Pensionado 3 year visa 2018

Thanks Doug for the information re. Colombian Pensionado Visas.  I will be in touch with the ‘Medellin connection’  for processing.  I agree with your assessment of Medellin Population and Pollution so I’ve settled on the other side of the Mountain to the East in Retiro.

Fred Howard

Doug - we do not have an apostle process here in Canada. How did you get your pension letter verified?

Doug's #10 about avoiding a "500,000 fine":  obviously he means a 500,000 COP fine -- which is about a US 170 dollar fine.

Otherwise, an excellent post, Doug.  Reading it through reminded me why I used the Langon law firm to supervise and implement the whole process last year to obtain a one-year TP rentista visa (now available as a 3-year M-class visa).  Langon's paralegal Marta can do this stuff in her sleep .. so the process ran silky smooth.  My only challenge was moving income and birth documents around New York City via messengers as the income dox had to be originated, certified and apostilled at three separate NYC venues.


----

An apostille is a document typically attached to an original personal document that makes it valid for international use.  If obtained in North America, you typically obtain it for a small fee from the agency that originated the document.  If obtained when already in South America, sometimes it can be obtained by mail .. but if that gets complicated, the apostille can be obtained through a North American apostille service, which Doug identified as a "legal service" -- typically for a hefty fee.

cccmedia in Depto. de Nariño

Apostile does not apply in Canada.

Hey chosenrescue

I checked out Retiro while I was living in Envigado. Very cool and laid back. Really enjoyed my day. Good on you buddy.

Hey SunsetSteve

This is where I got my retirement letter stamped in Canada. 
https://legalizationservicecentre.ca/ap … in-canada/
I requested the income confirmation letter (physical paper) from my pension plan people and asked em to send the letter to the physical address of the firm.
I dealt with a company agent thru emails. Only hassle was they wanted me to use "Paypal". I don't have a Paypal account and do not want one. The stubborn agent finally agreed to accept my credit card after I threatened to take my business elsewhere.
It cost me about 380 dollars cad for the stamp process and 125 CAD for the letter to be sent by UPS to my address in Medellin.
I heard the issue of "Canada does not Apostille letters" from my visa agent here in beautiful Armenia. If you ask me it's a red herring. Who cares what they call it? As long as the officials in Bogota immigration accept it?
And there are lots of other companies in Canada that will officially stamp your retirement letter for a fee. I found 2 more in Vancouver while the agent was insisting that I use Paypal.

As a sideline, I do on my computer what I want. My pewters are clean and mean. I do not use criminal Microsoft, Google, Hotmail, Gmail, Fakebook, for Twits, Crapple or any other useless and compromised spyware. That is why the agent was barking up the wrong tree with me. All these worthless bloated programs have been replaced by more user friendly, clean, virus malware free no cost more efficient software. These so called "companies" have ruined the joy of computers as a useful and helpful tool in my opinion.

Doug -  Does monthly ‘Social Security Commission Check’ from USA qualify for the Pensnado 3 yr. Visa? 

Fred

As a sideline, I do on my computer what I want. My pewters are clean and mean. I do not use criminal Microsoft, Google, Hotmail, Gmail, Fakebook, for Twits, Crapple or any other useless and compromised spyware. That is why the agent was barking up the wrong tree with me. All these worthless bloated programs have been replaced by more user friendly, clean, virus malware free no cost more efficient software. These so called "companies" have ruined the joy of computers as a useful and helpful tool in my opinion.
Ok, Im in agreement on this subject. So what are the options? Lennox?

Hey chosen almost all the gringos i know use their SS checks for the visa. Personally i just use my retirement from the state of Florida. Cost:
1. Notorized proof of income letter: free
2. Apostile from Florida Sec of State: $10
3. Shipping using Giro express out of Margate Florida $15
Total: $35 usd
And ive got a colombian friend handles rest here for a reasonable fee plus what inter-col y govt charges. One trip to medellin migration picture etc and no trips to Bogota...i dont know anyone who does that anymore.

Thanks Ray for the info.  If you want to share your contact in Medellin I would appreciate it and even buy you Lunch while I’m in town.  I’ll be coming from Retiro when I return the Middle of April.  Fred

Steve

if you don't have an apostille process in Canada, what is this Office then?

No Apostile in Canada. Did not a signee of the Hague Convention

The process is
1. Get letter from Financial institution or Government stating your income.
2. Get notarized or Authenticated by Notary in Canada.
3.Take it to local Clombian embassy or Consulate.
4. Have it thoroughly translathd into Spanish by Colombian Government Registered Translator.

5. Have your Visa Document

I have done this 5 times previously

For my Panama visa I brought my pension letter directly into the Canadian agency for authentication, then walked across the street to the panama embassy/consulate where they kept it for a eek for authentication and stamping. My Panama lawyer had it translated in Panama City. But if the Colombian consulate will translate, so much the better.

Then is it the Colombian Consulate who issues the visa?

