Moving to Colombia

ZeDoCaixao says on May 12, 2008, 11:13:

Try finding an auto rental outfit in a bigger city or tourist area, they'll perhaps want you for Anglophone business.

ZeDoCaixao says on May 12, 2008, 11:13:

Also, stop calling yourself gringo.

rhydewithdis says on May 12, 2008, 11:18:

if you take intensive classes when you get out there, you could probably learn decent enough spanish to get a job at a hotel. Those jobs aren't easy to get though since they are considered primo jobs out there. Heck, even getting a job at a decent hotel in a major city in the US isn't a cake walk.

Anyway, your best bet would probably be figuring out a job that you can get here in the States that would allow you to telecommute. If you have sales skills, try to figure out a job you that you could land selling things over the telephone (b2b perhaps). Even if it only pays $15/hr. it will be much better than would you would land out there.

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

CatGirl says on May 12, 2008, 11:22:

Dade: Misdemeanors? Uhhhh was this before or after she applied for residency. What type of misdemeanors if you dont mind me asking. Was this before you met her? Hmmmm...

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

Jlove says on May 12, 2008, 11:29:

Try to apply for one of the drug companies such as bayer or even coca cola. There are some american companies in Colombia. GE also have divisions in Colombia if i remember correctly. Or if you are leaving for good, you can take a portion of your saving and start a store, resturant o something that you like. It may be easier than finding a job. You can be like a lot of americans and teach ingles until you figure out waht you want to do. Also apply for positions in the embassy. I think that you can apply on line.

miamimike says on May 12, 2008, 11:34:

Permement US Residency can be revoked and the Person be deported, happens several times a year in Immigration in Miami. A strong arguement why a Permenent resident should go all the way and become a full US citizen. Not to say US Citizenship cannot be revoked as it can and is in extreme cases. What were the nature of these charges as the details sound fuzzy because if she is deportable for these same charges you mentioned, they probably would have also prevented her from becoming a US Resident in the first place,,,What is the whole story??

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.,

ColombianoGringo says on May 12, 2008, 11:42:

Mike,

Are people deported for misdemeanors as well? Do they have to be "crimes of moral turpitude" like drug use, theft, etc? I know some folks that were deported, but these were for serious drug trafficking charges.

CatGirl says on May 12, 2008, 11:47:

Yeah....CG is correct. I would clarify what these misdemeanors are. Usually it is a felony issue, unless of course we are talking about a plethora of them and their nature really important you know all this before you run South with your 2 year old.
Assuming this is a legitimate question/poster - Respectfully speaking, There are times that some things are better left unsaid and leave the past behind - but you have a child and you are engaged?
Also - we are talking about a woman...not trying to sound "sexist" but - what did she do Amigo? Careful

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

Rikito says on May 12, 2008, 11:52:

Dade, you have a bigger problem than you think. I tried a few years ago to help a family friend who was having similar problems. She was from Ireland and had been here for 15 years. First, if your fiancé has been in the U.S. for 20 years, I doubt if she is still in the U.S. on a legal basis. Permanent Residency, even with delays and continuances, doesn't last 20 years. More than likely she is in an illegal status by now, even with your 2 year old son because she was an illegal long before your son was born. My very strong opinion on your dilemma is not to listen to anyone in here. As in no one, or nobody. You need to talk to a good Immigration Attorney in the States. But, depending on where you are located there are probably some people in here who can refer you to some one in your area.

You will need to make every effort to get her residency status updated. You do not want her deported. And forget about the misdemeanors…they don’t exist for visa purpose unless you make them known to the Colombian officials. Don’t fill out any forms or send anything in to Colombian officials until you have received some competent professional legal advice. Why? Because 1) most of us in here are shit-house attorneys. This means that we are as useless as a prostitute inspector in the Vatican; and 2) you have probably not given us all of the details needed for anyone here to give an good educated opinion.

Next, if you can your act together on your fiancé’s visa you can do a search on this site for visa information; it’s at the top of this page. There is enough info in here to choke a chicken. You can also go to a site called www.visajourney.com. This site has comprehensive information for you including links to all of the government forms you will need.

Finally, if you plan on living in Armenia and getting a job in sales…good luck. I live in Armenia and there are no such jobs. Again, doing a search in here and in visajourney will give some answers and direction.

