My name is Ken. I'm an American from NC/Mass. I moved to Cartagena on April 30 of this year,
and have been living in an AirBnB in BocaGrande since I arrived.
I have already applied for the 90 day extension, which would allow me to remain here until sometime
in late October.....the 26th, I believe.
Since I retired a few years ago, I have always intended to become a more-or-less permanent resident
of Colombia. I have a bit of money in the bank (although no one would call me rich...) and my SS check
is well above the $800 threshold required by the Colombian government.
I have contacted (and paid for) a professional Immigration Assistance Service in Medellin recently. They
sent me a list of steps I need to take and complete in order to successfully submit for an M (Migrant) Visa,
which can be renewed on an annual basis, or a P (Pension) Visa, also annually renewable.
I have an understanding of most of the steps I need to take.
I know I need proof of health insurance. Okay, that's pretty straightforward.
I know I need a Colombian doctor to certify that I'm reasonably healthy. Again...pretty straightforward.
I have forwarded a digital copy of my passport to the Visa Assistance Agency.
And I know about the Apostille process for the docs regarding my income verification, and the FBI background
check. I have someone in the states who will do that for me....for a fee.
The one that is keeping me up nights is the FBI Background Check. I'm not worried about what's in my history....
as far as I know, there shouldn't be anything that presents an issue. What is baffling me is the fingerprints on a
very specific form thing. I can download the form from the FBI site, I know that. I don't have a printer at this point,
but a friend can print that out for me. What I don't understand is who to go to here in Cartagena, who can do the
fingerprints on that form, and who the FBI will accept as legit.
I am ashamed to admit, I totally wasted the whole first 5 weeks of my stay here, and I'm getting a very late start on
this. I really have to get all the steps right before I submit my Visa application to the Colombian government. I cannot
afford any re-do's or re-submits because this or that is wrong or missing.
Can anyone out there hold my hand through this process and guide me to a successful Visa application? I'm an emotional
wreck right now!!
Ken Allen Moore
