Some info about arriving in or leaving Cali

[Big Wally]

I've provided information to guys regarding introduction services, getting a K-1 visa and traveling to Cali over the past 3 years on a couple other web sites so I thought I would post a vew items here. They may have been covered here in the past but there is always someone new.

When arriving in Cali everyone queues up in one long line to go through immigration. Try to get a seat near the front of the plane and get off as quickly as possible.

After going through immigration, be sure and get a "Tax Exemption" form from the desk just to the right of the immigration desks. Show them your passport. It is free and you'll need it to get out of the country. There is also an exit fee of around 60,000 pesos but I'll explain that later.

You will go right down the stairs to baggage claim. The wait may be awhile so be patient. The area is small so it will be very crowded and chaotic. It is a secure area but make sure no one grabs your stuff my mistake.

Next is customs. This is where a little Spanish comes in handy because the military police checking bags NO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH. There should be someone (probably in a shirt and tie) who does speak some English so if you have any problems look for one of them. You will be direct to either have your bags opened or not. They use a red light/green light system and someone will direct you. They will match your bag tag on your ticket folder to your luggage so have that handy.

The taxi to/from the airport in 2002 was 25,000 pesos (about $10 US). They are very inflexible on this since the airport is so far out of town. There are about 8 taxi services in Cali and most are dependable. Some speak English. Look for the phone number on the fender and get the number of your taxi 'just in case'.

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When time to leave Cali after searching for and hopefully finding the woman of your dreams allow plenty of time. You will probably be leaving early in the morning so that will help getting to the airport before traffic gets bad. The ride to the airport, without traffic, will take at least 30 minutes. Allow yourself AT LEAST 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get through all the lines to get to the airplane.

If you are leaving on American Airlines you'll wait in line to get to the ticket counter (pre-screening then to the counter). You will show them your paperwork, tax exemption form, passport and ticket. They will also ask you some security questions. This is all before you even get into the line for the ticket counter to check in. This is where you can really spend some time because many people will be immigrating to the US and they will have lots of paperwork and luggage. If there are any problems it can really hold up the line. They will take your luggage at this point and match it up with you at the ticket counter.

At the ticket counter the portors will bring your luggage to you. You will then pay your departure tax and turn in your Tax Exemption for that you picked up the night you arrived (remember that?. Keep it with your passport). The departure tax can be paid in pesos or dollars. In 2002 it was around 60,000 CDP or $28 US.

If you want anything to eat, get it BEFORE going through
immigration. They have nothing at the gates.

After checking-in, do not waste a lot of time hugging and kissing your new love goodbye (many will want to be there to see you off).
It will be painful and there will be a lot of tears but that's just part of being in love.

The reason for not waiting is that after entering the doors to immigration you'll again find everyone in one line. If you're lucky there will be 3 immigration officers working but maybe only 2.

If anyone has ANY irregularities with their paperwork at immigration it will again hold everyone up.

Once you get through immigration you will go through a bag X-ray and pat down by militry police. Many of these people don't speak English and have no sense of humor so just try to follow their orders if you can understand them.

It's good to have something with you to read just in case you actually get through all of this before departure time.

Once at the gate you will go through another X-ray and possible bag search and pat down just before getting on the plane. Believe it or not they actually do this every day and the plane does get off close to on-time.

Allow ample time in Miami because going through immigration and customs there can be a zoo, too. Be sure and go all the way to the lines on the right in Miami immigration, these are for US Citizens.

Good luck.

[Red Clay]

... in response to Some info about arriving in or leaving C..., posted by Big Wally on May 7, 2003

Don't I remember something about stomach x-rays forced upon the occasional unsuspecting gringo before departure? Might be worth a mention. Somebody refresh our memories on that please, CaliVet maybe?

[Nico]

... in response to Re: Some info about arriving in or leavi..., posted by Red Clay on May 7, 2003

When I was heading back to the states and I was in the airport in Bogota they were checking my bags and then asked if they could xray me. I told them ok and they took me to a room nearby and a lady had me lower my pants and lift up my shirt and they xrayed me

[Red Clay]

... in response to I was x rayed , posted by Nico on May 8, 2003

How was their equipment and safety measures, state-of-the-art I'm sure?

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Some info about arriving in or leavi..., posted by Red Clay on May 7, 2003

Wow, what a story!  This obviously is a very rare occurence in Colombia - so readers planning a trip don't be concerned.  I can say that when I returned from Cali in April - the primary scanning machine nor metal detector were functioning (they just gave you a quick pat down and MAYBE looked in your bags).

[Hoda]

... in response to Come on Hoda, part 2 please!, posted by cancunhound on May 8, 2003

Cancunhound,

You can see the whole thread by entering "Bad News, Great News...Part 1" or "x-ray" using Patrick's search tool! This incident happened in 01. My subsequent trips have been hassle free! A vet told me before my first trip, to hope for the best, but expect the worse, once you leave the US & you're at the mercy of foreign immigration/police officials!

Peace...

[Big Wally]

... in response to Re: Come on Hoda, part 2 please!, posted by Hoda on May 8, 2003

http://www.planet-love.com/wwwboard/search/searchdisplay.php?page=latin&archive=000041&id=15114&bold[]=x-ray

http://www.planet-love.com/wwwboard/search/searchdisplay.php?page=latin&archive=000041&id=15117&bold[]=x-ray

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Re: Some info about arriving in or leavi..., posted by Red Clay on May 7, 2003

I think that happened to Hoda in 2001.

