General Info

[Fun Luvr]

I checked Visa and MasterCard. They both changed the exchange rate at midnight local time. I imagine they adjust the rate according to the time zone of the transaction. I can't imagine they would use EST worldwide.

[Nypher]

They cut out the corner of the passport cover and send it back always.

For me (US Passport), they always just punched 2 holes in the cover and first page with the photo and send it back, Visas or no visas.

I have no idea why they send back the old one when renewing but its appreciated. I like flipping through the pages of my previous 3 passports and looking at all the different shapes and colours of the stamps each country uses.

DR on arrival they use the dog tag shaped one but on departure they use the square one.

Thailand on arrival its square but on departure its triangle shape one.

Canada shaped like a postage stamp on arrival and on departure its the oval shaped one.

Colombia with the orange and purple.

My favorite is the multiple "canceled without prejudice" stamps on my US visa in my original's country passport LOL.

[Huacho]

They cut out the corner of the passport cover and send it back always.

I am looking at my expired passport now, not the last one but the one before that. No corner cut on the cover. Two holes punched through the front cover and that's it.

[Mr Enternational]

I have every passport I've ever had. They don't keep the old one. Not sure where you heard that. I normally renew by mail and they send the old passport back with holes punched in it.

I did not hear it, I experienced it. Okay it was a different situation than it expiring. I sent it in for more pages and they kept it saying it was damaged because the corner of the picture page was coming up. When I told them about the visas they fedexed it back to me.

[Nounce]

Yes, that is visas for anywhere. In the USA, when you get a new passport they are supposed to keep the old one. But when you tell them there is a visa inside that you need and they will invalidate the old passport by punching holes in the picture page and send it back to you.

They cut out the corner of the passport cover and send it back always.

[Huacho]

Yes, that is visas for anywhere. In the USA, when you get a new passport they are supposed to keep the old one. But when you tell them there is a visa inside that you need and they will invalidate the old passport by punching holes in the picture page and send it back to you.

I have every passport I've ever had. They don't keep the old one. Not sure where you heard that. I normally renew by mail and they send the old passport back with holes punched in it. I renewed in person at the US Embassy this time and it was the same thing. That was in February.

[JjBee62]

Yes, that is visas for anywhere. In the USA, when you get a new passport they are supposed to keep the old one. But when you tell them there is a visa inside that you need and they will invalidate the old passport by punching holes in the picture page and send it back to you.

At least now there's proof that:

1. I don't know everything.

And.

2. I can still learn. Slowly.

[Mr Enternational]

I learned something today. Visas for entry into the US are valid until the expiration date. Duh. Yeah, everyone already knows that. The bit that I learned is they are valid even if the passport has expired and been renewed. The person just needs to travel with both the new, current passport and the expired passport which contains the visa.

Yes, that is visas for anywhere. In the USA, when you get a new passport they are supposed to keep the old one. But when you tell them there is a visa inside that you need and they will invalidate the old passport by punching holes in the picture page and send it back to you.

[Fun Luvr]

How many USD does it take for a gallon of gas today in the EEUU? Its all relative.

When I'm in Colombia, I don't buy gas in the EEUU. But to answer your question, the average price for a gallon of regular gas where I live in the US is $4.70 today.

[JjBee62]

I learned something today. Visas for entry into the US are valid until the expiration date. Duh. Yeah, everyone already knows that. The bit that I learned is they are valid even if the passport has expired and been renewed. The person just needs to travel with both the new, current passport and the expired passport which contains the visa.

Everyone probably already knew that as well. I just found out because my girlfriend* might be coming to visit me for a few days and she recently had to renew her passport. No sense in planning the visit if her visa needs to be renewed.

[HumbleHal]

It didn't take long to see the results of the Colombian election. Today, the USD is up more than 100 COP.

How many USD does it take for a gallon of gas today in the EEUU? Its all relative.

[Fun Luvr]

It didn't take long to see the results of the Colombian election. Today, the USD is up more than 100 COP. Currently, it is 4023/1 COP / USD. The relationship between the Xe.com rate and the Visa rate has changed. Visa no longer changes their rate at midnight GMT. I haven't determined when it changes, and what rate they use. Last week, I received 4016/1 from the ATM. Yet Xe.com shows the high for the past 30 days was 3980. To get an accurate rate for the ATM's, I think you will have to look at the Visa and MasterCard foreign exchange rates.
https://usa.visa.com/support/consume...alculator.html.
https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/pers...-currency.html

Interesting tidbit: Visa shows current rate at 3912 and MasterCard is 3905.

[Chicago85]

Hello,
I was hoping to get advice from someone with experience as to which city would be the best place to go for someone who has never visited Colombia.

Medellin overall, if you know a bit of Spanish even more so. Some may say Cartagena as more people speak English, the beach, and the clubs. It depends a bit more on what you're looking for.

[Prhodes]

Hello,

I was hoping to get advice from someone with experience as to which city would be the best place to go for someone who has never visited Colombia.

I have been to Sosua before and got around OK.

Thanks in advance.

[ExoticBro]

Don't forget a pimp hat with a long feather.

When you step into El Centro, everyone within 50 yards can tell you're a gringo, regardless of how you are dressed. The only difference the clothes make is whether they immediately think you're slightly foolish, or a complete idiot.

Is your goal to get girls to demand more money? That seems to be your approach. If they see a gringo walking around with a big "steal my shit" sign over his head, the price is going to double or triple, unless someone decides to relieve you of your sports attire and money first.

Here's how prostitution works on the street in El Centro. Girls stand around waiting for customers. A few might try to grab a customer, although usually it's just an attempt to pick his pocket. The customer approaches the prostitute and negotiations begin. Whether you're wearing Walmart jeans and a t-shirt you found at Goodwill, or a tuxedo, if you don't talk to the girls, they'll just watch you walk by, except for the pickpockets.

On the other hand, thieves tend to be more proactive when choosing clients.

Jjbee is a legend; that was some hilarious shit! Seriously. I think you're probably spot-on! But ironically, I am literally the opposite of the pimp guy you described; I typically am overly casual and dress very basic with zero jewelry, so I should be fine with my status quo. I think I allowed myself to be misguided by a stereotype- being a brother, oftentimes females make negative assumptions towards us unless we "portray" certain characteristics. But in hindsight, I guess correct; none of that stuff should apply since bro tourists / any tourist will be viewed as an ATM by Colombian chicas. I will provide feedback once my trip starts on the 23rd.