Moving to Colombia with a criminal record

Crabtree

Try a local police report or something that goes back only 5 years

Got to get the words "DUI" off of your record, preferably show a clean record

@nico peligro

My bad, I would not consider a DUI a minor traffic offense, I stand corrected.

lp

WelI, finally got

My Rentista visa.

But who knows how long it is good for.

The Langon.ladycssid they could give it only for 6 months.

That is ridiculous.I have gotten for 3 years before then 1 year ( which I complained about).

Now 6 months? After spending a coupl ñe grand and at least 100 hours of my time  getting the police report  , financial  docs, apostilled translated, buying useless redundant medical insurance , making and paying for  the application and lawyer, paying the the cedula  and visa registration  fees, etc,  etc. And they can give me 6 months, which will basically be useless, as I travel a lot , espescially in the next 6 monhhs  ..will be out over 2 months..and a tourist stamp is just as good for me.

Maybe next time I apply the will give me 3 months.

Anyway, wait and see.Maybe I am too negative.

@nico peligro

I gotta agree with you, that sucks balls.

elpt

Makes the Pasto  option a lot more enticing, since I.have a few mountains left to climb.in Ecuador anyway.

I wonder how hard it is to get a visa there lately so I dont have to sneak back and fourth every 3 months?

Maybe CCC knows..

Anyway she sent a  letter asking for a 2 year visa, based on the fact I had so many visas before  and have basically been living here for 11 years.

She said with the new regs, they only give 6 months the first application  sometimes because they want to make sure people stay for the full length of the visa and apply again after the first visa is issued.Thats the " story" anyway. So obviously, with my previous history  this would logically not be an issue.

Cancilleria using logic?

From previous experience I have my doubts.

On Tuesday or Wedndsday I get my Visa and we will see.

@OsageArcher reading that it says only good for three years. What after living in columbia for three years I have to return to US and do process over again so I can get my 5 years.

@nico peligro bribed you say? Is that still possible.

    @OsageArcher reading that it says only good for three years. What after living in columbia for three years I have to return to US and do process over again so I can get my 5 years.        -@jeffreymarks

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Jeffrey, what gave you the idea that you need to return to the States to renew a Colombia visa?

Brother Archer posted three times on this thread, never implying a necessity of returning to the USA to submit a visa application.

We are laypersons, not attorneys, on this site.  I suggest you contact a Colombia attorney due to the large number of anecdotal reports by Expats on Expat forums,

indicating that in the Petro years .. Colombia's Migración deciders have become more finicky than ever.

cccmedia in Santander

@jeffreymarks dont know what you are referimg to.

@jeffreymarks

talk about Puttingthe cart before the horse.

There is no guarantee they will even give  you a visa, and 3 years  is the maximum they give out for Pensionado visas. Quite often they are giving1 year and less now a days.

    @jeffreymarks
talk about Puttingthe cart before the horse.
There is no guarantee they will even give  you a visa, and 3 years  is the maximum they give out for Pensionado visas. Quite often they are giving1 year and less now a days.
   

    -@nico peligro

This - and similar comments in other forums and even Facebook - make me think that one should consider retirement in other countries, like maybe Paraguay or Spain...

I am currently on a tourist extension, courtesty of Expat Group,

giving me additional time and up to 180 days in Colombia

with no exposure to Colombia income taxes.

This is a favorable option for snowbirds or anyone for whom

180 days in Paradise is sufficient for each annual estancia.

Pro tip.... If you tell Migración at the airport that you are coming

as a tourist and the agent asks for details of your tourist activity,

you can tell the agent "medical tourism" and that should

satisfy them.  Worked for me.

cccmedia in Santander

@ChineduOpara It really depends on what is motivating you to expat in Colombia. In my case my wife has all of her family there so other locals they may or may not be more financially attractive are not so because of familial concerns. There is no such thing as one size fits all. Heck, at the end of the day family may actually be a reason to NOT live in Colombia. Gotta just jump in and get your feet wet. IF I was not married to the Chicken of the Sea, I would buy a sailboat and be very nomadic for as long as possible, retaining my US citizenship and not remaining in any country long enough to incur taxable status. I MAY still do that via airlines, buses, and so forth whilst returning to Colombia often enough to maintain my M marriage visa and see what shakes out with Petro, visas, and general circumstances.

Aruba is very close to  Colombia and I have opportunities there, although it is not so cheap.

regards,

elp

IF I was not married to the Chicken of the Sea, I would buy a sailboat and be very nomadic...
    -@Lpdiver

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Past age 50 at the time, my maternal grandmother, Dot G.,

once explained her limitations by saying "I'm not a spring chicken

anymore."

My younger sister, Judy, age 6 at the time, asked in awe,

"Grandma, did you used to be a chicken?!"

Arent kids cute a a certain age?

But not for too long, espescially if they.are not yours, with the " baby daddy" lurking in the bachground.

    @ChineduOpara It really depends on what is motivating you to expat in Colombia. In my case my wife has all of her family there so other locals they may or may not be more financially attractive are not so because of familial concerns. There is no such thing as one size fits all. Heck, at the end of the day family may actually be a reason to NOT live in Colombia. Gotta just jump in and get your feet wet. IF I was not married to the Chicken of the Sea, I would buy a sailboat and be very nomadic for as long as possible, retaining my US citizenship and not remaining in any country long enough to incur taxable status. I MAY still do that via airlines, buses, and so forth whilst returning to Colombia often enough to maintain my M marriage visa and see what shakes out with Petro, visas, and general circumstances.Aruba is very close to  Colombia and I have opportunities there, although it is not so cheap.regards,elp        -@Lpdiver

Bro, you married a tuna? How does that even work?

😂

j/k

I know what you mean... "Not all countries or cultures are good for everyone, and not for all phases of their lives".

I just wish we had some stability re: Health Insurance system in Colombia over the next 8 years. I'm using "8 years" as a horizon, because if I do pull the trigger and buy property in Colombia - then do the inevitable/necessary remodeling - I'll wanna make the most of it and LIVE IN IT for as long as possible (approx 8 years), to recoup my investment while avoiding the hassles of apartment search, renting, etc.

@cccmedia 🤣🤣 did my husband write that because that's us he wants to buy a sailboat and travel and me. I'm not into it. I am the I'm the chicken of the sea.!

@cccmedia  that's what we're thinking of doing and then spending six months somewhere else I don't know where that somewhere else will be, but we'll figure it out maybe Mexico?

@crespobrenda After Colombia, consider Paraguay... but also Mexico because many expats/nomads feel comfortable there. And if you're rolling in dollars/wealth, also consider Costa Rica or Panama...

Can anyone tell us which bank to use in Colombia  we want to open a bank account for the purpose of using it to have in Columbia my husband wants to take sailing classes and things like that. Is that possible if if we don't live there? What's the best bankthat gives you the best rates?