End of US Family Reunification? 3 Safe Routes for your "Plan B" in Colombia
2025-12-12
By: Camila Ocampo
Immigration Attorney & Expert
I know exactly what you are feeling right now. I’ve read Friday’s news regarding the DHS decision to end the family reunification parole program, and I understand the knot in your stomach that uncertainty brings. Having a deadline (mid-January) to leave the United States puts any family in crisis mode.
But I want you to take a deep breath. If you or your partner are facing tough decisions in less than 30 days, I have good news: You don't have to choose between your family and your legal safety.
Colombia is your safety net. As an immigration expert, I have designed 3 Action Routes so you and your partner can establish yourselves here legally, depending on how ready your documents are.
Analyze your situation and choose your path:
Route 1: The Family Path (Spouse or Partner Visa)
Ideal for: Couples who already have documents proving their union.
This is the most solid long-term route (Visa Type M), as it grants you 3 years of residency and an open work permit.
Case A: You Are Married
If you have a valid marriage (or can get married quickly in the U.S. and register it in Colombia), this is the direct path.
What you need now: Register the marriage in Colombia.
Cost: $270 USD (Issuance).
👉 Want to start now? See the full breakdown of requirements, processing times, and costs in our Spouse Visa Service.
Case B: Common-Law Union (Unmarried Couples)
Here is a critical alert. Resolution 5477 requires that the De Facto Marital Union has 1 year of demonstrable existence via a Public Deed or judicial ruling.
The Trap: You cannot sign the deed today and apply for the visa tomorrow. The "legal snapshot" of the couple must be at least 12 months old.
Document Freshness: Even if the union is old, the copy of the deed you submit must be recent (issued less than 3 months ago).
👉 Avoid rejection risks. Check if you meet all technical criteria on our Permanent Partner Visa Page.
Route 2: The Financial Path (Nomad or Rentista Visas)
Ideal for: Those who don't meet the 1-year cohabitation rule or want immediate financial independence.
If you don't have the couple's paperwork ready, don't worry. The foreign partner can enter on their own economic merits.
Digital Nomad Option (Remote Work)
If your partner works for a U.S. company or is a freelancer:
The Hook: Keep earning in dollars while living in Colombian pesos.
Requirement: Demonstrable income of approx. $900 - $1,100 USD/month (3 SMMLV).
👉 Work from Colombia. Find the exact list of documents and costs here for the Digital Nomad Visa.
Rentista Option (Passive Income)
If you live off rent, dividends, or retirement funds (not salaries):
Requirement: Income of approx. $3,200 USD/month (10 SMMLV).
Advantage: No employment contract required, just solvency.
👉 Live off your investments. Learn about solvency details and approval times in our Rentista Visa Service.
Route 3: The "Emergency Landing" (Tourism + Extension)
Ideal for: Those who must leave the U.S. IMMEDIATELY and have no time to process anything.
Sometimes, the priority is simply getting on the plane before the January deadline expires. If you don't have time to apply for a visa from there, this is your strategy:
Entry as a Tourist (90 days): Your partner (if U.S. citizen) does not need a visa to enter Colombia. Upon arrival, Immigration will grant a 90-day permit.
Note: In this status, you cannot work for Colombian companies.
The Extension (Another 90 days): Before the first 3 months are up, we can request a stay extension for another 90 days.
The Result? You gain 180 days (6 months) of legal stay in Colombia. We will use this time strategically to:
Organize wedding paperwork or the marital union deed.
Apply for the Visa (Spouse or Nomad) directly from Colombia without the pressure of the U.S. clock.
My Expert Advice: Don't Improvise With Your Future
The Colombian immigration system has changed. Official discretion is high, and a strategy error (like entering as a tourist with moving boxes and saying you come to "live") can cause an inadmissibility at the airport.
You have less than a month. Let's do this right.
My Promise to You
At Colombian Passport, we design your exit strategy from the U.S. and entry into Colombia.
Express Diagnosis (24h): I tell you which of the 3 Routes is safest for you.
Visa Management: If we choose Route 1 or 2, we prepare everything to file ASAP.
Route 3 Support: I guide you on how to enter correctly as a tourist to later handle the Change of Status (Visa Transfer) without leaving the country.
Don't let politics separate your family. Make Colombia your new home.