Investor Visa (Gator)

guacharaca says on May 29, 2008, 06:23:

If you have had a spousal visa for that long, I can not believe you are asking that question. You do not need an investor visa.

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

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Brians says on May 29, 2008, 06:26:

I understand that I don't need an Investor Visa. My question is that the Spousal Visa expires every two years and it is a pain to renew. Since I qualify for an Investor Visa how long are they valid for because I want to avoid having to go to the Consulate all the time. If they expire every 2 years like spousal Visas then no sense in changing Visa types.

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Atrevido says on May 29, 2008, 06:33:

I believe you can. On visits to the Ministerio De Relaciones Exteriores I was told I could change my Pensionado to Matrimonial if I wanted since I had married since acquiring the first visa. I was also told if I wanted to work in Colombia (can´t with Pensionado) I was free to change to a work visa.

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guacharaca says on May 29, 2008, 06:33:

You already qualify for a permanent visa if you have had your spousal visa for three years. That is the reason you do not need an investor visa. Permanent visa is exactly equivalent to investor visa (an investor visa is also a permanent visa).

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

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robi666 says on May 29, 2008, 06:36:

After two spousal Visa and three years since the first, you get a permanent residence Visa. So the third Visa will be a residence one.
The investor Visa is a residence Visa from the first. It costs more, though.

Are you sure that you have all the papers for the investor Visa? Because I am quite sure that you do not have the Banco de la Republica certification letter stating the registration of your investment. Which is NOT the receipt of the registration of form 11 that they use to send after the filing of form 11.

When I was in Bogota at MRE last time, I though that I had all the papers for the investor Visa. But they did not accept the receipt of form 11 with the print and sign of Banco de La Republica. They kept on saying that it was the form that I filed and I tried to explain to them that it is what Banco de la Republica mailed to me, to no avail.
Well, I made the spousal Visa again, save 600,000 COP and I will have to fly to the dangerous Burungotà for the last time in my life and hide again in the toilette waiting for my plane...

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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Brians says on May 29, 2008, 07:16:

Robi tell you the truth what you just said scares me a little. I have the same reciept from Banco de la Republica. I would have hoped that was all I needed. My main problem with the Spousal Visa is based on reading from Gator it looks like I do not qualify for a permanent spusal UNTIL I reside in Colombia for three years. If you are out of country for more than 90 days in a year (which obviously I am) then it starts all over again. I would think you qualify but until I move to Colombia I will have to keep renewing which is a real pain in my ass. Thus I was thinking of trying to get a Investor Visa instead and pay the extra. However that looks like it may be difficult as it sounds like they did not accept the reciept of form 11.

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Gator says on May 29, 2008, 07:36:

Solve your problem(s) by requesting a Visa Residente Calificado (RC Permanent Resident Visa) which would replace your present Cónyuge o Compañero Permanente Visa (TC Visa). You can apply through MRE, Bogotá, or through a Colombian Consulate. If you have had your spouse visa for three years I would "up grade" to the the TC Visa. One caveat-you can not have been absent from Colombia for more than six months.

If you apply for and receive a new visa any other visas you may hold become invalid and are cancelled. I, like Robi666, have concerns about having the proper forms (4 and 11) filed with the Banco de República to account for the transfer of funds for the investment. If you try to come in after the fact you will face serious Colombian tax consequences..

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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Brians says on May 29, 2008, 07:51:

Good advice on the TC as i was out of Colombia for 8 motnhs in 2007. Thus I guess my best choice is to make sure I return to Colombia always within the 6 month windows. I wonder how closely they look at those stamps? Colombia does not seem to be really organized with these things.

Last idea is to make another investment for over $100,000 and do the Investor Visa simultanously. I think I have filed all the Form 4 and 11 properly but it scares me a little that people like you and Robi have your own concerns as I think you are both more qualified than I in these areas.

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robi666 says on May 29, 2008, 08:11:

I believe Brian has the proper forms 4 and 11 correctly filed. You certainly do not need to make another investment.
But, to issue the investor VISA, the MRE needs a special certification letter, which you must request to BdlR by letter or going there in Bogotà.
It is not a problem to get it, Brian, but you must have it before applying for the VISA.
The receipt of form 11 is not sufficient.

You can find a resume of the process and a copy of the letter to BdlR written for Usher by our accountant in Medellin at
http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/investment-visa-summary/

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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Brians says on May 29, 2008, 08:23:

Thanks Robi....

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tomtom33 says on May 30, 2008, 06:35:

Robi, there is a service in Medellín that couriers your passport and papers to Bogotá and sends someone to MRE with your stuff and gets the VISA. Turn around is one or two weeks. I think that the cost is less than a round trip plane fare to Bogotá.

I couldn't use the service when I got my first family VISA because I was leaving the country in less than a week. When I renew this VISA, I have no intention of going to Bogotá.

Also, I know nothing of any time-in-country requirement while holding this type of VISA to apply for permanent residence. As far as I know, this VISA is voided if you spend more than 180 continuous days outside of Colombia. Once you have held this VISA for 3 years, you can apply for permanent residence. And I made it clear that I normally spend about 4 months outside of Colombia each year.

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