First, get an attorney…can’t say this stronger enough! Best of luck.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

Rikito says on May 12, 2008, 11:54:

misdemeanors are esstentially ignored by Colombian officials. They are more interested in felony's...personal experience on this.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

DADE30574 says on May 12, 2008, 11:54:

Thanks alot I'll try that !

miamimike says on May 12, 2008, 12:01:

C.Gringo--I worked out at the Krome Federal Detention Center for the better part of the 90s. They had their own Immigration Court, US dept of Justice Judge Foster presiding,,,and he was a Tough Old Bird. Hardly anyone ever won their case in front of him,,,He died a few years ago so the Immigrant's case is a little easier now,,,If they were a Permenent US Resident, I never saw a Landed Resident deported ONLY for One Misdemeanor. They were deportable for a string for Misdemeanors and in fact were deported. If they were NOT Residents, in almost ALL cases, they were deported. And depending on why THEY WERE IN US DETENTION IN THE FIRST PLACE, that determined what time period of an Exclusion they would legally be locked out of the US for. Visa Overstays(minor) if I remember correctly was 10 years, more serious charges minimum 15 years, probably a lifetime exclusion. Once your record is flagged and you were deported, no matter what the reason, in all probability you will NOT be receiving another legal US Visa, be it tourist, work ect. Too many new applicants with clean records is US IMmigration's reasoning so why take a chance with someone they have already had a problem(s) with??

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.,

miamimike says on May 12, 2008, 12:04:

Rubito says; Frankly, once they have the idea of deporting somebody in their head it's next to IMPOSSIBLE to stop them in my experience. It's like trying to get the toothpaste back in the tube. And until you are a citizen, you can be deported SUMMARILY, you don't even have to have committed ANY crime, it is their prerogative to continue to let you stay, or not. So what you are doing essentially to get them to not deport her is BEGGING them not to do so.

---Violence is the price of freedom.---
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100% spot on Rubito,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.,

Rikito says on May 12, 2008, 12:42:

Dade, miamimike and his confederates are probably as knowledgeable as you are going to get outside of an U.S. Immigration attorney. You have some hurdles to get over and it will take some time. One thing you might pursue is trying to get her to be able to stay in the U.S. legally. You might have a better life there.

Getting a visa from the U.S. to Colombia or Colombia to the U.S. is not like going to FedEx to send a package home. It is complicated, and the cards are not in your favor even if you have a perfect case. What Rubito is also saying is that the imigration people in either country can do whatever they want, when they want. They essentially make thier own rules. You can have the best case, have all your papers in order, i's dotted, t's crossed and at the end of the day you are in a bar havin a beer cause you ain't goin anywhere.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

DADE30574 says on May 12, 2008, 13:16:

Rikito,
What kind of jobs can you get in Armenia and how much do they pay ?
Thanks.

tomtom33 says on May 12, 2008, 13:34:

Not many and not much.

bufalo says on May 12, 2008, 14:37:

I wouldn't bother with a job, forget teaching english. Try your own business, only real way to go.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

lpdiver says on May 12, 2008, 15:06:

Whatever you do, don't allow her to leave the United States under ANY circumstances. If she is a permanent resident and the misdemeanors are minor and she is married to a gringo! I don't think you have a problem IF you follow the correct steps.

This post smells trollish to me; but, I don't care.

t

"cook some rice!"

DADE30574 says on May 12, 2008, 15:31:

What if all the misdmeanors aren't so minor and she is not married ? She just renewed permenent residency last year but since then she has got Domestic, petty theft from unpaid bar tab, and a pending 5th degree sexual misconduct from having some chick touching her boobs when she was drunk. Do you think all this stuff is enough to deport her ? Also she has lived in the states for 22 years and never had a problem untill recently except for a DUI in 2004 and a DUI in 2006. What do you think will happen ?

DADE30574 says on May 12, 2008, 15:35:

What if all the misdmeanors aren't so minor and she is not married ? She just renewed permenent residency last year but since then she has got Domestic, petty theft from unpaid bar tab, and a pending 5th degree sexual misconduct from having some chick touching her boobs when she was drunk. Do you think all this stuff is enough to deport her ? Also she has lived in the states for 22 years and never had a problem untill recently except for a DUI in 2004 and a DUI in 2006. What do you think will happen ?

lpdiver says on May 12, 2008, 15:37:

Unpaid bartab...duh pay it off.

Boob touching? I doubt that is much,

Two DUI's...better get a good attorney. I doubt in the end if you married her it would get her deported.

t

"cook some rice!"

RAAAY says on May 12, 2008, 15:38:

LOL...............

