Avoiding Scams in The Colombian Immigration Process

At Colombian Visa Services, we understand that we aren't Colombia's only attorney or visa service provider. While we believe we are the best option in Colombia, we understand that we aren't for everyone. 

However, we often experience foreigners who find another option and are subsequently scammed out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. 

We started Colombian Visa Services because we wanted to make sure foreigners had a trusted resource to go to when they needed immigration help. Therefore, we want to do everything we can to limit immigration scams and headaches for anyone we speak with. 

In this guide, we will walk you through common scams we see or have heard about in Colombian immigration processes so that you can avoid them, even if you decide not to be one of our clients. 

Things to Look Out For When Hiring An Immigration Attorney or Visa Service: 

1. Transparent Pricing From Day 1

While the Cancilleria can be challenging to work with at times, there are very few surprises regarding Colombia's visa or citizenship process. Therefore, any reputable service or attorney will be able to give you an accurate price for your entire process. 

One of the most common scams we hear about with the visa process is lawyers or visa services asking for more money after starting your process. Typically they will continue to claim that "something came up" or we need to "redo this particular document" and ask for hundreds or even thousands of dollars until you finally figure out that they will never do your visa. 

2. Charging you extra for the little things 

Another money scam that is becoming increasingly common is charging foreigners for filling out forms that take 5 minutes to do. You shouldn't have to pay extra for the following because the process is easy and quick. 

All of the following forms take 5 minutes to do and you shouldn't ever be charged extra for: 

• Cedula De Extranerja 
• CheckMig Forms 
• Passport Stamp Extensions 
• Salvoconducto Processes 
  

At Colombian Visa Services, we don't charge our clients extra for these processes because we already have their information to complete them and they are so easy to do that we think it is unethical to charge for them. 

If you aren't a client and only need one of these services and don't want to do it yourself, we typically charge you a portion of the attorney's hourly rate to make up for the time it takes to gather the information and fill out the forms. ‍

3. Add-On Services That Are Required 

Some agencies are starting to sell health insurance and document services to increase their profit margins. This isn't in the best interest of the client. 

Health Insurance: 

‍As soon as foreigners can obtain their visa and cedula de extraneria, they qualify for Colombia's public or private health care. While health insurance, is required for the visa process, it is unethical to lock the foreigners into a health plan they don't need. That is why we try and help our clients find the cheapest option that can be canceled as soon as the visa is granted. 

If a lawyer or agency is trying to sell health insurance directly, they don't have your best interests in mind. 

Apostille and Document Services: 

‍Apostilles must be done in the country of origin. If the service or attorney claims they can do the apostille process on your behalf, they are likely charging you extra for a service they aren't doing themselves. 

Official Translations can be done in Colombia but must be done by an accredited provider. Therefore if an agency or attorney is doing them for you and claiming they do this in-house, they are likely lying OR charging you extra for the service. 

For both health insurance and document services, the foreigner should have the option to shop around for prices and services that suit their needs rather than being overcharged by an agency or lawyer trying to increase their profit. ‍

4. Not Being Provided With Tracking Information 

Whenever a visa or application is submitted, you should receive a tracking number and directions on how to track the status of your application. 

This is a free service that Cancilleria provides. If the lawyer or agency does not provide you with this tracking information, they are likely taking advantage of you or don't want transparency in the application process. 

5. False Promises Of Being Able to Make the Process Faster

The client should have an accurate timeline before signing a contact. If the agency or attorney is doing visas regularly they should have a very accurate timeline of how long specific processes should take. 

Additionally, if you hear, "We know someone who can make this faster," or "we can get you the visa faster than anyone else" we recommend you proceed with caution. 

1. If they have the power to speed up your visa process with under-the-table payments or having a "friend,"  they can also cause delays and keep the visa from being approved until you pay more money. 
2. The government entity has very clear guidelines on how long processes can take. No agency can speed up the government entities' process ethically. 
   

6. Not Having a Clear Contract 

A reputable agency or attorney will have a very clear process and contract for you to review before you send any money to them. The contract should outline the process, total costs, and payment methods. 

Additionally, they should provide you with proof of payment and an invoice for any work provided. 

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If you believe you are being scammed or feel uneasy about your process, please contact us, and we can help clarify anything. We will either be able to settle your nerves or help you complete your immigration process safely.