Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia
Tel. +57-1-275-2000 or 601-275-2000
acsbogota@state.gov
https://co.usembassy.gov

U.S. Consular Agency, Barranquilla
conagencybarranquilla@state.gov

U.S. Department of State – Consular Affairs
1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444

Colombia Country Information

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Photo courtesy of Tecnoglass

According to the witness,

“I saw Jesse Wiseman (you have a blue alert out for him) on VIA Rail Train 2 vancouver to winnipeg on February 21st in Winnipeg, MB Canada. He’s wanted for the murder of a 20-year-old women (sic) Laura Lopera in Colombia earlier this month and fled the country, and you have a blue notice out for him. He punched me in the head on the train and was kicked off the train and taken in by Winnipeg police but released yesterday. He was heading to Toronto. I have video of him on the train.”

Finance Colombia immediately turned over all dialogue and the witness’ personal contact information to the Colombian National Police and the Canadian Embassy in Bogotá.

“Yeah he was travelling vancouver to Toronto, Feb 19-23 but got kicked off in Winnipeg on Feb 21 after he punched me. The staff said he wouldn’t be let back on a train for at least a month after this. The police put him in the drunk tank for the night and is now released. They wouldn’t give me any other information outside of this and he was def not mentally stable from having dinner with him…Other passengers said he spent most of the trip in his train cabin and was acting weird. It’s also odd cause these tickets are $2000 a piece so why would you get kicked off the train and punch somebody. Doesn’t make sense.” 

Wiseman is wanted in Colombia for the murder on February 10 of Laura Lopera in the downtown Medellín neighborhood known as “Boston.” According to Colombian prosecutors, Lopera’s body was found stuffed inside of a suitcase. Wiseman had already left the country on a flight to Guatemala before authorities began to pursue him. From Guatemala he was said to have flown to Turkiye, and now has reportedly turned up in his home country of Canada.

The witness submitted the above video, claiming that he ended up in an altercation with the suspect. The killing has caused outrage in the country and drawn comparisons to last year’s murder of Valentina Trespalacios, whose dismembered body was discovered in Bogotá in similarly grisly circumstances. US Citizen John Poulos is facing 50 years for the murder and dismemberment of Trespalacios, who was also found in a suitcase in Bogotá.

Finance Colombia is reporting on the claims made by the witness in this instance and welcomes any corrections, amplifications or clarifications.

Monday, Perú’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued official communiqué 012-22 stating:

On this date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a diplomatic note to the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia through which the deep discomfort of the Government of Peru is transmitted in the face of the repeated statements of President Gustavo Petro on the political situation in the country.

President Petro’s statements constitute an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Peru, especially serious in the context of acts of violence that have caused unfortunate loss of human life; they are not consistent with the traditional relations of mutual respect, friendship, cooperation and the desire for integration that unite both states and peoples; and they deviate from the prudence that the successive governments of Peru and Colombia have cultivated regarding the internal political affairs of the other State, especially in complex and delicate situations. 

On December 7th, embattled Peruvian President Pedro Castillo attempted to rid himself of the country’s congress and rule by decree, unimpeded by the checks and balances of a democratic government. No other branches of the government supported his gambit, including the military and members of his own cabinet. Congress, supported by the country’s prosecutor’s office, moved to remove Castillo from power, refusing to allow Peru to become a Venezuelan or Nicaraguan style dictatorship. Castillo was replaced by his own Vice President and campaign running mate, Dina Boluarte, as per the Peruvian constitution.

Above photo: Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro (left) has expressed an ideological affinity for disgraced Peruvian President Pedro Castillo (right).

