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Today, Juan Francisco Espinosa Palacios, Director of Migration in Colombia, solved some of the questions that foreigners have in the country in the context of the current pandemic.
During the live broadcast this morning through the official social networks of Migration, the Director of the entity spoke about the following central issues:
- Suspension or freezing of terms.
- Virtualization of procedures.
- Fines, penalties, and administrative and economic sanctions for irregular migration.
- Renewal of visas.
It is important to clarify that this information is also associated with Resolution 0918 of 2020, issued by Migration Colombia in March, which is valid until the end of the State of Health Emergency. In this sense, although initially, the deadline was 30 May, the measures of Migration Colombia will also be extended in consonance with the decisions of the Ministry of Health and the National Government.
We will now make a summary of the issues discussed and the conclusions for each of them:
Suspension or freezing of terms
The counting of time has been suspended for the following migration procedures that usually require physical presence for identity verification:
- Foreigners’ Identity Card: either for the first time, renewal or duplication.
- Registration of foreigners (visa).
- Temporary permit to stay for change of permission.
- Although the period of permanence in the national territory is initially 90 days, it has been extended for another 90 days to protect the foreigners from migratory irregularities or future sanctions.
- Certificate of migratory movements.
- Safeguards.
In other words, the previous procedures cannot be carried out at this time, but the counting of the days or periods to carry out each one of these procedures has been suspended to avoid affecting any foreigner, and these can be carried out normally as soon as the Migration system has been reactivated.
Virtualization of procedures
The pandemic is preventing all of us from doing our jobs normally. For this reason, Migration is working on flexible measures and the development of electronic attention processes to limit the physical presence in its offices when the country is reactivated. This is to speed up and facilitate the procedures of foreigners in Colombia while protecting their health. Besides, progress is being made in coordinating the delivery of foreign ID cards through home service, as there are 7500 cards to be delivered at this time.
Fines, penalties, and/or administrative and economic sanctions for irregular migration
No sanctioning procedures or fines will be initiated for exceeding the initial terms of legal stay in Colombia. Remember that the counting of time has been suspended for foreigners who are tourists, or for those who have pending the registration of their visas or the processing of their foreigner’s ID cards. Therefore, there will be no sanctions.
Renewal of visas
Migration Colombia works together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a permanent way, therefore, at present visa applications can be carried out normally. In the event of being required some support issued by Migration, it is possible to show the impossibility of complying with the requirement due to the suspension of migratory services because of the pandemic. In these cases, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will contact Migration to obtain the necessary support and to continue with the application.
If you have any questions about how to apply for a Colombian visa, speak right now with a specialist at this link.
Finally, the Director of Migration provides tranquility part for all foreigners. He clarifies that there will be a transition process when the Sanitary Emergency is lifted to normalize the situation and allow the foreigners to reactivate their migratory proceedings and management.
Juan Francisco Espinosa Palacios
Director of Migration Colombia
May 26, 2020
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