Colombia Club Part II

[bramirez04 2]

thank you everyone!! it only took two months and one week to get approved!! SUPER FAST.

[ryna 132]

This isn't related to getting a visa or immigration or anything like that, but is related to Colombian laws and maybe some of you have dealt with similar situations in the past.

Just thinking ahead....

My wife and I plan to have our Church ceremony in Colombia later (date TBD) and one of the invited guests will be a friend of mine who is a USC but was born in Colombia. My friend came to the US as a child and hasn't been to Colombia in nearly 40 years. She has no Colombian documentation (passport, cédula, etc.) at all other than her birth certificate which, in her own words, is almost dust. I've heard (but am not certain) that Colombia always considers someone to be Colombian unless they specifically renounce Colombian citizenship and that they must present themselves as Colombian upon entry/exit (even being a USC and with a US Passport.)

If she uses her U.S. Passport, which is in her married (U.S.) name (which Colombia knows nothing about) but which lists Bogotá as her place of birth, will this cause her a problem entering Colombia? If so, can she enter Colombia with only her Colombian birth certificate? Also, she has two sons: one 23 and the other 15, both of whom are natural-born USCs and have never been to Colombia. I'm also 100% sure that neither son's birth was registered with Colombia in any way... They won't treat either of her sons as dual citizens (minor needing parental permission of both parents to leave or, in the 23 y/o's case, compulsory military service) by some automatic transfer of Colombian citizenship through her, right?

I would think nothing of it but I've been asked for my "papers" down there so many times that it's not a small probability that they would have their's looked at too. I would never forgive myself if Invited them and then the older boy got caught up in something if they decided that he was a Colombian citizen for some reason - how I don't know - but at one of those ID checkpoints I've been in, I saw a couple of early 20-ish young men being taken away for skipping out on their compulsory service (or so said my wife. I was completely lost at those "requisas".)

It is definitely several months into the future but the last thing I want to do is cause anyone trouble when they travel to Colombia for our Church ceremony. I think it's a combination of not knowing Colombian law well and the nagging US State Department warning that foreign governments can apply Colombian-specific laws to those it considers dual-citizens that has me wondering.

[xelance 31]

no email confirmation yet from the embassy that they received my packet...sent it on Friday, but yesterday was a holiday so I hope they are just playing catch up and will get back to me soon that they read/received it.

Ryna,I wouldnt think it would pose a problem...but I would tell her to bring her birth certificate just in case. I really think she is fine with her passport though.

[Mononoke28 135]

This isn't related to getting a visa or immigration or anything like that, but is related to Colombian laws and maybe some of you have dealt with similar situations in the past.

Just thinking ahead....

My wife and I plan to have our Church ceremony in Colombia later (date TBD) and one of the invited guests will be a friend of mine who is a USC but was born in Colombia. My friend came to the US as a child and hasn't been to Colombia in nearly 40 years. She has no Colombian documentation (passport, cédula, etc.) at all other than her birth certificate which, in her own words, is almost dust. I've heard (but am not certain) that Colombia always considers someone to be Colombian unless they specifically renounce Colombian citizenship and that they must present themselves as Colombian upon entry/exit (even being a USC and with a US Passport.)

If she uses her U.S. Passport, which is in her married (U.S.) name (which Colombia knows nothing about) but which lists Bogotá as her place of birth, will this cause her a problem entering Colombia? If so, can she enter Colombia with only her Colombian birth certificate? Also, she has two sons: one 23 and the other 15, both of whom are natural-born USCs and have never been to Colombia. I'm also 100% sure that neither son's birth was registered with Colombia in any way... They won't treat either of her sons as dual citizens (minor needing parental permission of both parents to leave or, in the 23 y/o's case, compulsory military service) by some automatic transfer of Colombian citizenship through her, right?

