PBH / Colombia / Start Forums▼ (active) Travelguide Cheap hostels Pictures

Rentista Visa/A little help from my friends

Hey Guys,

I read your posts almost daily and have gleaned lots of info and some risas from the PBH community. I need some help here with the step by step process for the Rentista. Anyboby with experience in this could really help me. This is the deal:

My secretary in Washinton State has an official document from my Bank (Vanguard Investment Group) stating my current account balance (over $24,000) in my money market account in Pennsylvania. What can I have my secretary do to the document before she sends it down here to Medellin? Do I have her send it to PA to the secretary of state to get it notarized and apostilled? Translated? If so where? Washington State? PA? Do I send her a letter swearing the authenticity of the document? I guess I'm confused on the steps to getting the right documents to satisfy DAS requirements for the Rentista which I plan on applying for in Panama. My situation is unique in that I'm in Colombia, my secretary and the document are in Washington State and my bank is in Philidelphia PA. I really need some help here folks. A checklist or a step by step list of what to do would be extremely valuable. Thanks for your time. Ian

By Sebastian on Aug 18, 2007, 13:24 in Visa & paperwork.

gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Aug 18, 2007, 14:38:

I'm responding first to put you on the board so people will see it, but you should really consider seeing an accountant and/or lawyer familiar with visas as you may have some serious money in your vanguard acct and there may be some tax consequences.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Sebastian says on Aug 18, 2007, 16:08:

Interesting, I never thought about tax consequences as far as that $$ goes. I have just enough to apply for the visa, not much more. Who would care about the $$, Colombia or the US? Thanks for responding. Any other ideas would be appreciated. Anybody know of good lawyers/accountants who have dealt with the Rentista Visa in Medellin? Thanks, Sebas

0 funny, 0 helpful.

gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Aug 18, 2007, 17:19:

Seb, i was going to do what you want to do, but a professional changed my mind.

Everybody's situation is different; you need some body who knows what they're doing.

there is a guy here who checks in every once and a while, his name is estaban.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

aracne says on Aug 21, 2007, 07:30:

Hi. Here are some ideas that you can use: First of all, a "rentista" visa is a document that the Colombian government will grant you if you can proof a regular, constant, monthly income. The regulations change in Colombia very often, but your monthly income should be of at least $2500 USD. A letter from your bank will be useful if they can certify that kind of income, not your balance. Once you obtain the certification it will have to be notarized and apostille before the Department of State of your residence, have it translated in Colombia by a certified translator and that's it. You can go to any consulate anywhere with that document your passport, a couple of photos and fill the form that the consulate will give you. Good luck with it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

M7 says on Dec 14, 2007, 14:02:

where can i check for exact reuirements to get the "rentista" visa?
i checked both Los Angeles and Miami, Colombian Embassy websites and no info.

what does the "rentista" visa enable to bearer to do? longer stay? acquire cedula? etc???

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Dec 14, 2007, 16:36:

Do a PBH search. The Rentista VISA has been fully covered.

A VISA is a VISA. You can stay for the time period allowed by the VISA. You have to register the VISA at your local DAS office within 15 days of entering Colombia. This registration results in a cedula.

0 funny, 0 helpful.