Colombian Student Visa - What school is easy?

Gator says on Sep 24, 2008, 18:56:

ROTFLMAO

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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adrienne79 says on Sep 24, 2008, 19:33:

jejejejejejejeje!

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vicshere says on Sep 24, 2008, 19:53:

hohohohohoo

listo

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davidslc46 says on Sep 25, 2008, 03:40:

Bro,

It is pretty apparent that you errored in publically posting this question and that as a result you get flamed by the pro-flamers on the board who reveal more about themselves then about you.

as is the case with them, a review of past posts and comments pretty much tells you what you need to know. It is pretty obvious that you are not someone with ulterior motives although the behavior you are asking about is getting more and more scrutiny by Colombian authorities these days according to the attorney I spoke to. You don't help matters by posting what you did.

But the answer to your friends problem is found on the board but you probably have to do what most everyone else had to do; a little research.

David

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twmcm says on Sep 25, 2008, 06:58:

Yeah, thanks David, I poked around and saw a couple decent suggestions in April. But I was hoping for more current info. I'm currently at 113 days for 2008 but my friend is at 195 and he needs to leave & return in about three weeks. So we're looking at all options . . .

Oddly, he just got a 60-day extension by visiting DAS so I'm not even sure anyone counts the days with respect to the 190 day rule.

Either way, an option would be nice.

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jonas says on Sep 25, 2008, 15:59:

the rule is 180 days, not 190.
even if he got the extension he will most likely have to pay the fine.

Mi alma se la dejo al diablo

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twmcm says on Sep 26, 2008, 07:58:

Oddly, the guy last entered in early-June and got 90 days as a tourist. He'd already been in the country over 90 days from January to May. Then, a couple weeks back, he went to DAS the same day as his then current 90 day stamp expired. They gave him a 60 day extension - so his new 60 day visa is technically good despite the 180 day limit.

I wonder if DAS even checks (or cares about) the 180 day thing? Maybe it's only a secondary concern if a primary problem warrants denial of entry or even expulsion.

I left Colombia for 5 days last week. Upon my exit from Colombia, I asked the DAS woman if they could tell me how many days I'd been here this year. She starts paging through my passport and writing down dates. I stopped her and asked if they had the info on their computer - because I could certainly count passport stamps without her help. Nope, she said, so I moved along to the boarding gate.

I did the same on my return. I asked the DAS stamp guy how many days I'd been here in 2008. He pokes at the computer for a second and then starts counting days between passport stamps. Again, I stopped him and went on my way.

If DAS really does have to count days betwixt stamps, I suspect no one would get hit for the 180 day thing unless you do something to trigger a primal desire to keep you out.

The DAS office at Calle 100 told me the DAS airport guys only have your last 90 days of entries and even then there is a max of five they could see.

It may not even be an issue - but my friend is reluctant to leave Colombia or fear he couldn't return for whatever reason.

Has anyone ever encountered a problem with the 180 day rule?

Ciao . . .

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twmcm says on Sep 26, 2008, 07:59:

Of note, I think he had to pay about 60,000 pesos for the aforementioned extension. I think fines start at a much higher number so I think that was more of an extension fee.

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rocinante says on Sep 26, 2008, 08:38:

You could get one of those bogus student visas and risk being deported for good and not being able to return for 12 years. Two guys I know got busted and more on the way. The visa hotel has a connection in Bogotá and a hotel in Medellin. He tries to sell them here on PBH. The school doesn't really exist but has papers. DAS is not taking this lightly and it's only a matter of time until until his ass and the whole process gets stung. Bogotá does not at this time have the means to stop the issue of the visas because the paperwork coming in is slightly legit. So the visa holder, YOU, will get screwed, NOT the connection in Bogotá.

If you think DAS is just going to give you a slap on the wrist you are sadly mistaken my friend. Colombia is not some litle backwater that knows nothing of computers. Get real, pay a school or risk being banned from the country.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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papiChulo says on Sep 27, 2008, 12:26:

maybe fat fanny still works at the DAS office in Medallo?

some of the rudest people I know don't smoke

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