Gator has left 6148 comments

Gator comments on Exit Colombia with a minor - important questions

Darloup, I see you are still pissed about me not accepting you as a "friend." As long as you brought it up I guess that's better than being an "obnoxious fellow" ALL the time.

Gator comments on Exit Colombia with a minor - important questions

That, amigo, is a dangerous path to tread

Gator comments on Exit Colombia with a minor - important questions

Patria Potesta (PATRIA POTESTAD or custody) The court will decide but it will not be quick. Without that court order or the father's permission the child can't exit Colombia. "What is your opinion of this process Patria Potesta - Is it better to a layer to develop a strategy with a current novio (who is a foreigner) and press that she is going to have another family and needs a freedom to be able to take the kid in and out Colombia? " Let her attorney argue that but I personally think that line of reasoning is a dead end, "Or it is better to stay quiet and the lawyer would build something based only on the sigle mother who needs a freedon of movement and needs possible relocation to another city in Colombia, for example? What do you think?' She can relocate in Colombia but to what end? "If there a way to out a pressure on the local court (or whatever it is called) via US Senator -> Colombia Government to minimize the arbitrary Colombian factors in the judge’s decision? In the past my Senator was very useful in securing my girlfriend’s B1-B2 visa." NO! Colombian law will absolutely trump a U S Senator every time. "If Patria Potesta is not granted, I understand the written (notarized) permission from the father will be required (for how long is valid then?) 90 days." "... but it is normally associated with some particular itinerary (with marked return to Colombia) and with K2 visa it will be obvious for DAS he is leaving Colombia? What are the issues with return to Colombia for vacation, etc?" If the father files a criminal complaint she will be in deep dodo when she attempts to pass DAS on entry into Colombia. "If I decide to adopt the boy in the US, will this Patria Potesta have ANY LEGAL weight in the US or I will have to go back to Colombia to get a father’s consent to the adoption process?" Full legal weight-any adoption process usually requires a written affidavid to the court waving any objections to the adoption. Best bet, IMHO, is work through the father-perhaps a cash payment to him. If he wants to be a HP then the family court is the only option

Gator comments on Obtaining a Home Loan in colombia

If you are new to Colombia with no established credit are banking relationships it will be tough,

Gator comments on Incomptent Latin Transportation Service

If you are in Miami you might try going to the airport and ask!

Gator comments on Good Conduct Letter From DAS/POLICE.

Quien sabe, but that's what they said. AOC, ask about an apostille while you are there.

Gator comments on Cycling in Colombia.

Geez, then he should know since he rides his motor all over town-what better source could you have?

Gator comments on Good Conduct Letter From DAS/POLICE.

I think this explains it http://www.das.gov.co/das/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl... If not check DAS web site http://www.das.gov.co/ look on the left side and you will see Certificado Judicial and Certificado Judicial en Línea. I asked and was told you must appear in person at the Ventanillas de extranjeria y Seccionales (Alien Window) Call to be sure: 595 3525 or 01 8000 9525 25 Check here also: http://www.gobiernoenlinea.gov.co//tramite.aspx?traID=1724

Gator comments on Cycling in Colombia.

Lowell ( a poster who lives there), what do you think? I have mixed emotions on this one and Mrs. Gator's Comment ( she is from Cartago) was be careful. You should have some up-to-date information.

Gator comments on Cycling in Colombia.

Where in Valle-Cali???

Gator comments on Good Conduct Letter From DAS/POLICE.

You need a Certificado Judicial (not the Certificado de Migratoria) from Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad ( DAS) You can get this from your local DAS Office or on-line at http://www.das.gov.co/das/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=971&Itemid=148. Costs about $20.000 cop. Personally I think it might be easier to visit your local DAS office, If it needs an apostille to be used in the UK that will be and additional step.

Gator comments on Cycling in Colombia.