Realizing his power-play had failed, would-be left-wing strongman Castillo attempted to escape and flee to the Mexican embassy, but was captured and is now in Lima’s Barbadillo prison with former right-wing strongman Alberto Fujimori.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, himself a former armed leftist guerilla, joined Mexico’s Manuel Lopez Obrador, Nicolás Maduro, and other leftist Latin American politicians in a collectivist howl of protest over the failure of Peru’s government to go along with Castillo’s power grab. Petro called on the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights to defend Castillo, but the multilateral organization did the opposite, on December 8th issuing a statement saying in part:

The former President of the Republic, Pedro Castillo, announced through a message to the nation on the morning of December 7, his decision to dissolve the Congress of the Republic and install an emergency government that would act through decree-laws. In addition, he announced the curfew, as well as the reorganization of the justice system, including the judiciary, the Constitutional Court, the Public Ministry and the National Board of Justice, among other aspects.

The Commission considers that the announced action does not comply with the provisions of Article 134 of the Constitution regarding the unilateral dissolution of Congress. In addition, it decrees the suspension of constitutional rights related to freedom of locomotion, association without specific criteria; and orders, unilaterally, the reorganization of the entire judiciary.

Internally, the decision was denounced as a coup by some institutions of the other state powers, and rejected among them by the Constitutional Court , the Ombudsman’s Office , the Presidency of the Judiciary , the Attorney General of the Republic , the Attorney General ‘s Office , the National Police and the Armed Forces . Additionally, Congress made the decision to declare the presidential vacancy, generating the constitutional succession, former Vice President Dina Boluarte having assumed the Presidency.

The Commission recognizes the immediate action of the institutions of Peru in defense of democracy to avoid the realization of the institutional breakdown and reaffirms that it must be safeguarded by the rule of law. In this regard, the OAS Charter and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, as well as different international instruments establish that respect for human rights; access to power and its exercise with strict adherence to the rule of law; The holding of periodic, free and fair elections and the separation and independence of public powers are essential elements of democracy to achieve stability, peace and development in the region.

Castillo’s failed self-coup led to Dina Boluarte being recognized as Peru’s 1st female vice-president.

Other civil society organizations such as Human Rights Watch also condemned Castillo’s self-coup attempt. The European Union and Organization of American States (OAS) have already sent their regards to new President Boluarte, and the UN Secretary General, António Gutierres, condemned “any attempt to subvert the democratic order,” alluding to the self-coup.

It is far to early to predict how events will play out in Peru. The country was already in a prolonged period of political turmoil when Castillo took office. The country is now convulsing in civil violence as Castillos supporters have taken to the street. Amnesty International has criticized the Peruvian government’s reaction, with clashes and unrest between the government and Castillo supporters, especially in his home region of Cajamarca.

It is also too early to tell how bilateral relations between Peru and Colombia will play out, with Petro behaving as Castillo’s international advocate to the chagrin of Peru’s recognized government.

According to a US State Department travel alert, flights to and from Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) in Cusco, Alfredo Rodriguez Ballón International Airport (AQP) in Arequipa, Juliaca Inca Manco Cápac Airport (JUL) near Puno, and Andahuaylas Airport (ANS) are temporarily suspended. Train service to and from Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu Village remains suspended. Travelers in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and in Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu Village have been advised by the embassy to shelter in place until safe transportation options become available.

Headline photo courtesy of Colombian Ministry of Foreign Relations.

U.S. Citizens can make an appointment here:https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.asp?postcode=BGT&appcode=1 

If you have scheduled a CRBA appointment at a later date, kindly cancel the later appointment to make it available to other applicants.  

The Embassy encourages applicants to apply for a CRBA and passport at the same time because a Consular Report of Birth Abroad is not a travel document. 

For information on eligibility and application requirements please visit: https://co.usembassy.gov/birth/ 

This message has been reprinted in its entirety as issued by the US Embassy in Bogotá.

 Assistance:   

U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia   
Tel. +57-1-275-2000 or 601-275-2000   
acsbogota@state.gov   
https://co.usembassy.gov/  

U.S. Consular Agency, Barranquilla   
conagencybarranquilla@state.gov   

U.S. Department of State – Consular Affairs   
1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444   

Colombia Country Information   

Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates  

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter  

In 2013, then US Attorney Preet Bharara called Gozi one of the most financially destructive computer viruses in history.

