For those living overseas-Colombia

[NotSoObvious]

We are daydreaming about living in Colombia for a year or two.

 

For those of you who have moved to another country with your family, what did you do about healthcare?

 

Has anyone just sold everything and moved without a job? I want to hear from the crazies. ;)

 

[Guest inoubliable]

:bigear: I'm curious as well. Columbia is on our short list of foreign countries that we are considering moving to in the next 5-6 years.

[Laura Corin]

We took out international expat health insurance. It covered treatment overseas as well as repatriation. We had the NHS to come back to if necessary. The insurance was expensive but very worthwhile.

 

We moved from Hong Kong to China without jobs to go to. We put our stuff in storage in Hong Kong, found a flat to buy, renovated it then moved our stuff. We took six months off (living in China was very cheap), then Husband worked in China for a bit, before commuting to a job back in Hong Kong for a year. The children were aged 4 and 8 when we moved to China.

 

It was a brilliant time.

 

Consider carefully what you are going to do for visas. We went to China initially on student visas (Husband signed up with a college) which we later converted to work visas (obtained through sponsorship by the company that hired Husband).

 

Laura

[NotSoObvious]

Thanks so much Laura. Looking into visas now...

 

My parents have a second home in Clombia, so if we go that route, we know exactly where we will live. It's a larger city but one where there aren't a ton of English speakers.

 

I just need to figure out what we will do for income. My husband is a graphic designer, so he can work on generating some income now. I don't plan on working, if possible. Although see could both always tutor English privately.

[Lanny]

I suggest that you contact the Colombian Consulate General, nearest to where you live, for information regarding different types of Visas available to you, the requirements for getting them, etc. I suggest that you DO NOT arrive in Colombia on a Tourist visa, with the intention of living here and possibly working here. Get your Colombian Visa in the country you live in now! GL!

 

Edit: After I posted this, I see that the OP has a place to live in Colombia and is in Virginia. Probably the nearest source of information to you is the Consulate or Consulate General, in the Colombian Embassy in Washington, DC. If not, then the Consulate or Consulate General in Miami, FL. What city is the home located in?

[NotSoObvious]

Lanny! Wonderful! Where are you? We are thinking of moving to Bucaramanga.

[Lanny]

Lanny! Wonderful! Where are you? We are thinking of moving to Bucaramanga.

 

 

Cali in SW Colombia. Bucaramanga is a long way from us! If you have a visa permitting you to live here (and possibly work here), there is an Obligatory Health Plan (P.O.S.) which is very inexpensive and very basic. Better than nothing, in case of an accident or serious illness. Upscale is Prepaid Medicine, which I believe is called a PPO in the USA. Much more convenient, nicer, and more expensive. You will need Colombian Identification cards (Cedulas) which must be carried with you at all times and are needed for any business you transact here. Bank accounts, etc. require a Cedula.

[Amira]

I love living overseas because health insurance is so much cheaper than it is when we live in the US. There are many, many different options out there depending on where you're going and what you need.

 

We've always gone overseas for a specific reason and with a way to pay for it. I'd want at least a job or a house or a family connection lined up before I moved with my family overseas, so your options sounds pretty good to me.

 

As long as finances are okay, I think visas can be the biggest headache about living overseas.

[NotSoObvious]

Lanny- how is homeschooling in Colombia? I'm finding conflicting information. Is it technically allowed?

[chiguirre]

Dh travels to Bucaramanga a lot. He really likes it.

 

My experiences with insurance and health care in Venezuela were very positive. Even having a NICU baby, I wasn't worried about the quality of care. Colombia has a similar level of care, so I don't think you need to worry, just make sure you get an insurance policy when you arrive.

 

You do need to get a residence visa or you won't be able to get a cedula and without that number and id, you can't do much. Even my kids have their Venezuelan cedulas already because they need them to travel within Venezuela when we visit.

 

Suerte!