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

robi666 says on May 12, 2008, 15:42:

I was sure mr.DUI himself would show up...

"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."

RAAAY says on May 12, 2008, 15:45:

Dade.......How many years did she live in the US before getting her green card..?

.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

adrienne79 says on May 12, 2008, 15:47:

Is she already in custody with an immigration hold or are you guys just scared she will be. What is her current status? legal? if not, get to getting married and get started on adjusting that status asap. She might have a chnace to stay.

billyb says on May 12, 2008, 15:52:

I don't know about being deported, but she sure needs help with her drinking problem, all four incidents were alcohol related.

Rikito says on May 12, 2008, 16:13:

The best you can get is teaching English starting at around $35k per year. But, you must be highly qualified. The Educational Minisrty in Colombia is very strict on qualifications.

How do you know that she got her Permanent Residency sucessfully renewed? Did she just tell you or have you seen any official paper. I'm, sorry Dade, but being in the States 22 years...legally without citizenship. I have a hard time with this one.

The people commenting in here are very astute at what is and what isn't on the visa questions. Seems like there is some doubt. Stop reading this stuff and call an attorney. Your inital consultation will be free. If the lawyer can help you get her stragith on the visa issues he deserves a special award. Maybe dinner with Kat & Elmo.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

Rikito says on May 12, 2008, 16:24:

...and billyb is right on with the alcohol problems. Alcohol here is easy to get, it's cheap, and it can kill you.

This reminds me of a line from butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid when I think, Sundance tells Butch he can't swim and Butch laughs and tells him..."hell, the fall will probably kill you."

Any visa process is long and tedious. It usually requires someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in the entire process. As miamimike implied...there is much more to your story here. Good luck to you.

Also, jobs are not easy to get here outside of teaching and medicine. They generally pay about one-third as in the U.S. And you have to have a job offer first before you can get a work visa (I think). Starting your own business is no less difficult. You just cannot come to Colombia and think that this is the south side of New York of Miami. It isn't.

The immigration rules in the U.S. are much different today. If you and she have a child it no longer means that your partner can stay in the country. The child is a citizen, but she is not and they can not only deprt her, but much worse can also ocurr. That is why you need some competent representation that knows your complete story...and hers.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

lpdiver says on May 12, 2008, 16:26:

I know many people who are here longer than 22 years without US citizenship. In some cases it is a conflict in their interest to get US citizenship. This is not the case for Colombian nationals though. And the case at hand points this out very well.

What would be the parameters that define "highly qualified" in respect to teaching English for a wage of $35,000.00 in Colombia? This dollar figure is higher than any I have ever heard before. One can live very comfortably in Colombia on sixty two million pesos per year.

t

"cook some rice!"

RAAAY says on May 12, 2008, 16:28:

Rikito..............." I'm, sorry Dade, but being in the States 22 years...legally without citizenship. I have a hard time with this one. "


This is very, very common..............

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

DADE30574 says on May 12, 2008, 17:37:

Being in US with only permenant residency is very common as long as you get it renewed every 10 years.
I also have a friend from Guatemala who lives in Miami, that has a permenant residency card with no experation date,he came here when he was 13 and is now 48; I have seen his card and it is legit ! So it is very common in Miami for lots of people to come from other countries work,live,save money, and then leave whenever they want without having to go thru the process of being approved for a visa from their birth country because they are still citizens there.
At least that's what those people have told me.

DADE30574 says on May 12, 2008, 17:38:

Being in US with only permenant residency is very common as long as you get it renewed every 10 years.
I also have a friend from Guatemala who lives in Miami, that has a permenant residency card with no experation date,he came here when he was 13 and is now 48; I have seen his card and it is legit ! So it is very common in Miami for lots of people to come from other countries work,live,save money, and then leave whenever they want without having to go thru the process of being approved for a visa from their birth country because they are still citizens there.
At least that's what those people have told me.

RAAAY says on May 12, 2008, 18:59:

Not really Rubito............drugs or prostitution maybe, and it would need to be fairly serious, but DUI ??

I'd like to have a dollar for every fellow Irishman in the US with a green card and a DUI,

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

lpdiver says on May 12, 2008, 19:28:

A lot will depend on the details of her DUI's. Sentences imposed and whether or not she was involved in an accident.

From you brief historical account she "could" be deportable under INA 101(f) 3(j) as an habitul drunkard.

It COULD be that her best course is to NOT file for naturalization.

