Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;3041525]Say what? I have been to the Philippines 100 times and have never worn any shit like that. I put my money in my pocket like a normal person would.[/QUOTE]This is not the Philippines forum.

[QUOTE=KeviKev68;3041697]There's been a lot of discussion about people being detained and turned away at immigration.

I was nervous because the last time I was here the security guy took a photo of my passport as I was leaving! I don't know if he thought I was transporting anything but he was alarmed when he saw all of the stamps on my passport.

So, when I arrived I was sweating profusely[/QUOTE]A quite ridiculous discussion about people being detained IMHO. If you have not done anything wrong, then what is your worry? What exactly were you nervous about to the point of sweating? It is immigration, not a torture chamber. I have 2 active passports with tons of stamps. Never seen anyone get alarmed because of the amount of stamps. And you said security. All they do is make sure you have nothing you are not supposed to? Why not ask the person why they took the picture? A simple question can alleviate all of your anxiety and nervousness. It is okay to talk to the people.

[QUOTE=KeviKev68;3041697]I think it is worth repeating here that you MUST do your Check Mig before you arrive and have address, phone number of the place where you are staying entered correctly. You also MUST have place to stay confirmed before you arrive. You can't look for place when you get here. (it's a problem for some).[/QUOTE]It may be worth repeating, but that does not make it true. I have not filled out checkmig in 2 years. Also if you have done it once, your information stays in the system. Several times upon entering without filling the form out, they have asked me are you staying at such and such again? I say you know me like a book. Whenever I travel somewhere and do not know where I am staying and there is a form to fill out, I just put Marriott or some big hotel chain. Don't make this out to be complicated or scary.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;3041792]A quite ridiculous discussion about people being detained IMHO. If you have not done anything wrong, then what is your worry? What exactly were you nervous about to the point of sweating? It is immigration, not a torture chamber. I have 2 active passports with tons of stamps. Never seen anyone get alarmed because of the amount of stamps. And you said security. All they do is make sure you have nothing you are not supposed to? Why not ask the person why they took the picture? A simple question can alleviate all of your anxiety and nervousness. It is okay to talk to the people.

Whether you think you have done anything wrong is besides the point. We don't know what they are looking for. Yes, it's immigration but doesn't have to be torture to cause concern. I am sure you haven't seen anyone who has been alarmed but you haven't seen everybody.

It may be worth repeating, but that does not make it true. I have not filled out checkmig in 2 years. Also if you have done it once, your information stays in the system. Several times upon entering without filling the form out, they have asked me are you staying at such and such again? I say you know me like a book. Whenever I travel somewhere and do not know where I am staying and there is a form to fill out, I just put Marriott or some big hotel chain. Don't make this out to be complicated or scary.[/QUOTE]It doesn't make it wrong either. Not everyone has been to Medellin multiple times like you or I. It doesn't hurt to fill out the Check Mig form. I get your point the airlines no longer require you to do this but it's not difficult to do. Also, I not fluent in Spanish. So I can't engage in the back and forth that are accustomed to.

I never said or implied that entering Medellin was complicated. Nor am I trying to "scare" people as you suggest. This information isn't useful for you but might help others.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;3041792]
It may be worth repeating, but that does not make it true. I have not filled out checkmig in 2 years. Also if you have done it once, your information stays in the system. Several times upon entering without filling the form out, they have asked me are you staying at such and such again? I say you know me like a book. Whenever I travel somewhere and do not know where I am staying and there is a form to fill out, I just put Marriott or some big hotel chain. Don't make this out to be complicated or scary.[/QUOTE]Checkmig is broken for me: my information never stays in the system. Further the options available don't include my visa category, but it doesn't matter: most (all?) of the information you (or, at least, I) enter never gets seen by the entry agent. I do try and fill it out but I have forgotten on occasion and it seems to make no difference.

[QUOTE=Dinosaur9;3041415]It was absolutely required in Philippines, I'm wondering if it's the thing to do in Colombia or does it make you look like a tourist / easy to snatched?[/QUOTE]I'm a gringo: I look like a tourist with or without a cross-body bag. I use one everywhere I go, not just in Colombia. In fact I've been stolen from less in Colombia than in Spain.

I entered at MDE last week. I travel to Medellin 3-4 times a year. The agent definitely spent more time typing stuff and checking his computer screen than I have ever seen but I got in no secondary inspection. It takes me less than 5 minutes to fill out checkmig on my PC and if there is even a small chance that it helps keep me out of secondary its worth the 5 minutes it takes. The government does want you to do it. The only question he asked was where I was staying.

[QUOTE=KeviKev68;3041697]I could tell there was something wrong and others noticed too by how flustered and confused the guy was as he was led to the room. I think it is worth repeating here that you MUST do your Check Mig before you arrive and have address, phone number of the place where you are staying entered correctly. You also MUST have place to stay confirmed before you arrive. You can't look for place when you get here. (it's a problem for some).
I hope that helps.[/QUOTE]It would help if it were correct. Here is what Colombia's official immigration site says right now: 'Estamos realizando mejoras tecnológicas al aplicativo Check-Mig. Por lo tanto, en este momento no es necesario diligenciarlo. Te esperamos en nuestros puestos de control migratorio para que realices con normalidad tu proceso de ingreso o salida de Colombia. ' So it isn't even being used now, and hasn't been used for at least six or seven weeks. Most likely you got ripped off by a third party provider. I have entered Colombia maybe eight times, including in late Oct. Of this year, and have never been asked where I was staying. Of course, they certainly have the right to ask you whatever they want.