[gardenmom5]

my ex-sil is from columbia (bogota in particular). my brother and she adopted her nephew to get him OUT of columbia. (because of the danger, their family was affluent so he had opportunities for advanced education) when he went to visit his grandparents, he got major lectures from my brother and his columbian uncle (who has lived in several different countries with his employment) to: a) do NOT speak any english. period. b.) don't let anyone know you have *any* ties to the US. c) do not bring any american cash or other products.

 

before they split - they decided it was too dangerous for ex-sil to take their daughter to bogota to visit her mother.

[Lanny]

Lanny- how is homeschooling in Colombia? I'm finding conflicting information. Is it technically allowed?

 

 

Allowed = Yes. Probably very uncommon at this time, especially in Primary school and Secondary school.

 

I believe Distance Learning is common at university level here. My wife was a Distance Learning student in a prestigious public university.

 

Education is one of the rights of a child in Colombia. How you as a parent provide that education is up to you.

[Lanny]

my ex-sil is from columbia (bogota in particular). my brother and she adopted her nephew to get him OUT of columbia. (because of the danger, their family was affluent so he had opportunities for advanced education) when he went to visit his grandparents, he got major lectures from my brother and his columbian uncle (who has lived in several different countries with his employment) to: a) do NOT speak any english. period. b.) don't let anyone know you have *any* ties to the US. c) do not bring any american cash or other products.

 

before they split - they decided it was too dangerous for ex-sil to take their daughter to bogota to visit her mother.

 

 

Wow. :-) When was that? I have lived in Colombia for 17 1/2 years. Colombia is much safer now than it was when I first moved here. :-)

 

Keeping a "low profile" is always a good idea. That applies in Bogota, as it does to Las Vegas, Miami, Paris, Rome and most cities in the world.

[Lanny]

Thanks so much Laura. Looking into visas now...

 

My parents have a second home in Clombia, so if we go that route, we know exactly where we will live. It's a larger city but one where there aren't a ton of English speakers.

<snip>

 

 

By any chance were you born in Colombia? If so, you are a Colombian citizen and need a Colombian passport.

 

Second question: Are one or both of your parents Colombian citizens or do they have permanent residence status here? (If so, that will probably help you, if you and/or family members need visas).

 

Please note: Dual citizens MUST carry two (2) passports. If for example, you are a U.S. Citizen and also a Colombian citizen, you use the passport of the USA, when leaving or arriving the USA.

And, when arriving or leaving Colombia, you use the Colombian passport. Not to do that is immigration fraud, in either country.....

[NotSoObvious]

Nope and nope. They own two different properties, but they aren't residents. My dad said the longest visa they've had was a one year business visa. They just go down several times a year for several weeks.

 

Still trying to figure it out... Not sure if it's possible without one of us working for a Colombian company.

[Laura Corin]

 

 

Still trying to figure it out... Not sure if it's possible without one of us working for a Colombian company.

 

 

Are there study visas?

 

Laura

[chiguirre]

Wow. :-) When was that? I have lived in Colombia for 17 1/2 years. Colombia is much safer now than it was when I first moved here. :-)

 

Keeping a "low profile" is always a good idea. That applies in Bogota, as it does to Las Vegas, Miami, Paris, Rome and most cities in the world.

 

 

I agree, Colombia's gotten much, much safer over the last 10 years. But, it's always a good idea to take off your jewelry, stash expensive gadgets and dress inconspicuously.

[Lanny]

Nope and nope. They own two different properties, but they aren't residents. My dad said the longest visa they've had was a one year business visa. They just go down several times a year for several weeks.

 

Still trying to figure it out... Not sure if it's possible without one of us working for a Colombian company.

 

 

There may be a type of Visa for your parents, because they own property in Colombia. They should ask the nearest Colombian Consulate/Consulate General about that. Possibly there is a Visa type for Investors or people who own property here.

 

Still, I believe it will be a "Plus" for you, when you apply for Visas, that you have a place to live here and that you know where you are going (Bucaramanga) and a plan.

