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Traveling to Colombia with temporary cedula?

My Colombian wife has this temporary cedula card she was given in Miami at the consulate in May of 2006. The real card is awaiting pick up. Has anyone travelled from the US to Colombian more than once with this card...the temporary? Have you been hassled upon leaving the country back to the US....?

By sanandressi on Jan 9, 2009, 07:15 in Friendly Talkzone.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 9, 2009, 08:03:

What does she need it for? I have used my contraseña(temporary cedula) for just about everything in Colombia. However, I haven't tried using it to enter the country. Does she have a valid Colombian or US passport?

According to DAS agents at airport immigration have told me, you can't use even a permanent cedula to enter the country from the US. They did say I could use it to enter the country, but only when traveling from other countries in South America.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis.

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Gator says on Jan 9, 2009, 08:05:

You should have no problems. Mrs. Gator had to wait over a year until hers arrived. If she has the original bring that along as a backup but, IMHO, she will be O.K. CG is also correct she must have a valid passport to fly and enter Colombia-Mrs. Gator always uses her Colombian passport because with that there is no limit on time-in country.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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sanandressi says on Jan 9, 2009, 08:35:

She has a Colombian passport and her US resident alien card. In May of 2006 she went to the consulate in Miami to obtain a new cedula and was given a temporary card with her foto and is this the contrasena someone refers to above? So, in order to receivve the new cedula, the old id card she threw away, she has to return in person to the consulate which me thinks is absurdity. Why can't they mail the thing if the applicant showed up in person the first time? Her passport expires in August which means she will have to return 30 days prior for a new passport. She was allowed to leave Colombia once without the cedula or temporary but the customs dude told her in Bogota to get a new one. When she left Bogota with this temporary card the last time I don't think they said a thing. If one has a valid Colombian passport and a US alien resident card I don't see the need for this cedula id card but rules are rules I suppose.

My question is can she just make more trips withh this temporary card or contrasena if that is what it is called instead of the permanent cedula because then she can just go back in August for a new passport and can get the cedula card. I understand that even if she becomes a US citizen they still want to see the cedula and or passport.....correct or not?

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Gator says on Jan 9, 2009, 08:53:

yes

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 9, 2009, 09:00:

They will sometimes hassle you, but it never amounts to more than a bit of lip from the agents. Even though I was born in the US, they like to give me shit about not using my Colombian passport. However, if she has a valid Colombian passport, they shouldn't say anything to her about the cedula. Just blow them off and don't worry about it. In the completely off chance that any DAS agent at El Dorado ever denies her entry or exit(should never happen), get their name and let me know.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis.

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sanandressi says on Jan 9, 2009, 09:35:

OK ColombianoGringo but now I am reading from PBH posters that she should only travel if the passport has six months or MORE remaining on the passport? We were going to go to Colombia in May and the passport expires in August. Will we have trouble and why do they hassle people if the passport expires in August and you travel in July?

I know she obtained her passport in Cali in one long long long long day so maybe she should just do it in Colombia but the consulate in Miami says you can only get a new passport 30 days from expiration and not before...???

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 9, 2009, 09:40:

Hadn't heard that one before. You might try calling the gobernacion in Cali. 57-2-886-0189

They only time I've heard of the need for the passport to have six months of validity left is when dealing with getting US visas.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis.

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Gator says on Jan 9, 2009, 16:15:

Do it in Colombia-yes, the consulate in Maim will not renew until there is 30 days left-best way around that is apply for a replacement because you "lost"the other one. Much quicker in Colombia and cheaper-seems to me it took less than a day in Bogotá

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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sanandressi says on Jan 10, 2009, 06:29:

Good to know Gator. I guess we will have to spend a few days in Bogota sometime this spring. Do you guys fly into Colombia with just your US passport if you are dual citizens and do they hassle you for not having your Colombian papers?

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