STUDENT VISA

[arthur]

my tourist visa expires in a month.can someone recommend a institute here in Cali that is qualified to help with the student visa process?thanks

[Gator]

Authur:

Too many variables to give you a cogent answer- how is your Spanish?

The FIRST thing to determine is the school accredited with the Colombian government?  Then you will need:

Certificado de Personeria Juridica from the school
Police record's search from the USA
Proof you can support yourself like bank statements, tax returns or the same from someone will to be your sponsor
Passport photos
Last, but not least, a copy of the admission certificate from the Colombian school. This can be a copy of the registration certificate or a  certified copy of the agreement between the educational institution and the student.

Many of these documents will need an Apostille.  And the school may require transcripts unless it is strictly a Spanish language course. You MAY be able to obtain the visa through MRE in Colombia or have to leave the country and apply through an embassy or consulate.

Good luck

[Ken]

The US Embassy in Bogota offers Apostille service.

[Gator]

Not really:

ACS (American Citizen Services) can notarize any legal document to be used in the United States, such as leases, contracts, powers of attorney, etc.

Documents that originate in the United States, like the police certificates, bank records, et. al , that are required for recognition/use in Colombia must have an Apostille issued by competent U.S. authorities, usually the Sec. of State where the document is issued or notoraized. For documents intended for use in Colombia like the Certificado de Personeria Juridica will require no Aspotille

[Ken]

Ok yes that's true Here's the statement on the US Embassy site:

ACS can notarize any legal document to be used in the United States, such as leases, contracts, powers of attorney, etc. ACS performs these functions Monday through Thursday from 8:30AM to 12M, except on holidays. The fee is $30.00 for the first service and $20.00 for each additional document, payable in dollars or Colombian pesos.

The Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalization for foreign documents dated October 5, 1961 entered into force for the United States on October 15, 1981 and in Colombia on January 30, 2001. Documents originating in the United States require for recognition in Colombia an Apostille issued by competent U.S. authorities. Likewise, documents originating in Colombia require for recognition in the United States an Apostille issued by competent Colombian authorities. For Colombia, that authority is the Ministry of Foreign Relations

[arthur]

THANKS GATOR.I CALLED SOME LANGUAGE INSTITUTES HERE IN CALI LAST WEEK,BUT NONE HAVE "PERSONERIA JURIDICA"GATOR,EVERYTHING YOU WROTE IS CORRECT. LAST WEEK I CALLED MINRELEXT AND THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT I NEED TO STUDY A MINIMUM OF 10 HOURS PER WEEK TO QUALIFY FOR A STUDENT VISA.BUT THEY NEVER METIONED THAT I WOULD NEED A POLICE RECORD SEARCH FROM THE U.S.AND IT DOESNT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT A POLICE RECORD SEARCH FOR THE STUDENT VISA REQUIREMENTS ON WWW.MINRELEXT.GOV.CO BUT I DID FIND ANOTHER VISA THAT I MIGHT QUALIFY FOR.ITS CALLED "VISA DE VISITANTE" WHICH REQUIRES PROOF OF ECONOMIC STATUS(ATM RECEIPT OR A CREDIT CARD)  A PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR EXIT/RETURN TICKET,AND 2 PHOTOS.