[QUOTE=Huacho;3041894]It would help if it were correct. Here is what Colombia's official immigration site says right now: 'Estamos realizando mejoras tecnolgicas al aplicativo Check-Mig. Por lo tanto, en este momento no es necesario diligenciarlo. Te esperamos en nuestros puestos de control migratorio para que realices con normalidad tu proceso de ingreso o salida de Colombia. ' So it isn't even being used now, and hasn't been used for at least six or seven weeks. Most likely you got ripped off by a third party provider. I have entered Colombia maybe eight times, including in late Oct. Of this year, and have never been asked where I was staying. Of course, they certainly have the right to ask you whatever they want.[/QUOTE]Wow very good intel. I am impressed.

[QUOTE=Huacho;3041894]It would help if it were correct. Here is what Colombia's official immigration site says right now: 'Estamos realizando mejoras tecnolgicas al aplicativo Check-Mig. Por lo tanto, en este momento no es necesario diligenciarlo. Te esperamos en nuestros puestos de control migratorio para que realices con normalidad tu proceso de ingreso o salida de Colombia. ' So it isn't even being used now, and hasn't been used for at least six or seven weeks. Most likely you got ripped off by a third party provider. I have entered Colombia maybe eight times, including in late Oct. Of this year, and have never been asked where I was staying. Of course, they certainly have the right to ask you whatever they want.[/QUOTE]It works for you because you speak and can read Spanish. The airlines don't require it anymore but I would not tell someone not do it. There's a lot of this following statement" No one says anything to me and I have been there several times."

You cannot guarantee someone will have your experience. Especially folks who not Spanish. I have been here dozens of times and cannot recall a time when immigration did not ask where I was staying. Also, I think I saw signs that said you provide information on where you are staying.

It sounds like you are being treated more favorably than those of us who are "gringos."

[QUOTE=AmorPorFavor;3041877]I entered at MDE last week. I travel to Medellin 3-4 times a year. The agent definitely spent more time typing stuff and checking his computer screen than I have ever seen but I got in no secondary inspection. It takes me less than 5 minutes to fill out checkmig on my PC and if there is even a small chance that it helps keep me out of secondary it's worth the 5 minutes it takes. The government does want you to do it. The only question he asked was where I was staying.[/QUOTE]It only take a few minutes so why would you not do it? There's no upside in not doing it unless

[QUOTE=Huacho;3041894]It would help if it were correct. Here is what Colombia's official immigration site says right now: 'Estamos realizando mejoras tecnolgicas al aplicativo Check-Mig. Por lo tanto, en este momento no es necesario diligenciarlo. Te esperamos en nuestros puestos de control migratorio para que realices con normalidad tu proceso de ingreso o salida de Colombia. ' So it isn't even being used now, and hasn't been used for at least six or seven weeks. Most likely you got ripped off by a third party provider. I have entered Colombia maybe eight times, including in late Oct. Of this year, and have never been asked where I was staying. Of course, they certainly have the right to ask you whatever they want.[/QUOTE]When I go to their site now I see that pop up message but it was not there a little over 2 weeks ago. The site worked fine. One thing I can tell you is that if you do fill it out the agent has all that info on his computer. I asked one once and he confirmed that but I also still print out the confirmation page and give it to them. Anything to stay out of secondary.

[QUOTE=KeviKev68;3042036]It works for you because you speak and can read Spanish. The airlines don't require it anymore but I would not tell someone not do it. There's a lot of this following statement" No one says anything to me and I have been there several times."

You cannot guarantee someone will have your experience. Especially folks who not Spanish. I have been here dozens of times and cannot recall a time when immigration did not ask where I was staying. Also, I think I saw signs that said you provide information on where you are staying.

It sounds like you are being treated more favorably than those of us who are "gringos."[/QUOTE]Did you pay a third party site for CheckMig? It is flat out not being used, is not required, and is not a thing at this time. I am an obvious gringo, albeit a Spanish speaking gringo.

[QUOTE=KeviKev68;3042038]It only take a few minutes so why would you not do it? There's no upside in not doing it unless[/QUOTE]Neither is there and upside in doing it.

I have been to Colombia well over 100 times and have never been to any secondary inspection. Once before I even checked in for my flight, I was walking around the airport in Medellin and a military guy took me to a back room to do a body scan. Other than that, nothing ever.

I arrived in Bogota 2 days ago. The line was long as shit. I went to the disabled line and was first up. I did not fill out any checkmig. The guy asked me the purpose of my trip. I said tourism. He said where are you staying. I know the address by heart and told him. He said is this a hotel or apartment or what? I told him hotel. He asked if I had a reservation. I said yes. He wanted to see it and I was confused since I have never been asked this before, so I did not have anything ready to show. I started looking through my phone for an email or screenshot and when I found something he did not want to see it. He asked me why I came through the kids line. I looked at him confused. He said this is the kids line. I said I thought this was the handicap line. He said it is. I said and I am disabled. He said you do not look like it. I said would you like to see my ID card? He said no and gave me my passport back to proceed to customs.

[QUOTE=Huacho;3042227]Did you pay a third party site for CheckMig? It is flat out not being used, is not required, and is not a thing at this time. I am an obvious gringo, albeit a Spanish speaking gringo.[/QUOTE]I never had to use a third party for the check mig, I always used the official website without problem: [URL]https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/en[/URL].

Checkmig has always been free to use. It is in fact optional. It populates the immigration agents' system with the data you input. Those data are basically the questions the agents ask you. Sometimes they will confirm the information the way Colombians do when they ask your name 10 seconds after you introduce yourself. It can save a bit of time in the immigration hall. I use it when I have time and when I remember. Back on the core topic, there is a new spinner at Amigas Sexxy I enjoyed meeting a couple of days ago.

[QUOTE=BennieBen;3042390]I never had to use a third party for the check mig, I always used the official website without problem: [URL]https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/en[/URL].[/QUOTE]