visa for colombia

[adventuro]

I know that this has been written about before but does someone know what documents one needs to get a visa to live in colombia, like an investors visa or a pensionada visa............I think that all the documents need to be translated by an approved translater and then delivered to a consulate of colombia in the US............any idea on how to find an "approved" translator............and the finger printing...........and the police reports..........are they from a city office where I live, a state or is it the FBI or some such agency............any help would be appreciated............just an aside to someone who posted about their novias getting robbed after receiving money in Cali...........I talked to my novia about this, who has a pretty level head about stuff, and she said that there are only two western unions that she considers really safe to get money from........but even these she says that one should be very aware of who is around when you leave with the money............just a thought........not sure that she really knows alot about this or not, but is from her perspective as a colombian..........thanks for any help that someone can offer..............and I was reading in EL Tiempo the other day, the news paper from Bogota, that there were close to 500 murders in the first two months of this year in Cali..............most occur in barrios of strata 1 and they are starting a curfew on weekends and during fiestas in certain barrios............that seems like a lot of murders to me in a city of Calis size...........spillover is always a possiblity with such high numbers...........I guess caution and Colombia go hand in hand in any of their citys...........

[Pete E]

... in response to visa for colombia, posted by adventuro on Mar 7, 2004

You need to get on the web site for your nearest Colombian counsolate.It will give you the requirements for the visa.
I got a Colombian pensionado visa December 3.The main thing they wanted to see was my income from my pension.I had pension pay stubs I recieve plus bank records of the account it is deposited in.First I had to get these notorised.My friend is a notary.He says what am I notorising,as in how the hell would he know if it was legit?
Basically he was notorizing my signature on a statement by me on each document that the document was for real.Then I had to go to the county I lived in and get his notory status certified,then to a State of California office(fortunately on 50 miles away in San Francisco) and get the whole thing apostilized.All the forms are stapled together with stamps that overlap on each form.If you unstaple it is becomes invalid because it has to match perfecctly.
All this BS to satisfy them the documnents were for real when nobody in the process had any way of knowing that.Just BS to satisfy them.I questioned the logic of this and they said "we do not accept incomplete applications".Just do it even if it makes no sense.
With that I got the visa in 4 days.It lists a $305 fee for the visa but they gave me my check back because its free for US citizens.
I almost didn't get the visa done before I left but I'm glad I did.I needed it to get a Cedula which I needed to get this computer cable connection plus open a bank account which I need to do.
Also my roomate overstayed the 30 days they gave him when he entered and had to go to DAS and pay a fine.I guess the fine would have been like 1,000,000 pesos at the airport when he went to leave otherwise.I think it was 300,000 at DAS.Plus if you get stopped by the police and you overstayed your visa you have a problem but probably one some $$$ will solve.
So I am glad I got it together to get the pensionado  visa.Its good for one year,then I guess I have to go to Bogota to get it extended.I think after 3 years it becomes permanent and you don't have to keep renewing it.
And another huge advantage,with the visa I am a Colombian resident and can still do direct counsoler filing for a spousal visa which otherwise has to be done in the states now after you marry.It can take 6-8 months now.The old direct counsoler filing was 2 weeks and hopefully will be the same now.
Me getting married? Not yet.My divorce isn't final untill July.Plus living here I am in no hurry.My girlfriend  would like to just move in with me with her 2 kids (would love it in fact)but thats a big step and would end my income from renting rooms which I kind of like.But that would be a logical step before getting married.No rush this time.Plus the comraderie of the guys is fun.One guy left this morning,another guy is leaving his hotel to take his place.There are 4 of us most of the time now.But  3 could be gone in a week,2 will for sure.One guy said I should write a novel about all the goings on.Its interesting.
I'm the only guy with a stable relationship,the others are still trying to decide and its back and forth.Its a tough life,which beautifull girl do I chose,her,no her.

Pete

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: visa for colombia, posted by Pete E on Mar 8, 2004

[This message has been edited by Red Clay]

Curious to know if your income from your pension is somehow taxed in Colombia. (by Colombia) Wouldn't make sense, but that doesn't stop'em from trying.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: visa for colombia, posted by Red Clay on Mar 8, 2004

I don't think so,it is from a pension in the US,not money made in Colombia.
I just had a tax discussion this morning with my roomate who is an estate planner.The question is if I do not reside in the US do I need to file a US tax return.We don't know,I will ask my accountant.Thewn there is the questionof reportintg income from an offshore investment account that the IRS would get no imformation on.If answer # one is no answer #2 becomes a moot point.
Also,Terry,the estate planner says do a living trust with a division of property agreement instead of a pre nup.Its simpler and she does not have to have an attorney represnting her to make it valid.Plus it probably looks much less threatening than a pre nup.

Pete

[Cali James]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: visa for colombia, posted by Pete E on Mar 8, 2004


Pete,

The filing requirements for US citizen living abroad are more or less the same as if you lived in California.  If you're single and have taxable income greater than 7800 you must file, if married it's 15,600.  On December 31st 2003, you were married so I suggest you file MFJ with Rocio before the 15th of April.  Filing married but seperate is generally a red flag to the IRS that one party in the marriage does not wish to sign the return.  These are audited more frequently.

As to tax year 2004, you'll be divorced by year end, so you can file in 2005 as single.  I don't know enough about your pension to comment on the degree to which it's taxable but the IRS will receive a 1099 summarizing the distributions for the year.  Even if nothing was taxable, I'd DEFINITELY file just to keep yourself in their system.  It's better to stay in their system then to suddenly dissappear.