You need a competent highly experience attorney that specializes in these types of cases.


t

"cook some rice!"

CatGirl says on May 12, 2008, 19:30:

Rubito ' that makes sense. Getting a DUI is not like a simple ticket and a class. It can ruin a person´s life on multiple levels. These days it is an even bigger red flag since it is not as acceptable as it was a few decades ago....to many resources out there to help people from getting a DUI (because it can ruin you)...no excuse really, unless you have a problem

DV - yep. Even worse if you have a DV restraining order against you.

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

RAAAY says on May 12, 2008, 19:35:

Rubito......" And have you have a DUI you are NEVER getting citizenship "

Not true..................

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

CatGirl says on May 12, 2008, 19:38:

Good luck Beavis...errrrr..I mean Dade.

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

bufalo says on May 12, 2008, 19:38:

Rikito-----35K a year teaching English?????? Here in Colombia? Where? Definitely not Armenia, that's for sure otherwise I would have been living high on the hog for some time. The ONLY place that pays so-so for teachers here is Gimnasio Ingles and they don't even pay that well (most teachers don't stay their full contract). And I don't think it even gets close to 35K.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

RAAAY says on May 12, 2008, 20:09:

An exception..no way.........I used to volonteer in an emigration advise center in Queens. I know loads of people who went on for citizenship, with DUI's.

We got calls all the time from people enquiring about their situation, and got the calls when they had no problems. Also, I have two friends, both of whom had DUI's, both got their citizenship. But I know a shit load of people in the same boat. A DUI on it's own is not a problem.

Hundreds of thousands of Irish got Green cards in the early Ninties. A lot went on to citizenship. Trust me, there are a few Irish with DUI's.

.

.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

robi666 says on May 12, 2008, 20:11:

Yeah, same PBHer, same story... a real genius indeed...

"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."

lpdiver says on May 12, 2008, 20:12:

Exactly Ray. There are guidelines. What was the sentence imposed (days can be very critical here). Was anyone hurt? Could be a big problem or a small problem.

t

"cook some rice!"

BillBigD says on May 12, 2008, 21:09:

He is an expert on everything. Just ask him

DADE30574 says on May 12, 2008, 22:03:

Nobody was hurt in either DUI and the last one was over a year ago, if anything was going to happen it would have happened by now.
The real problem is that she is on probation for the domestic, but the pending charge happened before the domestic but took six months for her to be charged, its pretty messed up ! So they are offering 30 days in jail for this which I think is insane for such a stupid thing that happened or if she takes it to trial and loses they give her a full year. Our main concern is if she ends up going to jail and after that she gets deported.

lpdiver says on May 12, 2008, 22:20:

No good choices here dude. Remember they may give her a thirty day sentence with the rest suspended; but, immigrations will treat the suspended days as a given sentence. Lawyer up.

With two DUI's, domestic violence, theft, indecent exposure (?), I would just ride things out here in the good old US of A.

Not being judgemental (well ok maybe just a bit) but; where do you think this is all heading. I wouldn't want to be in Colombia facing divorce and child custody issues.


t

"cook some rice!"

slguy says on May 12, 2008, 22:23:

i know quite a few latinos here in florida who got citizenship post-DUI (mexican, peruano, honduran and tico), but none that rejected over having one.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

miamimike says on May 12, 2008, 22:55:

DADE30574 (newbie) says on May 12, 15:31: flag

What if all the misdmeanors aren't so minor and she is not married ? She just renewed permenent residency last year but since then she has got Domestic, petty theft from unpaid bar tab, and a pending 5th degree sexual misconduct from having some chick touching her boobs when she was drunk. Do you think all this stuff is enough to deport her ? Also she has lived in the states for 22 years and never had a problem untill recently except for a DUI in 2004 and a DUI in 2006. What do you think will happen ?

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With the Baggage she is hauling from your above words, why in the world would you even have more Interest then a passing weekend fling with a woman like this??? She has so many red Flags waving in the breeze, most guys figuritively and literally would be out of Dodge by now and on the fast train out of sight. I doubt she has told you even half the truth as to what is really going on. Please don't tell me lives in Miami or Hialeah,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.,

MitchAlvarez says on May 12, 2008, 22:59:

whats wrong with chicks touching boobs when they are drunk? or who hasnt missed a bar tab in a drunk ocassion? DUI are actually pretty common?

