Unusual visa decisions

Having done a TON of reading about various visas, both US an CO - it occurs to me that my situation is a little outside the norm.

Later this year, I'll marry my lady from BAQ, in San Andres. Then the decisions really begin...

I have young sons here in Florida, and cannot imagine a month without seeing them. But I really prefer to live in Colombia. So, the plan is, spend three weeks per month in BAQ, then to Florida for 7-10 days family time with my sons.

I'm very fortunate, in that my business allows this lifestyle.

My lady is an attorney, and owns property there. She used to have a US tourist visa, but let it lapse. We're hoping a replacement tourist visa won't take much effort. We aren't against spousal visa, but it seems easier just to get her another tourist visa, since she'll only come here with me some months, other months not. We don't anticpate ever living in the US, together, fulltime. If this changes, new ballgame, claro.

My real question is, I see that for a resident visa in Colombia, I am limited to three months outside the country, every 1-2 years. This obviously doesn't work for my situation, but I want the residency sooner rather than later, since in a few years my sons will be off to college, and my visits to the US will lessen. I'd like to have a cedula, soon - and apparently it is to my advantage to demonstrate colombian residency sooner rather later, with an eye towards the future, and not needing visa renewels forever. Are there exceptions to the "3 months outside Colombia" rule?

Second question- am I required to get a work visa, if I do not have a salary/employer in Colombia? Part of my business is shipping goods to Colombia from the US, and I expect this segment to grow, with my presence there - but it strikes me that the work visa is unnecessary, since my then-wife can "front" my activities there. She will be actively involved in the business, not just a front. I'm not trying to avoid taxes, etc - only have an innate dislike of any more beauraucracy (sp?)than necessary...

Thanks in advance for your input!

By slguy on Apr 16, 2007, 09:20 in Visa & paperwork.