Couple of Student Visa Questions

rocinante says on Jan 7, 2008, 17:47:

The answer. Your scam is OLD and TIRED.

But to answer your questions - yes it will be for exactly 3 months to the day:

In order to qualify for a student visa you must:

Pay for classes in advance and be attending these classes for 10 hours a week or more.

Example: Pay the school in advance for 6 courses, which end on, say, July 8th. The school writes a letter stating that you will be in class for more than 10 hours a week up until July 8th.

This letter and another letter stating that the university is really a university, photos, valid passport, other crap such as money in the bank proving you can support yourself etc... that the consulate needs is what you bring to the consulate in your home country in order to get your Visa which will expire on the 8th of July.

You can do multiple entries on the student visa. Fly home for the weekend, Christmas break, not a problem

To answer question #2 and although I know where you're going here.... it is only happening if you PAY for the classes - the student visas have an expiration that corresponds to the last day of PAID class as outlined in the letter from the university. The consulate is not just going to issue a visa for whatever you tell them. It is based on what you paid the school.

Now that you have the July 8th visa and you are here...

The school can cause a problem with DAS if you don't show up for class. The last thing the school wants to do is get on a blacklist of schools that write fake letters for partial students not adhering to the 10 hours a week minimum - just so that they can stay in the country illegally.

I repeat your "idea" is old and considered a scam. Don't even try it.

Lastly you alluded to 3 months. You won't even get a tourist visa for 3 months nor will the schools bother writing the letters. You can stay 6 months each calendar year on a tourist visa, although you might have to leave the country every 90 days or pay a fine at DAS.

If DAS at the airport only stamps you for 60 days, and you paid for 3 months of school but don't have a student visa (you don't need one) you get a letter from the school and bring it to DAS here in Colombia and DAS will " adjust" your stamp to 90 days, to allow you to attend school the whole time.

"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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Bam Bam says on Jan 7, 2008, 21:21:

someone sounds bitter.

Since when is it a scam to go somewhere to learn spanish?

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Brent702 says on Jan 7, 2008, 21:50:

Thank you for answering my questions, but I'm not exactly sure what scam you think I'm trying to pull. I would fill you in on the background of why I was asking these questions and why I want to enroll in classes in Colombia to improve my Spanish, but I'm not sure it's necessary. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the information. Thanks.

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tomtom33 says on Jan 8, 2008, 02:51:

Someone may need English lessons as well. The scam is trying to get a 1-year VISA with 3 months of classes. Try looking up the word scam in an English dictionary.

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Brent702 says on Jan 8, 2008, 04:26:

Wow. Okay. I wasn't asking how to do something illegal or how to commit fraud, okay? I asked if it's possible to get a visa that extends beyond the time someone would be enrolled in school, and if it's not possible, what could be done to get a visa to stay (legally) for 12 months. I'm not trying to scam anyone out of anything, or making an attempt to get around any rules; I was asking how the system works and what can be done within it. And thanks for the advice about checking out a dictionary but it's not necessary. I know what the word means, and that's why it makes no sense - I'm not trying to cheat anyone out of anything here. I also am not interested in entering this forum by arguing with anyone, but I'd rather not be accused of trying to do anything unethical, either. Just trying to get information. Thanks.

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paulr says on Jan 8, 2008, 04:32:

It is possible to obtain the 12 month student Visa without paying for the whole 12 months but it is a small risk, i managed it by paying for 4 months up front. There are people who can help you with the whole process and sort everything out for you (for a price of course), i don´t think it´s that expensive but it does save you a LOT of hassle in Bogota. If i had to do it again i would get someone to sort it out for me. I don´t have any contacts for these people, sorry.

I´m sure you can complete 3 months Uni on a 12 month Visa, just don´t fall out with your Teachers.

It is multi entry.

UPB is very helpful in this and a very good Uni. Good luck

Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.

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rocinante says on Jan 8, 2008, 05:17:

TomTom understands the scam and so does DAS.

BamBam - I'm not bitter just spelling out the pay for 3 months and grab 12 is considered illegal and a scam here - even if you pay for the school for a whole year and never go to class you are exposing yourself to violations and deportation. Me entiendes?

Brent - buried in my original post is "You can stay 6 months each calendar year on a tourist visa, although you might have to leave the country every 90 days or pay a fine at DAS."

Meaning:

6 months a calendar year (approx) on a tourist visa. Go in June, 180 days before 12/31 and then you get a fresh 180 on Jan 1st, another 6 months. You will need to leave the country or pay fee when your intervals within the 180 days expire. Intervals are usually 30 or 60 days, depending on the stamp you get. At the DAS office after paying the fee they USUALLY issue a 30 day because they want to have you come back every month and pay the fee. Business.

What you can do is a partial - 4 months Student Visa from February to May, and then kick in your tourist visa time. that's 16 months for only paying for 4. Multiple entries welcome.

So there you have a better answer to your question.

If you juggle this a different way and stick the 4 months at the end of the split tourist visa year. PM me an I can help you....

"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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LilaM says on Jan 8, 2008, 05:20:

Brent where are you from, I know an institute, you can send them a note and they can help you with your questions about visa, I don´t think that you need that for sure.
Anyway....
If you are interesed in getting more information about this contact INTERLINGUA Spanish courses, carrera 18 # 90-38 Chico or phone (571 5301047 - 571 2180942) from 8:00 a.m to 7:00p.m. If you write to study at interlingua.com.co, they are going to give you more specific information for sure.

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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