Traffic-especially cabs and buses, will consider you fair game. But biking in Colombia is a big deal-I know Bogotá has several bike clubs and I am sure Medellin has the same. Buy a hot area I assume you mean La Costa?

Gator comments on income tax in colombia?

Haghj00 What visa are you using-it makes a BIG difference.

Gator comments on Low, Medium, High Seasons in Colombia?

Correct

Gator comments on Big Help for Those Wanting to Change Visas

Perhaps it would be best to contact Darloup. He posted unless you have walked the walk and talked the talk you should stay clear of posting bad info. Yep, I am one of those misinformed, know nothing expats he slammed. BTW, when you apply for renewal of a visa you are, in-fact, applying for a new visa. Your old spouse visa should have an expiration date in the upper corner.

Gator comments on A nation is obsessed as Miss Colombia beauty pageant comes to a big end

ditto, Simon

Gator comments on How do you teach English if you don't speak Spanish?

V e r y s l o w l e y

Gator comments on Fellow PBHers

With COPA you will be completing part of the trip on Aero República which does fly to Pereira. All pets transported as checked baggage in cargo hold will be charged a fee, based on excess baggage rates. The weight of the cage is figured into the cost. Those rates are: If the total baggage weight exceeds the weight allowance US$50 Each piece in excess of the baggage allowance US$75 Overweight: Overweight pieces between 50 and 70 lbs (24 to 32 kg) even if it's the only piece of baggage checked US$50 Overweight: each piece between 72 and 99 lbs (33 to 45 kg) even if it's the only piece of baggage checked US$75 Each oversize piece between 63 and 107 inches, even if it's the only piece of baggage checked US$75 All baggage exceeding maximum weight, size dimensions or piece limitations, will be transported subject to space availability.

Gator comments on Cedula, Army card ( Libreta militar)

That seems a little unusual, Kat1, I would make and inquiry-I think you can do it on line now.

Gator comments on Andres Carne de Res

No comparison-for the real experience, if you are into that style, head for Chia. El Retiro ACR: El sitio lo unico curioso que tiene es la decoracon .. de resto ...todo es igual solo que el triple de caro que cualquier negocio donde venden carne ... es un negocio para ir una o dos veces solo a conocerlo y ya no mas ...... no vale la pena volver. MUY CARO

Gator comments on Colombian peso DROPS to record low!

As of 10:30 am it was $1976.35/1 USD. Banco de la Republica reflects the same rate. Scumbuster, save an aisle seat for some friends.

Gator comments on Travel in Colombia Passport or only Student Visa

Based on you apparent age it is likely your cédula is one that does not have to be renewed. Pedro, I believe she is a Colombian national so she would have a cédula de ciudadanía. The "old" ones expire 12/31/2009 at midnight. The present one with the hologram is still valid and did not need to be renewed.

Gator comments on Travel in Colombia Passport or only Student Visa

No boarding the carrier unless you have a valid passport. My wife is a Colombian national and we live in Colombia she is always asked for her passport by the airline and DAS. You will also need the cédula. I doubt you will need a US ID but if you do your student ID will suffice.

Gator comments on Recommendations for banks and foreign money transfers?

"Gator, do you have to pay any monthly fees for either your NY or Bogota Citibank accounts?" No. If you can qualify for a Gold account (accounts can be linked) there are no fees.

Gator comments on New requirements for income as pensionado ??

There are no new rules that I know of. If that is, in fact, SS payments you should qualify.

Gator comments on U.S. and Colombia bases deal signed, but what are the real intentions?

several well taken points, Darloup

Gator comments on Recommendations for banks and foreign money transfers?

