Colombia Forum

osa
Joined 2011
Posts: 3

5 years ago

Educator Living in the Eje Cafetero Whose Work and Tourist Visas Have Expired

5 years ago

Hi all. Thanks in advance for any help.

Situation: I'm currently without a visa.

Backstory: I came to Colombia almost two years ago to teach English in a local private school. Through this job, I acquired a work visa.

After a year and a half or so of that, I resigned, finding teaching the children here too stressful. This activated a 60 day grace period, at the end of which that work visa expired. During that time, I picked up a new job teaching online, which I like, but since the company is based abroad, they can't help me with a visa.

Before the 60 day period was up, I went to the Ecuadorian border, and acquired a tourist visa, and re-entered Colombia. That was for 90 days.

During these 90 days, I began taking courses at a local school, Uni-tecnica, taking some technology courses. I had been given informal counsel (by someone working in Immigration) that as long as I was studying, I would qualify for a student visa. When the 90 days of the tourist visa was almost up, rather than renewing a tourist visa (which is a bit expensive), I decided to apply for a student visa, specifically the "M - ESTUDIANTES DE PRIMARIA, SECUNDARIA, MEDIA Y PREGRADO " visa.

However, a few days later the visa was denied (inadmita). The reason they gave is "VISA vs ACTIVIDAD INCONGRUENTE" and "Según la documentación adjunta no se ajusta a una M - ESTUDIANTES DE PRIMARIA, SECUNDARIA, MEDIA Y PREGRADO" which I take to mean that I applied for the wrong visa.

I'm re-reading things on the Cancilleria website, and it seems there are a few visas for studying. There's the one I applied for, there's the "V-STUDENT EXCHANGE, ARTS AND CRAFTS OR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES" and then there's the "V-INTERNSHIPS / RESIDENCIES".

Honestly, those other visa types don't seem to describe my situation better than the first one I already applied for (they speak of being a visitor, where I plan to be here for the foreseeable future). But if another one is more correct, I'd gladly apply.

I'd be willing to spring for an immigration lawyer, but I have bad experiences with them (both back home and helping friends with their cases here in Colombia) where I was either more knowledgeable/more interested than they were, or they frankly got me into more trouble than I was already in! But it's something I'd consider.

Again, thanks in advance for any advice.

William Russell

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William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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