Help! Marriage Question.

theflatline says on Jun 23, 2009, 07:39:

Were either of your parents born in Colombia? Then yes you can be a dual citizen.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 23, 2009, 07:41:

both parents are colombian and have dual citizenship. they live here in medellin.

how and where do i apply for that?

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theflatline says on Jun 23, 2009, 07:50:

you need your parents birth certificates and yours, if yours is american it has to be translated and notarized in the Consulado in the US.

Then you goto to la Noteria Primera in Bogota, that is where the magic happens.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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romy says on Jun 23, 2009, 07:52:

marriage? must be some amazing girl that's gonna lock you down to monogamy...

Congratulations!

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 23, 2009, 08:02:

MitchAlvarez says on Jun 23, 2009, 08:07:

CG thanks man! So all this has to be done through the colombian consulate? I figured since I was here in Medellin I could take care of this while Im here. :(

Ok thanks bro

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lpdiver says on Jun 23, 2009, 08:17:

If you can swing it; the only way to go is direct consular filing. Can you go and stay as a resident for six to eight months?


ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 23, 2009, 08:21:

NataliaV says on Jun 23, 2009, 08:21:

Congrats Mitch!! She must be one special lady! Good luck!

I too trying to get dual citizenship. In my case I was never registered so I think I have to go with my mom to the consulate in DC. Then I will take it from there. Seems like a simple process, but heard it takes a while to get the cedula.

Again, best wishes Mitch!

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 23, 2009, 08:22:

I think it is better to marry in Colombia.

If you marry in the US while she is here on her tourist visa, it could cause problems down the road with immigration. To get married in the US, the proper way is for you to get a K-1 fiancee visa. Your girl would be given a different visa that would let her come to the US with the intent to get married. You would then have 90 days to get married and file for her residency.



Another important issue is how you will be married if you marry in Colombia. Is your girl happy marrying civil? I am sure you're marrying someone from a good family. Will they be happy with the civil wedding?

Assuming you do go civil, the most important thing is to pick a flexible notary. If you already have a connection with one, that would probably be best. There are set laws as to what you must present to get married, but some notarios are stricter than others. Talk to a few and ask for their specific requirements for the marriage. The requirements may vary between notario to notario.

Typically, to marry as a Colombia, you will need your cedula and your "Registro Civil CON NOTAS MARGENALES". They don't always give you the notas margenales part, so you need to specifically ask for that when you get it from the Notario Primero de Bogota.

You could also marry as a US citizen. However, that normally requires more paperwork.

Where you ever married before, or do you have kids? This could cause some complications with the notario.



When it comes to marriage visas to the US, you have two options, the K-3 or the CR-1/.

The K-3 is a little bit faster to get(maybe a month or two faster), but you have to file for adjustment of status once she gets to the US. In the long run, it is more expensive.

The CR-1 takes a little longer, but has the benefit of being a full residency visa(green card) from the moment she gets it.


For more information about the different visas, there is no better site than www.VisaJourney.com.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis.

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M@rcE says on Jun 23, 2009, 08:27:

It is better to marry her in Colombia the process for her residency will be ALOT shorter than if you guys get married in the states. Unless that’s not a worry.

Dignity consists not in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them. ////// Education is the best provision for the journey to old age. ~Aristotle

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 23, 2009, 08:40:

Update: I just got off the phone with the notary and the colombian consulate in New York. Basically they informed me since my parents are both colombian and when i was a child I did all the paperwork for registraduria and tarjeta de identidad y have most of the work done. I just need a copy of my registro and 3 passport pictures and present that to the consulate in NY. They too indicated it would be much faster thru them. I will then recieve a contraseña and wait for about 5 to 6 months. Then I will receive the cedula and the passport.

Now im in the process of calling my relatives with connections to see if i can find a flexible notary here in medellin.

Thank you guys for all the info!!

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theflatline says on Jun 23, 2009, 08:46:

ColombianoGringo

Years ago as a dual citizen you could be registered in your local Notaria. I was registered in Manizales, without having to do it in Bogota. They at some time they decided that is where all the registrations and records needed to be held. I was born in 1969 but did not go to colombia until i was 20-21.

As typical in Colombia, they registered it wrong way back when and years later when I went to get a copy when I was going to get married in Colombia, I was told la Primera Notaria had all the records, but to my surprise, they did not. Seemed they had left my stuff in Manizales, and I had to do a lot of leg work and time getting it straightened out.

My advice to the guy is to start right now, because you never know what you might need to do.

I have an old cedula somewhere that says nacido Manizales, EEUU. Old school one with the pic and it is just laminated.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 23, 2009, 09:04:

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 23, 2009, 09:05:

MitchAlvarez says on Jun 23, 2009, 09:22:

the problem is i think ive lost both the registro and the my old tarjeta. but since im here in colombia im gonna just take care of copy part here. i was told i had to contact notary 1 in bogota.

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roloenNJ says on Jun 23, 2009, 12:00:

Congrats man.........Alguna diferencia Mitch de una Colombiana ya en NY que una Colombiana q nunca a venido a US ? Si tenes un tiempo me contestas? I know you bz anyway

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 23, 2009, 12:16:

rolo que mas parcero......... hay una gran diferencia llavesita. todo depende de tus gustos, tu personalidad y tus expectativas en una relacion. osea hay differentes tipos de mujeres colombianas en colombia y en el exterior. para mi personalidad y character la mujer que no ha salido del pais es preferible. tengo muchas razones que si quieres te explico por mensaje privado o email. no quisiera ofender muchas amigas maravillosas que viven fuera de colombia y tal vez tomen las cosas de otra manera. send me a message

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roloenNJ says on Jun 23, 2009, 12:20:

JAJA listo

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dwmte7 says on Jun 25, 2009, 05:38:

heh mitch........better give this a WHOLE LOTTA THOUGHT.

patriarch

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dwmte7 says on Jun 25, 2009, 06:04:

if all goes south...you might be singing this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5Zrheej9kA

d

patriarch

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houstongal (Trustee board) says on Jun 25, 2009, 07:17:

Wow! Congrats Mitch on settling down. She must be a very special girl. Best wishes to you both!

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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AFEE13 says on Jun 25, 2009, 08:30:

does she have any family members for me?

Never looking back or too far in front of me, the present is a gift and I just want to BE

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dwmte7 says on Jun 25, 2009, 11:49:

really, my friend.....all the best to both of you.
douglas

patriarch

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MitchAlvarez says on Jul 2, 2009, 14:30:

Ok so I have my registro civil from the notaria primera en bogota that indicates that i was born in NYC. I apparently was also baptised here in Medellin when i was a baby so i went to the church in Belen Rosales and got the partida de bautiso. My only problem now is getting the document that certifies that I am single and havent been married.

where the hell do I get that here in Medellin?

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 2, 2009, 14:32:

MitchAlvarez says on Jul 2, 2009, 14:45:

oh oh......... i didnt ask for notas margenales. :( let me make some calls fuckkkkkk

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 2, 2009, 14:54:

lpdiver says on Jul 3, 2009, 07:28:

My certificate of singleness or eligibility for marriage consitsted of a letter from my mother and godmother. Signed, notarized, and apostilled. It is really up to the notaria that performs the ceremony though. Mine was completely unconcerned about any children that I had from my prior marriage.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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