Getting things done FAST in Cartagena? Anyone have connections?

Gator says on Nov 4, 2004, 19:44:

You Must be Kidding!!!!!!!!! You did not say what visa you used to gain entrance. If you came as a tourist with no visa I am afraid you are out of luck. Plan better next time-like a visit to the closest Colombian Consulate.

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

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 5, 2004, 01:09:

Hunter says on Nov 5, 2004, 07:41:

Very hard As other people say its not Costa Rica.

How long do you want to live there?

Hunter

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Yag says on Nov 5, 2004, 14:46:

It doesn't matter if you go into the DAS office and be very friendly and nice. You will still get the same lousy service!! I found in the cali office that being polite and smiling nice .....did absolutely nothing!! I actually felt that being an american was a disadvantage. They really don't care .....one little bit.......about your urgency.

That's my experience in Cali

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 5, 2004, 15:00:

yes, you're right but just try being rude, nasty and waving a fistful dollars in front of their noses...
cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Gator says on Nov 5, 2004, 19:02:

Just Be Sure....(right on Desi) and talk REAL loud. You know how stupid these foreigners are.

Here is a little Spanish you might try out:

¿Puedo ofrecerle un regalito de dinero? followed by, Si, Si, El cárcel es magnífico. Mucho mejor que mí hotel.

For those whose Spanish is not much better than "Winston Churchill fue un grand hombre de estado," the translation follows:

"May I offer you a gift of money? Yes, Nice jail you got. Much better than my hotel."

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

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ultraman says on Nov 8, 2004, 19:23:

Need VISA in Cartagena I came in on my US passport and it was stamped Vistor 60 Days.

I would like to stay down here 6 months.

Would be nice to be able to carry a firearm for security sake -

As far as my trip to DAS - I was polite in asking what were the requirements for a cedula - The lady told me point of factly to forget it..The best I could do would be to request a 1 month VISA extension.

Anyone notice no one has change down here - not even for 20,000 pesos - $10 US? whats up with that.

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Hunter says on Nov 9, 2004, 03:43:

For 6 months you can just go to DAS every month and ask for a 1 month extension.
First time will take you a few hours, but after you know the procedure about an hour each time.

To get a cedula, you will need some sort of visa, which will cost you money, time and hassle, the second easiest option for you, is to find a school there that you can sign up for a course that makes you eligable for a student visa, you will need to double check that the course is eligable.

I would forget about the firearm, first of all you need the to get the visa, then to get the firearm you need to fill in all the paperwork and wait, probably take a few months to get after filling the paperwork in.

Hunter

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Hunter says on Nov 9, 2004, 04:35:

ultraman Here is the link to the UK consulate, it won't help you, but give you an idea of what type of visas are out there, there are other types that I know of that are not on the website as well:

http://www.colombianconsulate.co.uk/

If you want to go for a business visa in Ctg, send me a e-mail, I can recomend somebody to help you, obviously you will have to pay him, but that is between you and him.

hjones64 at hotmail.com

Hunter

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DiegoDelNorte says on Nov 9, 2004, 05:28:

Change for 20.000 pesos, anyone? Ultraman,

Regarding your change problem: I'm just guessing, but do you look very gringo and speak little Spanish?

Anyway, to solve your problem: A) Improve your Spanish. B) Carry a pocket full of 2.000 peso notes.

As for your desire to go armed around Colombia, unless you have some sort of physical handicap that prevents it, my opinion is that Krav Maga or some other hand-to-hand combat courses would be a much better option, for two reasons. First, if you know how to fight you are never unarmed, even on an airliner or in jail or in a country like Malaysia which has a death sentence for unauthorized firearms carry.

Second, you are unlikely to either be involved in or survive a gunfight in Colombia. Do you feel especially at risk for kidnapping or something? Do you really want to shoot someone in the street for trying to rob you?

Anyway, your best protection is to just use your head and stay out of dangerous situations.

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gunn44 says on Nov 25, 2004, 08:34:

The best advice... ...I've heard so far is What Diego said. Stay cool, be prepared, and make a sincere effort to solicit good advice from Colombianos about staying out of risky areas. We ain't in Kansas anymore...

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villdkatta says on Nov 25, 2004, 08:48:

I have to agree with Diego on this one.... and I'm not trying to insult you, but why in the world would you need a gun? I used to be puzzled at the American stereotype but now I am starting to understand very well, sad to say.

Kim

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