Raymond Fellers
@CaliRay
American expat in Colombia
Forum posts
193
Contacts
24
About me
American
Lives in Cali
Speaks English, Some Spanish
Registration: 01 September 2010
Finding a divorce lawyer in Colombia? by CaliRay
Any recommendations? I'm not in Colombia and need an English speaking lawyer to handle this in abstencia if possible.
@nico peligro "If you have nothing invested in Colombia, dont worry about it. Seriously."You mean just walk away as if a marriage never happened?That hardly seems fair to the woman. Read More
Finding a divorce lawyer in Colombia?
Any recommendations? I'm not in Colombia and need an English speaking lawyer to handle this in abstencia if possible. Read More
Email services blocked by China's Great Wall? Gmail, hotmail. etc. by CaliRay
I'm often asked what email services work in China that don't require a VPN to access. I don't know of any VPNs that can be downloaded while in China. Any information about this is appreciated.
Recently I was able to get my WeChat working through a member here who was looking for help with English. That was nice. Read More
Nationwide water drought 2024 by cccmedia
Colombia is afflicted with a long-lasting droughtapparently caused by the weather phenomenonknown as El Niño.I've been in Bucaramanga, Santander .. and it hashardly rained at all, with no hard rains, in recent months.This is not a local ...
@nico peligro I haven't checked lately but in both the US and China birth rates are well below replacement levels of 2.1 live births per couple to sustain a population. Over the next 20 years or so China is projected to lose 400-500 million people ... Read More
The US Dollar Vs. The Colombian Peso ............. Who's Up? Who's Down? by cccmedia
Weekly close a record.For the first time ever, the exchange closed forthe week with the U.S. Dollar above 5000 Pesos.The closing value for the week endedNovember 4, 2022, is 5092 Pesos to the Dollar.Source... xe.com USD-COP charting
Yep, The dollar has more than doubled against the COP in 12 years. However if you're getting paid in USD, inflation has eaten up ~37% of those dollars. Read More
The US Dollar Vs. The Colombian Peso ............. Who's Up? Who's Down? by cccmedia
Weekly close a record.For the first time ever, the exchange closed forthe week with the U.S. Dollar above 5000 Pesos.The closing value for the week endedNovember 4, 2022, is 5092 Pesos to the Dollar.Source... xe.com USD-COP charting
Neither currency is showing much strength. The US is definitley in an undeclared recession. More than a handful of countries are abandoning the US dollar as the settlement currency for trade. BRICS seems to be gaining acceptance in place of the US ... Read More
Language-exchange partner by DorinChui
Hi Friends,I am looking for a Language-exchange partner. I am living in Shenzhen, China. I need a language partner whoes mother language is English. We can chat online to share life/work or anything. I am willing to share the China' local life with ...
@DorinChui I'm a native English speaker with an interest in learning more about China. PM me. Read More
New members of the China forum, introduce yourselves here - 2024 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the China forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on your expat ...
Technically, at least for now, I'm not an expat. I just returned to the US at the request of a family member. Until last September I'd been living in Colombia for 15 years. I was in Beijing very briefly on a work trip more than 40 years ago. The ... Read More
New members of the China forum, introduce yourselves here - 2024 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the China forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on your expat ...
I have been living in Colombia for quite a while and recently moved to the US but am interested in learning as much about th 'new' China as I can. I say new China because I was in Beijing for a week in the mid-80s when most were still using bicycles ... Read More
Email services blocked by China's Great Wall? Gmail, hotmail. etc. by CaliRay
I'm often asked what email services work in China that don't require a VPN to access. I don't know of any VPNs that can be downloaded while in China. Any information about this is appreciated.
@mrangry Thanks again. I asked Bing about getting verified and got back several options. Read More
Email services blocked by China's Great Wall? Gmail, hotmail. etc. by CaliRay
I'm often asked what email services work in China that don't require a VPN to access. I don't know of any VPNs that can be downloaded while in China. Any information about this is appreciated.
@mrangry I have a WeChat account but haven't been able to find anyone (friend?) who can connect so I can't use it. I've seen people on Fiverr who will connect to you but they usually want $25 or so to do it. Read More
Email services blocked by China's Great Wall? Gmail, hotmail. etc. by CaliRay
I'm often asked what email services work in China that don't require a VPN to access. I don't know of any VPNs that can be downloaded while in China. Any information about this is appreciated.
