Crazy Colombian Consulate

[NickD 202]

Since my wife could only get yesterday off, left at 3:30 AM, drove down to Harvard, took the 7:08 AM to downtown Chicago, that was great seeing all that stalled traffic on the interstate. Had a 1.5 mile walk, got there an hour earlier, had a cancellation, so saw her right away. This let us take a train two hours earlier, so total trip time was 14 hours.

They said to bring three passport photos, didn't want those, took her photo, was not in her best state with windy Chicago, but who cares. Said to bring a money order for $134.00, I got that, but said the rates just went up 20 bucks and it was no good. But they didn't want the money order anyway. Told us to go to a bank to blocks away, pay them, and bring back the receipt.

At the bank, could have used my bank card or cash to make that payment, but at least was dealing with reasonable American people, they let us use that money order and add 20 bucks cash to it.

When we got back, was a line so had to wait, was hoping on catching that earlier train, but they wife had to fill out another long form stating her last Colombian passport was lost. Hell that was like 30 years ago. Then we asked about receiving her passport, two options, come in person, or if they had a USPS prepaid envelop, would mail it back to her. If we knew that, could have brought that with us. But do have the option to mail that to them, that is what we will be doing today. Did ask if I could pay them for that, NO! Wife is concerned that she will receive it before the end of the month, should get it in two weeks. But did say, go anyway, you have the receipt you paid for it, take that with you.

I did get up early yesterday morning and checked the Colombian site, no changes, but when we got home last night, that new $154.00 rate was posted, but they also posted a $192.00 emergency passport we could have picked up then and there, they never mentioned that. Its no wonder my wife left that country when she was 18 years old, but in a sense, moving from Colombia to Venezuela was like going to the frying pan to the fire.

I have no problem in going to Colombia, but that is because my US passport says I was born here. Again, so much for hearing, you are a citizen of the USA just like you were born here. But don't try to run for the presidency.

[Mononoke28 134]

Since my wife could only get yesterday off, left at 3:30 AM, drove down to Harvard, took the 7:08 AM to downtown Chicago, that was great seeing all that stalled traffic on the interstate. Had a 1.5 mile walk, got there an hour earlier, had a cancellation, so saw her right away. This let us take a train two hours earlier, so total trip time was 14 hours.

They said to bring three passport photos, didn't want those, took her photo, was not in her best state with windy Chicago, but who cares. Said to bring a money order for $134.00, I got that, but said the rates just went up 20 bucks and it was no good. But they didn't want the money order anyway. Told us to go to a bank to blocks away, pay them, and bring back the receipt.

At the bank, could have used my bank card or cash to make that payment, but at least was dealing with reasonable American people, they let us use that money order and add 20 bucks cash to it.

When we got back, was a line so had to wait, was hoping on catching that earlier train, but they wife had to fill out another long form stating her last Colombian passport was lost. Hell that was like 30 years ago. Then we asked about receiving her passport, two options, come in person, or if they had a USPS prepaid envelop, would mail it back to her. If we knew that, could have brought that with us. But do have the option to mail that to them, that is what we will be doing today. Did ask if I could pay them for that, NO! Wife is concerned that she will receive it before the end of the month, should get it in two weeks. But did say, go anyway, you have the receipt you paid for it, take that with you.

I did get up early yesterday morning and checked the Colombian site, no changes, but when we got home last night, that new $154.00 rate was posted, but they also posted a $192.00 emergency passport we could have picked up then and there, they never mentioned that. Its no wonder my wife left that country when she was 18 years old, but in a sense, moving from Colombia to Venezuela was like going to the frying pan to the fire.

I have no problem in going to Colombia, but that is because my US passport says I was born here. Again, so much for hearing, you are a citizen of the USA just like you were born here. But don't try to run for the presidency.

Most Colombian consulates are run the same way. Just be glad you didn't have to deal with the one in LA which I hear is a total nightmare.

And yes, even if your wife has not been in Colombia since she was 18 years old, she's still a Colombian citizen and needs to have a Colombian passport to enter the country. It's the law. The only way to change this is if she officially renounces her Colombian citizenship.

Diana

[Szilvia74 3]

Two friends moved to Bolgota couple of months ago. They love it! Just saying

Edited May 6, 2011 by Szilvia74