Well thanks for the friendly correction


You may have been advising your clients that way for 25 years,but like I said, I have gotten a TP-7 visa 5 times and have NEVER wasted time sending the document to Global Affairs Canada

Just did the same process 3 wedks ago..in Calgary no.problema..

I have done it exactly as I stated...every time

Regards

Steve..I always get mine sent to Bogota for the Visa

Dont know why they kept it for a week. I wait an hour maximum.in the consulate in Calgary...sometimes less

Peetty sure he Colombian consulate wont translste it..not in thier "job. Descrkption"

Being a notary myself, I could expedite the process. Don’t really want to go to Bogotá though.

SunsetSteve wrote:

Being a notary myself, I could expedite the process. Don’t really want to go to Bogotá though.

When I obtained a TP-7 visa last year, I never left Quindío.

My Medellín attorney's Bogotá agent handled the Bogotá step for a modest fee.

Then he ServiEntrega'd the visa to me in Quindío. I registered the visa several days later in Quindío.

cccmedia in Depto. de Nariño

yeah I didnt go either. My lawyer sent it there.

But once his courier lost my friend{s passport. The excuse was the courier´s moto was attacked by a ladron in the street and crashed and burned all the passports..LOL

What a mess it was for my friend.

Never a guarantee of anything in Colombia..

Hello, I'm new to the forum, so please bear with me... my husband and I left the states 7 months ago, after retiring early and selling everything. We spent time in Nicaragua, 3 months in Colombia, 3 months in Ecuador, currently in Peru. We seriously consider Colombia as our destination. Here is my sort of question... my husband receives a pension from his county job. While doing my research on visas, I saw statements, that Colombian authorities prefer the government pension, i.e. SSA... how accurate is that?
Is it possible to obtain all the documents without returning to the US? Is a birth certificate required, (I am originally from Lithuania)? Is it highly advisable to hire a lawyer? This is just a few questions to start with...
All help is highly appreciated.

Theworldismyoyster wrote:

While doing my research on visas, I saw statements, that Colombian authorities prefer the government pension, i.e. SSA (Social Security)... how accurate is that?...

Is it highly advisable to hire a lawyer? This is just a few questions to start with...

Dear World,

Welcome to the Colombia forums of expat.com ...

Based on my personal experience -- and having worked with an attorney to get a 'rentista visa' last year -- my evaluation of that prefer-the-government-pension concept .. is that it's baloney.

I based my visa application on non-governmental income .. and it sailed right through.

I suspect the only reasons you would be rejected in such circumstances, if working with an attorney, are:  if the pension itself is dubious, is poorly worded, or is not guaranteed to keep paying out.  Also, some people think rental income is a pension, but it's not guaranteed income (due to vacancies, deadbeat tenants, etc.) so it's not a viable pension.

As to your question about working with an attorney:  since it's your first Colombia visa, I'd say use an attorney or professional visa facilitator.

Those who say different are the ten percent of Expats who can take on a foreign bureaucracy and everything it can throw at an Expat .. without even breathing hard.  We in the 90 percent sleep better knowing a pro is representing us and making adjustments along the way.

cccmedia

Theworldismyoyster wrote:

Is it possible to obtain all the documents without returning to the US?...
I am originally from Lithuania.

There are authentication services (googlable under apostille agency) that can usually obtain certified/apostilled/authenticated documents required for South American visas.  You never have to leave Colombia or wherever.  The document will be delivered to you in final form.

The catch:  you may have to pay through the nose.

My experience is with USA-based apostille agencies.  Lithuania?  No clue.

----

When I obtained my Colombia visa last year while in Colombia, I found that one document (the birth certificate as I recall) had to be apostilled at one government agency .. and certified by another.

Fortunately, both agencies were in New York City.  So it was relatively easy and inexpensive to phone from Quindío, Colombia, for a bicycle messenger to pick up the just-apostilled document at one New York agency and deliver it to the second agency for a certification.

cccmedia

Excellent law firms in Colombia for immigration matters include Langon Law of Medellín and the law firm of Christoph Moller aka Moeller, both highly recommended in multiple posts on Colombia Expat forums.

Moeller can be pricey for some matters, especially if heavy research is involved.

Langon Law handled my visa flawlessly last year.  The firm's paralegal Marta did most of the "heavy lifting."  For the Bogotá part, their agent in the capital made the appearance for a modest fee, saving me the trip there.

cccmedia

Thank you for a very valuable feedback. The pension is legit. And I agree, that hiring a lawyer makes sense.
Cheers!
L

Theworldismyoyster wrote:

My husband and I left the states 7 months ago, after retiring early and selling everything. We spent time in Nicaragua, 3 months in Colombia, 3 months in Ecuador, currently in Peru. We seriously consider Colombia as our destination.

Dear World,

You and your husband have been bouncing around so much, I'm unclear whether you know that Colombia collects up to 33 or 35 percent (top of the "marginal" tax rate chart) from its tax residents, beyond a certain amount of income.  To become a tax resident, you merely stay in Colombia 183 days or more in any 365-day period.  North American paid taxes for the year are deductible in Colombia.