Thanks for the information about fastmail. I've also heard that hotmail works in China too. There seems to be a handful of different services that work in China but my limited contact with mainland residents indicates that most are unknown to the ... Read More
Email services blocked by China's Great Wall? Gmail, hotmail. etc. by CaliRay
I'm often asked what email services work in China that don't require a VPN to access. I don't know of any VPNs that can be downloaded while in China. Any information about this is appreciated.
Thanks for that. Read More
Email services blocked by China's Great Wall? Gmail, hotmail. etc.
I'm often asked what email services work in China that don't require a VPN to access. I don't know of any VPNs that can be downloaded while in China. Any information about this is appreciated. Read More
Getting a PayPal account for a Venezuelan living in Colombia by CaliRay
Can it be done? Is anyone on this site in a similar situation and was able to open a PayPal account?
@nico peligro The person I'm trying to help with this has a Bancolombia account. I'll have to ask about the status for living in Colombia. I'm fairly sure there's no Colombian cedula. Thanks for your reply. Read More
Getting a PayPal account for a Venezuelan living in Colombia by CaliRay
Can it be done? Is anyone on this site in a similar situation and was able to open a PayPal account?
@Lpdiver Remote jobs, online marketing, etc. often pay only using PayPal. Read More
Getting a PayPal account for a Venezuelan living in Colombia
Can it be done? Is anyone on this site in a similar situation and was able to open a PayPal account? Read More
The US Dollar Vs. The Colombian Peso ............. Who's Up? Who's Down? by cccmedia
Weekly close a record.For the first time ever, the exchange closed forthe week with the U.S. Dollar above 5000 Pesos.The closing value for the week endedNovember 4, 2022, is 5092 Pesos to the Dollar.Source... xe.com USD-COP charting
I just read quite a bit of nonsense about the US economy. All indicators reveal a near imminent crash across the board. Inflation is way over 2.4%. How the inflation number is being determined isn't honest. A closer look would indicate something ... Read More
New members of the China forum, introduce yourselves here - 2023 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the China forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on your expat ...
I'm in Colombia and have been here for years, since Sept. 2008. I follow several YT channels but don't know if what I see there is an unbiased picture so I thought I'd visit here. Also, I'm looking for someone, anyone who can advise/help me set up a ... Read More
WeChat account is blocked by Eifk
Hello everyone.I'm planning to travel to Shenzhen to find a job and learn Chinese there. While searching for information on topics that interest me (mostly technical), I came across a really good website with lots of documents on Baidu ...
Can someone explain what I need to do to open and verify a WeChat account. I've installed the app and that's as far as I've gotten.Thank you Read More
WeChat anyone? by CaliRay
I installed WeChat and now find that I can't use it because I need a current user to help me verify my account. If there are any current WeChat users here who would be willing to help me please message me. Thank you, CaliRay
WeChat never responded to get on WeChat. I can pay someone on Fiverr. The best price I found was $25. Read More
Getting a Colombian Passport by Zooldrool
Hi All, I will be eligible to apply for a Colombian passport next year. I've read that part of the process includes a test and "basic?" Spanish oral. Has anyone recently done this?. How "basic" is the Spanish test?. I am terrible at Spanish and ...
@futuroexpat I have a permanent resident cedula and am way over 65. Thanks for your reply. Read More
Getting a Colombian Passport by Zooldrool
Hi All, I will be eligible to apply for a Colombian passport next year. I've read that part of the process includes a test and "basic?" Spanish oral. Has anyone recently done this?. How "basic" is the Spanish test?. I am terrible at Spanish and ...
@ChineduOpara While dealing with official channels as well as entities like insurance companies here can be difficult, offering guesses as answers to questions is not a solution. A simple IDK or silence seems to be a better solution to me. Offering ... Read More
Question about passport renewal for a Colombian citizen
I recently read that there are offices in some select Colombian cities where a person can go to renew a passport. Can anyone verify this and if this is true, point me to where I can go to get the information? I should be clear that this is to renew ... Read More
call the US from Colombia by cathyfholt
I am trying to find out how to call a US 1-800 number from Colombia. I have Claro phone service. I saw online many conflicting things. One place said the exit code for Claro was 00444. Then I saw the exit code for Colombia was 90. Another said it ...
To call 1-800 numbers I buy Llama Ya cards for $5000 COP. I think they are for 15 minutes of talk time. I have a Claro plan for 'unlimited' US calling (not to 1-800 numbers) that costs just under $38,000 COP. Read More
Getting a Colombian Passport by Zooldrool
Hi All, I will be eligible to apply for a Colombian passport next year. I've read that part of the process includes a test and "basic?" Spanish oral. Has anyone recently done this?. How "basic" is the Spanish test?. I am terrible at Spanish and ...
