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Are my passport stamps computerized, or is it just recorded on paper?

So I've just lost my U.S. passport (it was stolen). I've reported it, blah blah. I'm super bummed, but it occurred to me that this might help a different problem I'm having. I'm about to run out of my tourist visa 180 days and was looking for options. In any case, I'm going back to the U.S. for a couple of weeks, and can have a replacement sent there.

Is the number of days I've been here computerized? Well, I'm sure it's computerized, but do they scan it or check it? My new passport is going to come back shiny and blank, with no record of my extensions. Does that mean, for all intents and purposes, that I can enter on a tourist visa again with 180 more days? Is there any record of how many days I've been in the country that will be noticed when I come back? Just thought I'd check on the off chance...

By jeoffry on Aug 12, 2009, 13:36 in Friendly Talkzone.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Aug 12, 2009, 13:40:

They scan your passport's barcode upon entry to Colombia, so there is a record.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis. - Zaphod Beeblebrox, Former President of the Galaxy and inventor of the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster

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Atrevido says on Aug 12, 2009, 14:27:

Part of the process of getting a resident visa is the DAS producing a report of all your entrances and departures from the country. The know about them all.

https://sites.google.com/site/colombianaturesite/nature-images

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kramer says on Aug 12, 2009, 14:46:

Hello Jeoffry,

I am sorry to hear that your passport got stolen. What a mess.

> I'm going back to the U.S. for a couple of weeks, and can have a replacement sent there.

How are you getting back to the USA without a passport?

Kramer

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Zoltar says on Aug 12, 2009, 16:02:

If its a NEW passport, it means that also that your passport number and the barcode will be NEW !

Zoltar

www.zoltarsuites.com - under construction !

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Gator says on Aug 12, 2009, 16:56:

"for all intents and purposes, that I can enter on a tourist visa again with 180 more days"

Sorry 'bout that but DAS IS computerized and is crossed referenced by name, dob, and the theft of the "old" passport is also reported to DAS.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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pedro says on Aug 12, 2009, 17:26:

As well as anything computerised, they also keep a physical file at the local DAS branch where you request extensions on your tourist visa.

The extra paperwork you give them first time around is to establish that file. They would have records of all your extensions in your physical file, assuming you will continue to apply in the same city's DAS as you previously did.

"this may seem a strange post but it is not...when in colombia men need to be aware that colombia women may try to be seductive and entice a travelling gringo to have sex with them..to be forewarned is to be forearmed..." -- pow wow

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guacharaca says on Aug 12, 2009, 21:48:

Everytime I enter, the computer prints on my passport exactly how many days is left on my visa. Not only does that computer record, it think and it knows.

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

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elchoco says on Aug 12, 2009, 22:08:

Weird, because i had about 6 weeks left and the last time I came in the guy stamped me for another 60 days with nothing computerised ni nada.

Still wondering how long I've actually got.

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scumbuster says on Aug 13, 2009, 07:16:

Kramer...The US embassy in Colombia will give you a temp. passport good for a year. Then when you return to the US you need to trade it in for a new 10 year passport.

Tomas Jefferson “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

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kramer says on Aug 13, 2009, 15:21:

Scumbuster, Thanks for the explanation.

Kramer

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jeoffry says on Aug 13, 2009, 18:24:

Ok, well it looks like it could go either way. I'm not going to risk it. Thanks everyone!

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Gator says on Aug 13, 2009, 20:15:

Scumbuster,

No such animal as as "temporary passport." You will be issued a new US passport by the next day. For this reason, gentlemen, always have several notarized copies of the pertinent information with you. We scan items like US Passport, the wife's Colombian passport, our cédulas, drivers licenses, both our birth certificates to our Gmail account and save that e-mail. If anything is lost it can be recalled and printed out in all its glory. Saved our a- -es twice.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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