We (Mrs. Gator) have a Citibank Gold Account with their international division in NYC. When we have the need to transfer funds that transaction goes to our City Bank Colombia (Bogotá) account at the branch on cr. 7 and about 72. Fund transfer cost is $10 and we have done as $25.000 USD. It is instantaneous (almost) as long as you have a City Bank account in a Colombian branch. Another bonus is the Citibank Gold account atm card(debit) does not incur charges as long as we us the City Bank ATM If you are a City Gold account holder you can also do a wire transfer, for $20.00 with no limit, to other banks as long as the recipient has an account. When we purchased our apartmento we used this method to send the funds to our Conavi Bank, now merged with Bancolombia about 4 years ago, account in Colombia. A big plus is we can do this on line as well as using online banking to pay US bills or recurring expenses. You must try and meed with someone who has senior decision making authority at the bank. The next piece of advice is to keep ;looking in as much as different branches of the same bank have different policy.There are several things you can do to ease your way: Document the source of your funds, obtain a letter of personal reference from your US bank that documents your history as a customer and HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN WITH THAT BANK. Have the letter(s) translated into Spanish. If you have business references do the same thing. When you import money you will deal at some point with the central bank, Banco de la Rupublica. There are three Formularios (Forms) you will have to deal with, Numbers 4,5 and 11. If you are a permanent resident and DO NOT intend on the repatriation the funds at a later date only Form 5 comes into play. With 4 and 11 there are time frames to consider and if they are not folllowing you can expect large tax consequences, I hope anyone contemplating a purchase seeks the advice of a good REAL ESTATE attorney and a qualified Contadores Públicos before and during any transactions. The following information is a general guideline of how to buy a real state. Some of this should be done as preliminary steps before committing any funds. Verify the information of the property that it is going to be purchased: In Colombia the information or “history” of the property is in the Ownership History and No-lien Certificate (“Certificado de Tradición y Libertad”). This certificate has the list of the owners of the property and has any encumbrances that a third party may have, such as a mortgage. Taking this into account, it is recommendable that the investor verifies the Ownership History and No-lien Certificate. This can be requested to the Public Instruments Record Office ("Oficina de Registro de Instrumentos Públicos"), which is the government entity in charge of these certificates. To be able to request the Ownership History and No-lien Certificate of a given property it is necessary to bear in mind the following: 1. There is various Public Instruments Record Offices in the country. Each property or piece of real estate is registered in only one. Thus it is necessary to find out in which Office is the history of the property registered to be able to request it. 2. Once it is determined which Office has the history of the property, the investor must provide one of the following pieces of information: a. Real Estate Identification Number. In Colombia each piece of real estate has one identification number. b. Address of the property, in rural property this might be difficult to find out. c. National Identification Number of the owner of the property. 3. The investor must pay the cost of the certificate. To pay this, each Public Instruments Record Office might have a different mechanism or account number. Thus each investor must find out where he must cancel the cost of the certificate. Here he must verify that the person who is selling the property to him is really the owner or that he has an authorization to sell the property in representation of the owner. 4. Another additional aspect to verify when buying property is the tax payments. In Colombia, each property has to pay the “Property Tax”, since this is a municipal tax each Municipal or District Treasury will have the history of the payments of this tax. The investor must go the Treasury of the Municipality or District where the property is located and ask for the payments certificate where the property should appear with the tax payments up to date. 5. If the investor wants to purchase the property without coming to Colombia it is necessary that he authorizes someone as his legal representative authorized to do such purchase and registration behalf the Central Bank. The document stating the person who is given the legal representation must have the Apostilla for those countries which are part of the treaty or duly notarized in the rest of the countries. Aspects to take into account in the Sale Contract or Promise of Sale Contract. It is recommendable that the sale contract includes at least the following aspects: 1. Area of the property. 2. Boundaries of the property by the north, east, south and west side as they appear in the Ownership history and no-lien certificate. (In Spanish the name of this appears in the certificate as “Linderos”) 3. Price 4. Payment stipulations. 5. Term or certain date when the property must be given to the new owner. In Colombia when two people are signing a sale contract of real estate, there is an additional requirement from the actual signature of the document. This requirement is called a “Public Deed” where a public notary will authenticate and emit the Public Deed; if this step is not done the contract will be void. For the notary to emit the Public Deed the investor must submit the following documents: a) Text of the sale contract which must include the following: name of the buyer, name of the seller, identification number of each one and the other aspects mentioned above. b) If the property is in Bogotá it must submit the certificate of the Urban Development Institute “IDU”. Where it states it is up to date with the payments corresponding to any community upgrade value gained. The “community upgrade value gained”; is a type of tax that property owners must pay when a public construction has increased the value of the property. www.idu.gov.co c) Certificate where it says that the property is up to date with the payment of the Property Tax or receipt of the last payment. d) If there is a condominium or any other type of housing arrangement where there is an administrator, the administration payments must be up to date. The Public Deed has a cost of 0,27% of the value of the Real Estate. It is a costume that the owner and the buyer will pay 50% of this cost. The Public Deed will be ready in 3 to 20 days depending if all the documents are submitted accordingly. Register the Public Deed in the Public Instruments Record Office As it was explained before, the Ownership History and No-lien Certificate is the history of the property. It is very important that the investor registers in the Public Instruments Record Office the Public Deed, when this is done then the investor is the actual owner of the property. This is verified by checking the name that appears in the certificate. It is important to remember that the investor must register the investment with the Form No. 4 of the Central Bank (Banco de la Republica) once the money is wired to the Colombian account.