After reading this thread it seems that answers generally are beliefs rather than statements of fact with proof to back up those statements. It puzzles me why serious questions generate such unserious, incomplete answers. Read More
The US Dollar Vs. The Colombian Peso ............. Who's Up? Who's Down? by cccmedia
Weekly close a record.For the first time ever, the exchange closed forthe week with the U.S. Dollar above 5000 Pesos.The closing value for the week endedNovember 4, 2022, is 5092 Pesos to the Dollar.Source... xe.com USD-COP charting
I wonder what effect Petro's proposal to end licensing and exploration for new petroleum supplies, which will eventually decrease exports that currently (2022) account for around 45% of Colombia's foreign income, will have on the exchange rate of ... Read More
The US Dollar Vs. The Colombian Peso ............. Who's Up? Who's Down? by cccmedia
Weekly close a record.For the first time ever, the exchange closed forthe week with the U.S. Dollar above 5000 Pesos.The closing value for the week endedNovember 4, 2022, is 5092 Pesos to the Dollar.Source... xe.com USD-COP charting
All that goes up will come down, and so it is with the current exchange rate USD to COP, currently at $4.165,50. A year ago, on this date the rate was at $3897.94. It'll be interesting to see if that is a support level that holds. When I came to ... Read More
Best way to send $$ to Colombia by drpeterjstanton
What is the best way to send $$ to Colombia? Western Union? I assume Colombia has an import tax??
@CaliRay I wrote incorrectly the percentage that Wise charged me to transfer money from my US bank to Colombia. It should have been 2.34%. Read More
Best way to send $$ to Colombia by drpeterjstanton
What is the best way to send $$ to Colombia? Western Union? I assume Colombia has an import tax??
If there's a more expensive way to send money to Colombia except possibly for a wire transfer than Western Union, I haven't found it. I've been using Wise and it works flawlessly. My US bank is connected to them. Money sent bank to bank using Wise ... Read More
The cost of Living in Colombia in 2023 by Mickael
Hello everyone, As every year, we invite you to share your experience on the evolution of the cost of living in the region or city where you live in order to answer future requests for information from new members of the site who would like to ...
@paddyroyal So good to see you here. Read More
Experienced English instructor?
I'm looking for someone who can teach English online. The student has been taking lessons for some time, but recently the teacher has decided to stop teaching so I'm looking for a replacement.Preferably a native Spanish speaking female teacher with ... Read More
Rental apartments in the Salento area?
I'm considering moving to Salento. I understand that there are rentals there on a month to month basis? True? Read More
Your year 2022 by Mickael
Hello everyone, Every year, our lives are punctuated by events, twists and turns and all sorts of unexpected things. Local and international news has inevitably had an impact on your life and your projects in Colombia in one way or another. ...
There are no highlights for me to share. Mostly due to my defective hearing I'm mostly a recluse. I have no social life, no real friends here. I live here because it's not economically feasible for me to live in the US. Access to affordable health ... Read More
Getting access to PayPal money in Colombia - in cash by Kiwiprofesor
Hey, Guys, get ready, this is complicated. I'm a kiwi from NZ, living in Colombia. I've recently started earning dollars abroad and getting paid into my Paypal account. I'm finding it impossible to access this money as cash, however, ...
@cccmedia I routinely send money from my US bank directly to a Bancolombia account owned by a person who handles all of my bill paying in Colombia. The fee I pay varies slighlty depending on the amount transferred. My last 2 transfers, each $800 or ... Read More
Getting access to PayPal money in Colombia - in cash by Kiwiprofesor
Hey, Guys, get ready, this is complicated. I'm a kiwi from NZ, living in Colombia. I've recently started earning dollars abroad and getting paid into my Paypal account. I'm finding it impossible to access this money as cash, however, ...
Why anyone would use PayPal or Western Union to transfer money is beyond me when there are better, faster and cheaper ways to do this. Read More
Odd contact requests by paddyroyal
Hi,For some reason, I have been getting random contact requests, always from men ,who say basically nothing about themselves and are always in another part of the world. Is this happening for anyone else?
Not guilty. :-)I get these kinda of friend requests on FB a lot. Pages with zero information. Read More
Colombia's Presidential Election Results: 2022 by cccmedia
At a time of great social unrest and efforts to overcome the ongoing covid challenges, millions of Colombians went to the polls today in a presidential election.Visit this thread for updates on the election results after the polls close this evening.
