Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=DiscoverFL;2876791]You need to step back and understand this problem originates in Canada first, by them charging Colombians $100-185 Canadian for a visa to visit Canada. Colombia has enacted a reciprocal visa fee in response. I'm sure once you write to your Canadian leaders and convince them how unfair to charge such high fees to Colombian visitors is, and they remove those fees, that Colombia will subsequently remove their visa fee. What is fair is fair.[/QUOTE]If Colombia wasn't full of people that scope you and kill people they might not be charged so much.

Spirit's big front seats are great. Usually you can check at check-in to see if they have any available and the upgrade fee has been reasonable, in my experience, from $25-40, which for the long flight time from Colombia to the US is very nice to have.

[QUOTE=DiscoverFL;2876718]If you upgrade to larger front seats, Spirit and Avianca seats are 1000% better than JetBlue's crappy larger seats.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Yuvaraj;2876477]I'm looking for recommendations near Mansion for incall / outcall professional massage (doesn't matter if it includes he or not) please.[/QUOTE]Mansions massage girl is named Paola. Really great massagemwith no extras is 200 K. There are several places in Rio Sur Mall that you can get professional massages, with or without extras. Also a place1 block up the hill from the Mansion, turn left 1/2 block, forget the name though.

A Canadian friend told me this was coming up. I'm not Canadian so I didn't give it another thought. I came through Bogota a few weeks ago and noticed the line in immigration for Canadians to pay the fee. One of the agents kept yelling "people with Canadian passports in this line!" Whatever the politics, to answer the original poster's question, the alternative to paying the fee each time you enter is to get a visa. A Colombian visa is different than the tourist entry stamp that you are getting now. There are various kinds of visas. The cost all in will be about US $100 and, depending on the type of visa, it will be valid for one to three years. I think it will work out to be more economical for a Canadian who visits more than once a year. There are a number of annoying bureaucratic steps but it's doable.

[QUOTE=Oterri;2876709]I was anally raped entering Medellin recently. Had no idea or warning by any airline that upon entry, anyone with a Canadian passport will be made to pay about hundred backs so called reciprocal visa fee. In effect since Nov 15. Must use credit / debit card to pay. One of the brilliant gem by the new president.

Are there any 5 or 10 year long, multiple entry TOURIST visas available for Colombia? Can't pay hundred backs every few months.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DiscoverFL;2876718]If you upgrade to larger front seats, Spirit and Avianca seats are 1000% better than JetBlue's crappy larger seats.[/QUOTE]It's more than the seats for me. You have to bring your own food and drinks on Avianca because all you'll get it is chicken and rice and a can of soda if you're lucky. JetBlue keeps their drinks and snacks out so people can get what they want. These national legacy carriers I will include Phillipines Airlines are interested in providing quality service this is especially true if you are visitor and not a resident if you know what I mean.

I knew a bit about the phones requiring registration so made sure to buy the SIM from shopping mall and official movistar shop. They asked for my original passport and entered something in computer plus made a copy of my passport so I thought all requirements have been carried out. I left after a week and returned a few months later to find that sim 1 was not working. Well that is why I have SIm2 so I bought a second sim from movistar shop again. A few months later when I returned once again, the phone just won't work so I decided to use the second phone and foolishly bought yet another sim from Movistar.

Obviously none of the sim / imei were registered. Both phones are now blocked.

I went to main office of claro in Los Molinos. They said they can't unblock a phone blocked by movistar. Does anyone know if this true?

I.

Then went to main office of Movistar in same mall. Well, I was told that in order to have the phone unblocked, I need to bring in a Colombia citizen who would tetify on my behalf. What the bloody hell? I told him that I have the same passport that the SIM were registered to but he said no chance.

Is the above true or did I talk to someone who had no clue?

I am really having hard time and don't know if there is any other way of getting the phones unblocked.

Any suggestions, anyone?

Thank you for replying. I am trying to find the info about getting a Colombia tourist visa but can't find any information.

Can you please elaborate a bit how and where can one get it from, specially if applying from Canada? Thanks again.

[QUOTE=Knowledge;2876803]A Canadian friend told me this was coming up. I'm not Canadian so I didn't give it another thought. I came through Bogota a few weeks ago and noticed the line in immigration for Canadians to pay the fee. One of the agents kept yelling "people with Canadian passports in this line!" Whatever the politics, to answer the original poster's question, the alternative to paying the fee each time you enter is to get a visa. A Colombian visa is different than the tourist entry stamp that you are getting now. There are various kinds of visas. The cost all in will be about US $100 and, depending on the type of visa, it will be valid for one to three years. I think it will work out to be more economical for a Canadian who visits more than once a year. There are a number of annoying bureaucratic steps but it's doable.[/QUOTE]

I didn't have any issues filling it out on my computer using Google Chrome. Some guys have complained about it but I think if you just go slowly and double check your entries, it should work. I've been flying Spirit to Medellin and I can tell you that Spirit always ask to see your checkmig confirmation and if you don't have it, they make you fill it out before they will check you in. There were a number of people scrambling to fill out that form as they waited in line. As for people who say that immigration never asked for the paper form, it's on the computer when they enter the passport number. That is why they are not asking you very many questions once they scan your passport. I wouldn't try to fly to Medellin without filling out that form.

