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Hello Gents,

The following is an email sent to me from the Colombian Consulate in San Francisco specifying the requirements for a Colombian Marriage Visa.

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REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN A SPECIAL VISA FOR MARRIAGE TO A COLOMBIAN NATIONAL

1.-SEND YOUR PASSPORT IT MUST BE VALID  FOR A MINIMUM OF 12 MONTHS.

2.- VISA APPLICATION FORM SIGNED AND FILLED OUT IN ORIGINAL AND A COPY.

3.- THREE (3) COLOR PHOTOS PASSPORT SIZE.

4.- LETTER FROM THE APPLICANT – stating the purpose of the trip, name and the number of the Colombian Citizenship Card (cedula de ciudadania) of the future spouse, possible date an place of marriage..THIS LETTER MUST BE ISSUED IN BOTH LANGUAGES ENGLISH AND SPANISH , NOTARIZED AND APOSTILLE.

5.- POLICE CERTIFICATE – STATING THAT THE APPLICANT DOES NOT HAVE ANY CRIMINAL RECORD. THIS MUST BE NOTARIZED AND APOSTILLE  AT THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WERE THE DOCUMENT WAS ISSUED. THIS DOCUMENT MUST BE ISSUED WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

5.- NOTARIZED LETTER FROM THE COLOMBIAN CITIZEN FIANCE REQUESTING VISA FOR THE FUTURE SPOUSE AND COPY OF THE COLOMBIAN CITIZENSHIP CARD. THIS LETTER MUST BE AN ORIGINAL AND BOTH DOCUMENTS MUST BE NOTARIZED IN COLOMBIA.

DOCUMENTS ISSUED IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN SPANISH MUST BE TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH AND THEN NOTARIZED AND APOSTILLED AT THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

IMPORTANT: THE APPLICANT MUST SEND THE APPLICATION FORM AND ALL THE OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN TWO SETS, (TWO PACKAGES) ONE IN ORIGINAL AND THE OTHER IN PHOTOCOPY. PLEASE STAPLE EACH SET.

SEND A PREPAID ENVELOPE WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IN ORDER TO SEND YOU BACK YOUR PASSPORT WITH THE VISA. YOU CAN USE UPS, DHL OR EXPRESS MAIL.

CONSULAR FEE: US$ 175.oo US CITIZENS ARE EXEMPT .

NOTES( TO PRESENT IN COLOMBIA)

PLEASE ASK TO THE NOTARY, JUDGE OR PRIEST WHAT OTHER DOCUMENTS ARE NECESSARY.
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After receiving this information, I responded with the following email.

**Just got back from my trip to Colombia where I met in person my lady-friend and future wife. She is sweet and lovely.

I was able to obtain from her a letter requesting a visa for the future spouse and a copy of her Colombian citizenship card. Both documents were notarized there in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Now, it is my turn to finish the process for the marriage visa requirements and get the documents submitted as soon as possible.

I have some questions that need to be addressed in that I want to be very clear in my understanding of what is required.

1) The three color photos of passport size. Are these simply three of the same photo or three different shots?

2) The letter from the applicant-- being myself. Should both the languages, English and Spanish be written as part of the same letter and then notarized once; or should it be two separate letters, one in English, and one in Spanish and notarization for each?

3) The police certificate. Do I obtain such a record from the office of the Secretary of State? And should there be a Spanish version?

4) Are there any special requirements for having (all) these documents translated into Spanish? Must they be translated at the office of the Secretary of State or can I use a service of my choice for translation?

Please get back with me as soon as you possible can on these questions.

I am planning on traveling back to Colombia in the month of October to get married.

I appreciated all your help.

Muchas Gracias,

~Henry Walker**

I did get a response to my email but was sent the SAME information as above. None of my specific questions were answered.

I'm sure a number of you have gone through the rigor of getting married in Colombia.

In turn, can anyone address those specific questions? I want to make sure that I submit the documents in the proper way.

All responses will be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Henry Andre'

... in response to Colombia Marriage Visa Requirements, posted by hwalker7 on Jul 2, 2003


Thanks for all your valuable responses. I've already went to Walgreens and got some passport size photos. Now I need to find a certified Spanish translator, and get to a police dept. for my records of "no criminal activity." :)

I am also in regular communication with the consulate in San Francisco.

Once all this is submitted, what would be the estimated time for processing or approval?

Thanks,

Henry Andre'

... in response to Re: Colombia Marriage Visa Requirements, posted by hwalker7 on Jul 4, 2003

You HAVE to appear in person to either drop off or pickup the Visa from the Colombian Consualte... When I got mine, I stopped by the consulate, dropped off my papers and waited 30 minutes... They returned my passport with the visa attached... All over lunch...

Buena Suerte...