Referenced without comment. How the New York Times has published lies to serve a biased narrativehttps://nypost.com/2021/05/08/how-the-new-york-times-publishes-lies-to-serve-a-biased-narrative/ Read More
Medellín Ranked Third Best City in the World in 20,000 Person Survey by cccmedia
Edinburgh, Scotland .. Chicago, Illinois .. andMedellín, Colombia are ranked 1, 2 and 3 for city livingin a worldwide survey of 20,000 city dwellerstaken by the organization Time Out.According to the World's Best Cities guide ...
Ranking Chicago as the world's 2nd most liveable city is laughable. If you have to go to Chicago, be sure to take your bullet proof vest. Read More
Colombia's Presidential Election Results: 2022 by cccmedia
At a time of great social unrest and efforts to overcome the ongoing covid challenges, millions of Colombians went to the polls today in a presidential election.Visit this thread for updates on the election results after the polls close this evening.
@mtbe The same could be said of the current US president. Read More
Colombia's Presidential Election Results: 2022 by cccmedia
At a time of great social unrest and efforts to overcome the ongoing covid challenges, millions of Colombians went to the polls today in a presidential election.Visit this thread for updates on the election results after the polls close this evening.
@HutchX2020I've seen the rise in a lot of comodities in the US and Colombia, but I am more interested if whether or not this devaluation of the peso will result in prices decreasing for Colombians for housing, transportation, etc. and will this ... Read More
Colombia's Presidential Election Results: 2022 by cccmedia
At a time of great social unrest and efforts to overcome the ongoing covid challenges, millions of Colombians went to the polls today in a presidential election.Visit this thread for updates on the election results after the polls close this evening.
In the 23 days since Gustavo Petro was elected as the next Colombian president, the value of the US dollar against the Colombian peso has risen nearly 11%. I haven't checked this against other currencies as my money is in USD. While this lasts, it's ... Read More
Should I buy a nice car in Colombia by GuestPoster285
Hello everyone I just arrived in Colombia on a 5 year visa and need to buy a car ASAP. I have researched extensively about the cars here and since I love BMW brand , should I buy one? I found that BMW are not that expensive in comparison with other ...
Like Laker 4115 I always use a bus, taxi or Uber. After 14 years in Colombia I've never needed or wanted a car but then I live in Cali where it's easy to get to or from anywhere I need to go. Read More
Colombia's Presidential Election Results: 2022 by cccmedia
At a time of great social unrest and efforts to overcome the ongoing covid challenges, millions of Colombians went to the polls today in a presidential election.Visit this thread for updates on the election results after the polls close this evening.
I guess it's asking too much of some to look to their neighbor Venezuela and to their own streets to the 10s of thousands of Venezuelian refugees fleeing from the kind of government that Gustav Petro is offering when considering for whom to vote. Read More
New members of the Colombia forum, introduce yourselves here - 2022 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the Colombia forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on ...
Welcome back. I'm still in the US after getting stuck here due to the virus and then some other stuff kept me here. I hope to return to Colombia in June. Read More
The best age to move to Colombia by Cheryl
Hello everybody, No two people experience expatriation in Colombia in the same way, depending on their age and personal situation. We would like to know more about you and ask you to share with us when you decided to move to Colombia. How old ...
Right time to move to Colombia? Too broad a question. Everyone's story and motivation is different. I was 65 when I moved to Colombia. Four reasons: The people, the climate, the health care and the cost of living. Read More
Dollar Domination! USD Surpasses 4000 Colombian Pesos by cccmedia
Dollared Expats are cheering as the U.S. Dollar surpassed the 4000 Pesos mark and closed on Black Friday at 4007 Colombian Pesos (COP). Only for one brief period before, late March into April of 2020, has the Dollar shown such strength and exceeded ...
I'm a long time permanent resident of Colombia currently in the U.S. I still maintain a residence in Colombia. While expats like myself with access to dollars enjoys, at least temporarily, the high dollar to peso exchange rate, prices in ... Read More
COVID-19 and expatriation in Colombia
Its just that nobody died from the common flu in that year, nor this year no doubt. And there were also other categories of death which plummeted becuz everything was recorded as Covid. Why? Becuz they were paid so much per patient, so much per ... Read More
Finances colombia..uk by spillerbk
Hello. I own a property in colombia. And in the process of selling my house. The problem i have is i want to keep my uk bank accounts open and receive a steady income stream from them into colombia. But the company i thought could help now say they ...
The actual cost of sending money through Western Union using a debit card amounted to 12% for me. Western Union advertises a really low sending fee but clobbers you with their currency exchange rate. I currently use Wise and routinely send money ... Read More
Finances colombia..uk by spillerbk
Hello. I own a property in colombia. And in the process of selling my house. The problem i have is i want to keep my uk bank accounts open and receive a steady income stream from them into colombia. But the company i thought could help now say they ...
