Expert: Cesar - 3/9/2009

Question
I am a Colombian Born U.S. citizen.  I have been here for 40 years since age 5.  I have no colombian cedula, nor passport. I only have my US passport. I plan to travel for 5 days to Bogota on 3/20/2009 can a I do it without any penalties or hardships.

Answer
Dear Hal:

You have double citizenship. Colombia wants Colombians to use Colombian documents so that they can check their databases. That is why they want you to use Colombian documents. You have two options: come in as an American, but based on your Latino appearance they are going to ask you if you are Colombian and you should not deny it. Your American passport would probably say where you were born. Normally, Americans could come in with no hassles for 90 days, no need of a visa, but in your case you were born in Colombia. They might let you in since you have been in the US for so long and have never traveled or done anything related to Colombia, but that is the decision of the immigration people in Colombia whom could decide either way. They might let you in as an American and give you the usual 90 days or do something else like ask for an okay from a supervisor. Most likely they would let you in (without asking a supervisor) this time as an American and advise you to get a Colombian passport next time. I doubt very much that they would deny you admittance if you only have an American passport, but why don't just spend a little bit of money and have peace of mind? If you loose your American passport you might still have the Colombian passport and you would be able to go back to Colombia any time you want and for as long as you want without having to ask for extensions after a number of days (dual citizens entering as Americans would have to ask for extensions in their stay, otherwise they would be fined, and the extensions would need to be done in Bogotá).

If you plan on going back to Colombia in the future then this would be the best time to purchase a Colombian passport. Visit the website of a Colombian Embassy to know the requirements. A relative of mine comes/goes to Colombia and just says he is American and gets in, but there is a new law (that is what I was told at an immigration port) that Colombia now requires dual citizens to show their Colombian passports. You would be asked to show both passports in your way to the US to show permission to go back to the US (the US citizenship) and that you do not have any problems with Colombia when leaving Colombia (like being requested by the Police).

Colombian embassies would tell you the requirements for a passport and you would be able to get one the same day as long as you provide the requirements: usually proof of birth in Colombia (birth certificate, registry of birth), passport photos with specific measurements, passport issuance fee, fill out an application, and whatever else. Just check a Colombian website for details.

A good way to have both passports match each other is to have both stamped every time you leave the US to Colombia and in your way back, but I do not know what behavior the immigration official would be in regards to a request for stamping both passports. Therefore you just ask: Should I have both passports stamped? and they would tell you. They would probably stamp only the Colombian passport when you come and leave. If you have a problem at the other country you would say that the immigration official in Colombia only wanted to stamp one of the passports. Immigration officials in both countries are very familiar with all those issues and should not pose much of a problem as long as one of the passports is stamped. The would instead guide you in the best way to do things. Once you stop by the Colombian embassy take the opportunity to ask their advice about the issue.

The link below indicates a Web page where I list several Colombian embassies.

Take care,

Cesar
www.CesarUSA.com/Colombia.htm