Paunescu is accused by US prosecutors as being part of the cybercriminal network that designed the ‘Gozi’ malware. This malicious software was sent in e-mails as an attached file that, when downloaded, infiltrated the computers of large companies and government entities, accessed privileged data such as bank passwords, numbers and identification documents; and intercepted and diverted money transfers, among other fraudulent actions.

According to the US State Department, this Trojan-type virus infected computers in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Finland, Italy, and Turkey. Some of the victims are multinationals, banks and organizations such as NASA.

Mihai Ionut Paunescu was placed at the disposal of Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office after his arrest by the DIJIN investigative unit of the National Police. The United States Embassy was immediately contacted so that it could initiate extradition proceedings.

To read the 2012 charges against Paunescu, click here.

This new National Sanitary Emergency situation has forced us to change our plans and even our way of life. In this sense, Colombian Authorities recently modified some procedures for the benefit of all, by flexibilization in visa expirations providing visitors in Colombia the legal basis they need to adapt to the situation and plan their flights home.

Jaime Aristizabal is an attorney with Expat Group, a law firm in Medellin that services clients throughout Colombia and abroad with immigration and business formation.

There were two recent resolutions aiming to accommodate foreign visitors in Colombia. The first issued in March by Migration Colombia was a resolution targeted to tourists having to extend their periods in the country due to the declared Covid19 National Sanitary Emergency, and in April the Foreign Affairs Ministry pronounced a hold on visa expirations.

The first, came out of Migration Colombia, used mostly in Colombia by tourists for extensions, safe passage documents and other administrative migration related procedures, which very similarly to the above, the time lapse of the visa are extended until the sanitary emergency is over.

Tourists who stay in Colombia need not fear any infractions derived from their visa status or legal status in the country. For a specific legal basis Foreigners may refer to the articles of the resolution as summarized below.

The purpose of this is for foreigners in Colombia to relax during these troubled days of Coronavirus and the adaptation to new staying and flying procedures. We are always please to update foreign nationals in Colombia and all our clients at expatgroup.co, our group of professionals steadily update us  with the Government resolutions and communication regarding the new conditions which the immigration service of the Republic of Colombia will enforce for the remaining of the State of Sanitary Emergency declared this current year:

Imigration resolution 0918 of March 19th, 2020 pronouncements:

Resolution by which temporary extraordinary Covid19 measures are adopted for the provision of immigration procedures and services at the national level:

Article 1. Suspension of the Validity Terms of the Permanent Safe-conducts (SC-2):

It provisionally suspended the accounting of the validity time of some of the Permanent Safeguards or Safe-conducts (SC-2) in force as of the date of this resolution, until May 30, 2020, inclusive, or until the term established by the National Government for the sanitary emergency.

The Safe-conducts to which the suspension will be applied are the following:

1. By Provisional or conditional release or order of competent authority.
2. To solve administrative situations.
3. For discretionary criteria in the opinion of the immigration authority, as long as they are related to human rights and fundamental rights of their applicants. The situation in each particular case must be motivated through an administrative act.
4. Foreigner born in Colombia.

Exceptions are the SC-2 Permanence Safeguards to request and/or change visa and recognition of refugee status.

Article 2. From the Visa Registration and Issuance of Immigration Certificate:

The immigration authority may grant an opportunity to amend or refrain from initiating administrative action because there are grounds exempt from liability, as the case may be, in the terms provided in Resolution 1238 of 2018 to foreigners that on the occasion of the preventive isolation ordered by the national government to prevent the spread of COVID-19, has not been possible for them to carry on within the established terms in Decree 1743 of 2015 the registration of the visa and/or requested the Foreigner ID issuance.