You can't what? Keep your UK bank account open when you move? Move money from your UK bank to yourself when you're in Colombia? Surely there are ways to do that. I and others regularly send money from US banks to Colombia. Read More
Cost of Living in Colombia in 2021 by Cheryl
Hello everybody, We would like to take stock of the changing cost of living in Colombia, particularly in your city or region. The aim is to measure the impact that the health crisis may have had on your expenses. This will help other expatriates ...
The link I'm posting is not a recommendation and I have no connection to this website other than as a reader. This is merely for perspective on what some think will be the future exchange rate between the Colombian pesos (COP) and the US dollar ... Read More
Dating Coach Advice For Men Seeking Women in Colombia by cccmedia
Asian-American dating coach Saiyan Chan moved from the USA to Colombia because he likes his chances better in La República when meeting women for dating and romance. Chan advises North American men to do as he does -- cold approaching women, ...
How to impress a Colombian woman on a first date Read More
Colombia's 'Permanent' Protests by cccmedia
Presidente Duque on Monday ordered the "maximum deployment" of security forces to clear away roadblocks that had been set up on Colombian streets and highways. The widespread protests in Colombia have entered their fourth week, ...
@cccmedia Thanks for the update. Several acquaintances in Cali tell me the situation there is terrible. They hint at chaos being the best description. I left Colombia last July to visit family and just cancelled a return flight to Cali for late ... Read More
Bob and His Dog Like It Cool But Not Cold by cccmedia
Posting on a members-introductions thread under the name Blastname, Bob said today he has had enough of Colorado's cold weather -- there were snowstorms there this month (May), not unusual for the hills west of Denver. Cold weather, a marital ...
Santa Rosa de Cabal climate sounds about perfect for me. When I can get back to Cali I'll definitely check it out. Read More
Why no reporting on civil unrest, assassinations? by CaliRay
What's the truth about what's going on in Colombia? I'm currently in the US and planning to return to Cali at the end of June. I am reading in Colombia Reports about civil unrest, violence and assassinations but find nothing about this ...
This must be a first in Colombia's mail delivery system unless it was delivered by a private company not associated with the national postal system. Read More
Bob and His Dog Like It Cool But Not Cold by cccmedia
Posting on a members-introductions thread under the name Blastname, Bob said today he has had enough of Colorado's cold weather -- there were snowstorms there this month (May), not unusual for the hills west of Denver. Cold weather, a marital ...
Being from Texas 70s sounds just fine to me. That and the small town atmosphere. Read More
Bob and His Dog Like It Cool But Not Cold by cccmedia
Posting on a members-introductions thread under the name Blastname, Bob said today he has had enough of Colorado's cold weather -- there were snowstorms there this month (May), not unusual for the hills west of Denver. Cold weather, a marital ...
The only place I can think of that might fit the bill is Santa Rosa de Cabal. I've not been there but have spoken on this site with an expat who lives there. I've been looking to get out of Cali, too hot and too big, for a while. Might be ... Read More
Colombia's 'Permanent' Protests by cccmedia
Presidente Duque on Monday ordered the "maximum deployment" of security forces to clear away roadblocks that had been set up on Colombian streets and highways. The widespread protests in Colombia have entered their fourth week, ...
cccmedia and Osage Archer sure did upset matt552 by simply making comments about the obvious mass demonstrations and anarchy. The reports I'm getting from three Cali locals mirror what these commenters have posted. I spoke to a lady today who ... Read More
New banking security measure could end the expat lifestyle.E by windboater
credit cards can get you money overseas but doing any real banking or brokerage action could soon be out of the question for many longer term expats. Banks and investment houses are tightening their access security. Access may soon be nearly ...
Dingtone. The app can be found on both Apple and Android stores. Relatively short learning curve for using it. I have set up two virtual phone numbers. I spend maybe a little more than $5/month depending on how many minutes and/or messages I ... Read More
New banking security measure could end the expat lifestyle.E by windboater
credit cards can get you money overseas but doing any real banking or brokerage action could soon be out of the question for many longer term expats. Banks and investment houses are tightening their access security. Access may soon be nearly ...
For receiving authentication codes I use two methods depending on which one will work. I have a cheap internet phone service with a virtual number. Most codes can be received as SMS. I coordinate with a family member in the US to receive codes when ... Read More
Why no reporting on civil unrest, assassinations?
