Colombian Business Visa

vladimiro says on May 16, 2005, 11:12:

Business Visa Yes, you need apostille for those docuents (and for the spanish translations), but it just takes few minutes to take them to Sec of State office and get apostilles for them. I would not pay for any service because the Business visa is very is easy to get. I work in Colombia periodically and ended up getting a Business Visa by claiming I was a salesperson checking out the Colombian market. I actually work as an engineer in Colombia but the work visa was a much longer and difficult process so I opted for the Business Visa.

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bogota says on May 16, 2005, 14:27:

Colombian Business Visa I've used Docurapid for the past 4 years, never a problem, the last time was in March.

There is a new lady working there now and I was a little concerned but all went well.

Another plus with Docurapid is they work closly with Monica, the lady issuing the visa right door.

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calipro says on May 16, 2005, 15:03:

Docurapid I faxed Docurapid my paper work and they already have an appointment for me at the colombian consulate with Monica.

They are going to translate the documents get them apostillized and deliver them to the embassy because they won't be open in time to give them to me before my appointment on Monday the 13th of June. They told me to stop by after the appointment to pay them. I can't believe it.

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bogota says on May 17, 2005, 19:14:

Docurapid To be on the safe side make sure you verify everything with Monica before your appointment. In March there were a couple of glitches from Docurapid but I was prepared, great service from both.

I've had experience with each Colombian Consulate and Miami is the best, Houston second.

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calipro says on May 18, 2005, 18:11:

bogota Do you have Monica's direct phone number?

I asked Marina at Docurapid for it and she balked. She said my appointment is fine she made it and I don't have to check anything.

Also did you really have to have an apostillate for your translated documents?

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bogota says on May 18, 2005, 20:52:

Monica's phone number I had her extension number but I lost my phonebook last March, now I just call the Embassy number and listen to the prompts, she quits taking appointments at 2:30 and you may be able to get her after that. she does answer the phone when she's in the office.

I've always had to have everything apostilled that needed to be translated and notarized. The biggest pain was when I received my first business visa I lived in AZ and because it's a closed state for getting police records (even your own) I had to go through the FBI and that took a month and that also had to be translated, notarized and apostilled (and it was several pages long) I think I received a notice that the police report was eliminated when they eliminated the Colombian marriage visa Feb. 1st but I'm not sure.

The best Consulate for visa information on the web is Houston, here's the website address, It's all pretty self explanatory.
http://www.colhouston.org/english/visas/business.htm

Depending on where you live, Houston would be my 2nd choice for a Consulate to use, but Miami is very convenient with Docurapid doing all the work and I prefer to fly American from Miami, I just pick up my visa on the way.

There is a good Holiday Inn Hotel a couple blocks away if you need an over night stay.

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calipro says on May 19, 2005, 13:31:

bogota I called the Colombian Consulate at a little after 2:30pm Miami time and there was no answer. Just a recording saying their office hours are from 8:00am to 2:30pm.

I have all my original documents have an apostillate but how do you (or do you even need to) get an apostillate for translations that do not have a notory signature. It appears that if it doesn't have an official stamp from say the corporation commission or a notory that they will not give you an appostillate for the document.

I live in Phoenix AZ right now and you are right about the police reports. However Docurapid informed me that the police records were no longer necessary.

Is this the Holiday Inn you recommended?

Holiday Inn CORAL GABLES-BUSINESS DISTRICT
2051 LE JEUNE RD.
CORAL GABLES, FL 33134-4299
UNITED STATES


Thanks, Calipro

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calipro says on May 20, 2005, 07:44:

Hey! bogota I finally got a hold of Monica at the colombian consulate and she confirmed my appointment.

It looks like I'll be spending a Sunday and Monday night in Miami. Any suggestions on where to go on the off nights.

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bogota says on May 20, 2005, 09:15:

Calipro I thought about the part for signing everything before being notarized but that's why I said talk to Monica before hand just to make sure everything is set. (including signing all the documents)

I also have had pre-arranged appointments but have had to sign everything before hand at Docurapid, but like I said, they work closely with each other so maybe they have everything arranged, but if there is a glitch they are only about a 1 min. walk apart.

Night life? Miami Beach where it's at! A club called Mangos is a must see. I hope to be back there in July for a couple days.

The Holiday Inn is the one you mentioned in Coral Gables, it's a full blown hotel not a motel and worth the money. They stay full so you may need an advance reservation. It's close to the Consulate, on the same street to the airport entrance, close to the freeway for getting to Miami Beach.

I usually rent from Alamo hop on the Alamo bus, pick up my car and head to the Hotel.

If you book your flight on American they allow a stay over in Miami, you can take care of business in Miami and head to Colombia the next day or 2.

If your living in Colombia there are many good reasons to set up a U.S. home base around the Miami airport, everything is there and handy that you need, even Tiger Direct (tigerdirect.com) for computer supplies.

Good luck & enjoy Mangos!

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