I would think nothing of it but I've been asked for my "papers" down there so many times that it's not a small probability that they would have their's looked at too. I would never forgive myself if Invited them and then the older boy got caught up in something if they decided that he was a Colombian citizen for some reason - how I don't know - but at one of those ID checkpoints I've been in, I saw a couple of early 20-ish young men being taken away for skipping out on their compulsory service (or so said my wife. I was completely lost at those "requisas".)

It is definitely several months into the future but the last thing I want to do is cause anyone trouble when they travel to Colombia for our Church ceremony. I think it's a combination of not knowing Colombian law well and the nagging US State Department warning that foreign governments can apply Colombian-specific laws to those it considers dual-citizens that has me wondering.

ryna,

Colombian law says that all people who have been born in Colombia will always be Colombian citizens unless they renounce it. It specifically says that she needs to have her cédula and Colombian passport to enter Colombia or she'll be violating Colombian law. With that said, many people in her situation keep mum about their Colombian citizenship and go in and out using only their US passport and nothing happens to them. Is it right? No, not at all but they do it all the time with no questions asked.

As for her children, they're still US citizens unless they go to the nearest Colombian consulate to register as Colombian citizens and get their Colombian birth certificates, which they haven't.

Diana

[ryna 132]

ryna,

Colombian law says that all people who have been born in Colombia will always be Colombian citizens unless they renounce it. It specifically says that she needs to have her cédula and Colombian passport to enter Colombia or she'll be violating Colombian law. With that said, many people in her situation keep mum about their Colombian citizenship and go in and out using only their US passport and nothing happens to them. Is it right? No, not at all but they do it all the time with no questions asked.

As for her children, they're still US citizens unless they go to the nearest Colombian consulate to register as Colombian citizens and get their Colombian birth certificates, which they haven't.

Diana

Thanks, Diana...

That's what I thought in both cases. The only (big) clue in hers would be that the US passport lists Bogota as POB. And, just wanted to be sure nothing was automatic in the case of the kids. She was under the impression that Colombia was the same as Guatemala (where her husband is from) and he has always used his US passport to travel there (since becoming a USC, of course.)

I just have to make her aware of this so she can decide what to do since she's never had a cédula and any Colombian passport she may have had is long since lost/expired. Her original Colombian BC might not even be valid as I've noticed (through my wife's paperwork) that they seem to have a limited shelf life there in some instances. I would hate for her to have Colombian immigration problems on my account, especially since she never intended to return there before this.

Also, I've read elsewhere that a cédula (especially an original) can take a long time to get in some cases (1 yr+). Is that true? It could affect her decision given that our TBD date is not likely to be more than 1 year out...

[Mark and Carol 4]

Carol and I had our AOS interview today and I am happy to announce GREEN CARD APPROVED!!!

The interview lasted 15 minutes and was very simple. The IO asked Carol all of the yes/no questions on pages 3,4,5 of form I-485...which I thought was very strange. Didn't ask for any supporting documents other than Carol's original birth cert. and photos of wedding & Colombia.

What a relief to know no more paperwork for 21 months.

Mark

[xelance 31]

congrats!

[ryna 132]

Carol and I had our AOS interview today and I am happy to announce GREEN CARD APPROVED!!!

The interview lasted 15 minutes and was very simple. The IO asked Carol all of the yes/no questions on pages 3,4,5 of form I-485...which I thought was very strange. Didn't ask for any supporting documents other than Carol's original birth cert. and photos of wedding & Colombia.

What a relief to know no more paperwork for 21 months.

Mark

Congrats!

[DanVanessaSiempre 0]

Carol and I had our AOS interview today and I am happy to announce GREEN CARD APPROVED!!!

The interview lasted 15 minutes and was very simple. The IO asked Carol all of the yes/no questions on pages 3,4,5 of form I-485...which I thought was very strange. Didn't ask for any supporting documents other than Carol's original birth cert. and photos of wedding & Colombia.

What a relief to know no more paperwork for 21 months.

