Colombia Visa Hell, 2023

Get help!!!

I used to recommend that 95 percent of

new Expats in Colombia work with a visa

specialist or immigration attorney to

get their papers.

With the newish visa law and the high rejection

rate that Expats are reporting on relevant forums,

that percentage is now pushing 100 %.

I used Langon Law to get my one-year

visa successfully processed a few years back

with a Langon paralegal guiding me all the way.

If I were applying for a Colombia visa in 2023,

I would absolutely use a visa professional.

Instead, I am living a snowbird life, spending

180 days or fewer in Colombia each year ..

and avoiding the money-pinchers at La DIAN

altogether.

cccmedia

We gave up on mine after I lost count on how much money we have spent now. Just keeping our time in Colombia under the 180 day limit each year. We are headed back next week for a month or so. However this process has been insane. We even hired a company to help but not sure they didn't just take our 1 million pesos and say good luck as far as I can see. I filed 4 times and rejected all 4 for a different reason each time. Every time we rectified the reason and re applied and it was something new. So it's just not worth it anymore. For us anyway. Good luck to anyone trying now would love to hear if someone finds something solid that works.

This is an excerpt from Alejandra's other blog post:

If you are submitting documents from outside of Colombia then there is a good chance your documents may expire during the application process. Pension visa applicants many times must obtain documents 2 times to get through the application process.

P.S. Your serve Diana of expatgroup! (encouraging resumption of visa blogger wars)

Your serve Diana of expatgroup! (encouraging resumption of visa blogger wars)
-@Mr. Barley

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.

.

That's cryptic.

There used to be visa blogger wars?  I don't remember them.

Please elaborate.

cccmedia

@cccmedia

With the newish visa law and the high rejection rate that Expats are reporting on relevant forums, that percentage is now pushing 100 %.

What I found interesting is live streamer Loren Lowe of Armenia this week acts like it is business as usual in 2023. He even replied to a question regarding the pensioner's visa saying you only need a 3 month's travelers policy when submitting your application, before telling the questioner he needs to contact his visa person in Pereira. Are visas being processed differently in the coffee region?

Your serve Diana of expatgroup! (encouraging resumption of visa blogger wars)
-@Mr. Barley
.
.
.
That's cryptic.

There used to be visa blogger wars? I don't remember them.

Please elaborate.

cccmedia
-@cccmedia

I misspoke. "Blogging competition"

Edit:  Which is why James was trying to hire a blogger some months back on his FB page ( expert analysis)

Loren Lowe of Armenia this week acts like it is business as usual in 2023. He even replied to a question regarding the pensioner's visa saying you only need a 3 month's travelers policy when submitting your application, before telling the questioner he needs to contact his visa person in Pereira. Are visas being processed differently in the coffee region?
-@Mr. Barley

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.

.

Evidently.

Only South American novatos -- not a seasoned veteran

such as yourself -- would believe there is consistency

in visa processing in such far-flung places as Medellín,

Putumayo, Boyacá, Apartadó and Nalgas del Cerdo.

Networking champ Loren Lowe has a "visa person"

in the Coffee Zone capital of Pereira. That's

one reason why Loren will be inducted into the

Colombia Expats Hall of Fame.

cccmedia

Loren's weekly telecast is seen live at 11 a.m. Colombia time

(and archived shortly thereafter) on Sundays on YouTube's

Gran Colombia channel. The program is called Coffee Time.

@Mr. Barley do you have a link to the blog?

@Mr. Barley do you have a link to the blog?
-@lunamick

No, but the OP has provided enough details that should allow you find it using Google.

P.S. If you are looking for a visa, I can link to the following service:

https://www.expat.com/en/visa/south-america/colombia/

Alejandra released a new blog post. Alejandra is the web designer/administrator, and is stretched thin for time. James needs to hire a full-time visa blogger and crush his competition.

Here is a an excerpt from the blog post:

NEW VISA RULES ARE EXPECTED TO COME OUT SOON

@Mr. Barley not only the lengthy review process but some of us wish to move there for the exchange rate  I'm on a fixed gov pension since this new president prevented us from accessing thee local EPS the cost of a global ins comp is a little over half my monthly pension also adding on 30% CAD to USD rate so now i have to consider other more senior friendly countries I've been considering Ecuador but they are also on the US $ would leave me 1100$ a month US funds after converting my Canadian pension still possible to live comfortably there but my money would go a lot further on the Colombian pesos 

A global ins comp is out of the question for many of us I believe in Ecuador we can get their local ins once we get out Cedula say-la-vee

I don't get it. Alejandra says

"MOST VISA RENEWALS REQUIRE HEALTH INSURANCETHAT MEANS STATE-REQUIRED COLOMBIAN EPS HEALTH INSURANCE "

So Alejandra, doesn't specifically mention pensioners, but I assume that includes them. What Alejandra doesn't address is whether these visas need a one-year travel insurance policy which includes the all-important repatriation of your corpse.