Article 3: Of the Extensions of Permanence:

It provisionally suspended the accounting of the time of validity of the extensions of permanence or Temporary Permits of Permanence, as of the date of this resolution, until May 30, 2020 or until the term established by the National Government for the health emergency is met.

Article 4. Of the Special Permission to Stay (PEP):

The Special Administrative Unit for Migration Colombia will provisionally suspend the accounting of the time of absence for the cancellation of the Special Permits to Stay for the reason enshrined in number 4 of article 6 of Resolution 5797 of 2017, until May 30, 2020 or until the term established by the National Government for the health emergency is fulfilled.

Article 5. From the Otpas Activities Permit (POA):It suspended the term of stay in national territory, foreigners who have been granted a POA type Entry and Permanence Permit, up to 30 calendar days, for any of the activities described in number 3 of article 13 and in accordance with the term established in Article 14 of Resolution 3167 of 2019, with the exception of the permission granted by Shore Pass to the Members of Maritime or River Crew, until May 30, 2020 or until the term established by the National Government for the health emergency is met. .

Article 6. Regarding Temporality:

Before the expiration of the term stipulated herein and based on what the National Government determines, Colombia Migration as the authority for the surveillance and control of immigration and aliens of the Colombian State, will determine the continuity or not of this measure.

Article 7. Regarding face-to-face procedures:

The Regional Directors will be in charge of coordinating general public access to the Migration Colombia facilities so that the corresponding procedures by foreigners can be carried out, as well as evaluating and determining the provision of services in an extraordinary way outside their facilities. , in accordance with the preventive, obligatory and transitory measures established in Resolution 385 of 2020 of the Minister: 3 of Health and Social Protection and other regulations that modify, add, complement or clarify it.

Article 8. Regarding Validity:

The present resolution governs from the date of its publication and is above all provisions that are contrary to it.

For answers to questions, additional information or professional guidance, please contact Expat Group via any of the following methods:

• Web chat on website https://expatgroup.co/english/.
• Customer service email info@expatgroup.co.
• Telephone attention in Spanish and English on the lines: (+57) 350 894 8130 / (+57) 350 211 2552.
• Attention through WhatsApp: (+57) 350 894 8130.
• Via social networks: Facebookand Instagram.
• Google Business link https://g.page/expatgroup-colombia.

Photo courtesy Migración Colombia via Twitter

Recent days may seem mayhem, this unexpected pandemic has citizens of all nations locked down and adapting to new changes. Recently, Colombian Authorities released a couple of resolutions to modify established times of the visa procedures determining a suspension of the time lapse for applications, end of visas, tourist permits, giving foreigners in the country a clear legal basis for staying in Colombia and start planning for when all gets better. Therefore, there is no need for foreign nationals in Colombian to get unnecessarily stressed out. These changes as they are now are very simple and for the better. Let’s review most of them.

Jaime Aristizabal is an attorney with Expat Group, a law firm in Medellin that services clients throughout Colombia and abroad with immigration and business formation.

There were two recent resolutions whose goal is to reduce the visa related stress of visitors and resident foreigners in Colombia. The first issued in March by Migration Colombia was a resolution targeted to reassure all tourists having to extend their periods in the country due to the declared Covid19 National Sanitary Emergency, and in April the Foreign Affairs Ministry pronounced a hold on the expiration of pending visas.

The second, as mentioned, came out of Colombia’s foreign affairs ministry and affects the status of all foreign nationals within the country holding visas or needing visa related procedures, the key here is that the accounting of the timing of the status of visas and visa applications has been frozen, and it will recontinue once the state of sanitary emergency declared in March has been lifted.

Foreign Affairs Resolution 1296 of April 21st, 2020 pronouncements:

By which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Colombia suspends some of the terms in the visa, passport and nationality procedures

Article 1. Visa applications for foreigners staying in the Colombian territory:

Foreigners who are in regular residence within Colombian territory may apply for a visa before the Visa Authority in Bogotá through the electronic means provided for this purpose by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the validity of this Resolution, foreigners holding a visitor visa in Colombia will not be allowed to make visa applications that signify class changes, being able to only request the same class of visa of which they are the holder, always, in accordance with the requirements established in Resolution 6045 of 2017, and the principle of discretion in the granting of visas.

