expat-ex-colombia.4
For Housing
contact me joseph sexton, i will help you, 3186928619
a lot of expats in Colombia have to post in different sites for items to buy or
to sale, Apartment for Rent, house for short lease, moving companies and more.
Now, there is a free classifieds designed only for expats in Colombia, check it
out and start posting your ads at www.colombiaexpats.org.
Colombia: Claro/cell phone:
| Buying a prepago is no problema. But a contract is something all together different. You can only go for an open contract, meaning once you run out of minutes your phone won't work until the start of the next billing cycle, even if you buy more minutes. I went through this with Claro and didn't have any good service (phone or customer wise). My 180 minutes would run out after about 10 minutes of phone use and I would be without minutes for the next 30 days. They admitted to having server problems but I quickly learned that “they” meant “you” (me). Anyway. I can can rant about how much a despise Claro's cell and home services. But the others are just as bad. You need to choose between the less of 2 evils. Now that my rant is over…. Without your cedula the best you can do is get an open contract with a 1 year of service of deposit and pay for each month as I go along. Even the clerk and manager advised me against doing this as I would likely lose the money. Their issue is that they are worries your going to run off without paying. Even considering the fact that it is your phone and you pay for the sim and they won't give you service if you don't pay the following month (as you pay in advance). They are still worried you will cancel without paying an extra month worthy of service. Yes even with an open contract (meaning you can cancel at any time) when you cancel you need to pay an extra month. So if you don't have a cedula than they don't have anything to threaten you with as far as tarnishing your permanent credit record. It is all BS. But when in Colombia you gotta conform and suffer or suffer alone. If you buy 20 mil worth of minutes every 2 weeks it is a bit more of a pain but often cheaper. |
Colombia: immunizations and medical info:
| I would had blamed “auto correct” but that is ok. Very common mistake with the spelling. Unless your son is traveling to the Amazon than there likely isn't any need for shots. You can reference the below links if you like. As for access to prescription drugs, they are much easier to get here as a pharmacist can fill most requests without a doctor's consent. As long as they are not considered a dangerous or addictive drug you can typically get it without a prescription. If you do need a doctor's prescription, they usually aren't that difficult to get. In the USA you can expect to pay about $500 for visiting the ER and getting an aspirin. Here in Colombia, you can visit the ER, get x-rays, stitches, bandaged up and prescription painkillers for under $120. Most doctors understand English in general, if not there is usually someone in the hospital that can speak English, to help with translations. http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/samerica/colombia.php http://www.iamat.org/country_profile.cfm?id=23#profile_immunization |
Colombia: U S citizenship:
| US Citizens can write off their incomes of up to $80K and $20K for housing and Colombians generally don't need to declare an income if it is under $40M (Generally speaking). Speak to a CPA for more details. If you need a referral to an expat service, PM me and I will send you their info as I don't like to advertise for anyone on these boards. |
Post by: paladino
<http://www.expatexchange.com/expat/index.cfm?pr=viewprofile&userid=56452>
As always masterita has good insights and he tells it like it is. I would like
to emphasize that Colombia is in the Americas and that is about the last thing
that is in common with the USA. First let me drop some info on your that you
need to know. 1) the Visa system for Colombia is entirely online now. You can go
through the entire process and build a complete 'dry run' to get a feel for the
quirks of the system and what is required. The reason I share this is because I
have been through it a couple of times and you might want to fully document with
your own notes everything to know BEFORE you get really ready to use it. It is
to a very user friendly… [the form will be in English but all the on-line help
and explanations will be in Spanish] if you don't know some Spanish I feel you
will never make it. see: cancilleria[dot]gov[dot]co/ 2) BTW, a little Spanish
will get you breakfast in a hotel, real life ON YOUR OWN will require a lot
more. I continually get frustrated with Colombians not understanding my Spanish
