No Jobs in Medellin

Roncita says on Jun 29, 2004, 09:04:

visa problems If you're having problems changing your visa status ie you're on a tourist/student visa and you want to change it to a work visa, but you have a job offer from a school and a contract, you can fly to Quito/Caracas/Panama or any neighbouring country that has a Colombian consulate and apply for the visa there. You just can't change your visa status within Colombia.

If you don't have a contract/job offer from a school, it's a different matter. Have you tried the English departments of the universities? University of EAFIT (www.eafit.edu.co) or Antioquia (www.udea.edu.co)? Or how about Medellin university? They were looking for teachers of business English last year. I can give you a contact for the English department at the University of Medellin if you want. (I know a teacher who works there - think she's still there.)

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pointofview says on Jun 29, 2004, 09:08:

Jobs - Medellin Did you inquire at the universities ? Why is flying to Quito not an option ? Call Alejandro Stankov at Belitz Language 312-8388 or Daniel Pissarelo at Alliance Language Institute 313-2210. They might not have jobs but maybe they can offer suggestions. Both Belitz and Alliance would not pay much but you may be able to solve the VISA problem and you would have to travel to the Colombian Embassy in Panama City for the Work Visa (I think). The Consulate in the Colombian embassy in Panama is a woman originally from Bogota and is very helpful. The last I heard there were unfilled jobs for native speaking instructors (with credentials) at the local universities in the pay (reportedly CP$4.000.000 per month) was good (by Colombian standards). Maybe you have gone though the entire process and found something different exists.

Don't travel to the Colombian Embassy in Panama without faxing (or overnighting copies of) the supporting documents in advance for the Consulate's approval or you could run into problems with not having the right supporting documents or originals thereof. Make sure that all of your Work Visa documents are acceptable before you book the flight to Panama. My last Visa took three trips to the Colombian Consulate. They lost one set of original documents and a 28 page fax that I sent them. It was a nightmare but they were nice people.

If you need some bilingual help getting around I can arrange it for you.

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Skippy says on Jun 29, 2004, 09:17:

Okay I will give it a try. I kind of got bummed out. I tried contacting the schools before I arrived, but got no reply so here I am on a tourist visa. I will contiue the fight.

Yup

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ShazCas says on Jun 29, 2004, 09:37:

Patience Unfortunately, it can be really hard to get a work visa, and will take a lot of patience. Some schools know how to get them as they employ a lot of foreigners, and others don't have a clue. Don't listen to anything those who don't have a clue tell you- they're just making it up. There is a whole list of complicated paperwork the school has to put together, and it is a lot to ask in a country where people aren't all that organised with papers and stuff. And living in Colombia generally means dealing with a lot of red tape and having the patience of a saint with it! Hopefully, you'll find a school that is experienced in employing foreigners that will just be able to hand you all the paperwork you need and send you off to the Ministerio. I don't know Medellin, so I can't help you there. Good luck!!

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