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Transferability of work visas

I have done a lot of reading about work visas and student visas here on PBH. I still have one query, any information you guys could provide would be appreciated.

I want to teach english in medellin, but I do not have any visa at the moment. A friend of a friend owns a small but successful company in Bogota. He offered to extend to me a job offer and contract, etc, in order to get a work visa. He says that once I have a visa with his help, it will be easy to get job offers from another employer.

However, a person I spoke with at my hostal says that work visas cannot be transferred from one employer to another, and therefore even if I have a legit visa from my employer in Bogota, I am not any closer to getting a contract from a legit employer here in medellin.

any opinions? thanks for your assistance.

By PBHjon on Aug 24, 2008, 04:32 in Visa & paperwork.

Gator says on Aug 24, 2008, 09:57:

You can't just legally switch jobs. However the visa will not expire until the date on the visa. BUT you can not just switch jobs-you must reapply, through MRE, with the proper paper work for the new employment.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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webjacks says on Aug 24, 2008, 10:00:

PBHjon,
I think that in part they both might be correct. Your work visa is tied to the company where you work. The name of the company is written into the visa stamp in your passport.

I started working here in Colombia in a language institute, then later transfered to a private school. I was told that all I had to do to was go to the Ministry of External Relations to change the work visa (no extra fees were involved). Then I needed to report the change to DAS. The priavte school had a lawyer who actually did the paperwork for me, but I think it was fairly simple. My case might be a bit different from yours though as I have a resident visa for Colombia.

If you are interested, the school where I work is currently looking for another native English teacher. We are however, not in Medellín.... rather Manizales.

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PBHjon says on Aug 24, 2008, 22:43:

Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate your feedback. Both of you have said that if I change employers, I will need to change the visa. But confusion remains as to whether changing the visa to reflect the new employer will be easy or hard (and expensive). If it is easy, then it is worth getting the initial visa and then switching it. Otherwise I am just wasting my time. Webjacks, unfortunately for me, the fact that you have a resident visa already means that I cannot conclude too much from your post, it is quite possibly going to be very different for me without that visa.

I was in Manizales a few days ago, its a very pretty town with lots of friendly people, but I dont think I want to live there. I prefer Medellin :)

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Gator says on Aug 25, 2008, 14:25:

I believe(I which means I don't know for sure) the is no charge-but you have to show:

Original and copy of the contract or letter of the company for which they request the visa
Letter of Compromise from the company that is hiring the foreigner requesting the visa, in which they assume financial support on the travel expenses to the country of origin when the contract or service is finished. (Decree 2107 Oct.8/2001).

Certificate of incorporation and legal representation (Certificado de Existencia) issued within a maximum of 3 months.

Certificado de Proporcionalidad (Certificate of Proportionality) issued by the Ministry of Work and Social Security of Colombia.

Proof of experience, diplomas, licenses or certificates that indicate that the foreigner is suitable for the position.

No new police report is required. I would damn sure call MRE, Bogotá, to determine exactly what is required to change employment..

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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