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In this guide, we’ll explain the Social Security benefit reservation letter for American citizens.
Many of our American clients, past and present, ask us about the importance of this letter when applying for a Colombian retirement visa. In this article, you’ll learn:
- What is a US Social Security benefit reservation letter?
- Why you may need a social security benefit reservation letter if you apply for a Colombian visa
- How to get your Social Security benefit verification letter while being in Colombia
Let’s start by defining a US Social Security benefit reservation letter.
What is a US Social Security benefit reservation letter?
Also known as a “benefits letter,” the US Social Security benefit letter shows your retirement, medical, and disability (if applicable) benefits. It can also prove that you’ve applied for Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
As we explain below, the benefits letter is an important requirement for American expats who want to apply for a Colombian visa.
Why do you need a social security benefit reservation letter if you apply for a Colombian visa?
The benefits letter is needed for legal purposes when applying for a Colombian retirement visa as an American expat. This benefits letter must be notarized, translated, and accompanied by an official apostille in your application for the Colombian retirement visa.
Getting the benefits letter is actually very simple and only means downloading it from the SSA’s website.
However, to get a Colombian retirement visa, this benefits letter needs to be certified by the US embassy in Bogotá. This makes the procedure for applying for the retirement visa slightly more complicated for American pensioners looking to settle in Colombia.
Fortunately, there are solutions – such as our benefits letter transmission service – that can help you successfully acquire the US benefits letter for your retirement visa application.
At expatgroup, we help you get the U.S Benefist Letter, which certifies the amount of money that a U.S. citizen receives monthly as a pension, either for retirement or disability, either from a public or private entity. Click the button and get our expert help!
How to get your Social Security benefit verification letter while being in Colombia?
As we’ve said above, applying for the US benefits letter must be done through the American embassy in Bogotá, which is located at Cl. 24 Bis #48-50.
To be accepted in the Colombian retirement visa application process, this letter must be notarized and stamped with an apostille by a recognized US government official (such as the ambassador) and translated by an officially recognized translator.
Given the border closures and national travel restrictions for expats and Colombians alike, doing these steps in person is likely to be difficult or even impossible for the majority of Americans. Luckily, you can have your benefits letter notarized and translated by the US embassy through our benefits letter transmission service. We will send your benefits letter to the US embassy with one of our experienced couriers, who will handle the notarization and translation process on your behalf.
As we’ve already mentioned, you’ll need to download the benefits letter from the SSA’s website and provide the following information:
After you’ve got all these documents, we take care of the rest at the US embassy.
Choose an experienced benefits letter transmission service provider
At expatgroup.co, we’ve helped hundreds of Americans such as yourself successfully acquire Colombian visas, buy property, start businesses, and notarize documentation like the US benefits letter.
If you’re looking to apply for a Colombian retirement visa and have any queries regarding any stage of the process, book a call with us for a free, no-pressure consultation today. We’re passionate about helping expats settle and grow in Colombia, so feel free to reach out if you need visa, legal, or business assistance while living here.