Take a look at pub 54 also;

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf

Take care, James

[Pete E]

... in response to visa for colombia, posted by Cali James on Mar 8, 2004

James,
I forgot you were a former IRS guy.
What if I live out of the country and don't file a return?
Would that be better than not reporting income they would not otherwise know about,ala a european investment account?
Am I in big trouble if I don't report it either way?
Maybe I need to go back to some of the resources from the investment seminar I did in Panama.I kind of went to sleep when they started talking about all kinds of trusts and other options.I just said to myself I don't need this,but I know who to ask if I do.
I am hoping to greatly increse the value of my european account and just kind of thought I would be exempt or no one would know.
My pension is taxable.
I will do a joint return with Rocio for 2003 because write offs in my name will wipe out our taxes except for my social security.Why 4/15? As self employed I always waited untill 10/15 but intend to file in June or July when I come back for a vacation.
Her phone is either disconnected or she changed it.She got in another wreck,supposedly a hit and run on the freeway where the other person ran but its the front of the jeep that is damaged.I don't think the insurance company can even get ahold of her.I am afraid she will get in trouble if she just tries to put her head in the sand.
She hasn't called me in weeks and used to call alot.Maybe my girlfriend posts pissed her off.Hey she didn't want me,how can she complain?

Pete

[Cali James]

... in response to Re:  visa for colombia, posted by Pete E on Mar 8, 2004


Well I don't know about big trouble but I wouldn't want to be delinquent with the IRS.  If you reported your pension and assuming it's 40,000 and fully taxable, you probably wouldn't owe more than about $4,500 after your personal exemption and standard deduction.  I'd pay the $4500 just to sleep well at night and to keep your options open if you return.  

Now if you decide to marry a Calena someday, your Calena wife can make an election to have her income subject to U.S. taxes despite living in Colombia.  With an extra exemption, higher standard deduction and more favorable bracket creep, you could reduce your tax to about $2500 or so.

[Cali James]

... in response to Re:  visa for colombia, posted by Pete E on Mar 8, 2004

If you've got a foreign account that you're certain the IRS will not know about, now or in the future, then OK go ahead and don't report that income, it's your call.  I'd still file a return with the IRS that discloses your pension proceeds however.  My own view, 15 years removed from working for the IRS, is that it's better to stay in the system, then to dissappear from it.  If I were you I'd continue to file regardless of whether the law says you need to.  

The good news is, it's really easy to file abroad these days with efile.  The April 15th was just the normal deadline, if you do an extension than that's fine too.

[roadken]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: visa for colombia, posted by Pete E on Mar 8, 2004

As I understand the tax laws,income is not taxable in the US if you reside outside the country more than 11 months and it is under $75,000(US).I am not sure if pension income is even taxable at all.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: visa for colombia, posted by roadken on Mar 8, 2004

I like that answer better.

Pete

[Cali James]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: visa for colombia, posted by Pete E on Mar 8, 2004


I think there's an $80,000 exemption for foreign earned income.  Investment income wouldn't apply because it's not "earned" income unless you were an active trader or something.  Anyway, your pension income to the extent it's taxable would definitely not qualify for the exemption.

Now if you set up an ebay business, and you sold leather goods from Colombia as an example, all while living in Colombia, this income would most likely qualify for the foreign earned exemption.  The sale proceeds could even be paid into a U.S. bank account and still qualify for the exemption, the bank account isn't critical but rather where you earned it is.  Of course the income would be taxable to Colombia but the Colombian government wouldn't know a thing about it because the sales would be deposited into a U.S. account.  Now this is the kind of business scenario that would avoid all taxes and keep the IRS happy.

[cancunhound]

... in response to visa for colombia, posted by Cali James on Mar 8, 2004

good info - I've worked for 3 of the "Big 5" accounting firms on the consulting side over the years but within the tax area.  I'm not a CPA.  At each of those firms former IRS guys/gals were desireable because they knew the "sccop".  It might cost a little but those firms are global and most have offices in Cali - they certainly know expat laws and could handle everything for you, both US/Colombia.  Best to stay clear of the borderline stuff - that's not what killed one of my former firms (Andersen) but it's on the radar big-time right now.  The remaining 4 are PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Deloitte and KPMG - they may operate under different local names in Colombia but they have offices there - check the US websites for contact info if you want to go that route.

[DavidMN]

... in response to Re: visa for colombia, posted by cancunhound on Mar 8, 2004

...and if they offer you a tax shelter, run for the hills. The Big Four might be the big 3 or 3.5 after Uncle Sam finishes with KMPG.     ;-)

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Re: visa for colombia, posted by DavidMN on Mar 8, 2004

I doubt KPMG will suffer the same fate as Andersen - much less any remaining firm, it's a shame that Andersen suffered that fate - they were head over heals the best of the bunch technology and people-wise, all it took was one bad apple and Enron.  They were the only firm to actually grow without being a big 5 due to mergers.  If they were to whittle it down further that wouldn't be good for the markets - as the govt. understands now I believe.  Oh yeah, I worked for KPMG also - good firm

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: visa for colombia, posted by Pete E on Mar 8, 2004

I would suspect you would still have to file that return - the question would be since that pension income is not "earned" income it might not be taxable?