My friend is stuck in Colombia

Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 5, 2004, 13:25:

Hollyjolly says on May 5, 2004, 13:35:

The only family she has are her younger brother and sister who cant do anything to help her. Ill send her money to the lady, thats a good idea. And thats the least of our worries right now I guess. I dont know why she went down there under a different name, she is into a lot of shady things and I dont ask her for details. She is adamant about not doing anything to get her in trouble. She's trying to find a way to be smuggled into the US or Mexico. She is in Bogota right now.

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vladimiro says on May 5, 2004, 18:46:

Call The US Embassy Again If she used a fake passport she was probably concerned about the pre-existing legal ramifications of traveling on her real passport. Its sounds like she's too scared to deal with the US Embassy. She should relax because nobody knows she entered illegally and she should still be able to get her passport from the US Embassy even in the event that she has a warrant out for something in the US.

I don't think leaving Colombia on a valid US passport would cuase much problems, even if Colombian authorities can't find a record of her enterring the country. Ofcaorse she should not tell anyone she entered illegally; she just lost her passport and if there is not record then there must be a problem with thier computer system(which is not uncommon). She might be fined. Or she may want to investigate small town border crossings into Ecuador which I don't beleive requires visas for Colombians.

There is a small chance that when she arrives at a US airport immigration will do a thorough background check just because she is arriving from Colombia. If she is worried about background checks, she could fly to Mexico and cross through the border towns.

In case someone in Colombia offers her a forged passport, she should know that when leaving the country Colombian authorities look very closely, using one of those eye-glasses used for jewerly, for fake passports (last year a middle-eastern businessman was arrested in Cali for bringing middle-easterners to COlombia, getting them fake passports, and sending them on to the US. Apparrently, its a big business in Colombia).

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jemsec says on May 6, 2004, 10:13:

your friend is "stuck" Please log on to www.jemsec.com for advice, or mail me direct at dave at jemsec.com.
I have some very trustworthy contacts in Bogota who I am sure will help you out as much as they can.
Good luck

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robertdelred says on May 9, 2004, 02:06:

Small town border crossings Vladimiro, I have a colombian friend who has some similar interests to get to the U.S., however lacking the necessary visa. You bring up an interesting point and would like to ask you some follow-up questions. Lets say, as in the example that you responded to . . that an individual made a small town crossing into ecuador . . what would be the next steps to . ...let's say get to Mexico. Would they just get on a plane from ecuador and fly directly to Mexico ? What about a visa, wouldn't a visa be required? Could you please help me understant how the individual would proceed, once in Ecuador? Your help would be greatly appreciated. Robert xp16 at juno.com (In case you are interested in responding more directly to me.

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Bogart45 says on May 9, 2004, 12:15:

Money This whole story sounds bogus, but you can send money by:
1. fly down and give her money, credit card, debit card. You don't need an ID to go to the ATM machine.
2. Send the same to the woman she is living with if you can't afford a ticket. DHL will deliver in 2 days guarenteed to most cities in Colombia.
3. If she has a passport under her real name, she can get a new one. She would need to claim a lost passport in order to bypass the fact that it wouldn't have the entry stamp in it. This is easy. If she doesn't have a passport under her real name, then she'll need to fess up to what she did at the US embassy.

If this really happened then she's an idiot and needs to take responsibility for her actions and take the consequences (if any) that occur.

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vladimiro says on May 9, 2004, 21:37:

rebertdelred,

If I were you I would find a nice understanding American girl and arrange a marriage for you Colombian friend. I know 4 people who married American girls for immigration purposes; two of them ended up staying with thier American wifes and are still happily married. Good Luck.

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robertdelred says on May 9, 2004, 22:16:

Vladimiros, thanks for the suggestion Will take all options under consideration .. . . any other suggestions?

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 10, 2004, 10:50:

Sounds fishy My two bits is that this whole story sounds fishy. Have you ever considered the possibility that your friend is scamming you? Either willingly or under duress?

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on May 10, 2004, 11:48:

There's more to this story than what we are being let on...and some really powerful reason why your friend can't turn to the US Embassy for help and repatriating. Unless this is some kind of scam, and the "nice lady" who's taking care of this poor gringa in trouble doesn't happen to be her boyfriend...and the original poster is being asked to send money...I don't know, but this is reading more and more like a mystery.
About the other case, somebody I know extremely well married a gringa in order to obtain his permanent residence in the US. Now, thirty years and three grown-up kids plus two grandchildren later, they're still married...so marrying a gringa might not be that bad. Illegal, yes, for those purposes, but then again, some people just set it up as a business deal....Of course, I could not recommend that, it's against the rules, and there's a chance that you'd get your head bitten off by the female dog.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 10, 2004, 12:47:

What she said Exactly. There's no reason that a gringa, even one who entered Colombia illegally, couldn't just throw herself at the mercy of the embassy and come out fine. All she has to do is go there and say, "I entered Colombia illegally and need help going home." The US Department of State isn't in the business of enforcing Colombian immigration laws.

Any American who would consider trying to re enter the USA via the illegal overland route through Central America and Mexico is simply stupid.

Like I said before, you're friend is probably involved in some sort of scam against you. Sorry.

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p0gue says on May 11, 2004, 14:47:

bullsh**

The whole story is nonsense, but its an entertaining "what if."

I would assume, given the nature of your friend's Colombian associates and the "travelling under another name" bit, that she doesnt want to deal with the govt of either the US or Colombia.

So, normal methods of transport are out and you are going to need help smuggling her out of the country. Getting her cash isnt a problem, as others have pointed out, so all you need is a smuggler. She could go to Cartagena and start making discreet inquiries of yacht capitains there, or someone could fly to Miami or Key West and start asking around for the required service on her behalf. no sweat getting her on the boat in colombia, and it shouldnt be too hard to drop her in the States either if you pick a nice relaxed place to take her ashore -- assuming you dont get stopped by the Coast Guard. But thats why you are hiring a smuggler.

To hire the boat you need for a job like this is gonna cost something fierce. If you don't have much money to play with, all I can think of would be for her to go to Cartagena and try to charm her way aboard some yacht headed to the US or Mexico.

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robertdelred says on May 12, 2004, 17:58:

"THANK YOU" . . Pogue !! Yours is the most intelligent response yet .. I for one thank you very much for your response .. .postive response. Rather than dwelling on trying to figure out all the nuances of why the individual is requesting assistance .. you provide a breath of fresh air and intelligence to this individual. "What is this site good for if it can't provide some positive suggestions. . . .I for one am "amused" at the people who provide responses by calling other people "stupid", then go on to show there total ignorance. For one, there are many reasons why individuals may not want to announce all the details of there situation(s) for all the public to view. I for one have been one of those individuals, and on follow up by providing my e-mail, have received tremendous, positive and extremely helpful information. After all . . ..isn't that what this site is about?

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Jlove says on May 17, 2004, 11:09:

Yeah you will receive your share of stupid comments. Honestly she could have been robed for her identification also. Actually she has had it happen a couple of time. girls are easy targets and will be robbed fast. It is easiest to send the money to the family she is living with. Go on the internet and file for her passport overnight. Fed ex it to her and send her the plane ticket. have her report the other passport stolen. The will question her but she should eb able to return with no problem

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ajayque says on May 24, 2004, 06:59:

Watch out I am from cartagena, I live in USA rigth now. Dont ever think on going to the marinas and try to get aboard a yatch that is going out anywhere, specially USA. Favorite spot for drugdealers to send drug abroad. Marinas
aja y que?

aja y que?

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