What's the truth about what's going on in Colombia? I'm currently in the US and planning to return to Cali at the end of June. I am reading in Colombia Reports about civil unrest, violence and assassinations but find nothing about this ... Read More
Cost of Living in Colombia in 2021 by Cheryl
Hello everybody, We would like to take stock of the changing cost of living in Colombia, particularly in your city or region. The aim is to measure the impact that the health crisis may have had on your expenses. This will help other expatriates ...
As for using the metro bus system, MIO, I've never had a problem other than once when the bus broke down and we had to change to another one. I've almost completely stopped using MIO during the Covid problem because some people are not ... Read More
Cost of Living in Colombia in 2021 by Cheryl
Hello everybody, We would like to take stock of the changing cost of living in Colombia, particularly in your city or region. The aim is to measure the impact that the health crisis may have had on your expenses. This will help other expatriates ...
My expenses probably aren't typical but here they are. Some basic costs in Colombian pesos for a strata 4 apartment in south Cali. All expenses are for one month. I am not a penny pincher nor do I live extravagantly. For about $1,000-1,100 USD I ... Read More
Colombian banks make it difficult to wire money from USA by jubiliado
My Colombian wife has an account with Davivienda and when we transfer money from the USA to her account, Davividenda turns it into a major complication and bureaucratic nightmare. We have to spend hours with them justifying the transfer, the ...
Each month I transfer money from my US bank to my Bancolombia account for my expenses. For the past three months I've used Transferwise. The fees are reasonable, the transfers complete without a hitch and arrive in my Colombian account within 30 ... Read More
Is it possible to get a yes or no answer about visas on this forum? by CaliRay
I've been reading everything I can find online to learn if, as of today, Chinese citizens can obtain either tourist or business visas to enter the United States. The information found on .gov, travel agency sites and other places use hundreds, ...
Thanks for your answer. I've read the dot gov pages and all I can learn is that it takes beaucrats thousands of words wrapped in governmentsl jargon to describe a simple situation. That's why I asked here. You provided the answer is a ... Read More
Is it possible to get a yes or no answer about visas on this forum?
I've been reading everything I can find online to learn if, as of today, Chinese citizens can obtain either tourist or business visas to enter the United States. The information found on .gov, travel agency sites and other places use hundreds, ... Read More
Colombian banks make it difficult to wire money from USA by jubiliado
My Colombian wife has an account with Davivienda and when we transfer money from the USA to her account, Davividenda turns it into a major complication and bureaucratic nightmare. We have to spend hours with them justifying the transfer, the ...
When I tried to add a recipient in Colombia to receive money in their Bancolombia account using World Remit their form would not accept the address I entered. The error was that i needed to use letters and numbers or something to that effect. I was ... Read More
Colombian banks make it difficult to wire money from USA by jubiliado
My Colombian wife has an account with Davivienda and when we transfer money from the USA to her account, Davividenda turns it into a major complication and bureaucratic nightmare. We have to spend hours with them justifying the transfer, the ...
Recently I used Transferwise to send money from my US bank to my Bancolombia account. I've used them three times in the last two months and will use them exclusively in the future as long as they continue to be the best service I can ... Read More
Retiring to Colombia. by By NJersey
I’ll be making the move to Colombia from the USA before the end of the year if travel is permitted. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated and Thanks in advance, being that I’m an avid outdoors person and fed up with apartment living ...
I agree with not settling in Cali unless you like the heat. I've been in Cali for too long myself and plan on a northward move when I return from the U.S. Even being from Texas myself I find the Cali heat oppressive for some reason. Read More
How to transfer money one account to another account in Bancolombia
I'm trying to transfer a small deposit from my Bancolombia account to the payees Bancolombia account. I have no idea how to do this either using the Bancolombia website or the Bancolombia app. I can't find any category in the many things ... Read More
Pensionado visa 2020 by Marquezdl
What are the current requirements for a retired American to obtain a retiree visa in Colombia? Have there been any changes for 2020 or due to the Covid pandemic? Thanks Dave Marquez
Here's another article you might want to read. Read More
Reliable source of quarantine info for the over 70 crowd in Cali? by CaliRay
I'm still in the dark about what people in my age group can and can't do quarantine wise if you live in Cali. The rules, at least the rumors, seem to change rapidly. I've read every newspaper and website I've been able to find ...
Thanks for this. Now I know where to look in the future if this YT channel updates with changes. Read More
Reliable source of quarantine info for the over 70 crowd in Cali? by CaliRay
I'm still in the dark about what people in my age group can and can't do quarantine wise if you live in Cali. The rules, at least the rumors, seem to change rapidly. I've read every newspaper and website I've been able to find ...
