Illegal in Colombia
What can happen to a foreigner with illegal Status?
Frist of all most persons who end up illegal in Colombia as a tourist for anywhere from a few days to a couple months should not worry. Tens of thousands of people have this happen each year, and 99% of these persons just end up paying a small fine at the airport on the way out of Colombia or while applying for a Colombian visa. Before if a person falls into one of these categories the fine usually did not pass 150 USD, or a bit less than 600,000 pesos for the first couple months. Now the fines are 1 million pesos per month and calculated by a new system at migracion Colombia!
We do not recommend getting into this situation, but sometimes its just not avoidable.
Do not repeat this situation multiple times in the same year as this can get you blokced from entering the country without a visa.
This depends on the length of time associated with this status or the reason why a foreigner has lost legal status in the country. We will focus on the 2 most common reasons.
Below is a list of the newly organized and recategorized Colombian Visas:Â
 Time on Tourist permission or a visa which was issued has expired
This is usually due to the procrastination, not paying attention to the date, or document requirements for a visa not coming together on time
A visa has been cancelled or determined to be invalid.
First of all these are not tips for illegal activity. Here we are giving you tips on what to do while you fix your illegal immigration status.
Formarly reffered to as irregular status by Colombian immigration authority (migración Colombia).Â
How to fix my illegal Status in Colombia:
Submit a visa application and pay your fine after the process is started
Leave the country and pay the fine at the airport
– If you can’t pay fien you will be deported for a couple of years
– Pay fine for a short overstay (a few months or so) then you are not deported
– Pay fien for large overstay (you may get deported status) leaving with no deportation notification is possible. take pictures of all papers you sign!!!
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Related Articles of Interest: Colombia Visas
Tips
AVOID PLACES WITH CHECKPOINTS until you fix your situation:
Avoid Air Travel: obviously national police and immigration constantly setup checkpoints
Avoid Driving Near Popular Night Spots: checkpoints and police looking for bribes
Avoid Highway Travel where checkpoints are setup
 Avoid Bars, Brothels, Sex Workers and Parties!
** this is wear problems happen and police show up —
SOLUTIONS FOR BEING ILLEGAL in ColombiaÂ
Execute a Valid Visa Plan as soon as possible
Plan to Leave the Country soon? Pay at the airport when you leave, but be sure to arrive an extra hour earlier than normal.
That means arriving 4 hours ahead of time. They will not hold a plane for you and immigration can have long lines and slow processing times.
WHAT HAPPENS IF IM ILLEGAL IN COLOMBIA:
COLOMBIA DOES NOT ROUND UP PEOPLE WHO OVER STAY AS A TOURIST.
IF YOU ARE WORKING ILLEGALLY AND SOMEONE TIPS YOU OFF THEN YOUR INSTANTLY IN THE SPOTLIGHT, AND IMMIGRATION MOVES QUICLY IN THIS CASE
MOST PERSONS WHO ARE ILLEGAL 1-2 MONTHS WHILE PROCESSING A VISA WILL ONLY FACE A FINE OF ABOUT 150 USD OR 550.000 PESOS
DO NOT WORK ILLEGALLY, AS THIS CAN GET YOU DEPORTED FOR 2 YEARS WITH ADDITIONAL FINES FOR YOU AND COMPANY WHO HIRED YOU.
IF YOUR CAUGHT COMITTING CRIMES AND YOUR ILLEGAL YOU MAY BE DETAINED FOR DEPORTAITON EVEN IF CRIMES ARE SMALL OFFENSES
BEHAVE, DO TRAVEL ON A PLANE OR BUSES IN HOT ZONE AREAS, BE TRANQUILLO AS THEY SAY IN COLOMBIA.
ONLY CARRY A PPHOTOCOPYOF YOUR PASSPORT BIOGRAPHY PAGE ONLY BUT NOT THE ENTIRE PASSPORT
Why Use Our Agency For illegal en Colombia?Â
Since 2005, our legal firm Medellin Lawyer has helped clients who want to get a US visa. We are the oldest expat visa business in Colombia. We also have more attorneys in office than any other visa agency in Colombia.
In addition to our visa services we offer a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. By having a legal and accounting firm work on your application, we can handle any surprises or last minute requests by immigration officials or a judge.
Applying for visa from Colombia
Once you receive online visa approval, if doing this in Colombia, you need to travel to Bogotá to get the visa in your passport. Visas in Colombia are issued at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores office in Bogotá. Their office is located at Avenida 19 # 98-03, Torre 100 Building, 3rd Floor. It’s open from 7:30 am until noon.
The major challenge with getting a Colombian visa yourself is dealing with a government bureaucracy, making a trip to Bogota and not understanding the laws properly if you are not fluent in Sanish.Â
This is where you can benefit from the services of an experienced visa agency such as Visas by James. A visa agency such ours is your best bet when it comes to obtaining visa for you. An experienced visa agency which has processed hundreds of visas and knows exactly what is needed for each type of visa is exactly what you need.
Another big benefit of using a visa agency is that they offer services to courier your passport to Bogotá to get the visa put in your passport. So, you can avoid a trip to Bogotá. The cost of a visa service including the service to courier your passport to Bogotá can even be cheaper than the cost of a trip to Bogotá.
About Visas By James
Since 2005, our visa agency Visas by James has obtained hundreds of visas for foreigners who wish to study, work, invest, and live in Colombia. We are the oldest expat visa business in Colombia. We also have more attorneys in office than any other visa agency in Colombia. In addition to our visa services we offer a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. By having a legal and accounting firm work on your application, we are able to handle any surprises or last minute requests by immigration officials.
Visa by James Story:
James Lindzey the owner of Medellin Lawyer and Visas by James has worked as a private investigator and paralegal in the United States from the 90s until he moved to Colombia in 2005. James arrived in Colombia in 2005 and started doing visas for expats in 2007.
In addition to our visa services our agency offers a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. We are able to assist better in document collection services in the United States because of James legal experience in the United States.
About Our Visa Services
We can guie you through the most Complicated Immigration Situations. Our aim is to make life easier for expatriates in Colombia!Â
We monitor your visa application process .
Please let us know if you need more information, or we can set up a consultation in order to provided you personalized guide.
Our main office is located in Medellin, Colombia near Parque Lleras in El Poblado. We have representation in Bogota, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. Our main office address is Cra 39#5A-95, Oficina 709, Edificio Avangarde. We accept walk in appointments but its always nice if you can let us know ahead of time so we can schedule a time. Areas codes in Colombia have changed. To reach our office please call (57) 604-444-6634.