Gator comments on Need Help!!! Copa Airlines? AeroRepublic? Can I bring my dog? How much? Whats required.

Must fly in the baggage compartment in an approved carrying case because of weight-must have vets letter and inoculations must be up to date, When you decide on a date and the airline call the carrier to see what it requires. http://www.copaair.com/sites/cc/es/informacion-de-viaje/pages/mascotas.aspx

Gator comments on

When you first see it coming around from the ocean side and look down in the bay it looks like a scene from a movie BUT when you get there it is more like Jesu Christ, what a shit hole. Nasty beach, nasty water, jukes turned up a full volume and on Friday and Saturday nights is is a living hell. Other than that?????????

Gator comments on sweet potatoes/ yams in Bogota for Thanksgiving?

Just call it "Gimme one of those"and point.

Gator comments on Paid section on PBH?

Gee, reading this lengthy missive I never realized what a pain in the A I must be.

Gator comments on sweet potatoes/ yams in Bogota for Thanksgiving?

called patatas or if you don't see that a yam will do the trick

Gator comments on Visa Question!

Miami55 I do appreciate you situation but I do feel it is a crap shoot a best. To me there does not seem to be sufficient STRONG ties to assure she will return to Colombia. This situation is caused by the large number of Colombians, both male and female, who fail to honor the visa and return. I will cost you/her $131 USD for a definate answer and they will tell her why the request was not granted. BTW, there is NO appeal.

Gator comments on Dollar up up and away

9 am 2021/1 10am 2008/1

Gator comments on Visa Question!

I may have sounded negative but when the OP said Christmas time I still don't think she has time to obtain thew visa. Remember the consular officer will presume that she intends to become an immigrant and she plans to stay permanently in the United States. The burden /of proof is on her to convince the consular officer she will return to Colombia. After you pay the $131 application fee the consular section suggests you bring the following: Documents related to your employment, such as letter from employer stating: your job title how long you have been employed your monthly salary how many days of leave are granted for your trip pay stubs Documents related to her financial situation, such as: original bank statements for the last several months deeds to any property you own Colombian tax documentation chambers of commerce registrations, etc. Documents related to your family ties, such as: certified copies of birth and marriage certificates, issued in the past three months. certified copies of baptism and religious marriage certificates, issued in the past three months. Evidence of continued enrollment in a college or university The fact that your relationship is boyfriend/girlfriend and you are presently in the USA will, IMHO, be the death blow. But for a $131 USD who knows. But personally if she gets the visa I will be standing on the roof of out apartmento with binoculars because the last time someting like this happened a bright star and three wise men came out of the east.

