What does he need? Renewing a Colombian Passport in Chicago - Help

mrgizmo says on Jul 10, 2008, 09:41:

Here's a translation on the above:
Personal presence (it means he has to be there)
3 recent photographs, equal in color in size 3.5X4.5 centimeters, facing front and clear background (have this taken near the consulate, I'm sure there'll be businesses that will take them)
original cedula or old passport where the Cedula number appears.
two photocopies of the shown documents (Cedula and/or passport)
old passport
$102.00 U.S. Dollars
Please note: if he has also a U.S. passport he can travel to colombia and renew the passport in Bogota (assuming that's where he's going) and he'll have it in two hours and will only cost about 30 dollars. I just came back from a three week visit and flew with my expired passport (expired about 10 years ago) and the u.S. passport. at customs in Bogota they asked for the Colombian passport and I showed the expired one and that's the one they stamped.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

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viajero123 says on Jul 10, 2008, 09:46:

You can come in Colombia with an expired passport, and get a new one in Bogota cheaper and faster than in the consulate.
And btw, 1 inch = 2.54 cm.

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mrgizmo says on Jul 10, 2008, 09:52:

Yes. if you do it in Bogota (did it on 25th street and 7th Avenue) all you have to do is get in line and all the reps from the photo places will offer you the service. They'll know what size photos you need. Don't forget to mke two photocopies of Cedula, they'll they make these at the photo place.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

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palcolo says on Jul 10, 2008, 09:53:

Thank you very much for the translation. I'd love to go to Bogata, but the tickets are getting super expensive.

This may seem like a silly question... because I'm pretty confident you have to be a U.S. citizen...
Can he get a U.S. passport on a green card?

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viajero123 says on Jul 10, 2008, 09:56:

Does he have an old (expired) Colombian passport? In this case, call the airline to see if they will let him fly on an expired passport.

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mrgizmo says on Jul 10, 2008, 10:10:

Can he get a U.S. passport on a green card?
No, it's impossible to do that. It's a long process to become a U.S. citizen (naturalized) first, you have to be a legal resident for 5 years unless he's married to a U.S. citizen then it would be two years.
You go to the inmigration building and fill out the necessary forms then you should take a course on citizenship or memorize the 100 answers to the questions they may ask. About government, history, constitutions, your local government, etc. There are books about it.
Finally you take the exam also called the interview. Where you are tested on these 100 questions (they only ask about 20) and they also test your English. (You don't have to speak perfect English just the basic English).
And then months later, you take the Oath along with other future citizens (about 5,000) at this time they'll give you a certificate and then with the certificate you are allowed to apply for a U.S. passport.
The entire process takes about 2 years for citizenship and it will cost about $4,00.00 dolars (more or less).
Important note: During the period of the five years, you have to have a clean police record. Your fingerprints will go to the FBI for verification.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

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palcolo says on Jul 10, 2008, 10:21:

Wow, you are full of info. :)

Thanks. I'm a U.S. citizen, so we won't have too wait too long. Do you know if that 2-year period starts on the green card issue date or our marriage date?

capitalizing on your wealth of knowledge... His mom in Colombia,has tried 3 times now to get a U.S. tourist visa to no avail. I recently gave birth to her first grandchild and she's not permitted to see her in the U.S. Are there any secrets to Visa success?

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ColombianoGringo says on Jul 10, 2008, 10:31:

Gizmo, How long were you in line for the passport in Bogota. I want to get one, but these bums at the consulate in Houston still don't have my cedula after more than a year and a half. My wife got hers in three months in Colombia.

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mrgizmo says on Jul 10, 2008, 10:40:

Palcolo: The two years start from the date of his receiving his green card.
The easiest way to get his mom a visa is for him to become a U.S. citizen and then, ask for his mom, but still it'll be some wait, hopefully less than two years.

ColombianoGringo: The entire process took about two hours from the time I got in line.
The line itself wasn't very long but I got there early (around 9am) and someone kept my spot while I had the pictures taken.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

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Gator says on Jul 10, 2008, 11:34:

Mrs. Gator's renewal less than two hours start to finish in Bogotá. Best to have your cédula but that's not a fatal error. The old passport will do-the cédula number is on that. We found it much easier to get the photos "on the street." That she knew they would be correct. If, for some reason, the photos are refused, they will retake gratis

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

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bseeger says on Jul 18, 2008, 13:00:

Hi there, I saw this post and thought maybe you could help me. I am trying to help a friend renew her Colombian passport that expired in March. She is here as a student and is not planning on traveling any time soon. She would still like to have a current passport. I can't get anyone at the Consulate in San Fransisco (the one that covers Alaska - where we live) to answer. I need to know if there is any way she can renew her passport via mail and if not, what she needs when she goes to the consulate in San Fransisco. Everything is in Spanish, which I don't read or speak :(

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lpdiver says on Jul 18, 2008, 13:11:

The CORRECT answer is THREE YEARS from the date of issuance of the green card (assuming marriage to a citizen). You may submit your application beginning ninety days prior to the three year day. It is currently taking about a year to process N-400 applications.

Unless of course you marry a Cuban and can process under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

ts

"cook some rice!"

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