Howard, can you remind us about what happened with the X-rays at Cali airport?  Has anything like that ever happened to you since?

[Hoda]

... in response to Re: Re: Some info about arriving in or l..., posted by Brazilophile on May 7, 2003


What's up B-phile....

It only happened once, which was more than enough! Every trip since the "incident" has been smooth, without any hassles. Your post on Brazil.....made me feel as if I was with you. I hope guys are taking notes on the differences (culturally & socially) between the different South & Central American countries. Oh, BTW, don't forget DR!

H...

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Some info about arriving in or leavi..., posted by Red Clay on May 7, 2003

Yes that did happen to a friend of mine. He was obviously profiled. He was taken to Palmira for the x-ray but somehow managed to get on his plane on time. What really pissed him off was that he even had to pay for it.

[Hoda]

... in response to Re: Re: Some info about arriving in or l..., posted by Cali vet on May 7, 2003

Bad News, Great News...Part 1
View thread
Posted by Hoda on 04/20/2001

Sit down fella's bad news first....
RELAX, me & Stivalis are still together! Here's how the drama unfolds....

Early thurday morning, I tell Stivalis it isn't necessary for her to accompany me to the airport since she has to report to work early. She calls a cab and away I go. Cali streets are naked this time of the morning, so my driver is flying. Get to the airport in one piece without incident. Standing in the American Airlines line, waiting & waiting, while it inches forward. Now it's hot as hell when I finally get to the counter. I pay my gringo tax & head to the immigration door. A feel a tugging at my bag & I turn around quite rapidly (natural response) & notice a Policeman pulling on it. Another one approaches & request my passport. I hand it over & as he's flipping through it, he notices, that I've made a number of trips back & forth.

I tell him, I've been visiting my novia. He replies, "why are you sweating?" I had on my jacket as I was walking fast to the gate, carrying my bags & gifts, the temp was 80 plus, is this guy being funny or stupid? I replied that it is hot & I'm wearing my jacket. He didn't buy it. So now Dick Tracy wants me to follow him upstairs to the police office. Inside the office, four other officers suround me & request that I hold out my hands. I complied, and the tallest one said that I looked a little nervous. Fella's, I wasn't shaking like a crackhead, but d*mn! You got four or five police with one hand their 9mm, I think, I have the right to be alittle nervous. They ask me about my Stivalis, where does she live, blah blah blah. My profession, more blah blah. You'll never guess what happens next.....

The tallest gets about four inches from my face. I take a step back letting him know "politely" that it wasn't necessary for him to jump in my face. He apologized, and said that since I made soo many trips back & forth to Cali, that I might be concealing DRUGS IN MY STOMACH!!!! I maintain my kool, trying not to act a fool! Big man, said that I would have to be x-rayed at the hospital. EASY DAVIS EASY. What about my flight SIR? He promised that me & the others would be back in time. The others were "Brown & Dark" skinned spanish speaking males. It gets better...

Mister Davis, it will be necessary for you, to pay for the x-ray. EXCUSA MI? Sir the cost is only 15000 peso's. Fine sir, can we get this done so I can catch my flight please? I was told, I could leave my bags. Yeah right! Remember that little hair trick that James Bond did to his door, so he could be tipped off, if someone is or was in his hotel room? I did something similar to my bags, JUST IN CASE!

Me, 2 cops, & three other men squeeze into the typical size Cali car. Nice of them to allow me to sit in the front seat. Y'all know, I hotter than 2 muthaf****'s now! The cops & the other guys are making small talk. You like salsa & merengue? Can you dance to it? Better than you partner! What is your profession the other cop request while flipping through my passport. I work with computers sir. OH that is how you are able to make soooo many trips here? How much do you make a month? PROBALY WHAT YOU MAKE IN FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS!!!!! It get's even better...

We arrive at the hospital, proceed to the x-ray area. DON'T YOU EVER COMPLAIN ABOUT AN AMERICAN HOSPITAL EVER! The other examinee's sit down while I stand. They start to joke between themselves about my height & size. One cop, about 5'6" was going through some boxing motions like he could knock out big guys. The other's found this quite funny. He turned to me said, that he could probaly do it to me...Enough of this B.S! I told him to keep dreaming in spanish, more laughter from the crowd. He said c'mon man, throwing his hands up. I knew he was playing, so I replied while patting my hip (indicating his gun) that I was very "LOCO, NOT ESTUPIDO". Everybody is rolling on the floor now. He shakes my hand & said that he was only playing.

It get's even better...I gonna break this up into 2 parts.
Hoda

[burbuja2]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Some info about arriving in ..., posted by Hoda on May 7, 2003

Yo Hoda. I am in receipt of and have reviewed your actual x-ray films.  They show no guts.  Also negative for intestinal fortitude. Do you feel there should be a height requirement for Colombian police officers?

[Hoda]

... in response to Part II, posted by burbuja2 on May 8, 2003


...which is more, than your lack of balls! BTW you still giving lap-dances to your banned buddy?

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Some info about arriving in ..., posted by Hoda on May 7, 2003

I didn't know this happened to you. The friend I refered to is someone who can be trusted to honor a confidence and I honored him with anonimity. I hope there was no confusion that I might be refering to you.

[HeyNow]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Some info about arriving..., posted by Cali vet on May 8, 2003

Years ago I worked as a Rad tech.  It would be interesting to see the equipment but, I hope I don't get the opportunity.  My advise is make sure they give you some lead shielding gonad protection (for future generations).