Gator comments on English Muffins part 2

We have also see then the Los Rosalas Carulla frozen foods. Pop 'um in the microwave then the toaster

Gator comments on Visa Question!

You have a long row to hoe. Not much you can do because she is the one that must make the application and provide all the information IN DETAIL. A letter from you MAY help but I doubt it. As they say in Texas you have tow chances slim and none and Slim just rode out of town. BUT strange things happen so you can pay the fees for her but the time frame is working against you.

Gator comments on Curious about what I witnessed last night...

Othermoon is correct-she would have been covered under SISBEN (Sistema de Identificación de Beneficiarios de Subsidios Sociales ) even covers homeless people. 0ften people in her strata, homeless, are classified as a 1 by SISBEN, are very distrustful of hospitals and prefer what we would call "traditonal home medicine." Since, from your profile, you are new to Colombia you have some more shock coming. Best bet is to remember what Dorothy said, "Gee, Toto, I don't thing we are in Kansas any more." You don't have to like it but best you learn to live with it.

Gator comments on RCN's Brian Andrews visits the spectacular Las Lajas Cathedral

If you have never been-GO if you are in the area! Not an easy trip unless you are heading down to Ecuador. About 7 km outside of Ipiales. Nothing that spectacular on the inside but looking from the outside the construction is a marvel.

Gator comments on Time change in Colombia?

No DST in Colombia

Gator comments on Documents needed for work visa?

EAFIT should provide all the help you need-based on your to two other posters' reply that's all from me. Cstew47, exacto

Gator comments on

Gringo went to a small roadside restaurant in Pasto and ordered a hamburger. The woman took a frozen patty out and put it under her arm pit. "What the hell are you doing?" asked the Gringo. "Sr, I must defrost it first before cooking and I have nothing to use but body heat," she replied. "That never happens in the USA," he said. "Just be glad you did not order a hot dog!" the woman replied.

Gator comments on How many of you would run back to the USA if Venezuela declares war on Colombia

Since I got no place else to go I stand by my adoped country

Gator comments on Big Help for Those Wanting to Change Visas

1. No- just what you used 2. No-at the end of the original period you can get thirty days at a time so if you had sixty days to start then you can extend four more times. 3. By Decree(law) it is a calendar year. 4. You can get extended as long as your time has not expired-to be prudent I would allow seven working days, 5. You can use the amount of time indicated on the stamp. 6. Handle all extensions through you local DAS office(i.e.whererever you are at renewal time) 7. If you are not comfortable in Spanish bring a friend who is. 8. You get fined and will not be allowed to depart until it is paid. 9. No really though the tourist visa is placed into you passport just like a work visa. The entry on your passport is, for lack of a better word, a quasi visa. With both you would get no more than 180 days in a calendar year

Gator comments on Is it safe to take a bus from Bogota to Cartagena?

I have crossed La Liena in a heavy fog and you could NOT pull a needle out of my ass with a John Deer tractor.

Gator comments on Just received my cedula and need to open a bank account. Can anyone recommend a bank?

Quite a few

Gator comments on Big Manifestation in the center of Bogota

Thanks, Bill. BTW did any one see this on TV? First it was 5000 students were marching from Parque Nacional then fifteen minutes later the OP said 10,000 of students are protesting. Strange that "El Tiempo"has not updated its on-line edition to reflect a massive march-anyone have a link???

Gator comments on US Social Security Checks - question

Hope Darloup dosen't read your post. But mil gracias

Gator comments on Important Warning ...

Too bad! I already sent all my money to Ms. N'buto in Nigeria.

Gator comments on Just received my cedula and need to open a bank account. Can anyone recommend a bank?

We use Bancolombia-but just because you have a cédula is no guarantee you can open an account so you may have to do some foot work.. For some local and international we have Citi Gold International.