Why, would a person need the repatriation insurance if they had no intention of having there body returned to their native country

@brettfairweather

Dear Sir, punctuation can be your friend.

Alejandra released a new blog post... 

Here is a an excerpt from the blog post:

NEW VISA RULES ARE EXPECTED TO COME OUT SOON

-@Mr. Barley

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.

.

.

Since this headline could apply to more than 60 percent of

all Colombia news cycles in the past decade, it definitely

could be included in the new Expat Café thread titled

Headlines: Headless Body in Topless bar.

Somebody wake us up when the new visa rules are in place,

are readily explained and clearly decipherable.

cccmedia

I am curious about Alejandra’s blog.

can someone post the URL?

I am curious about Alejandra’s blog.
can someone post the URL?
-@Marquezdl

Negativo. Send me a pm and I will send you the link. 

p.s.

I heard that the competing forum's private messaging functionality stopped working. Hahahahahaha. And it doesn't support avatars.

International_Living$  says in their article dated February 21, 2023 titled "6 Best Countries For Expat Healthcare in 2023" that

Colombia requires an international traveler’s insurance plan in order to apply for any extended stay visa. Previously government-subsidized healthcare, known as EPS, was accepted, however as of October 2023, private health plans will only be accepted.

So have we, the expat community, confirmed or refuted that statement for renewals of M visas?

@Mr. Barley yes and because of this my past 4 years dream of moving to Colombia is now kapustksie I now have to look at other countries starting with Ecuador

@Mr. Barley yes and because of this my past 4 years dream of moving to Colombia is now kapustksie I now have to look at other countries starting with Ecuador
-@brettfairweather

Why isn't the AC 60 plan that is promoted on Peligro's facilitator's website for around $950 a year an option?

So how expensive is a private health care plan?  Can one buy into the Colombian system at a prorated amount depending on pre existing conditions?

I can't blame a country for not wanting to give free stuff to every immigrant, visa holder or illegal as the USA does.   

I would assume that a developing country would want Expat dollars but my impression is that the policies change with each newly elected government.    In the USA, the average person gets about $2000/ month from Social Security plus they would have any money or net worth they saved while working.  Medicare cost those over 65 yr about $250/month but my impression is that it does not cover care rendered overseas.

I am going to have to mull this article over. Mostly of interest to those who have their resident visas (R) or who are on pathway to get one.

The article cites some new lawyers/facilitators , other than four or so we always mention.

https://www.bloomberglinea.com/latinoam … n-el-pais/

@Mr. Barley

Im Canadian, I use “Salud Total” for 50$ CDN per month. I Also have a Cedula and Colombia vise. Recently married my Colombian honey.

@Mr. Barley
Im Canadian, I use “Salud Total” for 50$ CDN per month. I Also have a Cedula and Colombia vise. Recently married my Colombian honey.
-@Yvan Huberdeau

Congratulations. So you pay the minimum it sounds like. I am still waiting to hear how the renewal of his M visa went for Canadian influencer Book of Jym. In particular, whether he had to get EPS for his renewal and if so, how much he pays. He was also hoping for a 3-year visa despite having a one-year traveler's insurance policy.

If you read my previous posts, you would know that for a renewal, at least according to  the Cancilleria agent I was stuck with. you have to not only have been on  EPS, but also prove you have paid 12% of your stated visa salary into the system for the last 6 to 12 months, which, for a rentists visa, would mean a couple million pesos a month.

Of course , results will vary from person to person. Some people get extremely lucky.And I dont know if hiring the best lawyer makes any difference, I have heard better results from people who did it themselves.  I think they just are paper pushers, and cant influence the Cancillerias decision in any way, even if the decisoin are legally "unsound" . Basically, the individual anonomous peon who handles your case in the Cancilleria, is like a god, and his/her decision cannot be challenged.

Also, the issue that James pointed out with the documents being only good for 1 month is a way bigger issue for Canadians, as you are not dealing with one incompetent third world bureaucracy, but two.

Canada did not sign the Hague convention, which means you have to get the document legalized (no apostille). This can take up to 2 months in itself, with a minimumof one month waiting in the inefficient and incompetent Canadian External Affairs Department, plus another 1 to 2 weeks in the Colombian embassy.

Anyway , I may give it one more try, and use the most highy recommended lawyers in Medellin, but I will make sure myself  the upload all the documents quickly on the web site, and make it clear that they are not just paper pusheres, and I want them to fight for me, and not give in to the Cancillerias autocratic and incompetent decisions.

I am also looking at other options, like Argentina and Mexico, or maybe even the "Pasto " option.

