Business visa, minimum activity required to renew?

pedro says on Feb 13, 2008, 08:13:

All opinions very welcome (especially yours, Gator!)

que nota!

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Gator says on Feb 13, 2008, 09:48:

As far as I know, and hopefully someone can be more definitive, you are required to show the business is active, present the tax return(you are not required to show a profit the first two years) and have not changed from the original visa application. I will check further when my MRE contact come home to night-she lives in the same building,

Not much but hopefully it is in line with what you have found out.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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lampltr says on Feb 13, 2008, 10:54:

Great question Pedro, will look forward to Gator's answer.

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gringoloid says on Feb 13, 2008, 16:16:

thanks, pedro for starting this thread......i can't believe i didn't come here first with this problem.

well, i just returned home from seeing my lawyer, and tell you the truth, the two people from PBH that I spoke with today were more informative than the professionals. also one person here from medellin. well, maybe it's because they spoke english.

i won't be able to finish the comment because i have to see an accountant next tuesday; you don't really use an attorney to set up the books and file the papers.

pedro, from what i understand, when you go to renew and get interviewed, you tell them you couldn't sell your house in California and you need that money to start a business. they file a report and that is it. But i don't know how long this can go on.

But it doesn't matter as what Med1975 said is correct, all you need to do is set up some kind of a website for a business, like importing laptops, and then make the declaration to DIAN of what your business is worth. pay whatever the tax is and then take that to DAS. of course i won't be doing any of this, the accountant and lawyer will file all of the necessary paper work for me. your business does not have to show a profit.

let me see what my accountant says on tuesday and i'll bring this thread back as he would be the one to know what the filing requirements are.

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pedro says on Feb 13, 2008, 16:24:

Thanks gringoloid, that's excellent info.

I also have a personal interest here. My first year visa renewal is due at the beginning of May.

There are several avenues I could take, one of which is to try and renew the socio visa, even though my personal company has done nothing to date.

Gator, thanks for your response and would be very interested to hear an informal MRE opinion on this topic.

I haven't stumbled across any clear published guidelines for what is a qualifying business. Maybe they have some internal guidelines they use?

Another question (thinking out loud). You need to file the visa renewal minimum one month before expiry, if you're renewing in-country. Could you file it several months ahead of time, so as to allow for contingency planning if they say no on the business visa extension?

que nota!

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gringoloid says on Feb 13, 2008, 18:03:

pedro.....we'll have an answer for you in no more than a few weeks and possibly next week.

after what i was told today, i am quite relieved. this is not going to be a problem,..... i'll phone you and tell you why.

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RAAAY says on Feb 13, 2008, 18:05:

Gringoloid...........it would have been usefull if you had been thrown out of the country........then you could have posted here on what not to do...........it would have been really valuable info..............oh well..........:)

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

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gringoloid says on Feb 13, 2008, 18:10:

deported? and then what....return to the land of huskies? i'd rather stick needles in my eyes.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Feb 14, 2008, 07:05:

Pedro....PM me a landline or cell phone in Colombia where i can call you, if you want. i am in Cartagena. I can tell you what i had to do to renew a Visa de Negocio (NE) for the first time.....and here is a tip, next time ask for a 2 year renewal, because if you dont, they will only issue the standard 1 year renewal. i need to renew mine for the 3rd time in june of this year. I dont go on PBH much theses days as i am really busy, but i do check in to see how much attention i still get from some PBH Buttmonkeys.....and to get some great laughs out of it....but, i will call you and tell you about my experience, although i am not an expert, i have gone through it before......

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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Gator says on Feb 15, 2008, 18:01:

I was told, that in addition to the application to renew, you must bring "sufficient" evidence that there is a business,the reason for the first income tax return, and other information that the business is or will be operational. You have two years to show you really have a viable business. The only determination of if the business is functional or a good faith effort is being made with the "start up" will be done at MRE.

She really did not seem to think , as a first year renewal, you will have a problem.

Good luck.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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