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Help required on how to obtain a visa

Right, with the visa requirements undergoing an overall make-up in Colombia, I thought I'd post here on PBH to get some useful, accurate and definitive information ;-)

Here is my situation:

1) I recently got married in Colombia so I suppose I can now apply for a "visa temporal de conyugue"

2) I also got a job offer in Colombia (as a teacher). I'm supposed to sign the contract in a few months time and the university rector told me he'd help me with my "visa temporal de trabajador" if I needed it.

Here are thus my (numerous) questions:

a) Shoud I apply for a "visa temporal de conyugue" or for a "visa temporal de trabajador"?

In other words, will a "visa temporal de conyugue" allow me to work in Colombia? (the requirements for such a visa shown on the French Colombian Consulate website mentions that, if I apply for a "visa temporal de conyugue", I'll only be allowed to work if, at the time of applying for this visa, I also mention my work intentions...)

b) Shoud I apply for the visa (whether "visa temporal de conyugue" or "visa temporal de trabajador" OUTSIDE Colombia (whilst being in France) or could I take my chances in Colombia to apply for either visa?

I must admit that my first reaction is to enter Colombia on a "tourist" visa, then visit the MRE in Bogotá and apply for my "visa temporal de conyugue" hoping that this very visa will allow me to be also employed in Colombia...

Unless YOU know better! ;-)

By Darloup on Oct 17, 2009, 21:25 in Friendly Talkzone.

Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 18, 2009, 05:24:

I entered Colombia under BOTH types of Visas. I had the job offer letter which I took to the Consulate. There the Consul married us again so we were "married " in Colombia after being married for many years in the US. Both were reflected on my passport

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 19, 2009, 16:00:

Bill, you obviously got yourself covered - and from abroad as well!

Basically, since I have now married a Combiana, I'd like to know if a "visa de conyugue" would entitle me to work in Colombia and whether it's be easier for me to apply for it within Colombia or outside it.

There sure are a lot of useful info here on PBH but, at the end of the day, I never encountered anyone actually telling/explaining me here that, prior to apostilling documents in Bogotá, TWO different authorities might be necessary to verify the signatures of the official documents depending whether they were issued by a notario or by a registrador. Pity, since I would have saved a lot of time if anyone had given me the correct info.

As I mentioned here on http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/apostilling-colombian-documents-..., there are MANY differences between the theories posted here on PBH and between what actually happens when you are in Bogotá.

Did you know, for instance, that prior to getting ANY documents apostilled in Bogotá with the MRE, you had to get an appointemnt before being allowed the building?

And that such appointments could be obtained at:

a) Call 01 800 097 98 99 (national number) or 587 40 00 (Bogotá number)
or
b) Visit this website: http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/Apostilla1/gui/InscripcionCiudadano.aspx

And that if you don't live in Bogotá, you are guaranteed to get an appointment the next day?

Again, there are many informal and THEORETICAL advice here on PBH.

I'm certainly no expert in theses matters but, at least, I recently managed to go through the gauntlet on my own. And what I had to do was very different from what some so-called "experts" told me I had to so.

A little humble pie from the so-called experts, please. Requirements DO change and, unless you have actually gone through them from a practical point of view; your theoretical advice don't count much...

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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davidslc46 says on Oct 19, 2009, 16:09:

Look if you do not mind paying alittle but not having to jump through alot of hoops and possibly avoid having to personally travel to Bogota, then Catalina Rendon maybe able to facilitate a visa.

Just search for her Medellin number off PBH.

David

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