It took me a long while to write this article because I was relocating from one city to another, but I finally got to it!
- Visa Denial Cash-Grab Scam
- Anecdotes
- Possible Reasons
- Possible Solutions
- Colombia Really Doesn’t Want Us
- Other Countries Exist
For the past couple of years, Colombia Migration has not only been requiring FBI Background Checks from US Citizens who are applying for visas, but they have also been denying visas at a much higher rate than normal. They do this even when the applications are “perfect” or the applicant was ALREADY approved before with no issues.
Even if the visa isn’t outright denied, the lengths of validity have been drastically shortened, for no apparent reason aside from, “at the agent’s discretion”.
Visa Denial Cash-Grab Scam
Let’s take a short digression. Let’s assume that developed countries are countries that adhere to the Rule of Law and that don’t openly cheat potential foreign visitors. When those countries stop accepting applications for a certain visa, they announce it. They also literally STOP accepting it (their website won’t let you select that visa, their Immigration office will reject your payment, send back your documents, etc).
For example, the U.S. government announces when it temporarily or permanently suspends visa applications, typically through official government channels like the Department of State website or embassy websites.
This sounds fair and just to any Reasonable Person, right?
Not so in Colombia (but you already knew that, didn’t you 😆)… Despite all the visa denials they have been doing, Colombia Migration still indicates, “You can reapply”, as if that would make a difference. Don’t fall for it! They have no intent to approve visas at the previous rates… They just want us to waste our time and while they happily pocket our money.
To be fair, this “legalized scam” isn’t limited to Colombia, however – it exists in many other countries (mostly, but not limited to, so-called “developing” nations).
Anecdotes
If you talk to even a handful of random expats from the USA who have applied for visas, you’ll invariably hear a “denial without a clear reason” story. Personally, in the past 18 months I heard and read dozens of them. Here are a few examples:
- A retiree who was given 10 months instead of the usual 2 years.
- One couple went for the Real Estate Investment Visa, brought 120,000 U$D into the country (120K dollars is NOT chump change 😯), bought the house, applied for the visa… and got 15 months. FIFTEEN fucking MONTHS. After investing their life savings irreversibly!
- One guy was already a Colombian resident (R-visa), then went to renew his visa for the 5th and final year. Migration sent his application back, citing “data errors” (bullshit, the guy had already submitted the exact same form in the past and it was basically perfectly consistent with the previous ones). Turned out the Migration agent had likely misread something (not like he’d ever admit it) 🙄 Because of that needless delay, the short 3-month window ran out, so he had to hire an expensive lawyer to redo the application – which involved PAYING the application fees AGAIN 😠
- One business lady in Cali applied for a Digital Nomad visa with basically a flawless application, and got denied… twice. So she recouped most of her investments, packed up, and went to Spain where, from all indications, she is doing much better.
- Another couple lost their visa after buying a home 👇
The list goes on.
Possible Reasons
This sudden uptick in denials didn’t start out of nowhere. Being that the system here is quite opaque and low-key chaotic, here are some possible reasons. These reasons are based on anecdotes and intelligent guesses (which one can do by simply paying attention to sociopolitical current affairs).
Too Many Foreigners
The Digital Nomad Visa might have become TOO popular. Considering how close Colombia is to the USA, the multiple attractions (especially the plentiful and accessible 🐈 if we’re being totally honest), the “passport bro” movement (god, I despise that phrase), and the complicated issue of gentrification… it makes sense that the country suddenly had a massive influx of both tourists and aspiring expats… some of whom are, unsurprisingly, Bad People.
“Bad” Foreigners
Supposedly, the government is trying to reduce or eliminate the influx of “undesirable” elements. Let’s assume that “undesirable” means sexpats, sex traffickers, drug-seekers, drug-traffickers, and other criminals.
The Tourist Stamp still allows visitors to stay in the country for 3-6 months, but Migracion is making it more difficult (or impossible) for people who want to stay longer term. This approach is upside-down. Think about it: Which type of foreigner is more likely to engage in disruptive or criminal behaviour:
- A short-term tourist, in “vacation/party mode”, with zero footprint, zero responsibilities, and zero investment in the community…
or… - An aspiring Permanent Resident who is learning Spanish, connecting with locals, contributing to the community, opening bank accounts, laying down roots… and as such is naturally inclined to protect their reputation and relationships?
It’s not rocket science, folks. And yet, Colombia Migration basically encourages the first group, while discouraging the second. Make that make sense 🤷
Political Retaliation
Historically, Colombia and the USA have been close allies, especially with regards to combating the illegal drug trade. However, ever since an unprecedented number of racist and sexist USA voters elected a philandering, lying, semi-literate, fraudulent, twice-impeached, convicted sex offender as President, both nations have developed a lot of friction. The most recent incident was when Colombian President Petro’s visa was revoked for openly opining on some current geopolitics.
Colombia is obviously retaliating against the USA by making visa applicants suffer, even if said applicants support and agree with Petro (or are simply apolitical).
This is wrong-headed and counterproductive.
Possible Solutions
If the Colombian government REALLY wanted to adjust the type and “quality” of foreigners who are allowed to stay in Colombia long-term, I can think of a few common-sense tweaks:
- Require a Minimum Spanish Language Level. Since Colombia is still, for now, primarily a Spanish-speaking country, all aspiring expats SHOULD be at a minimum of A2 (Upper-Basic) level of Spanish, enough to be functional.
- Require completion of a basic “About Colombia” online course that ends with a simple 5-question quiz about the country. Aspiring expats should know 5 simple things about their potential host country (example: geographic location, year of independence, currency, primary language, and main export).
- Add an “Educator Visa”, geared towards educators and especially freelance TEFL/TESOL-Certified tutors, who must maintain a minimum number of Colombian students for their visas to remain valid. The country needs more English-speakers, so why not encourage this development?
However, none of this will ever even come close to happening, because…
Colombia Really Doesn’t Want Us
Not really, at least not long-term. They want our dollars, and they’ll tolerate our presence for a short time (3-6 months, “sex, drugs, and party” mindset), but they do NOT want us here long-term (1+ years, “connect, invest, settle down” mindset). After all, they have a reputation to maintain 🙄
I mean, I kinda get it. Colombia is a developing country that only relatively recently became “safe” enough for foreigners to visit, so from MY EXPERIENCE to date, the Colombian people seem to still be quite close-minded and xenophobic… a sentiment that is made abundantly clear when – if – you’re lucky enough to hear them speak candidly in private on this topic. Maybe they’d rather stick with the blandness, inefficiencies, and corruption they know, than risk having too many foreigners causing or demanding changes (even if the changes are objectively good for the country).
In any case, it doesn’t make sense to keep getting rejected, when…
Other Countries Exist
Partially because of these visa-related frustrations, several people I know personally have either left Colombia entirely, or are in the process of doing so. In fact, by sheer coincidence, THREE friends and acquaintances signalled their intent within 24 hours of each other.
You don’t even have to look very far on social media or Google to find other stories from (or about) people tired of the immigration headache, infused with emotions ranging from confusion, to annoyance, to heartbreak. It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is 🤷
It goes without saying but… if you don’t have the stomach for this Colombia visa-denial roller-coaster money-sink, you should try other expat or retirement destinations, such as Peru, Paraguay, Ghana, any of the newly-popular East African countries, or any of the well-established Southeast Asian countries.
Not sure which country to choose? Fortunately, there are TONS of videos on YouTube made by expats in other countries… just waiting for you to watch, listen, take notes, and make a decision.
At the end of the day, it’s best to take your precious time, energy, and resources to a country that makes the most sense for you. Safe travels!
Opara's Journey 