Mark

Great news! Welcome to the Green Card Club

[bramirez04 2]

Carol and I had our AOS interview today and I am happy to announce GREEN CARD APPROVED!!!

The interview lasted 15 minutes and was very simple. The IO asked Carol all of the yes/no questions on pages 3,4,5 of form I-485...which I thought was very strange. Didn't ask for any supporting documents other than Carol's original birth cert. and photos of wedding & Colombia.

What a relief to know no more paperwork for 21 months.

Mark

CONGRATS!!

[arizreynolds 1]

Carol and I had our AOS interview today and I am happy to announce GREEN CARD APPROVED!!!

The interview lasted 15 minutes and was very simple. The IO asked Carol all of the yes/no questions on pages 3,4,5 of form I-485...which I thought was very strange. Didn't ask for any supporting documents other than Carol's original birth cert. and photos of wedding & Colombia.

What a relief to know no more paperwork for 21 months.

Mark

Congrats feels good big load of the mind

[xelance 31]

dang...havent got an email confirmation from Bogota that they received by scanned documents, and I sent it on Friday..guess I will call them and ask whats going on.

[ryna 132]

ryna,

Colombian law says that all people who have been born in Colombia will always be Colombian citizens unless they renounce it. It specifically says that she needs to have her cédula and Colombian passport to enter Colombia or she'll be violating Colombian law. With that said, many people in her situation keep mum about their Colombian citizenship and go in and out using only their US passport and nothing happens to them. Is it right? No, not at all but they do it all the time with no questions asked.

As for her children, they're still US citizens unless they go to the nearest Colombian consulate to register as Colombian citizens and get their Colombian birth certificates, which they haven't.

Diana

Diana,

One more thing since I'm thinking about it and you are very knowledgeable about these things...

Do you know if the restriction on being in Colombia for at least 10 days prior to getting married applies to Church ceremonies if you are already married civilly outside of Colombia? I guess we need to know if we should plan for a one or two-week visit when we make our plans... The Church (here in the U.S.) said because we are already legally married, it is a slightly different thing (which makes since because we're not "marrying" twice.)

Thanks

[Mononoke28 135]

Thanks, Diana...

That's what I thought in both cases. The only (big) clue in hers would be that the US passport lists Bogota as POB. And, just wanted to be sure nothing was automatic in the case of the kids. She was under the impression that Colombia was the same as Guatemala (where her husband is from) and he has always used his US passport to travel there (since becoming a USC, of course.)

I just have to make her aware of this so she can decide what to do since she's never had a cédula and any Colombian passport she may have had is long since lost/expired. Her original Colombian BC might not even be valid as I've noticed (through my wife's paperwork) that they seem to have a limited shelf life there in some instances. I would hate for her to have Colombian immigration problems on my account, especially since she never intended to return there before this.

Also, I've read elsewhere that a cédula (especially an original) can take a long time to get in some cases (1 yr+). Is that true? It could affect her decision given that our TBD date is not likely to be more than 1 year out...

Good point, I totally forgot about the POB information on the US passport. I had the same issue in Colombia where I wasn't allowed to drive a car with my Colorado driver's license because my passport said I was born in Medellín. They told me I had to get a "pase" which is a Colombian driver's license.

Anyway, is there any possibility that she can go to the nearest Colombian consulate to take care of her situation? In Colombia, even though any kind of certificate does not have an expiration date at all, they like them to be recent. Since a Colombian consulate would be here in the US, she may not have that issue with them at all and they may give her a "contraseña" for her cédula and a Colombian passport as well. A "contraseña" is a temporary ID (looks like a receipt) that she can use until her real cédula is available which can take a couple of years here in the US. That way, she can go to Colombia in a few months and enjoy the trip without thinking about what DAS officials will say to her when she arrives or when she leaves.

Diana

[xelance 31]

holy ####### guys...we have our interview next week March 31st...talk about short notice!!! Im stressing now