Visa applications in Colombia increase
The United States Embassy in Colombia has announced measures to expedite the visa process due to the increasing number of visa applications in Colombia.
The embassy acknowledges that the long waiting times for visa interviews in Colombia are causing disruptions to travel plans. Some individuals have reported that the earliest appointment they could secure is in 2025.
The embassy attributes the delays to the high volume of visa applications and the impact of the pandemic.
To address the surge in visa applications, the consulate has sought assistance from other embassies in Colombia.
More than 50 experienced consulate personnel from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Belize, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Namibia, Mexico, Serbia, Suriname, and Venezuela have been deployed to Bogotá to help process over half a million visa applications.
Visa applications in Colombia: Solutions
The consular team in Bogotá is committed to reducing the waiting times for first-time visa applicants in Colombia, and the global team is honored to contribute to this goal, according to an embassy official. It’s worth noting that Colombia ranks first in visa issuance.
According to the World Statistics portal, Colombia has a high visa denial rate, with approximately 33% of visa applications being rejected. It’s important to consider that the visa processing fees have changed as of June 17, 2023:
- The visa application fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2 and BCC), as well as other non-immigrant visas (NIV) that are not based on petitions, such as student visas and exchange visitor visas, has increased from $160 USD to $185 USD (approximately 745,000 Colombian pesos).
- The visa application fee for certain non-immigrant visas based on petitions for temporary workers (categories H, L, O, P, Q, and R) has increased from $190 USD to $205 USD (approximately 825,000 Colombian pesos).
- The visa application fee for treaty traders, treaty investors, and treaty trader applicants in a specialized occupation (category E) has increased from $205 USD to $315 USD (approximately 1,268,000 Colombian pesos).
As for the elimination of visas for Colombians, it is currently under study.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified five criteria for visa waiver eligibility, which include counterterrorism, law enforcement compliance, traveler screening, immigration law enforcement, and travel/document identity.
While this is being defined, visa applications in Colombia will continue to rise, in addition to the increasing number of frequent travelers each year.
Also read: Sorprendentemente, en 2023, 1,6 millones de expatriados estadounidenses en México.
