does anyone know if you can come as a tourist, sign on to a learning spanish course and get a student visa when in cali ??

Wastelandlive says on Aug 30, 2007, 09:44:

Technically, what you want to do is contrary to the law for two reasons.

1) Only certain schools qualify for a student visa. Those are usually accredited universities, not some fly by night language school.

2) You have to get a student visa outside of the country. Many countries do this... and the only reason I can think of for this restriction is to reduce the misuse of the visa.

That said, I did in Bogotá exactly what you are thinking of doing. I had to go to the Camera Comercíal and get a copy of the schools business license, and then a letter from the school. I took that to wherever you do visa stuff - a DAS office I think - smiled a lot, and even though I hadn't complied with the rules, they gave it to me.

I'm not sure what to make of that. No money exchanged hands... so you can't call it corruption. I just think those officers have some discretion, and the guy must have thought, "this guy's done his research, his request is reasonable... STAMP." Perhaps HE didn't know that I hadn't complied with the rules... I have no idea.

Note: they will want proof of your financial independence to ensure that you won't be sticking around and sucking up any of those generous Colombian welfare benefits. I kind of balked at that: if you prove to some functionary in DAS that you have a pile of money, and give him your address, and that of your school... what are the odds that this information will stay private?

I came up with an account that had something like four thousand dollars in it, and brought that statement with me. That seemed to do the trick.

Good luck.

Wasteland

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