Which visa to choose?

Dear Chip,

You don't need a stronger reason, you just need a valid reason.  The $700-800 US (varies annually by currency exchange rate) is reason enough, provided you clear that monthly-income requirement as a pensioner.

If the marriage doesn't survive (just sayin'), will the matrimonial visa survive?  Will it be renewed later?  If not -- and the income requirements for pensioners go up -- will you become SOL?

Consider a gratis phone or email consultation with a visa specialist or immigration attorney to make sure you're doing the right thing.

I used Langon Law of Medellín for a visa.  They correctly directed me to apply for a rentista visa.

cccmedia

What’s a rentista visa?

A rentista visa is an M-class visa with a minimum income requirement that is higher than the minimum for a visa based on a government pension.

Examples of the acceptable types of income include money from rental contracts or annuities.

The Medellin Guru website has a page explaining the ins and outs.

https://medellinguru.com/rentista-visa

A definition of rentista is 'a person with private income' (wordreference.com, Spanish to English translation).

  -- cccmedia

Thanks

Another Colombia visa one can apply for (not mentioned until now on this thread) is an investment visa.

Expats have been able historically to apply for such a visa with an investment of under $30,000 US.

According to the Medellín Guru website (medellinguru.com), an M-6 migrant visa for investment in business requires an investment in 2021 of about $25,400 US.  The minimum-requirement is in Colombian pesos, thus the minimum varies annually in relation to the COP to USD exchange rate.

Medellín Guru's page on investment visas lists other requirements and explains how to make application for the visa.

cccmedia

i spoke with a visa agent here in medellin . Business visa is hard...because proof of origin of funds , its not just about having 25k$ . They will scan your bank statement for compliance...you said you made money from bitcoin or crypto (crypto is regulated in Europe and USA but sadly feared in many countries ). Then its a big NO in colombia, there's a specific question about that on the form. ...its a lot easy to run a company in europe and maybe live here as student . that's the easiest route i found.

Crazy Ernie wrote:

i spoke with a visa agent here in medellin . Business visa is hard...because proof of origin of funds , its not just about having 25k$ . They will scan your bank statement for compliance...

A Colombia-based company, Life Afar Capital, saw the concerns to which Ernie alludes as an opportunity .. and created packaged investments.

The minimum investment is $25,000 US to accommodate visa seekers.

The company buys older properties, renovates them for maximum rental profit, rents the units out to tourists and others .. and gives the investor an annual return...

www.lifeafarinvestments.com

I have no financial connection to the company or its investments.

cccmedia

Containers are expensive.  See if you can share a container with other Expat shippers who are sending to Ecuador.

Consider sending only rare or heirloom books .. and using Kindle services to read books online.  You get used to it pretty fast -- reading online with no physical book in hand.

Don't bring large appliances -- the talleres  won't have the parts, won't honor the warranties;  the costs for shipping, storage, customs and hidden fees will be prohibitive.

cccmedia