Immigrate to USA from Colombia

In order to obtain a visa for the United States of America (USA), foreigners will need to verify the conditions available for their nationality and to apply through the U.S. Department of State (petition-based visas first require a petition approved by USCIS). Colombian citizens who are interested in immigration in Miami or in any other city in the US will have to start the procedure at the U.S. Embassy in their country. There are several compulsory steps that have to be completed when applying for a US visa, and our immigration attorney in Miami may provide legal advice.  If you want to move to the USA, we are at your service.

The main ways through which one can immigrate to the USA from Colombia

When discussing relocation to the USA from Colombia, citizens have two options:

1. to apply for non-immigrant visas, as such, they will obtain the right to temporary residency in the United States;
2. to file directly for immigrant visas, which grant them US Green Cards.

With respect to the reason for immigration to the USA, the following are available:

• studentship, however, can be considered only by those seeking to move to the USA from Colombia temporarily;
• employment, for which various visas are available based on the type of labor contract and skills of the applicant;
• entrepreneurship, for which the US investor visa is a great option;
• family reunification through a fiancé visa or spouse visa for the USA.

With respect to family reunion, it is useful to note that US residents with Colombian citizenship can also bring other relatives, however, there is a cap on the number of visas issued to such applicants.

Our immigration lawyer in the USA is at your service if you need assistance in choosing a relocation option, provided you qualify for more than one.

Documents to prepare when you move to the USA from Colombia

Here is an overview of the paperwork to prepare when you relocate to the USA from Colombia:

• the visa confirmation application;
• a valid passport (a minimum validity of 6 months must be ensured);
• a recent photograph (no older than 6 months);
• the birth certificate;
• the criminal record;
• a medical certificate after undergoing examination.

Apart from these, additional papers must be prepared in accordance with the reason for relocation to the USA. Specifically:

• the work agreement and other arrangements made with the employer, such as the sponsorship letter, if moving to the USA from Colombia as an employee;
• the marriage certificate, if immigrating based on family reunification.

If you have entered the USA previously, the documents indicating your entry and exit may also be requested.

Our US immigration attorney can help you prepare the necessary documents to relocate here from Colombia.

Steps for immigration in USA 

If you want to immigrate to the USA from Colombia, you should know that the process of obtaining a visa for the US starts by applying at the USCIS. The petition should be submitted by a person who already has US citizenship or by a Colombian individual who has obtained the Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status.  Relocation to the USA is not a complicated procedure for Colombian citizens.

Our US immigration law firm can offer legal advice in this situation.

The Global Entry Program for Colombian citizens

Even if this is not an immigration pathway, it is a status to have if you travel between the United States and Colombia often. So, if you are at least 18 years old and a citizen of this country, you can set up an account with the Trusted Traveler Program coordinated by Homeland Security and benefit from quick airport formalities.

Colombian citizens are invited to watch the following video, which provides further details on how to move to the USA from Colombia:

If the USCIS approves the request, it will notify the National Visa Center (NVC). It is important to know that the petitions sent at the NVC can only be received from the USCIS and that the processing time varies (check the current timelines on travel.state.gov), depending on the type of visa required by the foreigner, as well as on the regulations related to the person’s nationality. 

When the visa application is completed by the NVC, the institution will schedule an interview with the applicant. The interview will take place at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. Prior to the interview, the applicant will have to register here.

Our immigration lawyer in the USA can offer more details on how to relocate to the USA.

Our lawyer is also at your disposal if you are interested in applying for a spouse visa for the USA. Get in touch with us for information about the application process and the documents required in accordance with the US legislation. Do not hesitate to rely on our attorney for guidance in relocating to the United States through this type of visa.

We are also at the service of foreign investors who want to move to the United States. For this purpose, they can apply for the US investor visa. Get in touch with our immigration attorney for information on how to access the program and support in applying for the visa, and relocate here as soon as possible.

Receiving the US visa  

Prior to the interview held at the local Embassy in Colombia, the applicants are required to perform a medical examination, stating their general health state. After the interview, the applicant will need to wait for an answer. If the American authorities consider that the application is valid, the Colombian citizen will receive an immigrant visa in the passport and, after entering the US, the Green Card by mail, at the address stated by the applicant. 

One of the ways through which one can obtain a US green card is the H-1B visa if their employer will submit an application for labor certification and then sponsor them for residency. H-1B applicants who provide services in a specialty occupation, services of exceptional merit and ability, research and development project, or services as a fashion model of distinguished merit or ability may eventually be granted green cards.

How many Colombian citizens live in the USA?

According to Census and other data:

• in 2021, there were about 1.6 million Colombian citizens living in the USA;
• they represented the 7^th largest Hispanic population in the country;
• in 2023, 126,200 Colombians moved to the USA.

Colombian citizens who want to immigrate to the USA from Colombia and receive more details on visa requirements are invited to contact our Miami immigration lawyer for legal assistance.