Article 2. Suspension in the processing of visa applications for foreigners staying outside the Colombian territory:

It provisionally suspended until the Sanitary Emergency declared by the Ministry of Health remains in effect, the processing of visa applications by foreigners staying outside of Colombian territory, established in Resolution 6045 of 2017. The Colombian consulates and the Visa Authority in Bogotá, are prevented from admitting during the referred term such visa applications, regardless of their class or activity.

Article 3. Suspension of the validity terms of the visas:

It provisionally suspended until the Sanitary Emergency declared by the Ministry of Health remains in force, counting the validity time of the visa for foreigners that are abroad and are holders of a visa in force at the time of issuance of this Resolution, in accordance with the following:

1. Type (v) visitor visas to provide temporary services to a natural or legal person in Colombia, and to hold office in a Colombian headquarters of a company with a presence abroad by virtue of intra-corporate transfer of personnel.
2. Type (M) migrant visas regardless of their activity

Article 4. Suspension of the terms of early termination of visas due to the absence of national territory:

Provisionally suspend until the Sanitary Emergency declared by the Ministry of Health remains in force, the accounting of the time of absence from the national territory, as a cause of early termination of type M and R visas established in number 3 of article 66 of Resolution 6045 of 2017, for foreigners who are abroad and are holders of such classes of visa in force at the time of issuance of this Resolution.

Article 5. Suspension of the provisions related to the printing and stamping of the visa. Suitability of the electronic visa for purposes of registration in the Foreign Registry:

It provisionally suspended until the Sanitary Emergency declared by the Ministry of Health remains in force, the terms established in article 89 of Resolution 6045 of 2017, relating to the duty of the foreigner to print and stamp the visa with validity equal to or more than three months, in order to advance its registration in the Register of Foreigners. Such registration may be advanced with the current electronic visa (e-visa), whose authenticity and conditions will be verified by the Immigration Authority at the time of the respective registration. This, in line with public policy regarding Digital Government and streamlining procedures.

Article 6. Suspension of the time limits to claim the passport once issued:

It is provisionally suspended until the Health Emergency declared by the Ministry of Health remains in force, the deadlines enshrined in articles 12 and 18 of Resolution 10077 of 2017.

Article 7. Suspension of the procedures for issuing ordinary and executive passports:

Provisionally suspended until the Sanitary Emergency declared by the Ministry of Health remains in force, the issuance of ordinary and executive electronic passports by the issuing Offices in Bogotá, Calle 98 and Cale 53 and Colombian Consulates abroad.

Article 8. Suspension of the process of renunciation of nationality:

It is suspended provisionally until the Health Emergency declared by the Ministry of Health remains in force, the process of renunciation of nationality referred to in article 2.2.4.1.20 of Decree 1067 of 2015 for applications submitted after the Issue of Resolution 0385 of 2020 by which the sanitary emergency was decreed.

Article 9. Suspension of the term to issue a certificate of renunciation of nationality:

It is provisionally suspended until the Sanitary Emergency declared by the Ministry of Health remains in force, the terms for the process of renunciation of nationality referred to in article 2.2.4.1.21 of Decree 1067 of 2015 for requests presented after the issuance of resolution 0385 of 2020 through which the sanitary emergency was decreed.

Article 10. Suspension of the term to issue the act of recovery of nationality:

The sanitary emergency declared by the Minister of Health remains provisionally suspended until the term of five (5) days provided for in Article 2.2.4.3.5 of Decree 1067 of 2015 expires to issue the recovery act of Colombian nationality for the applications that are in progress after the issuance of resolution 0385 of 2020 by which the sanitary emergency is decreed.

