Fine for Not Registering Visa with DAS within 15 days

I had a 5 month student visa at the beginning of 2007 and was not aware that I was supposed to apply for a cedula extranjera within 15 days of arriving in Colombia on that visa. Before my student visa expired last July, I left Colombia and later re-entered on a tourist visa. I am in the process of extending my tourist visa but I've been informed that I will need to submit "a lot of paperwork" and pay a fine since I never originally registered my now expired student visa with DAS for the cedula extranjera. Before I return again to the DAS office to try to sort this out, does anyone have any idea of what "paperwork" is required and how large the fine will be? This seems ridiculous to me given that I was never told by anyone (i.e. the Colombian consulate at the time the visa was issued nor DAS when I first arrived at the airport on my student visa) that I needed to register the visa with DAS. The visa also does not state anything about needing to register it. Had I known that I was eligible for a cedula extranjera when I was a student in Colombia, I would have obviously jumped at the opportunity since life is much easier in Colombia with a cedula. I never breached the terms of my student visa and I left Colombia before the student visa expired. I just don't understand why I now need to pay a fine for something that happened more than a year ago and which would have greatly benefited me had the Colombian government been so kind to notify me of the requirement. But, hey, this is Colombia .... we don't need reasons for rules, we just know that there are "rules." I would have thought that any security threat I posed to Colombia as a student in 2007 would probably have passed by now given they were happy to let me in in as a tourist in 2008. Sorry for venting, but sometimes I get frustrated with all the non-sensical rules. Why don't they just implement a tourist or visa tax? I'd be more than happy to pay it provided I didn't have deal with all the red tape. Anyway, bottom line, what is this going to cost me in terms of money and time dealing with government bureaucrats? As always, any insights will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!

By gerry07 on Mar 28, 19:01 in Visa & paperwork.

rumronrum says on Mar 28, 23:16:

If the visa is issued for more than three (3) months, the visa holder should register it in the Immigration Office of the Administrative Department of Security (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad - DAS -) within fifteen (15) working days from the arrival date.

Darn I hate those fines!

http://www.medellinvisitorguide.com/visas.html

RumRonRum

tejasmarcos says on Mar 29, 08:50:

i have never used my cedula here - 2 years.

why do you feel that you need to register the visa now? i do not believe it would not hinder your flight out of the country. are you re-applying for another visa?

god is in your head

pedro says on Mar 29, 09:59:

You mention you weren't told about the requirement. Are you sure there's nothing on the visa page in your passport? My visa was issued at the Panama consulate (not MRE in Bogota) and it clearly states you need to visit DAS within 15 days of arrival.

I would guess that the fine varies depending on which DAS you visit, on which day, who you speak to and how they're feeling about you and the world in general.

At this point, I'd be looking for contacts who are in tight with a DAS extranjeria staff member. You need to do all this with them in a friendly manner, with a smile on your face, asking for a favour to fix your situation. Under no circumstances complain and treat it as if it was their fault when you go to their office. That would be such an anglo-saxon way to do things, and would just make things harder for you.

If Cali DAS are intent on not giving you a break, consider treating the same issue with a different DAS and you can expect a completely different answer.

¡save pow wow!

tomtom33 says on Mar 29, 11:19:

The last few times times I left Colombia, I was asked to show them my cedula. That includes departures from Cartagena and Medellín. And DAS stamps your passport to show that your VISA has been registered. If there is no stamp there, you may have big problems.

jonas says on Mar 29, 11:27:

Yes, good advise from pedro. My visa also clearly states the fact that you need to register. Are you joking about the tourist-tax? It already applies and you will be charged US$ 5,00 when leaving.

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

tejasmarcos says on Mar 29, 11:36:

i cannot remember cedula policy at jose maria cordova. tom may be right above. i don't remember das stamping my passport either, but there is alot of chit i don't remember.

good advice guys...

god is in your head