Due to the coronavirus pandemic many of the procedures that used to be performed were suspended or there were changes in the way they were performed.
One of the changes that took place in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus was the issuance of visas in Colombia, so here we explain how these procedures are working during the health emergency.
(You can read: This is the new rate of the Colombian passport in 2021)
United Kingdom
Colombians need a visa to go to the UK. The visa in England is applied for virtually from the immigration office website.
There are several types of visa for England:
– Tourist visa.
– Student visa.
– Work visa.
– Traffic visa.
In the midst of the pandemic the embassy notes that all applications are currently being made virtually. The estimated time it can take to apply for a tourist visa in the United Kingdom is 3 months and the approximate cost of this type of visa is $ 420,000 Colombian pesos. With this visa you can be in the country for up to 6 months, if you do not apply for a renewal or extension of the visa.
(To see the visa costs you can click here)
Once you know what visa you need, you need to prepare the evidence and documents you are asked for. After that you have to apply, and the embassy will tell you how to follow the process to do the biometric procedure.
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From 31 August 2020, UK Visas and Immigration began a gradual resumption of services at the UK Visa Application Centers in Bogotá and Medellín.
United States
Due to the pandemic, the US embassy in Colombia said a few days ago that there are still dammed applications to issue visas, so it will give priority to exceptional cases and applications from before May 2020.
Priority is also given to cases of immediate relatives of American citizens, spouses, children, fiancés and parents of Americans.
The embassy noted that since March 1, the number of daily immigrant visa interviews and the range of services have increased.
(Don’t read: These are the requirements to enter and leave Colombia)
The embassy also reminds that they can carry out the processes of immigrant visas of all categories, and will begin to review these cases according to their prioritization plan. “It will take some time before we can attend while waiting for an interview. Once we can schedule your case, you will receive an email with additional details,” he warns.
Great news!
As of March 1, we have increased the number of daily immigrant visa interviews. We appreciate your patience as we work through a large number of pending cases. More details in the video: pic.twitter.com/LGmMHUlrBP
– US Embassy in Bogota (@USEmbassyBogota) March 3, 2021
Currently some of the applications that can already be made are:
Tourist / business visas (B1 / B2) and crew (C1 / D)
You can now apply for tourist / business (B1 / B2) and crew (C1 / D) visas for those who are eligible for an age-based or exemption-based interview exemption.
Visa F, M or J to study
Applicants who are going to study in the United States with an F, M or J visa (except for English as a Second Language programs) can now apply for the visa.
Emergency situations
You can also apply for a visa if you are in an emergency situation. In this case, the US Embassy in Bogota recommends contacting them to find out if you apply in this case.
Remember that appointments for other regular services, even first-time tourist visa applications, are still suspended.
The State Department extended the validity of nonimmigrant visa payments (known as MRV rates) until September 30, 2022, to allow all applicants who did not go to be able to schedule an appointment for the visa as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations, the opportunity to schedule and / or attend the appointment with the payment they have already made.
Germany
Due to the development of the pandemic in Colombia and Europe, currently the receipt of visa applications at the German Embassy in Bogota is only possible in some cases, and must have all the required documents
You can request an appointment for processing through the website, by:
1. Visa processing:
• Requests for family reunification (with the spouse, with a minor German child; with a minor with his / her father / mother; with a father with his / her unborn German child , or visa to marry in Germany). For these cases, it is possible for the relative who is a German citizen or resident to enter at the same time as the applicant in Germany, for example, the spouse or minor child.
• Applications from skilled or highly skilled workers, belonging to one of the following application categories:
– Qualified staff with an employment contract related to the following articles of the German Residence Law.
– Scientist / researcher
– Officials sent
– Executives, managers and specialists
– Systems specialists
– Jobs of special public interest
• Independent employees
• “AU Pairs”
• Students whose studies cannot be carried out from the outside.
• Primary and secondary school students who receive classes at an educational center for at least six months.
• Apprentices who are undergoing qualified training.
• Participants in a “Qualifizierungsmaßnahme”
• Volunteers
• Diplomats, personnel of international organizations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers who have to carry out their work in Germany.
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• Passengers in transit.
• People in need of international humanitarian protection
2. Visa extension already issued
The embassy notes that the supply of appointments is generally limited; most of the appointments scheduled for the next few weeks have already been booked.
(To know all the details of how to do the procedure can click here)
Canada
The visa application centers are open from October 2020. In this way you can carry out your procedure normally.
To apply for your visa we recommend:
– Prepare your application
– Give your passport and apply for a visa
– Once you have submitted your application to the Visa Application Reception Center, your employees will check that your file is complete in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada, and will file your application on your behalf the next business day.
The Visa Office will evaluate your application and make a decision, after which a visa slip will be attached to your passport or you will be sent a letter explaining the reasons for the refusal.
The Visa Office will then send your passport, securely, to the Visa Application Reception Center, which will inform you through your preferred method of communication. An update will also be offered in the Online Application Tracking System and you will be told that your passport is ready to be returned to you. You can then present yourself in person at the Visa Application Reception Center to recover your passport.
Once submitted, you can easily follow your visa application.
(Learn all the details here)
Australia
To go to this country you can apply for a visa on a regular basis from:
– Student Visa (subclass 500)
– Temporary Work Visa (Short Stay Activity) (subclass 400)
– Traffic Visa (subclass 771)
– Official Visits-Business (subclass 600)
– Visitor Visa (Tourist Category) (subclass 600)
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Remember You must provide proof of a negative covid-19 (PCR) test to your airline when you do this on your flight at the point of departure.
(To know the details of the process you can click here)
LUISA MERCAT
POLITICAL WRITING
Twitter: @PoliticaET
If you have any questions about this topic write to us at [email protected]