What is needed to obtain Colombian residency or work permit?

calipro says on Aug 7, 2006, 07:31:

Brian Yes, being married to a colombian national is sufficient.

I've heard of it being done two ways.

You can go to the Colombian Consulate in Miami or to the Interior Ministry Office in Bogota.

I plan on going to the Interior Ministry Office in Bogota in January.

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Gator says on Aug 7, 2006, 07:52:

Brian... being married can lead to permanent residency but there is still a three-year wait. What you receive is a spouse visa which allows you to remain in Colombia. After three years of marriage you can apply for residency.

If in the USA apply at the Colombian Consulate most convenient for you-if not and your are in Colombia you can apply throughro MRE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) as Calipro says. You best bet would be to have a sitdown at one of the consulates in the US

The spouse visa, called a TC, is valid for 2 years and can be renewed. Multiple entrances are allowed. If you want to work then there is a lot of paperwork involved.You must provide the documents that support your employment

Here is what you will need

Passport with available pages, and valid for at least three (3) months. Two (2) photocopies of the pages of the passport containing information, as well as all previously granted visas. Two (2) originals of the Visa Application Form completely filled out, and duly signed. Three (3) recent color passport-type photographs (1.5”x1.5”). Certified original copy of the Marriage License (registro civil de matrimonio) not older than ninety (90) days, or a copy of the legal document that certifies the existence of a common law marriage if applicable. Either document must be APOSTILLED. Notarized photocopy of the Colombian spouse’s Colombian Citizenship Card (cédula de ciudadanía). Original letter written by the Colombian citizen requesting the issuance of the visa to the foreign spouse. This letter must be written in Spanish, notarized and APOSTILLED. In the event that the foreigner wants to perform an activity other than staying at home or studying, he/she must submit documents which prove the activity to be performed in Colombia. This should be done in accordance with the rules established for Colombian citizens. The applicant should also submit a certificate of employment ratio (Certificado de Proporcionalidad) of foreign versus Colombian workers if he or she is hired by a private entity. Consular fee: US$160 in Cash or Money Order only. If the visa is issued for more than three (3) months, the visa holder should register it in the Immigration Office of the Administrative Department of Security (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad - DAS -) within fifteen (15) working days from the arrival date.
IMPORTANT NOTES If the spouse is planning on living in Colombia, he/she may bring all the documents that demonstrate his/her future activity in Colombia. Documents such as a work contract, proof of legal existence of his/her own company, or a certificate from the Colombian Chamber of Commerce (“Certificado de Cámara y Comercio”), or bank statements if self-employed. All applicants are required to appear in person at the consulate's office either when submitting the documentation or when receiving the approved visa. No exceptions. All Documents issued in languages other than Spanish MUST be submitted duly TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH, and both versions should be notarized by a Notary Public. They must be also certified with an APOSTILLE by the Office of the Secretary of State at the State where they were issued. Documents issued in Colombia must be NOTARIZED by a Colombian Notary Public, and must be also APOSTILLED. For U.S citizens the study of the visa application form and documents takes three (3) working days to be reviewed; for non-U.S. citizens it may take up to two (2) weeks, and it is subject to the approval of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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

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bufalo says on Aug 7, 2006, 08:20:

Yeah, I would´ve intended to say what Gator said, but he does it in a clear way. Being a resident through marraige, like myself just gives me priveledge to LIVE here, nothing more. Open a business? Another visa. Work for a company? Yet another visa.....

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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Gator says on Aug 7, 2006, 13:02:

Bufalo

Those problems will disappear when you become a PERMANENT resident after three years.

I would suggest you stay with the permanent residence status once achieved. Citizenship would be available after two more years but IMHO adds nothing except the right to vote. I checked and is a LOT of paperwork.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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

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bufalo says on Aug 7, 2006, 19:36:

Thanks for that major tidbit of info that I will definitely need in the future. You just saved me a ton of stress by having to ask DAS the same stuff 20 times and get 20 different answers.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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lpdiver says on Aug 8, 2006, 12:54:

ask DAS the same stuff 20 times and get 20 different answers. Gee...which came first DAS or USCIS?

T

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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Brian858 says on Aug 8, 2006, 19:36:

Gator - Thanks for all the good info Most employers require that you have a resident or work permit. The spouse visa aka TC expires if you leave the country for more than 90 days. This makes it difficult to keep your job in the USA while trying to get employment in Bogota. I suppose it's possible to fly back and forth every 90 days keeping residence in Colombia and working in USA.

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Balkanboy says on Aug 9, 2006, 12:44:

Does anybody know a lawyer that can help me clear up all this immigration to Colombia questions. Doesnt have to speek english, my spanish is good.
Thanks.

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Ralph8119 says on Aug 20, 2006, 08:35:

Colombian residency?? I'm not married to a Colombian as of yet but my daughter is half American & Colombian I'm disabled and receiving social security, my question is can I still become a resident of Colombia and if so how difficult will it be for me if I'm not married to a native.

Thank you
Ralph

Take Care Ralph

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jctripp says on Aug 20, 2006, 09:09:

Getting a cedula Getting the spousal visa was very tedious for me. First of all, you cannot get it in Colombia, you have to be outside of the country. My wife and I had to fly to the Colombian consulate in Panama to get mine. I had tried to get one while in Miami but the people at the consulate there are of absolutely no help. You really need a lawyer in Bogota to take care of it, I wouldn't advise you to try it on your own. I will get the name of the lawyer we used, they took care of the various documents that were necessary. In the end, I don't think it is worth the trouble. You're better off just staying on a student visa, unless you really intend to stay there permanently.


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