Documents to Support Non-immigrant Visa Applications

Versión en español

The applicant must pay the non-immigrant processing fee at the Banco Union Colombiano. The barcode fee receipt issued by the Banco Union Colombiano will indicate the date and time of the interview. The fee is $100.00 or the Colombian peso equivalent for each applicant. This fee is non-transferable and valid until the date of the interview. There is no reimbursement for loss, theft or expiration. In Bogota the payment may be made at the Banco Union Colombiano located at Carrera 47 # 22A-99 (Edificio Eliana) or Sucursal Avenida Jimenez (Carrera 8 # 14-45) or Sucursal Avenida Chile (Carrera 7 # 71-48). In Cali, Medellin, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga, Pereira and Manizales payment may be made at the main office of the Banco Union Colombiano. The fee is required whether the visa is issued or not. Every applicant must present his/her passport and fill out the additional form for visa application. The receipt is adhesive so it can be attached to the passport. Do not remove the receipt from your passport unless you are traveling outside of Colombia. In such a situation we recommend you keep the receipt in a safe place. Do not travel with the barcode receipt on your passport as immigration agents will not know what it is and will often remove it.

All applicants for tourist, business, student or other categories of non-immigrant visas must bring to their visa interview the following documents:

1. A valid passport with a minimum of six months' validity remaining. We will be unable to process visas for passports containing any type of powder on the pages.

2. A Colombian identity document (cédula for citizens over 18, ID card for anyone under 18, or Colombian residency card). Anyone who has just turned 18, must present the cedula or the receipt issued by the Registraduria, as well as the corresponding annotation on the passport.

3. A completed and signed visa application form DS-156 for each member of the family, including minor children who plan to travel to the United States. The form is available at the Banco Union Colombiano, or upon arrival at the Embassy.

4. A completed and signed form DS-157 for males ages 16 to 45. The form is available at the Banco Union Colombiano, or upon arrival at the Embassy.

5. A recent color, 5cm. x 5cm. photograph on the front of each application form. Black and white pictures or those with a blue background are not accepted.

6. A bar code visa application fee receipt issued by the Banco Union Colombiano for each application form.

7. If you have children under the age of 14, the certified copy of the Civil Registry of Birth.

Only the parents or legal guardians may request a visa for their minor children.

The following are some suggestions for documents that may be presented in support of a visa application. Please note, however, that presentation of these documents does not guarantee the issuance of the visa. Documents from the United States, such as invitation letters, proof of commercial contacts, etc., may be useful to clarify the reasons for travel, but are not as important as those that indicate the applicant's economic, social, family, and professional situation in Colombia. Please read this list carefully and present only those documents which pertain to your particular case. If possible, present original documents only.

Documents proving employment include:

• Letter from the employer stating:
  
  position of the applicant,
  period of service,
  monthly salary,
  how many days of leave are granted for your trip,
  
• Pay stubs,
• University ID card

Documents which establish financial ties include:

• Original bank statements for the last six months,
• Property deeds,
• Colombian tax documentation,
• Chamber of commerce registrations, etc.

Documents which show evidence of family ties include:

• Certified copies of all civil registries of birth and marriage, or
• Parochial baptism and marriage certificates

Based on the interview, if the consular officer issues the visa, your passport will be delivered to your home seven to 10 working days after the interview, through the DOMESA messenger service.

A person who is refused a visa will be informed at the end of the interview and will immediately receive his/her passport and documentation, along with a letter of explanation for the basis of the refusal.