Moving to the US from Colombia: Your Financial Checklist

Key Takeaways

• Colombia is the largest South American immigrant origin group in the US: about 1.77 million people of Colombian origin as of 2024. 

• Unlike Venezuela, Colombia does not currently have active Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

• The US is by far the single largest source of remittances to Colombia: roughly 53% of everything Colombia receives from abroad. 

Your first-months checklist: ITIN, bank account, work permit (if applicable), sending money home, and finding your consulate. 

Colombia is today the largest South American immigrant origin group in the United States: over 1.7 million people of Colombian origin, concentrated mostly in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Houston, and Orlando. Whether you've just arrived or you're about to, here's what to sort out first. 

1. Get your ITIN

If you don't qualify for a Social Security number, you'll need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to file federal taxes. Most banks will also ask for one before letting you open an account. It's a nine-digit number issued by the IRS purely for tax administration; it doesn't authorize work and isn't proof of immigration status. 

How to apply: you'll need IRS Form W-7, which is free, plus a federal tax return in most cases and original or certified proof of identity (usually your passport). There are three ways to submit it: 

• By mail to the IRS ITIN Operations unit: simplest, but you'll be without your passport for several weeks while it's reviewed. 

• In person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, by appointment: they verify your original documents on the spot and hand them back immediately. 

• Through a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA): an IRS-authorized preparer, often bilingual and common in immigrant communities, who can also verify your documents without you having to mail them. 

Processing typically takes 7 to 11 weeks (up to 14 during peak tax season, January through April).

One easy-to-miss detail: an ITIN expires if it isn't used on a federal tax return for 3 consecutive years. If that happens, you'll need to renew it with a new W-7 before filing again. 

Related Ria guides (internal links pending publication) 

• What Is an ITIN, and Do You Need One? 

• How to Get an ITIN Number — Step by Step 

2. Open a bank account

No federal law requires a Social Security number to open a bank account; an ITIN is an accepted alternative at most banks and credit unions, though exact requirements vary by institution. 

What to bring: your ITIN (or passport, if your ITIN hasn't arrived yet), proof of address such as a lease or utility bill, and a small opening deposit — some banks accept as little as $25. Call ahead to confirm exactly which documents your bank or credit union accepts, since not every institution lists this clearly on its website. Community banks, credit unions, and CDFIs serving immigrant communities tend to be more flexible and often offer bilingual service. 

Why it matters: a bank account gives you a safe place for your money instead of relying on cash. It'd also the first step toward building a US credit history, which affects everything from renting an apartment to qualifying for a car loan down the line. 

3. Confirm your immigration and work-permit status

It's worth being precise here: unlike Venezuela, Colombia does not currently have active Temporary Protected Status (TPS), even though UNHCR recommended granting it back in 2023. The official, current list of TPS-designated countries always lives on USCIS's site. 

Work authorization: if you're authorized to work, you'll need an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), applied for on Form I-765.

Eligibility depends on your specific category. Among the categories that qualify are:

• Pending green card applicants

• Asylum applicants past the 150-day waiting period

• Certain visa-holder spouses

• TPS holders

Processing time varies a lot by category, so check current estimates on USCIS's own processing-time tool for your specific form type rather than relying on a general estimate. 

If your status isn't clear-cut: an immigration attorney is who can actually advise you on your specific case. If cost is a barrier, ImmigrationLawHelp.org is a free, searchable directory of vetted nonprofit legal service providers across all 50 states. 

4. Start sending money home

Remittances from the US are by far the largest source of remittances to Colombia: about 53% of the total.

If your family uses Nequi or DaviPlata, you can send directly. Both digital wallets receive international transfers through Ria, with no additional fees on their end. Ria has a dedicated page for sending straight to Nequi and Davi Plata:

• Send money to Nequi with Ria

• Send money to DaviPlata with Ria

If they use Bre-B, Colombia's new central-bank-run instant payment system, you can send using just their registered phone number, ID, or email instead of a full account number, and it works across every major Colombian bank and wallet.

• See how Bre-B works on Ria. 

One cost factor to know: since January 2026, a new 1% US federal remittance tax applies if you fund your transfer with cash, a money order, or a cashier's check. Funding from a bank account, debit card, or credit card avoids it entirely.

5. Find your consulate

Colombia maintains a consular network across several US cities: Miami (the busiest, serving over 250,000 Colombians in South Florida), New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, Orlando, Boston, Atlanta, and others. 

What consulates handle:

• Passport issuance and renewal

• Cédula (national ID) processing

• Civil registry matters, like birth and marriage registration

• Emergency travel documents if your passport is lost or stolen.

Nearly every service runs strictly by appointment, and lead times can run several weeks, so it's worth booking as soon as you know you'll need one rather than waiting until you're in a hurry.

Find the consulate that covers you and book through the official Colombian Embassy in the United States site. 

6. Handle the rest

Three more things worth sorting out early, since all three vary a lot by state. 

• Driver's license: about 19 states plus DC let you apply without proof of lawful immigration status, using a foreign passport, ITIN, or consular ID instead, but the license itself is typically "non-REAL-ID-compliant," meaning it's valid for driving but not for boarding domestic flights or entering federal buildings. Rules change often, so check this state-by-state overview and confirm directly with your state's DMV before assuming either way. 

• Health coverage: Health Insurance Marketplace eligibility depends on immigration status. Lawfully present immigrants can enroll and may qualify for financial assistance, but undocumented immigrants cannot. HealthCare.gov's immigrant eligibility guide lays out exactly which statuses qualify, and covers options for mixed-status families. 

• School enrollment: under the Supreme Court's Plyler v. Doe ruling, public schools cannot deny enrollment to a child, ask a family to disclose immigration status, or require a Social Security number as a condition of enrolling. This applies the same way in every state, regardless of your own status. 

Send money with Ria 

Send money to your loved ones in Colombia with Ria: straight to Nequi, Bancolombia, and other banks, in minutes. Cashless, fast, and secure. Start your transfer today. 

Frequently asked questions

Does Colombia have TPS (Temporary Protected Status)? 

No, not currently. Unlike Venezuela, Colombia isn't on USCIS's list of TPS-designated countries, even though UNHCR has recommended it be granted. Always check the current official list, and talk to an immigration attorney about your specific case. 

Do I need an ITIN if my immigration status isn't settled? 

An ITIN doesn't depend on your immigration status — it exists purely for tax purposes. You can apply regardless of your situation, and it lets you file taxes and, in many cases, open a bank account. 

How do I send money to a family member who has Nequi? 

Directly. Nequi confirms on its own site that it receives international transfers through intermediaries like Ria and PayPal, with no additional fee on the receiving end. Ria has a dedicated page for sending to Nequi. 

Which Colombian consulates are closest to the largest Colombian communities in the US? 

Miami (the country's busiest consulate), New York, Houston, Los Angeles, and Orlando cover the areas with the largest Colombian populations. Find the one that covers you and book through the official Colombian Embassy in the United States site. 

How large is the Colombian community in the US? 

About 1.77 million people of Colombian origin lived in the US as of 2024, per the Migration Policy Institute — the largest South American immigrant group in the country, concentrated mostly in Florida, New York, and New Jersey.