This tax exposure can be much greater than what you'd encounter in, for instance, the neighboring country of Ecuador.

Given that your husband has a non-SSA pension and y'all apparently have Social Security income(s), consider taking the above information into account and consult an accountant as well, before committing to Colombia year-round.

cccmedia

CanadaDoug wrote:

7. When you receive the electronic "approval" you have 15 (running) days to get to Bogota AND finally apply in the local area you are in for the special Colombian ID 3 year Visa card (like a cedula).
Let me explain. This is a difficult time limit to fully understand. If you go past your time limit you have to pay an additional 500,000 peso fine.
When you get the return online "electronic" approval you MUST show up at the "local" (where you are at in Colombia) and apply for the special Colombia ID card they make for the 3 year pensionado Visa.
The local immigration "agency" will not process you unless you have the official passport "sticker" from Bogota. Get it???  As soon as you get electronic "approval" of your initial online application get your butt to Bogota for the Visa "sticker" in your passport.

The trip to Bogotá is avoidable.

If you are working with an immigration attorney or visa facilitator, s/he should be able to provide a Bogotá-based agent to get the visa stamp affixed to your passport.  When I obtained a one-year visa last year, I never stepped foot outside Quindío, Colombia, as the agent did the appearance in Bogotá for a modest fee.  I also paid for (inexpensive) second-day shipping of my passport to the capital.  I received the stamped passport back .. about three days later.

cccmedia

Thank you, I am a very informed "bouncer", and we are very aware of the tax situation. The reason for moving around a responsible way to determine the best fit. We have several factors, that are non negotiable.
We spent 3 months in Ecuador, and you know, it is all a toss up... you might pay taxes in Colombia, however due to insane tarifs on many products in Ecuador, you will pay through your nose for goods. Because we eventually plan to settle in a rural area, we will need to purchase a vehicle. Compare the prices, and you will see, what I'm talking about... add the factors like healthcare, weather, economy, Visa process etc. No brainer...  We have not dismissed Ecuador as an option yet.
Thank you again
L

Hi, I would like to ask you if it was a private pension or government you applied for?
I receive a priavte pension through my previous employer and he will provide a headed letter staing that that I will get notarized and legalised in England
Just hoping that is enough
Regards
Aly

Hi, I would like to ask you if it was a private pension or government you applied for?
I receive a priavte pension through my previous employer and he will provide a headed letter staing that that I will get notarized and legalised in England
Just hoping that is enough
Regards
Aly

alycat wrote:

I receive a private pension through my previous employer and he will provide a headed letter stating that that I will get notarized and legalised in England.
Just hoping that is enough.

Dear Aly,

Provided that your ex-employer can show that you will be receiving a specific monthly amount in the $800-US range or close to that number or above .. you have an excellent likelihood of being approved for a visa as a Rentista -- a person who receives a non-governmental pension or an annuity income.

However, since it's not guaranteed that the Cancillería will let your application sail through, it is highly recommended that you work with a Colombian immigration attorney or visa specialist as a first-time applicant.  This is doubly true since the visa law changed in various respects not long ago and some aspects have not been thoroughly tested by Expat applicants.

cccmedia, Colombia Rentista visa holder in 2017-18

Thanks very much for the information

Hi, I have been receiving a private pension from my previous employer who has written a simple letter stating how much I recieve each month (which is more than the 3 x times minimum salary) dated signed with company details and this is going to be notarised and legalised in England before translated and legalising too here in Colombia I am wondering if that is sufficient?
I plan to use Langon when I collect my documents on my visit to England along with 6 months of bank statements which show the amount each month going into my account
Thanks
Aly

alycat wrote:

I plan to use Langon when I collect my documents on my visit to England along with 6 months of bank statements which show the amount each month going into my account
Aly

I used Langon Law for my 2017-approved visa as a Colombia Rentista.

The Langon paralegal Marta, who supervised from start to successful approval, was meticulous and easy to work with.

cccmedia

Hey Aly
You have to get the pension confirmation letter Apostilled. NOT NOTARIZED. I have several pensions but I only used the private one. I got my private Pension Confirmation letter  mailed to a firm in Canada that provides the Apostille service. Then they shipped it to Colombia UPS.
Getting your letter notarized isnt going to work. Find an English firm that does the Apostille.
Dont forget...... once you get your hands on the apostilled pension confirmation letter you have to pay a translation service in Colombia before submitting all the documents online.

CanadaDoug wrote:

I have several pensions but I only used the private one. I got my private Pension Confirmation letter....

That's the smart move -- if you have multiple pensions, there is usually no need to show them all.

Why invite extra scrutiny from La DIAN if the tax agency becomes aggressive down the road about taxing Expats' worldwide income.

cccmedia

The MRE in Bogota require a particular handling of foreign pension documents.
The original English pension confirmation has to be apostilled (at Milton Keynes) and translated by an approved Colombian legal translator, whose credentials have to be confirmed at Bogota.

They may not accept the original document more than once and the whole process has to be repeated for every visa.