[QUOTE=Oterri;2876910]Thank you for replying. I am trying to find the info about getting a Colombia tourist visa but can't find any information.

Can you please elaborate a bit how and where can one get it from, specially if applying from Canada? Thanks again.[/QUOTE]You get a stamp in your passport when you arrive. That's your tourist visa. Generally good for 90 days if that's what they write on the stamp. That is the process if you are Canadian or American and fly in. Nothing needed in advance, other that filling out the Check-mig before you fly so they have your info for their immigration {migracion} when you land. Canadians have the privilege of also paying the extra tax or fee of around 90 dollars to get into Colombia.

[QUOTE=HuskerDude;2876799]Mansions massage girl is named Paola. Really great massagemwith no extras is 200 K. There are several places in Rio Sur Mall that you can get professional massages, with or without extras. Also a place1 block up the hill from the Mansion, turn left 1/2 block, forget the name though.[/QUOTE]Been to the place up hill from the mansion a couple times. Good massage, reasonable price, he available for a propina.

[QUOTE=Plan77;2876889]I knew a bit about the phones requiring registration so made sure to buy the SIM from shopping mall and official movistar shop. They asked for my original passport and entered something in computer plus made a copy of my passport so I thought all requirements have been carried out. I left after a week and returned a few months later to find that sim 1 was not working. Well that is why I have SIm2 so I bought a second sim from movistar shop again. A few months later when I returned once again, the phone just won't work so I decided to use the second phone and foolishly bought yet another sim from Movistar.

Obviously none of the sim / imei were registered. Both phones are now blocked.

I went to main office of claro in Los Molinos. They said they can't unblock a phone blocked by movistar. Does anyone know if this true?

I.

Then went to main office of Movistar in same mall. Well, I was told that in order to have the phone unblocked, I need to bring in a Colombia citizen who would tetify on my behalf. What the bloody hell? I told him that I have the same passport that the SIM were registered to but he said no chance.

Is the above true or did I talk to someone who had no clue?

I am really having hard time and don't know if there is any other way of getting the phones unblocked.

Any suggestions, anyone?[/QUOTE]It has to be the original seller, in your case Movistar. Claro can't unlock if it was a result of a Movistar SIM originally. And it is not really an unlock per se, but your IMEI itself that is blocked for any carrier in the country. As for bringing aa Colombian citizen. Not sure but I think they can waive that and do it on your behalf if you can provide sufficient information that you are the person with that passport, etc.

It would seem that whoever sold you the phone might have been a "reseller" of packages for Movistar, and if that is the case they can give you the package with minutes, data, etc. But in reality it is still registered in the name of the reseller, and also it would seem like your phone was never properly registered. Happened to me as well.

In any case, only the original seller can get it unblocked.

[QUOTE=Plan77;2876889]I went to main office of claro in Los Molinos. They said they can't unblock a phone blocked by movistar. Does anyone know if this true?Any suggestions, anyone?[/QUOTE]

Had similar situation when I returned to the Exito market where I purchased a virgin mobile Sim from a representative the previous 2 trips with same phone obviously. I figured I use the same service virgin mobile since I had no problems the previous 2 times. When I went to the Exito to purchase another Sim card the sales clerk was trying to sell me some Colombian company Sim card I was rold the virgin Sim card rep wasn't there, so I figured whatever as long as my phone worked. But they tried the Sim card and they couldn't get it to work. Long story short I went to a Claro store and the sales clerk tried to get there Sim card to work and showed me a message that virgin mobile had lock my phone. I ended up going back to the Exito the next day and found the Virgin mobile clerk and actually had to get my phone unlock and told me that Sim card would'nt work until the following day. When the phone finally worked the following day. Virgin sends me a text saying I need to register the phone. So I take it back to the virgin rep and she registers it. Now I though why couldn't the previous two Sales reps that tried to get my phone working with different networks just unlock my phone. Probably Virgin mobile lock my phone so I had to use their network to get it unlocked. My phone was registered the previous times as far as I know. And I also was informed by a Colombian that sometimes phone companies will do that so you get stuck using there network. Maybe this will help. Good luck anyways.