Article 11. Validity and Application:

The present resolution governs from the date of its publication and will remain in force until the end of the health emergency declared by the ministry of health and social protection through resolution 0385 of 2020.

For answers to questions, additional information or professional guidance, please contact Expat Group via any of the following methods:

• Web chat on website https://expatgroup.co/english/.
• Customer service email info@expatgroup.co.
• Telephone attention in Spanish and English on the lines: (+57) 350 894 8130 / (+57) 350 211 2552.
• Attention through WhatsApp: (+57) 350 894 8130.
• Via social networks: Facebookand Instagram.
• Google Business link https://g.page/expatgroup-colombia.

The pope will arrive tomorrow, September 5, around 4 pm in Bogotá and then spend the following day in the capital. He will then move on to pass one day in each of Villavicencio (Friday), Medellín (Saturday), and Cartagena (Sunday) before departing.

In addition to bank branch closures, the U.S. Embassy will also shut down during Pope Francis’ time in the Colombian capital.

Bancolombia

Bancolombia will keep all of its Bogotá offices open and operating normally on Thursday. Two locations, however, will see reduced hours on Wednesday. Both its locations in Terminal de Carga Internacional and Centro Distrital will be open from 9 am to noon.

On Friday, in Villavicencio, Bancolombia will close the following offices all day:

• Villavicencio
• Catedral
• Primavera
• Unicentro Villavicencio
• Maizaro
• Viva Villavicencio

On Saturday, in Medellín, Bancolombia will close 11 of its 36 offices for the entire day. The closed offices will be:

• Avenida Junín
• La Playa
• Centro de pagos Guayabal
• Puerta del Río
• Coltabaco
• Camino real
• Teatro avenida
• Éxito Poblado
• Éxito Poblado 2
• San Diego
• Centro de Pagos Monterrey

Banco de Bogotá

On both Wednesday and Thursday, Banco de Bogotá will shutter its offices in Centro Comercial Gran Estación and Servicaja Autopista El Dorado.

On Thursday, while Pope Francis spends the entire day traveling throughout the capital, the following branches will be closed all day long:

• Carrera 24 N° 26 -01
• Ciudad Salitre
• Centro Administrativo CAN
• Centro Comercial Gran Estación
• Centro Empresarial Metropolitano Suramericana
• Carrera 10 Calle 17
• Calle 18
• Andes
• Oficina de Recaudos y Pago Bogotá Centro
• Parque Santander
• Ext. de caja Universidad Libre La Candelaria
• Las Aguas
• Avenida 19
• Ext. de caja Fondo de Cultura Económica
• Calle 63 Siete de Agosto
• Siete de Agosto
• Galerías
• Campin
• Barrio Modelo Norte
• Avenida Calle 68
• Ferias

BBVA

On Wednesday the following BBVA locations in Bogotá will close early, opening at 8:00 am and closing at 1:00 pm before the pope arrives in the capital:

• Aeropuerto Connecta
• Ciudad Salitre
• Banca Personal Avenida El Dorado
• Avenida El Dorado
• Gran América

On Thursday, BBVA will shut down nearly all its locations in the capital all day long. The only service points that will be open are those within Colseguros and the branches Calle 43, La Esmeralda, and Uniquince.

The same shutdown will apply on an even larger scale in Villavicencio on Friday and Medellín on Saturday. No BBVA locations will be open in either location on these two days.

U.S. Embassy Closed

In addition to the financial sector, the visit by Pope Francis will also disrupt diplomatic offices. Among others, the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá will be closed to the public begining at noon tomorrow (Wednesday) and be closed all day Thursday.

In case of an emergency, U.S. citizens can get in contact with their embassy by calling +57-1-275-4021.
Foreigners from other countries are encouraged to call their embassy to see if it will be open on both Wednesday and Thursday before trying to show up in person.

Photo credit: Jared Wade