Gator

Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 20, 2007, 13:33:

orestesdd says on Aug 15, 2007, 08:16:

Gator, are you a lawyer in Bogota? If you are, I may need your help over there next week. Let me know. Thanks.

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ellbee2 says on Aug 22, 2007, 13:45:

Gator, Thanks for you reply to my post. I'd like to buy you a beer or a coffee sometime in thanks.

Drop me line.

"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going because you might not get there." Yogi Berra

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Emma21 says on Oct 3, 2007, 08:43:

thankyou very much for your help, this whole deal is a mountain to climb. x

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jorgeaev says on Oct 3, 2007, 14:34:

If you need any kind of legal advice or any kind of procedure with the DAS here in Colombia let me know. I have a good lawyer who will help you with whatever you need. He used to work with the DAS and now he is helping foreigners to get the papers legally and quick. so let me know if you need his help. jorgeaev at yahoo.es

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Buongone says on Oct 27, 2007, 22:10:

Gator. Hi, Hello. I have a question for you. Say, if I marry my novia. how long can I spend in Colombia in any one given year? What's the best way to get residence/visa down in Cali. I know this has been brought up and hacked around a lot, but I figured I would run it by you again. Thanks. Buongone

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Buongone says on Oct 28, 2007, 01:18:

Seen where you posted one on Apr 28th. www.minrelext.gov.co. tramites y servicios. Is there a limit of 180 days per year, if you leave the country and then re-enter? Like go to Panama/Ecuador?

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Gator says on Nov 6, 2007, 19:38:

Buongone

180 days per calendar year period-leaving and returning does not start the clock again.
If you apply for a spouse viva there is no time limit but you must renew after two years-then one more year and you can apply for permanent residence

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

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JimA says on Nov 14, 2007, 04:08:

Good advice, much appreciated...

"Life is under no obligation to give us what we want."

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Buongone says on Dec 4, 2007, 01:00:

Gator, Thanks. I do believe I have the knowledge I was looking for now. I appreciate the help.

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buyslake says on Dec 6, 2007, 10:21:

Should I bother supplying bank documents?

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britabroad says on Dec 17, 2007, 06:37:

Gator,
What was that about Jamundi on the Opening Bank Account thread? PB Me.

Leave the big stick at home...carry a cannon!

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jlemvta says on Jan 21, 2008, 07:17:

I did and thank you very much for the help. I trying to find lost family members and I need someone to go to the last known address I have.

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ximecolombia says on Feb 5, 2008, 17:05:

Hi Gator,
I have too many questions about remove conditions on Residence. Are u a lawyer?

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alagene says on Mar 8, 2008, 16:12:

Hi Gator,
My wife is a citizen of Colombia and getting ready for her / our second visa interview for entry to the USA with me. From the paper they gave her at the end of her second interview, it instructed that both she and I must register with DAS for our "Entradas y Salidas to and from the country. Do you know anything about this? Do we just go to the DAS, get in the apprpriate line for an application or what??

I'm an American citizen and not familiar with any of the workings and processes of Immigrations inBogotá.Thanks much for any help you and advice you can give me on this.

Gene ....... alagene at aol.com

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royed31 says on Apr 24, 2008, 16:40:

Hi Gator

saw the discussion on the 180days in Colombia and sounds like you got it all sorted.

I have enrolled at National and foolishly thought I would get a year visa. The level is for 2mths but the entire course is 15mths. I am level 1. tried asking tody if I could pay for the next level and they said no.

How much spanish do I need to get the student visa, do they talk any english, how long does it take. Saw all the documents I need so will go there next week.

Out of interest what course have u enrolled on , where , and how much was it. If a language course is it like mine and only 2 months.

What happens when your student visa expires, do you need to leave the country to get a tourist visa and then wait to enroll again and start the process again ?????

Shame not like Argentina, sounds easier there

Roy

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Gator says on Apr 29, 2008, 08:10:

I have lived in Colombia a long time (20+ years) married to a Colombian national and am fluent in Spanish. I have taken several courses in Cali and Bogotá in Colombian history, political science and literature but since I am a resident there were no visa problems.

For basic intro to Spanish(think conversational) there is no language requirement. For a normal curriculum leading to a degree you must be tested and pass a Spanish language course or be put into a remedial program. Not a government rule but a recoginized school/university policy. As long as you remain as a student taking the required number of hours you can stay

You can't remain in country on an expired visa. You could exit and then re-enter on your passport as a tourist BUT good for a max of 180 days.

Good luck

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

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DADE30574 says on May 12, 2008, 18:58:

Gator,
Mi espanol es mejor que eso.
Porque es no perfecto,tu sabes ?
Y que es COL yo no estoy ensenyado en eso. Yo piensa mi espanol esta bien pero no listo pa Colombia Y eso es por que yo quierre aprendar mas primero me voy por aja. I'm sure I spelt something wrong there but if I don't try I'll never learn.
Do you know how much it would cost to learn spanish better over there ?
Thanks.

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Summer says on May 22, 2008, 10:28:

Hi, I stayed at a hotel that had been converted from a monestary. It's on the old part of town across from a school. Do you know that area or the name of the hotel?

'Life is Hard. After all, it kills you.' Pearls of wisdom gathered by Katherine Hepburn http://www.myspace.com/summerjanelleholliday

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Gator says on May 26, 2008, 23:31:

La Opera?? Or the Hotel Casa Medina on Carrera 7 n, 69A Was it in La Candelaria, Bogotá's historical center.