[QUOTE=Plan77;2876889]I knew a bit about the phones requiring registration so made sure to buy the SIM from shopping mall and official movistar shop. They asked for my original passport and entered something in computer plus made a copy of my passport so I thought all requirements have been carried out. I left after a week and returned a few months later to find that sim 1 was not working. Well that is why I have SIm2 so I bought a second sim from movistar shop again. A few months later when I returned once again, the phone just won't work so I decided to use the second phone and foolishly bought yet another sim from Movistar.

Obviously none of the sim / imei were registered. Both phones are now blocked.

I went to main office of claro in Los Molinos. They said they can't unblock a phone blocked by movistar. Does anyone know if this true?

I.

Then went to main office of Movistar in same mall. Well, I was told that in order to have the phone unblocked, I need to bring in a Colombia citizen who would tetify on my behalf. What the bloody hell? I told him that I have the same passport that the SIM were registered to but he said no chance.

Is the above true or did I talk to someone who had no clue?

I am really having hard time and don't know if there is any other way of getting the phones unblocked.

Any suggestions, anyone?[/QUOTE]Why does this seem to be so difficult for you guys? Seems like every couple months someone posts about this.

Everytime you buy a new phone or bring in a phone from out of country you have to register the IMEI of said phone. Not sure about Movistar but with Tigo and Claro you can do this yourself within the miTigo or mi Claro app.

It is a relatively simple process that asks for your cedula number if you are a citizen or passport number if you are a foreigner. There is no need to have someone from the cell phone store do it for you and there is no need to keep buying a new sim card every few months. I have had the same Tigo sim card now since early 2022 and I have used it in various different phones.

I believe there is a grace period of like 25 days from the date that you first use the phone (whether as a newly purchased phone or as a phone you brought into Colombia from el extrajero) to register the phone before it is IMEI blocked for not registering it.

Atleast with Tigo and Claro they will send you warning messages during these 25 days telling you to register the IMEI not sure about Movistar.

[QUOTE=Oterri;2876910]Thank you for replying. I am trying to find the info about getting a Colombia tourist visa but can't find any information.

Can you please elaborate a bit how and where can one get it from, specially if applying from Canada? Thanks again.[/QUOTE]There isn't a "tourist visa" there is a "tourist stamp" this stamp gives you 90 days each time you visit with a maximum of 180 days per calendar year. There is an option to extend the 90 days to 180 days without having to leave and come back. That is called a "permiso temporal para prorrogar permanencia" and requieres a few hoops to jump through and a $30 usd fee but it isn't rocket science and it can be done all online thru the migracion Colombia website.

Now if you want a visa that will alow you to stay for a year or longer then there are several different categories of visas you can apply for (most are 2 years and some may be up to 4 years).

From what I understand the easiest one to get is the student visa. It is good for up to 2 years. What you need to do is pay for 2 years of Spanish classes and an accredited school such as EAFIT. I believe I read there is some other school that has locations inside of the malls and is alot cheaper and they actually help you with the visa paperwork too.

Anyways after you have receipts and paperwork showing that you have enrolled in Spanish classes for the period of time you want to stay (up to 2 years). Then you can apply for the student visa with migracion Colombia and submit the proof that you are enrolled as a student at EAFIT (or the other cheaper school) and pay the associated fee and they will grant you a visa that is good for 2 years (or the length of time for which you are enrolled but the maximum is 2 years).

During this 2 years you can stay or you can come and go using the student visa as your entry key instead of the 90 day stamp and you won't have to pay the Canadian entry fee each time you enter.

As far as actually going to the classes I read that the school doesn't really give a damn if you show up or not, once you have paid the tuition and enrolled and received your student visa you are good for the length of the visa whether you attend class or not. The school isn't going to call migracion Colombia and snitch on you that you aren't showing up for your classes LOL. However I would recommend going to class since you paid for it and it's a good learning experience.

I think EAFIT is more expensive but the one in the malls is about $600 usd for each year of classes or something like that.

You may be able to request the same visa every 2 years or use a mixture of several different visas back to back (when each one expires, getting a new one) and be able to stay in Colombia perpetually for the length of your passport validity, however this would take alot of money.

There are also other visas which may be more affordable such as the digital nomad visa if you work remotely or there is a pensioners visa if you are on social security. There may also be business visas if you own or are involved in some kind of business venture here.

You just need to look on the migracion Colombia website to see what different visas they offer and which one is best for your needs.

Now if you are just a weekend warrior visiting for a week or two at a time you probably just will have to cough up the extra $90 bucks and use the 90 day stamp thing.

[QUOTE=KeviKev68;2876887]It's more than the seats for me. You have to bring your own food and drinks on Avianca because all you'll get it is chicken and rice and a can of soda if you're lucky. JetBlue keeps their drinks and snacks out so people can get what they want.[/QUOTE]Why not bring your own stuff if you have to have something specific, or eat before you get in the plane? No need to test your luck that something you do not want may be on offer.