Taking my kids to see the "Old Country"

nanis says on Feb 14, 2005, 12:45:

if you were born in colombia you will need to get a colombian passport to enter the country otherwise those people from DAS my friend had this problem she went to colombia with her british passport and they treated her really bad and she had to pay almost 1 million pesos so that they could let her out of the contry. my husband who has US passport was born in Cali and therefore has to get a colombian passport to go to colombia in march at least that's what a man working at the colombian consulate said, he said "all colombians need to go to colombia with colombian passports that's what the law says" anyway my husband's uncle went to colombia with US passport too and although they did let him in with no problem they wouldn't let him out so he had to go back to cali and get a colombian passport.

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stamper99 says on Feb 14, 2005, 13:02:

GLAD I ASKED! After those stories, I definitely will get one! Anyone know where to start? I'm a naturalized american citizen who was born in Cali. Closest colombian consulate is New York City. Anyone already been through the process? Thank you!

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Ajiaco says on Feb 14, 2005, 15:04:

Never heard of this! My (Colombian born) family has been going back and forth between Colombian and the USA for years and I have never, ever heard of this! We have always travelled with a US passport, since we are naturalized US citizens...have never had any problems...

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ColombianoX says on Feb 14, 2005, 16:38:

"Old country?"Colombia (b The "Old Country"?

Colombia (born 1810) is actually newer than the USA (born 1776).

CX

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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stamper99 says on Feb 14, 2005, 16:47:

I'll check and report back Sent email inquiries to the US Embassy in Bogota and to the Colombian Embassy in Washington DC. Hopefully, they can clear this up. Ajiaco - when did you last travel to Colombia?

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santiBOG says on Feb 14, 2005, 17:26:

Don't bother. I know plenty of naturalized (US) Colombians (like Ajiaco) that once a year or so travel back to Colombia and enter Bogota using their US passport and never have any problems with DAS. Of course, the stay is supposedly limited to 30 days or so, but who cares? why pay for an extra passport if you're only going to use it to go to Colombia? Don't bother.

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kikolina0920 says on Feb 14, 2005, 19:19:

Get the Colombian passport Stamper:

Save yourself a lot of trouble!!! This happened to my sister a few weeks ago...she was born in Medellin, and came to this country when she was 13....she became a U.S. citizen more than 10 years ago...anyway, to make a long story short, the DAS treated her very badly when she tried to leave Colombia. They didn't make her pay any money, or anything, but they pretty much told her that the next time she goes to Colombia, she better go as a Colombian, or they wouldn't let her in. I have no idea why they are doing this, but I have heard the same story recently now from several different people...I don't know where you live, but if the closest Colombian consulate for you is in New York City, in order for you to get a passport, you have to appear in person, take 3 copies of a recent photo, measuring 2.5x1.5 inches, facing forward, with a white background...You need to have your original cedula de ciudadania with you, and or your old passport, two photocopies of them, and $98.00 USD in order to get the passport. The website for the consulate in NYC is www.consuladodecolombiaennewyork.com...Good luck! Save yourself some trouble, and get the passport....

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Mariangela says on Feb 14, 2005, 20:23:

Very strange! I have double nationality, from the USA and Colombia. I traveled to Bogota with my two kids from the USA and we entered Colombia with our USA passports. We had no problems at all. I have never heard those stories before. You can use any of the two passports. If you are a USA citizen, I don't see why you should spend money and time getting the Colombian passport. The only difference is that as an American you will be given a limit of 30 or 60 days to stay in Colombia.
Mariángela

Mariángela

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Gator says on Feb 14, 2005, 21:16:

Two Things..Especially If the Wife Remains at Home... 1. Do NOT forget the documentary evidence or letter that proves that the child has the permission of an absent lawful parent(s) or guardian to travel. A child under the age of 18 traveling from the United States to any foreign destination, when not accompanied on the trip by both parents, must have a notarized affidavit from the parent not accompanying the child that:
a. The child is traveling out of the United States with the permission of the parent.
b. That the non-traveling parent is aware that the child is leaving on the departure date.
c. The name of the person/parent) accompanying the child.

When leaving the USA the airline will not allow boarding with out this form-which you can probably download and a valid passport.
To enter Colombia and leave the USA both children will need a passport. BOITH parrents must appear in person to fill out the passport application. Minors (under 18), who are traveling with one parent, alone or with a third party must present a copy of their birth certificate and written authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian, specifically granting permission to travel with one parent, alone, or with a third party. Colombia enforces this rule to the letter, especially on departure.

My wife, who is Colombian and also a US Citizen always uses her Colombian passport instead of the USA Passport. When she has uses her US Passport there is USUALLY no problems. Buth there have been some ugly scenes at the airport-both Bogotá and Cali.

Read all the posts and make your own decision.

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

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stamper99 says on Feb 15, 2005, 06:47:

Hmmm...Incomplete response... From the Colombian Embassy in Washington DC:
...
If you are a Colombian citizen you must enter and leave Colombia using a Colombian passport. You can probably solicit a Colombian passport at the consulate nearest to your home. The only other option would be to denounce your Colombian citizenship which also needs to be done at the consulate. ...
Regards,
ACS Bogota

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stamper99 says on Feb 15, 2005, 12:34:

AHA! OK with US Passport only! This looks authoritative:

When did you become a U.S. Citizen? If you did before 1991, take a copy of your naturalization papers to Colombia and show the date to the immigration authorities. you won´t need to enter the country with a Colombian Passport.

In 1991 the new Colombian Constitution created the dual citizenship so that Colombian People could become or adquire other nationalities without losing the Colombian. People that adquire another nationality after 1991 have to enter the country with Colombian Documents.
Best,
Embassy of Colombia

I became a US citizen in May 1990, so I'm in the clear. Thanks to everyone for the responses and advice.

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thundernco says on Feb 15, 2005, 22:30:

Heed Gator's advice. Both my children were born in CO. We travel back and forth between the states and CO, and it has ALWAYS (more than 5 times) been an issue when one of us tavels alone with our children. Once we didn't know about the rule, ok our fault, another time we had the docs signed by the CO consulate in San Francisco but even they didn't tell us that we needed a stamp from another dept. so I had to fly dow to accompany them back ($$$$). We have been asked for these docs every single time. Just an FYI. -TNC

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