6 months tourist visa almost expired. How do I stay in Colombia?

bogotabrian says on May 20, 2008, 22:02:

try a student visa..go to a local college and enroll in some spanish classes. this is the easiest way that I know of.

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Micro says on May 21, 2008, 03:31:

will the college take care or help with the paperwork?

Also Its almost summerbreak. does this matter in getting a student visa or can you enroll at any given time?

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mike1962 says on May 21, 2008, 07:13:

stay as long as you want when you leave you have to pay a fine / big deal

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angelcanada says on May 23, 2008, 08:49:

Don't stay without a visa,. go to the DAS and aply for extension, you will pay $62000 pesos and they will extend your stay, if you stay without an extension and they ask you for a pasport, you will have a problem...I speak better than write...

MY NAME IS ANGEL. I AM COLOMBIAN AND LIVED IN CANADA AND THE USA FOR 18 YEARS. I RETURNED TO MEDELLIN AND WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SERVICES AS INTERPRETER/ ESCORT AND DRIVER. I CAN ALSO HELP IN FINDING SHORT TERM APT. RENTALS.

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bickerss says on May 23, 2008, 09:03:

How has your six months been spent? The six month rule goes by calander year - if you arrived last year, your yearly allocation of 6 months should have started again in 1 Jan. That was how the DAS explanied it to me, so might be worth going down and haing a chat with them.

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salterclan says on May 27, 2008, 11:57:

I was going to start my own post but I am in the same boat. Running out of time. (Our last extension will be in July) and the 6 months are up. I have a company here that would likely give me job because I am friends with him and he owns a relatively large company that does translation work. Does anyone know how long it typically takes to get a work visa (temporary or otherwise)? I know that I have to go to another country first and our plan is to return to the states anyway in july for at least 3 weeks but I have no idea how long (on average) the process is to get a work visa. I also know that I have to do fun things like get a police record to show that I have no criminal past etc. Help here would be GREATLY appreciated as we have about 6 weeks before we leave for the states.

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salterclan says on May 27, 2008, 11:57:

and to be clear for me the 6 months are all in this calendar year so I know this is the last extension I can have on the tourist visa.

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salterclan says on Jun 4, 2008, 08:02:

Hmm. These boards don't seem to have many responses. Oh well.

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aracne says on Jun 4, 2008, 08:23:

I don't think you could obtain an extension for your tourist visa if you already spend six months in Colombia. If you try to stay longer, before you go, you will have to go to DAS, explain the reasons of your overstay and pay a fine; it's not a good idea since they could eventually consider that you are in an irregular position in the country and simply deny you a new entrance.

As for the student visa, I agree that it will probably be the easiest way to get one; there's no problem with the mid terms vacation since Spanish courses usually will take place during the whole year. Just subscribe to any legally registered institution of education and ask for a certification; it will have to be longer than three months and with a minimum intensity of six hours per week.

Once you have this certification and also the certification for the institution, you can go to any consulate or even directly to the MRE in Bogotá and apply for the visa.

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aracne says on Jun 4, 2008, 08:31:

Salterclan: Most of the problems with the work visa comes from the fact that you need to proof sufficient knowledge and skills on what you intent to do in Colombia. Therefore, you will have to present your degrees, certifications, qualifications, etc., (all of them properly and officialy translated) and the Ministry will decide if you are qualified to develop such activity.

Also, and because of the protective labour laws that exists in this country, the Ministry will require a certification (or explanation) from the company that eventually will hire you, for the reasons will will they prefer you instead of a Colombian professional; or why your area of expertise is so important for the company.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but definetly it will take more time than the one you seem to have in order to have everything in place as for the documents you will need.

I will try something different...

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Micro says on Jun 6, 2008, 10:56:

I Think I have found a solution. Its is posible to apply for a visa based on a resisting relationship with a colombian (companero/a pernamente) with out being married. Only down side is that you are not allowed to work with it.

The paper work is quite simple: proof of a lasting relationship with a colombian (at least 6 months), request from your partner directed at the ministiry of forein affairs, autenticated copy of your partners cedula, apllication form. I had to pay a fine at the DAS for not extending my visa in time and staying in colombia illegaly. The fine was only 260.000 so not much more than exteding my tourist visa every month. They will give me a document that allows me to go to Bogota and file a application for a new visa.

Next week Im going to Bogota to apply for it.

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aracne says on Jun 9, 2008, 08:34:

Micro, are you sure about that? In Colombia to declare that you have a permanent relationship means that you have maintain that relation for at least two years and the legal treatment is equal to a marriage (and that includes the rights over each other's assets). Do you think this is really the best way to go and have a visa?

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tomtom33 says on Jun 9, 2008, 08:51:

I think that you must have lived with her for at least 2 years before you can get that VISA. And yes, she will be your common-law wife with certain property rights. I hold one of those VISAs.

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rocinante says on Jun 9, 2008, 10:01:

"Hmm. These boards don't seem to have many responses. Oh well."

Not only that but the info is sketchy. Why don't you do the unheard of and check with the folks who do this for a living? They will help you for free! DAS. They have a website. But then you'd have to do a google search and type and stuff. Oh the labor involved.... I'd go there personally and let them know the situation. It's their job to advise you and let you know your options. Good luck

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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tomtom33 says on Jun 9, 2008, 10:39:

The last time I went to DAS for advice, Fany gave me the wrong information. I try to deal with them as little as possible.

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videojeur says on Jun 10, 2008, 15:32:

I had that visa (Temporal Conyuge/ TC) when my tourist visa was about to expire and I didn't need to give any evidences of living togother, in fact, We met less than two years earlier. You only have to declarate that you and your mate live under same roof for two years or more. "Permanent mates" got same rights than wifes and husbands, so take this into account.

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