Help-Colombian visa Expiring

Addy says on Mar 20, 2006, 12:10:

Over staying... i don't know what will happen if she stays two weeks past the expiry date, however she may not have a problem leaving the country, however upon re-entry there may well be problems - in my opinion it's not worth the hassle or the risk.

Another alternative is for her to leave and return to Colombia - upon re-entry she will get another 6 month entitlement.

Sorry, i can't help you with the Colombian citzenship, however i'm sure there are members that can help you out.

Best regards

Addy

Addy

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thur says on Mar 20, 2006, 13:29:

Ehm... "Another alternative is for her to leave and return to Colombia - upon re-entry she will get another 6 month entitlement."

No, she is in Colombia as a tourist, a tourist is entitled to 6 months a year in total, period. Leaving and re-entering doesn't resolve the 6 month issue in this case.
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Addy says on Mar 20, 2006, 18:16:

your wrong... ...i was, until 2 days ago, in Colombia on a tourist visa, and when i had two weeks remaining (mid Jan) before the 6 months were complete, i travelled to Peru for 10 days, then returned to Colombia where they checked and stamped my passport for another 60 days...! So, in total i spend just over 7 months in Colombia, with a total of 8 months visa entitlement

I was unsure of the exact requirements as the U.K. Colombian Consulate website does indeed inform you of a 6 month entitlement in any 12 month period, however it fails to mention that if you depart and return to Colombia, then the process starts all over again.

When i was in Cartagena last Nov, i met an Italian restuarant owner who reguarly travelled to Panama every 60 - 90 days to renew his visa upon arrival back in Colombia. He claimed he had been doing this for over 7 years.


Addy

Addy

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Addy says on Mar 21, 2006, 05:01:

not sure... i lucked it out..!!!

Upon arrival at Passport control from Peru, i had two DAS officers individually checking my passport, and upon my last visit to the DAS office in Bogotá, on my last monthly visa stamp, i had the word 'Improrroqable' written above the visa stamp. So, i have no doubt that both DAS officers noticed this, however they still gave me another 60 days.

How then can you explain the Italian restaurant owner doing a visa run every 2 months...? I established he was only on a tourist visa, not a business visa. He also explained you only get a continuous 6 months, however when you leave & return to the country it starts all over again.

Maybe your confused with the 6 month rule only applicable for a 'continuous' 6 month stay, without leaving the country.

Addy

Addy

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europeantraveler says on Mar 21, 2006, 06:28:

the law is clear You are allowed 180 days in a calendar year as a tourist. It doesn't matter if you leave and re-enter the country. However, since today is only March 21, it's impossible that anyone has already used up that amount of time in 2006. That's why Addy didn't have any problems re-entering, and the 60 days he got only take him to May - still less than 180 days in the country in 2006. Only from July onwards do people get into trouble for overstaying.

The applicable legal text is Decreto 4000 of November 30 2004, especially its article 56:

"Para efecto del control migratorio se entenderá por año calendario el periodo comprendido entre el primero (1°) de enero y el treinta y uno (31) de diciembre. Ningún extranjero que ingrese al país en calidad de visitante turista o visitante temporal podrá permanecer por más de ciento ochenta (180) días continuos o discontinuos dentro del mismo año calendario"

The full text can be found here:
http://www.presidencia.gov.co/decretoslinea/2004/noviembre/30/dec4000301104.pdf

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