Mark

... in response to Colombia Marriage Visa Requirements, posted by hwalker7 on Jul 2, 2003

Here's a link to a detailed post I made on this subject last month...

http://www.planet-love.com/wwwboard/search/searchdisplay.php?page=latin&archive=000137&id=42780&bold[]=i-130

Although the DCF method of filing for the spousal visa is no longer available, the rest of the paperwork requirements hold true...

Buena suerte...

Mark

... in response to Re: Colombia Marriage Visa Requirements, posted by wizard on Jul 3, 2003


Thanks Wizard,

Your information was most invaluable.

After I'm married to her, approximately how long do think I have to wait before she can be with me in the U.S.? I'm in the state of Washington.

Henry Andre'

... in response to Re: Re: Colombia Marriage Visa Requireme..., posted by hwalker7 on Jul 6, 2003

Well, you just missed the window to file for a spousal visa via DCF (Direct Consulate Filing)... The DCF was a privileged service only available at certain US Consulates around the world... The DCF WAS available through the US Consulate in Bogota up until June 27th, 2003, but the service was canceled as of this date...

The new process is to marry your novia in Colombia, then file for a K-3 spousal visa here in the US... Who knows how long this will take... If the processing time is similar to that of the K-1 Fiancee Visa, your looking at 150+ days... Sorry, but that's what others on the forum have reported... Just ask MichaelB... He's been waiting for a K-1 for over 150 days...

Since you're from Washington state, I don't know which BCIS processing center will handle your case... If you have to file with the Texas center, you're screwed...

Good Luck...

Mark

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Colombia Marriage Visa Requi..., posted by wizard on Jul 6, 2003

Depending on how you count. I sent it certified mail, they signed for it Jan. 21. They sent me a paper claiming they recevied it on Feb 14. So, it took 24 days just to get from the mail room to the clown who puts the date stamp on it.

But since he's getting married overseas, he's talking K-3, not K-1...so his case will go through the Missouri center. I hear (but have no proof) that they are running 30-60 days for the K-3's.

... in response to Colombia Marriage Visa Requirements, posted by hwalker7 on Jul 2, 2003

When I did this a  3 1/2 years ago I did not have to do a police certificate.I called the closest Colombian counsolate,San Francisco in my case and they faxed me the requirements.I would suggest doing this to make sure there are no other reqiurements.
I had to submit the credentials of the spanish translater.She had like a 3 page resume,very impressive,a real pro.If your translater doesn't have the right creentials you may have to start over.
I also had to pay a fee for every document they stamped.I think it was $15 each and cost me $180 or so.
Also,be carefull of the hours they are open.San Francisco closes to the public at 1.00PM.
After all this you get a visa to marry your wife,which you are suppose to need to get the marriage certificate.I have heard stories of notaries in Cali overlooking the need for this for another $500 or so.The American Embassy,forget that,your now dealing with the INS replacement hee,wants to see the marriage certificate.The Colombian visa may only be needed to get the marriage certificate.So you might e able to skip all of this.Someone here had the story.Maybe they will comment.

Pete

... in response to Colombia Marriage Visa Requirements, posted by hwalker7 on Jul 2, 2003

[This message has been edited by Cali vet]

Number 5: For my visa I just went to my nearest police department and they issued me the police report for $5 in about fifteen minutes.

Number 5(number 2): You can use the translation service of your choice but translations have to be done by an "authorized" translater, not your local high school Spanish teacher. Look under "translation services" in the yellow pages. If the translation service includes notorization make sure you pick one in the state where you live so the notorized documents can be apostilled.

... in response to Colombia Marriage Visa Requirements, posted by hwalker7 on Jul 2, 2003

I went through this in January.

1) The three color photos of passport size. Are these simply three of the same photo or three different shots?

Go to Walgreens or somewhere similar.  They will know exactly what you need.  It will cost about $8.50 I think.

2) The letter from the applicant-- being myself. Should both the languages, English and Spanish be written as part of the same letter and then notarized once; or should it be two separate letters, one in English, and one in Spanish and notarization for each?

Two separate letters, both notarized.  Call the consulate or embassy you are going to use and ask them who can translate your documents into Spanish in a format they will accept.

3) The police certificate. Do I obtain such a record from the office of the Secretary of State? And should there be a Spanish version.

Go to the city or county you live in and have them run a police report on you.  If you have no police record you will get something that says the search didn’t find anything in your name.  Have it translated into Spanish (like I suggested in my answer to 2).  If you don’t live near a Secretary of State office you will have to mail them to get them apostilled.  Search for “Secretary of State” on google.com plus your state and you should get a phone number, address or website explaining how to do this.

4) Are there any special requirements for having (all) these documents translated into Spanish? Must they be translated at the office of the Secretary of State or can I use a service of my choice for translation?

See my answer for 2.  Your Colombian embassy or consulate should be able to refer you to someone.