Embassy of the United States Bogotá, Colombia

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 appointment times
• A dedicated point of contact in the Consular Section to answer your visa questions;
• Member-company employees AND their immediate family members (spouses and children under 21) may use the program.

What are the criteria for participating in the Program?

•  Your application is welcome regardless of whether your company is a U.S., Colombian, third-country , or multinational company;
• Your company must have substantial, ongoing business activity with the United States;
• Your company must have a minimum of 50 employees full-time employees based in Colombia on your company's payroll.
• Your company must pass a rigorous security check by the Embassy.
• Your company must plan to send 10% of your employees on business-related travel to the U.S. per year. 

How does a company apply to join the Program?

The Consular Section reviews new applications year-round, and informs companies by letter whether or not they qualify for the program (turnaround is typically three months).  Interested companies must submit the following documentation: 

• A letter to the Consular Section expressing interest in the program that explains the company's substantial, ongoing business activity in the United States;
• The names, signatures samples, and e-mail addresses of two company executives and two alternates authorized to vouch in writing for each visa applicant. Note that each time one of the four authorized executives 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 travel;
• A copy of the company’s Chamber of Commerce registry with a list of the dates of birth, places of birth, and national ID numbers (cedula numbers) of each person whose name appears on the registry, regardless of whether Colombian or foreign, including auditors; A certification of 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 annually.  Please also list the full name, date/place of birth, and exact title of each executive in the company;
• A signed and dated fraud responsibility letter.

The above documentation should be scanned and emailed to businessbogota@state.gov.

For additional questions please feel free to e-mail businessbogota@state.gov.

Beginning April 1, 2012, member-companies may only use the business visa program for business-related travel.

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