Nonimmigrant Visa Unit
The Business Visa Program
What is the Business Visa Program?
The Business Visa Program facilitates visa issuance for qualified employees of member companies for the purpose of conducting business (meetings, training programs, trade fairs, etc.). The Consular Section approves companies for membership in the Program and then allows Program members to schedule visa appointments for their employees.
What are the advantages of joining the Business Visa Program?
By joining the Business Visa Program you will receive:
- Priority appoinment times.
- The ability to schedule up to five appoinments with one PIN.
- A dedicated point of contact in the consular section to answer your visa questions.
What are the criteria for participating in the Program?
- We welcome your application regardless of whether your company is a U.S., Colombian, multinational, or third-country business.
- Your company must have ongoing, substantial business activity with the United States.
- There must either be a minimum of 50 full-time employees based in Colombia on your company's payroll or a recommendation for entry into the program by CEA (Consejo de Empresas Americanas), the Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce, or the Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá.
- Your company must pass a rigorous security check by the Embassy.
How does a company apply to join the Program?
Companies interested in becoming Program members must submit the documentation listed below. The Consular Section will review new applications year-round. We will then inform the company by letter whether or not it qualifies for the Program.
- A letter to the Consular Section expressing interest in the program. In addition, please include the names, signatures samples and e-mail addresses of two company executives authorized to vouch in writing for each visa applicant, as well as the names, signature samples and e-mail addresses of two alternative executives who may sign in the absence of the principal representatives. In the event that the authorized representatives change, the company must inform the Consular Section in writing immediately. Note that each time an authorized executive signs a letter requesting a visa for an employee, he or she is giving the Consular Section assurance that the employee will comply with the immigration laws of the United States and return to Colombia after the proposed trip.
- A copy of the Chamber of Commerce registry with a list of the dates, places of birth, and cedula numbers of each person whose name appears on the registry (regardless of whether Colombian or foreign, including auditors).
- A certification concerning the total number of company employees and an estimate of the number of employees who normally travel to the United States for training or business each year. Please also list the full name, date/place of birth, and exact title of each executive in the company.
- If the company has fewer than 50 full-time employees based in Colombia, a letter of recommendation from the Consejo de Empresas Americanas (CEA), the Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce, or the Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá.
- A signed and dated fraud responsibility letter.
The above documentation may be mailed to:
Embajada de Estados Unidos de América
Nonimmigrant Visa Unit Chief
Cra 45 #24B-27
Bogotá, D. C.
or may be dropped off Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 11:00 am at Window 14 of the Consular Section.
For additional questions please feel free to e-mail us at nivbogota@state.gov