Ok so she's human and not perfect. Baggage? im actually turned on lol

Tengale miedo a una huelga de mujeres o a una escasez de aguardiente. :)

la campiña says on May 13, 2008, 01:28:

moving to montana soon gonna raise me up a dental floss tycoon, or a mental tos flycoon

huskie says on May 13, 2008, 02:54:

"Maybe the Irish get it and the spics don't"
Hey canuck: Why do you call people names? You will be moving to Colombia and calling people " spics" ? I hope you stay exactly where you are!!!! We don't want people like you in OUR COUNTRY!!!!!! OUT!!!!
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

webmanco says on May 13, 2008, 05:07:

http://www.eltiempo.com/economia/2008-05-13/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR...

Bogotá one of the most competitive cities in Latin America.

Mayo 12 de 2008

Bogotá, entre las 10 ciudades más competitivas de América Latina

"Estamos avanzando satisfactoriamente hacia la meta que nos hemos impuesto en el Consejo Regional de Competitividad de Bogotá y Cundinamarca, para llegar a ser una de las cinco regiones con mejor calidad de vida de América Latina", dijo María Fernanda Campo, presidenta de la Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá.


http://www.eltiempo.com/economia/2008-05-13/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR...

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

billyb says on May 13, 2008, 06:27:

Hey Mitch, I agree, the boob incident might be a mitigating factor in helping her stay if I were the judge ;), but who wants a habitual drunk driver behind the wheel with kids around?

bufalo says on May 13, 2008, 06:30:

I think he meant it sarcastically (spelling?). As in Irish are from Europe and white in the states so called "Irish", where Colombians are from South America, not so pasty so they're called "spics" (and land in jail more frequently). It was a way of pointing out others stupidity (guess you missed it (or I'm completely off)).

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

billyb says on May 13, 2008, 06:33:

I understood how rubi meant it, the same way you did Buf.

RAAAY says on May 13, 2008, 06:44:

Actully, now that we are trying to analize Rub's comment, allow me to chirp in with my little bit of amateur psychology.

I think he was referencing the fact, that us Irish have been known to get preferential treatment in matters of US immigration.

This however, would have no bearing on getting citizenship, with a DUI, if it was a barring issue.

It might also be usefull, to have a little PBH committee formed, to analize a lot of Rub's other comments.:)


.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

billyb says on May 13, 2008, 06:51:

I guess the immigration lottery was called "the irish sweepstakes" for a reason, LOL.

RAAAY says on May 13, 2008, 07:15:

Ramrod

Anti Colombian comments....and now anti Irish............your bigitory knows no bounds. I imagine the powers that be here will bounce you off.................you'll have to use up another of your user names..........................chao

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

RAAAY says on May 13, 2008, 07:18:

Billy...........actually yes.

The VISA lottery which was run over three years in the early ninties, allocated 500,000 new green cards per year, for a three year period.

If you were living illegaly in the US you were allowed to apply.

40% of these 500,000 per year were guranteed to Irish citizens.

.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

RAAAY says on May 13, 2008, 09:06:

Rubito......" I'm surprised they would let the Irish in on the lottery "

That particular lottery in the early ninties was specifically geared to the Irish. As I mentioned, 40% of all issued in those three years had to be allocated to Irish citizens.

The bill was sponsored in congress by Bruce Morrison, an Irish American congressman from Connecticut and got huge support from the Irish American lobby.

Billy was'nt joking earlier, it was known as "the irish sweepstakes".

.


.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

huskie says on May 13, 2008, 11:40:

Rubi: This is what you wrote! Did I read it wrong? What do you mean then... explain please. These are derogatory words in my view, unless you meant something else...

"Maybe the Irish get it and the spics don't. That wouldn't surprise me very much."

Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

billyb says on May 13, 2008, 11:47:

I think he means that the fact that there is descrimination in favor of the irish and to the detrimnet of the latins, doesn't surprise him much. Let's not be too much in a hurry to be offended by something.

bufalo says on May 13, 2008, 18:02:

I second! One of the things that bugs me about moving to the states is that I will now have to deal with this BS again. So glad to be rid of that when I moved out.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

sanandressi says on May 14, 2008, 10:58:

The fact that she has been here 20 years and is not yet a citizen is normal. Well, as normal as the fact that there are ILLEGALS who have been here for 20 years and are not arrested and deported.

Work in Colombia? Well, so many can come to the US of A or Canada and or Europe and can find work, education, health care and when we wish to find employment in a third world country? Then they tell us that NAFTA annd CAFTA and FTAA is good for Ameicans....lol