Student Visa

Gator says on Mar 14, 2005, 09:30:

Up to the School on length of stay You picked one of the better universities but the one in Cali is not on a par with thwe main university in Bogotá. Perhaps consider a different university? Paper work In one week? Tough without the school's paperwork in hand.

Why not grab Javeriana then transfer to a different college like the University del Valle? An excellent school and much cheaper than Javeriana (BTW, the Jesuits are tough but you would get a hell of an education).

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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calipro says on Mar 15, 2005, 07:38:

Gator I don't really want to study in Cali for a whole year. I just need a visa for more than six months so I can get a cedula.

Cancunhound said that he got a student visa for a year and didn't even have to pay for the tuition up front. How he did it, is what I would like to know.

I'm just trying to get the University documents that I need to apply for a student visa now while I'm in Cali.

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Albatross says on Mar 15, 2005, 08:00:

What's a Cedula ? What's a cedula and why do you need to stay more than six months to get one ?

Also, to get a student visa, do you have to pursue a degree or can you just take a class a semester ? (Spanish, for instance)

P.S. If you stop taking classes before the visa expires, do you have to leave the country ?

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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Gator says on Mar 15, 2005, 13:15:

Cedula (also new cedula regulations) the one calipro wants is a Cedula Extranjería. Basically a National ID card issued to Colombian residents who are not Colombian citizens.

There are new regulations concerning this issued recently-read úm an weep. This does NOT affect persons who come to Colombia as tourists and are traveling on passport only with no tourist visa issued by a consulate.

Colombia -- New Cedula Registration Requirements

The President of Colombia, in conjunction with the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently issued a new regulation requiring foreign nationals, who are issued visas for more than three months, to register with the Dirección de Extranjería of the Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad ("DAS") within 15 days of arrival in Colombia. This registration is required of all foreign nationals before a Colombian residence identification document ("Cédula de Extranjería") can be obtained. Under the new regulations, Colombian companies are also required to notify the DAS that the foreign worker is formally working for the company within 15 days of the foreign worker's arrival in Colombia. Decree #4000/04 contains the resolution (Resolution #255/05) that sets forth the procedural requirements for Cedula registration.

Under the old regulations, only those visa holders who possessed visas valid for more than six months were required to register for a Cédula, and they were given 60 days after arrival to comply, rather than 15 days. The two types of visa categories for corporate assignees most affected by the new regulation are the Business Visitor visa ("Visa de Negocios") and the Temporary Work Visa ("Visa Temporal Trabajador"). It is important to note that the new requirement is dictated by the validity period of the visa and not by the number of days that a foreign national is physically present in Colombia.

As the Business Visitor visa is typically issued with a validity period of one to two-years and the Work visa is typically issued with a one-year validity period, foreign nationals holding these types of visas must be mindful of the new registration requirements when entering Colombia.

Those visa holders who are required to register must appear in person at the DAS in order to supply fingerprints and to register for a Cédula. In order to register, each applicant must present the following documents:


1. Original Passport evidencing the appropriate visa;
2. "Certificate of Blood Group/RH Factor", which may be obtained at a Colombian medical center;
3. Three color photographs measuring 3 cm. x 4 cm. with white background;
4. Photocopy of the Cedula registration fee receipt (front and reverse sides) issued by the Central Bank of Colombia ("BANCAFE") in the amount of Colombian Pesos (COP)$86,400.

Cédula applications are accepted at the DAS Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Once the DAS accepts the Cédula registration documents, the visa holder is registered and is presented with a temporary residence identification card ("Contraseña"). The official Cédula is usually issued by the DAS within 30 days of registration. Both the visa and the Cédula will have the same expiration date.

In addition, under the new regulations, foreign workers who renew their work visas are now required to register with the DAS within 15 days of receiving their renewed work visas in order to obtain new Cédulas. In addition, workers who terminate employment with one Colombian employer to accept a new employment opportunity with another must register their new work visas with the DAS within 15 days of receipt, as a new Cédula must be obtained to reflect the new work visa details and expiration date.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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