@georgesbigg You obviously have very little experience dealing with third world bureacracy. Thats what the "Rules say so they follow them, black and white, no grey.

Note thet the repatriation insurance, (which is required) , is to get you back to your "home" country, wherver that is, in case you get really sick, so they dont have to deal with you in Colombia- insurance or not.

The "death benifits" are separate-and include shipping your body to your home country so they dont have to deal with it. This is also required.

They also require you to have Maternity coverage.

The person that thought up these "rules" tried to cover all bases. They have foriegners here coming in and abusing the system, but the whole Visa process has now gone way over board.

My feeling is they want you to heavily subsidize their EPS sytsem, but if you get sick and really need it, they want to ship ypur a$$ out of the country.

Note that for a foriegner on a Pensinada visa , with bare minimum of 3 salarios minium, if you follow the 12% Payment rule the Cancilleria  wanted me to follow, you would pay 12% on about 4 million, or 480 mil pesos a month.

@Mr. Barley I think you would be a good one, appreciate all the info

It seeems they are sticking it to people during the Visa renewal, more than the new applicants.

My friend knows 2 guys who are long timers (One 5 years, the other many more years) who had their visas denied.

The second guy had a house and businesses in Colombia, and is in the process of liquidating everything, and moving back to the US.

Neither were given reasons for their refusals - or at least they never divulged the reasons.

I also heard a few months ago from a lawyer I had been using in the past for visas  that the Cancilleria has been refusing a lot of visa renewals and not giving any reason.

So-buyer beware. If you chose to stay in Colombia more than 183 days in 365, dont be a dummy and buy property and start businesses , etc.

You are here for a good time, not a long time.

@Mr. Barley that plan is an expensive option, There are cheaper ones out there.

No matter what plan you get, there is still the big risk they will reject the application, and you will be stuck withthe payment,

@nico peligro

It seeems they are sticking it to people during the Visa renewal, more than the new applicants.

Which leads me to another question. If you indeed give the visa process another shot, wouldn't you be doing so as a tourist without a cédula? This would mean you wouldn't have to show enrollment in EPS, and would only have to have the traveler's insurance?

@nico peligro

@Mr. Barley that plan is an expensive option, There are cheaper ones out there.

I can't edit that prior comment on my cheap android phone since the submit button disappears. So hear is the edit:

@Mr. Barley that plan is an expensive option, There are cheaper ones out there.

I am not sure what plan you are referring, or where I said that. I may have to PM you on those cheaper plans out of curiosity. I was think of using a one year multi-trip policy by a company that rhymes with Jax for$200.

    @Mr. Barley I think you would be a good one, appreciate all the info

    -@lunamick

Thanks lunamick. However, I have to remain skeptical, since I think I am being trolled by somebody who likes to use avatars of black people or claim they are from Africa in pms while greeting me in French.

@Mr. Barley yep..no eps required or possible when stsrting s visa from scratch..but who knows..maybemthey.wiĺl look at my old.record and say I was underpaying.previously.

And who knows what the acceptable future monthly payments are supposed to be once you get your visa  so you can renew in future  without issues.

Like I said before ,I  think  these cancilleria people think they are gods  and can interpret or make up rules willy- nilly, or just.deny you on a whim without any reason

I can't edit that prior comment on my cheap android phone since the submit button disappears. So hear is the edit:
@Mr. Barley that plan is an expensive option, There are cheaper ones out there.


I am not sure what plan you are referring, or where I said that. I may have to PM you on those cheaper plans out of curiosity. I was think of using a one year multi-trip policy by a company that rhymes with Jax for$200.
-@Mr. Barley

Thats a reasonable price

Influencer "First book of Jym" finally gave us an update. He has abandoned his pensioner's visa application. He is currently in Colombia on a tourist's visa and will be returning to Canada in December. From there he will apply for a work visa for a "job" that is being offered through the church.

On the other hand if you are applying from a Consulate, be prepared to get rejected. I used to work for Landon Law up until June of this year and well, decided to change career path. London Consulate is the worst, getting approved has become so rare. I’d say 1 out of 10 gets approved and they are rejecting a lot….a lot.

USA Consulates are following this trend so be prepared.

@normanieves13 I was applying my cousin to get a digital nomad visa through the London Consulate, and they didn’t even ask for any requirements, they just straight denied it. Alongside with other 3 friends. It’s truly a mess. One of the worst.

    @normanieves13 I was applying my cousin to get a digital nomad visa through the London Consulate, and they didn’t even ask for any requirements, they just straight denied it. Alongside with other 3 friends. It’s truly a mess. One of the worst.

Thanks..yhats goid to know

But I did hear about a Canadian who had smooth sailing for a pensión visa through the Embassy in Ottawa

The issue for me is applying from Canada probably means I have to stay there for months, and my physical home is Colombia.   

    -@normanieves13