumed that we should knew they were coming here to work. And, as a matter of fact, people coming here on a tourist visa CANNOT work while here. I knew there was something wrong about you saying they got a "touist" visa, because they clearly did not qualify.

I would guess they got a J-1 visa, which is very different from a tourist visa.

Other than that, as to your other comments, it is NOT the responsibility of the U.S. to provide jobs for the world's poor. Secondly, it you look at the huge drain in the medical industry in California brought upon by illegal immigrants you wouldn't be so gung ho on this.

Legal immigration yes, illegal immigration, hell no....

And as for your downplaying of the importance and representation of the U.S. passport, thinking that it is no big deal, I take offense to this bigtime. You sound like one of those one world government zealots, and if so, I welcome you to feel free to move elsewhere.

Bill1243 comments on Looking for a map of neighborhoods in Medellin

to BP Good links BP. I am supposed to visit a family in the Villa Hermosa neighborhood. But I am not sure where to stay. For one week. Is Villa Hermosa a bad neighborhood or a so-so one? In other words, where should I stay?

Thanks.

Bill1243 comments on Calling Frequently Between US/Canada and Colombia

a great post That was a great post, and yes, it is exactly as he says. I wasn't aware of the bandwidth adjustment issue, but everything else I have experienced and it is great. Vonage is but one company offering this. In ten years, half of all traffic will probably go thru this way. I have this dream of bein' on a beach in Rio with my cordless phone plugged into a Voip device which is plugged into a broadband modem, sipping a MaiTai under an umbrella, while taking calls from the U.S....and all for just $25 a month!!

Bill1243 comments on A few tips for all who is interested on travel to Colombia

and Good report...

Let me add that there is never any heat or A/C in Bogota.

And as far as taxis go, I could write a book on how many ways they can rip you off in taxis. So far, I have counted 23 ways!! Even now as an expert in Colombia travel, it never ceases to amaze me the ways you can get ripped off there... mostly in little ways thank goodness!

Bill1243 comments on Apartments in Bogota

more info on Cora Suites Did some more checking on this place.... holy cow, what a ripoff.

First, they show on their website that their rate is $1,320 for a particular stay and apartment, but they quoted $1,600, saying it had something to do with the fine print saying they could change the price at any time!!

Even more confusing was that they quoted an exchange rate of $1.800 pesos to $2.100 pesos, even though the official rate is 2.500 pesos. I have no idea, but that must be their rate they are using for the exchange rate to pesos for the dollars, thus they charge more in dollars.

And what's this 2.000 pesos per day for insurance???? what kind of insurance, and why are they charging it separately and not just burying it in the base rate??

A total ripoff .... Avoid this place... there are so many better places there.

Bill1243 comments on POOR but happy, guide to colombia, but you all talk of hotels, apartment suites,...............................

BP As to your comment about mail order brides, BP, if you knew our laws (U.S.), you would know that you just can't pick up a catalog and order one up!!

And as far as seeking women in other countries, just what is wrong with that.?? Is there some international law that says men should marry only within their own borders?? I think not.

And if you were from my town, where 60% of the women are overweight, that doesn't leave much for us single guys. And come to think of it, last time I was in Britain I wasn't too impressed with the "birds" there either. So maybe you should get off your highhorse a bit, and come join us .... you'll have the vacation of your life, as have many British men I have met there....

Bill1243 comments on $$$$??

exception If your housing bill is quoted in dollars, you may want to take dollars down with you to pay it. Check the rate in both dollars and pesos and figure out which is best to pay.