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

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dwmte7 says on Jul 6, 2008, 09:39:

yo gator, i guess i missed the references to your misses this a.m. i went back through and still remained in the dark.

hope all's ok now. douglas

patriarch

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Gator says on Jul 21, 2008, 08:31:

several foul, pornographic statements-apparently he was deleted-thanks for your concern

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

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neznargo says on Nov 12, 2008, 05:56:

Thank you so much for the post. Many people are telling me that I need to go to the interview, but honestly I don't really have the money to go. Do you really think it is necessary for me to go? I was also under the impression that the if everything is approved over here that the interview is a formality. Please email me at benjaminzdavis at hotmail.com. Thanks so much.

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Gator says on Dec 2, 2008, 11:25:

It is not necessary that you appear with the novia. Just be sure she is up-to-date on these types of questions:

How did you meet?
When was the last time you saw your novia?
How many times have you seen him?
Why do you want to get married? (Where does he live?
What does your family think about you leaving for the US?
When did he buy his house? (if she does not know the answer probably OK)
Do you have any friends/relatives in the US and where do they live?
Make sure she has proof of the relationship with her like pictures, your phone bills, flight itineraries, etc. the more the better)

If there are additional questions you might be able to help out. If not they will just reschedule the interview so you can attend.


GOOD LUCK

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

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Dec 4, 2008, 15:08:

luigired14 says on Mar 13, 2009, 15:47:

hey gator i know you dont know me, but it seems like you know alot about the immigration process.. Is there any way you can help me out? Just answering a couple of questions?

You can email me at luigired14 at hotmail.com

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ATX Ken says on Mar 28, 2009, 21:09:

Hi Gator, thanks for the reply to my question. I do appreciate any and all information regarding that subject. And I definitely agree with you that I would not like to see the inside of a Colombian prison. Actually for that matter I would not like to see the inside of any prison anywhere! In any case it is nice that we have an option at all to be armed in Colombia... legally that is. Best regards! ATX Ken

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. -Plato

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Gator says on Mar 29, 2009, 19:07:

A la orden, Ken

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

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Kaye says on Aug 21, 2009, 12:16:

Hi Gator, My name is Madison, and I've been following some of the posts you'vedone. You seem to be very knowledgable about the lay of the law inColombia and USA, and I was wondering if you would mind if I pickedyour brain about some things. I'm planning on marrying a Colombianman in the very near future and I have some questions concerningpapers and such. Please let me know if you could take some time toanswer my questions! Thank you. Sincerely, Madison

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RathoreSS says on Aug 25, 2009, 15:29:

Hi Gator,

Thanks for your advise. if I decide to say here for the next 2-3 months, how much will I be charged for overstaying when I will be leaving the country?

If there any other way, I can pay to DAS officials and get another visa, say a tourist visa for 6 months.. or I should go to Miami because I have a 10 year USA visa, and then apply for a visa for colombia from Miami and then come back to Miami which option is better, viable and cheaper and legal. I mean I dont want to take any risk support, I go to Miami and apply for a Colombian visa and they deny me a visa because I overstayed then I would be in no man's land :-o

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kfm says on Sep 2, 2009, 20:14:

Hi Gator,

You mentioned in a post that you knew of a reliable tour operator in
Rodadero for tours to Tayrona. Any information on them would be
appreciated (i.e. name, location, price)? Thanks in advance!!

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Gator says on Sep 7, 2009, 11:09:

He is down by the Hotel Sorrento on Cr 3. His name is Richard and the business is called Aqua Terra Travel/Tours
4 22.2691 cell 315 759.5367

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

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FELIPEUSA says on Sep 18, 2009, 11:01:

Gator, tried to PM you but it bounced back.

I'm finding property far more reasonably priced in Medellin.
10-degrees warmer during the day but I'm escaping the humidity here in
FL, not the heat. The heat doesn't really bother me and it's near the
same temp as Bogota as night.

350 to 450 sq.m less than 400.000.000 cop
80-120 sq.m 50.000.000 - 100.000.000 cop

http://www.firstamericanrealtymedellin.com/

The 30% bid you let me know of really put a different perspective on
my searches. Thank you again and again for that tid bit of info.

I have several reasons for getting out of the USA and one of the
reasons is I can't stand the American mentality. Now going through
the posts, I can tell an Gringo response from a Colombia response. So
my question to you is Gator, how the heck do you continue to post on
this message board knowing a good majority of people are Gringo's
sitting 2000 miles north of you in Bogota? Of coArse I'm glad your
on there for the little bit of info I have gotten from you but man
Gator, your one of 3 maybe 4 who's relevant.

Isn't part of the reason if not a good majority of reason to be in
Bogota is to get away from the states? Without question, your dealing
with a bunch of Gringo's on the board.

Felipe

Success isn't about becoming rich, it's about making your life richer.Faber est quisque fortunae suae

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Loggi says on Sep 25, 2009, 08:19:

Hi Gator

Thanks for all your great info.

Live for the moments you can't put into words

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kenziejones says on Nov 5, 2009, 04:35:

Gator, once again, thank you for your recent answers to my questions
regarding visas.

I have one more clarification question if you don't mind. Since the
180-day law applies to a calendar year, and since it is now November
and we are approaching the new year of 2010, does that mean that
starting on January 1st I can completely disregard the time I've been
here in 2009 and begin a new 180-day period? (As long as I exit and
re-enter Colombia in order to get the three 60-day stamps.)

And this causes me to wonder about something else: suppose I have
inadvertently used all of my allotted tourist time here in Colombia
and I try to enter from, say, Peru or the US. What happens when I get
to the airport and they will not issue me another 60-day stamp? Do
they simply deport me to my home country or the place I just came
from? Is there any way that I would be able to still enter Colombia?

Thanks a million for your insight. It is much appreciated.

Tasting the world one hot pepper at a time!

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