even after five months living only in Spanish in a small pueblo. I visited Cost
Rica and got understood almost everywhere and complimented on my Spanish..So my
point is you can't take that Spanish ability for granted… you will not make it
without Spanish. If you don't yet speak & hear Spanish I recommend getting your
ESL creds and spending year somewhere in LA teaching English to get your Spanish
skills down and get your speed on LA. Please not hate comments from the
Colombians here. I am trying to be honest with this young person. 3) W/O getting
your residencia you cannot make in Colombia. Colombia is not the USA…almost
everything requires a cedula. You cannot for instance open a bank account w/o a
Cedula. You can buy real estate, a cell phone and a meal w/o a cedula and is
about it. Everything else will require a legal status ..after your tourist visa
runs out. 4) I might mention that you could apply and enroll in a Colombian
university or school and get your legal status that way. Mind you I am not
guaranteeing you can work easily. But it would get you into Colombia and you
could start networking building contacts and finding a sponsor to employ you and
get your employment Visa.. Visa = Residencia = Cedula. Be aware that only larger
businesses can get you an employment Visa, small businesses cannot get your a
Visa. Don't waste your time on that. 5) If you have $35K USD with change you can
easily get a Visa based upon investing in a Colombian business. For instance
there are some Real Estate businesses in Medellin that would love to have your
$35k to invest in their projects and part of the deal is that they get/help with
your Visa+Residencia application. It's probably the easiest way to get legal 6)
There are other ways and other things but I will stop so as not to be a tool.
Last thing … since you asked… I would not show in Colombia to make a new
life without $10K USD and that is if you are willing to hustle and get into
Colombian life within six months. $10K will get you through 6 months living like
a student…a foreign student… Find yourself a Colombian friend or partner who
needs a reliable roommate.. but be careful and don't be an idiot. Remember what
I said about not having a bank account.. Living off cash or a debit card and
nothing else could be risky. There are strategies for dealing with that other
than storing $10K in your mattress but you need to get it all aligned before you
arrive. Xoom, family, Western Union, multiple bank accounts back home with
separate ATM cards, offshore banking, etc. Good luck and at least you are asking
for help. That shows you are not entirely useless.
Post by: jfriedo
<http://www.expatexchange.com/expat/index.cfm?pr=viewprofile&userid=66912>
Hi all, I am planning to retire in September and move to Colombia. It was going
to be Medellin, but I just got back from there and it was really too hot for me.
It is no longer the city of eternal spring, it is eternal summer! So, I'm
looking for plan B. Bogota itself is too big, but I liked La Calera just
outside. Are there other outskirts towns around Bogota that are nice and with
fairly easy access to the city? Other suggestions of other medium sized cities
(can't live in a pueblo of 10,000 people). I speak fairly good Spanish, and want
to be not to far from an airport. Someone suggested Manizales, then someone else
said–the people there are very conservative and closed minded–could that be
true? Cost of living is not a big consideration. I am a single woman and do want
to have an interesting social life. Don't need to be a lot of gringos–but a few
would be nice. Any suggestions? I know I have to go and see for myse
 About jfriedo | ||
| Status: | Expatriate | |
| Gender: | Female | |
| Currently Lives: | ||
| Citizen Of: | United States | |
| Some Forum Posts: | Colombia: want room?: | What if you're looking in Bogota–not Singapore?! |
Colombia: Puerto Rican/American from NJ/NY Expatriating to Colombia in 2020: |Hi Loco….I just sent you a pm. Best, Jeannie|
Topic: Advice on filling out the new online visa app
<http://www.expatexchange.com/expat/index.cfm?frmid=190&tpcid=3387012#237053>
Post by: soystar1
<http://www.expatexchange.com/expat/index.cfm?pr=viewprofile&userid=63226>
I just wanted to update: Billing for the new online visa application for
pensions can also be paid at your local Servibanca atm. Using my Colombian debit
card I was able to pay it off. Please keep your atm receipt with you as you
might need at the Cancilliera's Office to show proof of purchase. Next register
your Visa online at:
http://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/index.php/tramites/expedicion-cedulas-de-extranjeria.html.
