Yes, you can marry in Colombia on a student visa

My novia made some phone calls today to other notaries, and they all said, no, a foreigner can only get married in Colombia with the conyuge visa. So we went back to our friendly neighborhood notary with the paper written by the woman at the immigration office that says, yes, you can marry on a student visa. I wanted to know why there was such a discrepancy.

The notary mumbled that she believed the immigration office had given me bad information, but she dutifully pulled out a huge binder full of regulations and looked it up.

And sure enough, you CAN get married to a Colombian in Colombia on a student visa!

At this point, this would appear to the path of least resistance. Now we'll see how easily I can get a student visa...

By goosekirk on Sep 28, 2004, 14:27 in Friendly Talkzone.

Dan says on Sep 28, 2004, 19:07:

I've been hearing that it's possible to marry on an Offical Visa, so that is my route that I'm going to try doing. I have some body hand carrying the papers I need and then when I go visit my novia, we're going to go to the notaries and see if it's true. Did you get the info from the Consulate itself? I would be interested in finding out that side of the story. Thanks-Dan

God Bless America!

goosekirk says on Sep 29, 2004, 14:50:

I think so I think an official visa will work. There was a big list of the different visa types and which ones you could marry on, and I'm pretty sure Official was one of them. Remember, if they say no, DON'T TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT. They will tell you they know when they really don't. Tell them that Immigration told you yes, and get them to pull out the regulations and show you.

I haven't had any contact with any consulate. I'm already living in Bogota, so no need.

Update on the student visa: I signed up for private spanish lessons today. 40,000 pesos per... expensive, but right around the corner from home, so very convenient. And they said they could give me the necessary documents for a student visa, so what the heck. I'll take my first class tomorrow, then go to Immigration for the visa on Friday...

Dan says on Sep 29, 2004, 18:16:

I'm hoping so. I am currently in Colombia but for now, I'm in a different part of the Country. I'm hoping to be in Bogota soon so I can see my girlfriend. I heard somewhere that the Official was good, but I wasn't too sure, I wasn't able to find someone that did it themselves. I also have a guy that I work with hand carrying the papers I need (birth certificate and singlness certificate) because the embassy looked at my name, didn't recognize it and sent it back to the US. So right now, I'm still waiting to get them in my hand.

One other thing I've heard is that there is a waiting period of some time. I've heard one thing that it's 5 days or so and I heard somewhere else that it's longer. Does anyone know anything that's not rumor? Thanks-Dan

God Bless America!

JT says on Sep 29, 2004, 23:26:

Waiting period before marriage I had read someones post on this site that there was a 5 day waiting period to get married. I'm assuming they meant that after filing the necessary paperwork w/ the notary, then wait 5 days.

Mi novia talked to a notary this week, and the notary was asking her why we werent getting married on the day after I arrive?? And the notary said that if I sent a letter giving mi novia "poder", or authorizing her to file my paperwork for me there in colombia, then she could do it, and it would all be ready before I get into town this december.
Does anyone have any knowledge or experiences with this? -JT

Dan says on Sep 30, 2004, 16:10:

hmmmm.... This might work out for me. I'm supposed to be going through Bogota for a day/night while going to a different location, I could give the papers to her and then plan my "Off-Time" off of that and see where we can go from that. Thanks JT for the comment.
Take Care,
Dan

God Bless America!

utopiacowboy says on Sep 30, 2004, 20:13:

Yes, there is a waiting period. I had to Fedex my wife a power of attorney giving my brother-in-law power to complete the necessary forms on my behalf. I don't think that you can give this power to your novia but I may be wrong about this.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.