 

I believe that you wrote that your DH is a Graphics Designer. There are some things he might be able to do here, for companies in the USA or elsewhere. By coincidence, I have contact with a company in the states that recently got 2 new logos on a website called LogoTournament.com For their latest logo, the winner was someone here in Colombia. So, there are possibilities, of your DH working here and submitting work on the Internet. GL

[NotSoObvious]

Thank you! That is all very helpful information! He has the potential to simply work remotely and build a client base before we go, it was just the visa thing that threw a wrench in the plan since he'd be self employed. I will call our consulate and try to get a straight answer.

 

It all seems very daunting. We've flirted with the idea befo and we are finally at a place in our lives where we feel like it is now or never.

 

(We are hoping to take our dog, too, which is a whole other thread, I suppose.)

[Lanny]

Thank you! That is all very helpful information! He has the potential to simply work remotely and build a client base before we go, it was just the visa thing that threw a wrench in the plan since he'd be self employed. I will call our consulate and try to get a straight answer.

 

It all seems very daunting. We've flirted with the idea befo and we are finally at a place in our lives where we feel like it is now or never.

 

(We are hoping to take our dog, too, which is a whole other thread, I suppose.)

 

 

If your DH can telecommute, or otherwise find work on the Internet, that will be great.

 

IMHO, the big issue will be proving that you have a steady income. Other than that, I doubt there will be any problems, with you getting visas.

 

 

I brought my (very elderly) dog with me from Texas. She made the trip at the age of 12 1/2. As I recall, I had to get papers for her to enter Colombia and there was supposed to be a veterinary inspection (?) after arrival. Well, after I cleared Colombian Immigration, when I arrived in the Baggage Claim area, my dog was waiting there for me. She had a Veterinary certificate from my vet. in Texas and possibly something from the Colombian Consulate. That was almost 18 years ago, but hopefully it will not be a problem for you. I paid for the Veterinary inspection, but, I don't think it happened.

 

Everything that works in the states will work here. TV sets, phones, FAX machines, Refrigerators, Washing Machines, everything is just like in the states. I made the mistake of shipping too much stuff. A lot of the furniture, I should have given away and bought new stuff here. It was expensive to ship furniture...

 

If your cell phones use the GSM technology, they will work here, if they are on the standard GSM bands for the Americas, 850 and 1900. There may also be some service on the 2100 band, but I'm not sure about that.....

 

The lady in the moving company told me (again, this was almost 18 years ago and things change) that "Colombia may be the only country in the world you can move to, for less money, by air, than by sea." Everything came in a Cargo Jet, from Miami to Cali.

 

IMHO, your parents should try to get Visas, so they can get Colombian Cedulas. I wonder how the Property Tax on their home(s) is handled, For example. Here, they have my Cedula number. The property tax is referenced to that. There are many instances here when one must have a Cedula. And, if one does not have a Colombian Cedula, one *must* carry their Passport, with a valid visa in it, at all times.

 

Also, they should probably have a Will, written in Colombia, by a Colombian Attorney, to cover their property in Colombia. However, I am not an attorney and do not know if it would be good to have a Will in the USA for their property there and another will here, for their property here. Something they might look into....

 

I made an appointment and went to the Colombian Consulate General, in Houston, Texas, in 1994, thinking that I would apply for a certain type of Visa. After some conversation, the woman told me about a type of visa that I did not know existed, and that was much better for me.

 

You may have much more luck, if you can go into their office. Make an appointment and discuss your plans with them and see what they suggest. Best to wait until mid January to do that.

 

Colombia is an ally of the USA. I believe all the foreigners we have ever met here (Americans, Canadians, etc.) are very positive about Colombia and very happy to be living here.

 

The only drawback is earning a living. There is a *lot* of competition for jobs and the jobs here do not pay as they do in the USA. So, if your DH can telecommute, make some $ on LogoTournament.com Elance.com Etc. you are ahead of the game.

 

To look for employement with a company in Colombia, he would need a Cedula and there is a lot of competition for work.