Rentist (TS) VISA

rockcreek says on Jul 29, 2005, 21:16:

each consulate seems to make their own rules

tomtom33 says on Jul 30, 2005, 06:02:

My attorneys just sent me a copy of their E-mail to the Deputy Consul quoting Colombian law.

Why was this thread deleted from "all about visas?"

tomtom33 says on Jul 30, 2005, 13:00:

Thanks, Tinto. Must have been gremlins this time.

tomtom33 says on Jul 30, 2005, 13:03:

Got this by PM "Laws are diferent in one country then another, so if you apply your visa in the US. in the Colombian ambassy or a consulate you will have to wait untill your current visa expires, in case you apply a renovacion of your visa in Colombia, then you must go at least 30 days before that date to the ministerio de relaciones exteriores en Bogota, see also www.minrelex.gov.co"

If this is correct, you must wonder why. I also wonder why my US$350 per hour lawyers didn't. They have represented me for two years.

BAQ says on Jul 30, 2005, 20:46:

where are you tomtom33, are you now in COLOMBIA or AMERICA? I think (and I could be wrong) that if you are NOW in Colombia, you can renew your visa in Bogota. But please don;t take my word for that. I was told that when my spousal visa expires next year that I will need to go to BOGOTA to renew it since I live in Colombia, but your situation could be different.

Semper Fidelis !

BAQ says on Jul 30, 2005, 20:52:

RE POST THE WEB ADDRESS Can you re-post the web address for the Colombian Govtg web site in Bogota ref" Visa renewal?

I tried to access the site and it didn;t work

thanks

Semper Fidelis !

Lostgringo says on Jul 30, 2005, 21:06:

link does not work? OOPs. soory. I tried the url posted www.minrelex.gov.co and it does not work for me?

Your Home Away from Home:http://www.welovebogota.com http://www.apartmentinbogota.com "Luxury apartment and rooms Cheap" Only 2 blocks from the American Embassy!

tomtom33 says on Jul 31, 2005, 06:35:

I'm now in the US until Oct. My VISA expires 9/15.

Here is part of the E-mail the my attorneys sent to the Chicago Deputy Consul:
"According to article 11 of Decree 4000 dated November 30, 2.004, the owner of a VISA who wishes to extend his stay in Colombia, must apply for a new visa before the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or before any Colombian Consulate's Office prior to its expiration.

In addition, according to the procedure described in the Colombian Ministry of International Relation's web page (www.minrelext.gov.co) for application or renewal of a VISA, no VISA will be issued to a foreigner who requests the renewal of his original VISA after its expiration date."

Included is the correct URL for the site previously mentioned.

I am given to understand that, if I were in Cartagena, I could use a service to renew the VISA for me. It would take a week or two and cost around 150K pesos-much less than plane tickets to BOG.

BAQ says on Jul 31, 2005, 12:48:

tomtom33 PLEASE keep me updated about this. I will need to renew my visa first of next year and I would be MOST INTERESTED to know about being able to do it by a SERVICE. I agree would be MUCH LESS than having to catch a flight from Barranquilla to Bogota.

Almost forgot, What kind of Visa are you renewing?

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT, Would like the name if the service you use and the outcome !!!!!!!

THANKS IN ADVANCE !

K

Semper Fidelis !

tomtom33 says on Jul 31, 2005, 20:24:

BAQ I hold a Rentist(TS) VISA.

I will post as things develop. You can feel free to PM me any time.

The service I mentioned was used by a friend in Cartagena. He holds a Spanish passport and now has permanent resident status. He is in Spain for a couple more weeks. I will be in contact with him when he returns.

The way I understand it. After I have held temporary VISAS for 5 years, I can apply for Colombian citizenship which I would then hold dually with my US citizenship.

tomtom33 says on Sep 20, 2005, 09:20:

The rest of the story. It is not legal for a VISA service to renew the Rentist VISA. You must do it yourself in Bogota or an embassy.

If you let the VISA expire, you have to start over from scratch. This means that you must get another outside of Colombia.

The Deputy Consul in Chicago dicked me around to the point that my VISA expired. I have an appointment next week with the new Deputy Consul to get a new VISA.

I also discovered that it's not good enough to hold a VISA for 5 years before you apply for a permanent one. You also must stay in Colombia at least 9 months a year for 5 years.

Hopefully my passport will come back from a failed attempt at renewal by proxy in Bogota before next week. I leave for CTG on Oct. 4.

tomtom33 says on Sep 28, 2005, 16:03:

Exito Seems my passport was held up by customs in Bogota. I got a new passport on Monday and got the VISA today.

The fee for the VISA was nothing. But I probably spent over US$1000 on two trips to Chicago including lodging, attorney fees, and official translations.

I have to figure a better way to skin this cat.