From here you can upload your passport and current visa. Please have a personal
contact ready to input. Upon completion you will be given a menu page with your
registration number. Here you will find the current cost of your new Cedula and
where to pay it. Again, take your receipt with you to show your proof of
purchase. I would take copies of your passport, fotos, and new visa with you
“just in case”. Their website indicates: Appropriation bill of rights, on behalf
of the Special Administrative Unit Migration Colombia - Recaudo, bank code 101,
the current account of the Banco de Occidente No. 263-05464-5 , worth $ 156,300
, common. Save a step and pay first before heading off to your local Cedula
office. *When you get an approved visa notification from Bogota they do not
include the price to pay for it. I have commented on this and I hope that they
will let everyone know the cost before heading off to pay the pension Visa at
your local servibanca atm or other locations. Mine was $407.950 pesos. Total
time in Bogota office less than 30 minutes. I wIll follow up with next stages
and time frame to obtain this year's cedula. As always, carry your documents
with you just in case. I also use dropbox to have access to my documents
wherever I go. Hope this information is helpful to someone. Have a nice day.
Post by: soystar1
<http://www.expatexchange.com/expat/index.cfm?pr=viewprofile&userid=63226>
Greetings all, Last year, when I had to translate my pension award letter, I had
to send it to Bogota as there wasn't any “official” Colombian translators
located in Armenia. Folks looks like this boat has finally changed its course.
We now have two official translators in Armenia. So, therefore, no need to pay a
third party to send it to Bogota and return the document to me. Definitely, cuts
down on time and money involved. Of course, the Cancilleria's website also has
an option to search within your areas as well.
https://tramites.cancilleria.gov.co/ciudadano/directorio/Traductores/traductores.aspx
One thumbs up!
Hello, I am living in Pereira and wanted to meet if any, americans or english
speaking people in the area. jovi1911@yahho.com
| Colombia: GRINGO RANT (Buses): | Well,, Gringo has been officially broken. We took a Coonmotor bus from Neiva to Armenia and back. I know I am not in Kansas anymore lol. What an adventure. Lets just say I WILL Never get on another bus for anything more than 30 mins. These are very brave and crazy folks down here, I can hardly wait to hear from folks, that had beautiful trips. |
Colombia: Family Style Attractions:
|Anyone out there with knowledge of family attractions. Water Parks, or anything a child of 7 or 8 would like??. We are looking for something we can make at least a 3 day stay.|
Colombia: Crappy visa experience @ US Embassy:
|Not yet,, it was that pres Santos talking to U.S Vice P Biden, to change things, plus him asking for US to change travel warning. Colombia wants more tourist dollars|
Colombia: What are your favorite restaurants in Medellin?:
|Amazing,, Someone always picks a fight. Like Rodney King,,,CANT WE ALL GET ALONG,,,LOLO Me, personally, I am happy for anyone that gets what they earned.|
Colombia: New Cedula Extranjero:
|I went thru this in June, I went to the local office in Neiva, within 15 days and filled out forms, gave them blood lab report and of course money. They took photos and prints. I was told to come back in about four days. They handed me my Cedula. No issues. Next day, was able to get health insurance. Still have not tried a bank, so far I have no need.|
Colombia: Families in Medellin?????:
|Hello,, Anyone out there with children 7-13 ? I am trying to get opinions about life and which barrios have a better family life. Please send me a shout and I will send my e-mail. Thank-you Gary|
Colombia: Do you lose subtitles using HDMI?:
|Evening,, mine works just fine. you should get everything that is on your screen|
Colombia: Apartment knowledge:
|Anyone with a friend/agent, in the rental business? Looking to move my family in Dec. I have been told Belen, Envigado are good areas. I hope to find some good leads. Thanks Gary|
Colombia: Medical insurance:
|Let me add a small point also. If you have a condition, that needs a daily drug. It may not be available here, so be ready with a way to ship it from the states.|
Colombia: CAR FOR SALE: |Ok,, has anyone out there had experience with the little chev compact, Spark?? Good/ |