Your information is at least specific. I heard yesterday that the pico y cédula rules had been changed and that all cedula IDs ending in even numbers and those ending in odd numbers had been assigned specific days to be out but not spread out ... Read More
Reliable source of quarantine info for the over 70 crowd in Cali? by CaliRay
I'm still in the dark about what people in my age group can and can't do quarantine wise if you live in Cali. The rules, at least the rumors, seem to change rapidly. I've read every newspaper and website I've been able to find ...
Thanks for your reply but I should have been more specific. My understanding is being outside is allowed only for certain days and times based on the last number of your cedula. That's information I can't find anywhere. Read More
The lessons of the crisis in Colombia by Loïc
Hello everyone, While there is still a certain amount of uncertainty in our lives, the situation seems to be beginning to change in Colombia and globally. We have had to show courage, tenacity and even ingenuity in many areas, in the way we ...
I could not agree more with your analysis and you have stated your conclusions with much more elegance than I would have. Read More
Reliable source of quarantine info for the over 70 crowd in Cali?
I'm still in the dark about what people in my age group can and can't do quarantine wise if you live in Cali. The rules, at least the rumors, seem to change rapidly. I've read every newspaper and website I've been able to find ... Read More
Reliable news about plans to modify quarantine restrictions? by CaliRay
I hear what seems to be mostly rumors about changing government policy on restrictions during the quarantine. Like many expats I'm in the 70 and over group and need information about allowed movement out of my apartment as well as when travel ...
The latest news I have for Cali is that international flights originating from Alfonso Bonilla Aragón (CLO), with the exception of a few 'humanitarian' flights to the U.S. for American citizens and their dependents, will not begin until after August ... Read More
Reliable news about plans to modify quarantine restrictions? by CaliRay
I hear what seems to be mostly rumors about changing government policy on restrictions during the quarantine. Like many expats I'm in the 70 and over group and need information about allowed movement out of my apartment as well as when travel ...
After the website loads right click and then click on translate to English in the popup if your browser setting is for English. Most browsers have this option. If your browser's primary language is other than English, try it to see if the page ... Read More
Documentation required during this emergency. by CanadaDoug
The Colombia police are required to check the entry date on your passport these emergency shut down days. If you have been in the habit of only carrying your valid visa (i.e.cedula) when going out time that won't be enough to meet your ...
Most government entities have goals inconsistent with efficiency. Their primary functions usually are to expand their size, influence, budgets and control over the citizenry. Read More
Colombian driver's license by CaliRay
I've been in Colombia for more than 11 years and during that time my U.S. driver license expired. Getting a new one there is quite a bureaucratic nightmare I'd rather avoid. Currently in Texas you must wait two months or more just for an ...
Who was responsible for giving you the physical? A person at the driving school? I'm really interested in doing this because driving in the U.S. is essential to daily life where I'm going and the wait to get an appointment just to take the ... Read More
A cooler, less expensive place to live? by CaliRay
I'm looking for recommendations for a relatively small town to relocate to in an area within a not too long bus trip to Medillen. I have lived in Cali for 11 years but would like to live in a cooler climate, preferably in a small town. My needs ...
Good information. I'll check it. Thank you. Read More
Colombian driver's license by CaliRay
I've been in Colombia for more than 11 years and during that time my U.S. driver license expired. Getting a new one there is quite a bureaucratic nightmare I'd rather avoid. Currently in Texas you must wait two months or more just for an ...
Thanks for that. CEA Conducar seems to be local to Cartegena but Google also shows one in Santa Marta. Read More
Colombian driver's license by CaliRay
I've been in Colombia for more than 11 years and during that time my U.S. driver license expired. Getting a new one there is quite a bureaucratic nightmare I'd rather avoid. Currently in Texas you must wait two months or more just for an ...
Can you tell me which driver school you used. I can see if there is one here in Cali. Thanks. Read More
Documentation required during this emergency. by CanadaDoug
The Colombia police are required to check the entry date on your passport these emergency shut down days. If you have been in the habit of only carrying your valid visa (i.e.cedula) when going out time that won't be enough to meet your ...
Why would anyone let their passport expire? I understand there is some grace period to renew by why wait? Read More
Colombian driver's license by CaliRay
I've been in Colombia for more than 11 years and during that time my U.S. driver license expired. Getting a new one there is quite a bureaucratic nightmare I'd rather avoid. Currently in Texas you must wait two months or more just for an ...
Thanks for that. Doing the classes and driving aren't too much to ask. Read More
Reliable news about plans to modify quarantine restrictions? by CaliRay
I hear what seems to be mostly rumors about changing government policy on restrictions during the quarantine. Like many expats I'm in the 70 and over group and need information about allowed movement out of my apartment as well as when travel ...
