Job Discussion Forums

[Kramer]

I am considering taking the CELTA course in Bogota later this year and then attempting to get a job teaching English in Colombia. This would be my first time teaching. I will be in the USA for around a month starting in a couple of weeks and then going to live in Colombia so I want to take this opportunity to gather the documentation that I will need.

I believe that I will need to get my Bachelor's Degree apostilled. Can someone confirm this? I am still researching how to do it. Also, I have a Master's Degree. Should I get it apostilled, also? Should I carry original degrees with me or request copies from the universities? I am assuming I will not need transcripts.

Will I need anything else? I will be in California where I earned both of my degrees (even though I am a Texas resident, if that matters). I want to use this opportunity to get done whatever needs to get done to both earn the CELTA and get a teaching job in Colombia as I may not be returning to the USA for some time.

Thanks, Kramer

[jebedu]

Kramer,

I will be in a similar situation. I am going to Ecuador to get CELTA certified, then I plan on heading up to Bogota. What did you end up bringing for documentation, and did you get your Bachelor's Degree apostilled?

Thanks,
Justin

[spanglish]

Hey y'all, when I was doing all of this I didn't need to get anything apostilled. Just bring your original degrees.

[windowlicker]

what is required depends a lot on who your school is and who they know. you should be able to get a list of "official" requirements from the website of any colombian embassy.

it's probably a good idea to have original copies of your degree and teaching certification, but I've applied for the visa twice and wasn't asked for an apostille either time. The second time I applied, I don't think I was asked for anything other than my passport and the documents your employer needs to provide, like the contract and certificado de proporcionalidad (though to be fair, the second time I applied things were a lot easier since the administrator for the school I work for has a cousin who is a consul in Maracaibo and the father of a kid at the school is the consul in Tachira). Working for well connected people or a school that will pay for a lawyer to help with the process makes things go much smoother.

[Woodman09]

I didn't have a degree. Only a recomendation letter from a school i volunteered at and a confirmation letter from Southern Cross in Ecuador for my Celta. I got my visa after working at IH Bogota for 2 months. Didn't need have any other documents. It Was alot easier than I thought it would be

[Woodman09]

[MNguy]