I came across this a few days ago and decided to share it here in case you're interested. I find it to be one of the most informative sources I've seen and in spite of the website name it isn't strictly about Medellin. Medellin Guru Read More
Colombian driver's license by CaliRay
I've been in Colombia for more than 11 years and during that time my U.S. driver license expired. Getting a new one there is quite a bureaucratic nightmare I'd rather avoid. Currently in Texas you must wait two months or more just for an ...
I have not received any information except for being asked why I want a Colombian driver's license when I don't own a car or moto and have no plans to drive here. I'm still waiting for an answer. The sole reply did say taking written and ... Read More
Reliable news about plans to modify quarantine restrictions?
I hear what seems to be mostly rumors about changing government policy on restrictions during the quarantine. Like many expats I'm in the 70 and over group and need information about allowed movement out of my apartment as well as when travel ... Read More
A cooler, less expensive place to live? by CaliRay
I'm looking for recommendations for a relatively small town to relocate to in an area within a not too long bus trip to Medillen. I have lived in Cali for 11 years but would like to live in a cooler climate, preferably in a small town. My needs ...
Like you edkimble, even after 11+ years here my Spanish is terrible. My hearing is really bad to the point that some letters sound the same when I can hear them at all. Where ever I end up I must have good internet. My work on websites depends on ... Read More
COVID-19 and expatriation in Colombia by Loïc
Hello everybody, The COVID-19 crisis inevitably impacts Colombia, between closed airports or periods of containment in some cities or even the entire country . We would like to hear from you during this unusual period, to find out what the ...
Colombia is currently #49 on the list of 210 countries reporting Covid-19 cases and tied with lots of other countries in deaths per 1 Million population with 2. So with those numbers where would I go that would be safer even if I could leave. I ... Read More
Expats in Colombia: Take part in our survey on the COVID-19! by Anne-Lise Mty
Hello everyone! I hope you’re all doing well despite the prevailing conditions in Colombia. We have just launched a survey on the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on expatriation and would be very grateful if you could take two minutes of ...
I tried to take your survey but there are questions requiring an answer that are in conflict with the question that follows. For example the first question asks "Have you decided to shorten your expatriation because of the COVID-19 ... Read More
Colombian driver's license
I've been in Colombia for more than 11 years and during that time my U.S. driver license expired. Getting a new one there is quite a bureaucratic nightmare I'd rather avoid. Currently in Texas you must wait two months or more just for an ... Read More
Following your life partner in Colombia by Loïc
Hi everyone, If love can move mountains, it also makes people move abroad, in countries such as Colombia. Following your life partner in a country with different customs and rules is an act of absolute trust and may require a period of ...
If you are coming to Colombia to be with your new love and don't have at least a reasonable grasp of Spanish both spoken and reading, learn it. If you know Spanish like that spoken in Mexico, Spain or virtually any other Spanish speaking ... Read More
Medication in Colombia by Loïc
Good morning everyone, Whether it's a simple cold or a chronic illness, medication and medicine use vary from country to country and culture to culture. When you are used to certain brands or types of drugs, being in a country like Colombia ...
Perfect. Thanks for the information. Read More
Medication in Colombia by Loïc
Good morning everyone, Whether it's a simple cold or a chronic illness, medication and medicine use vary from country to country and culture to culture. When you are used to certain brands or types of drugs, being in a country like Colombia ...
Is there a definitive resource describing the Colombian health system? I've lived in Cali since my arrival in Colombia but am looking for a new location further north, possibly Armenia. I am a permanent resident with a CE and visa and qualified ... Read More
A cooler, less expensive place to live? by CaliRay
I'm looking for recommendations for a relatively small town to relocate to in an area within a not too long bus trip to Medillen. I have lived in Cali for 11 years but would like to live in a cooler climate, preferably in a small town. My needs ...
Thanks for the comments. Cooler and rainy suits me. What I'm really looking for is advice for how to locate a place to rent. A small apartment or even house would be perfect if it has a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen and reliable services ... Read More
A cooler, less expensive place to live? by CaliRay
I'm looking for recommendations for a relatively small town to relocate to in an area within a not too long bus trip to Medillen. I have lived in Cali for 11 years but would like to live in a cooler climate, preferably in a small town. My needs ...
The trip length depends on how interesting the experience is. I've waited in airports longer than 5 hours for connecting flights. Even that can be interesting. Air service sounds better. I didn't know that was an option for Armenia. Read More