New 2014 Bolivia Amnesty Program for Foreigners. Text of Amnesty Law in English and Procedures for Applying for Amnesty in Bolivia.

Message for U.S. Citizens – Bolivian Migratory Amnesty. U.S. Embassy La Paz, Bolivia. January 16, 2014. This message is to alert U.S. Citizens residing or visiting Bolivia of a new Bolivian law that provides a mechanism for regularizing their legal status in Bolivia. Please note that the ACS Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section is providing this information as a public service to the U.S. citizens in Bolivia, and all questions related to this Amnesty program should be directed to the Bolivian authorities in the National Migration Office at the website below.

We repeat below the text of the law for your reference:

SUPREME DECREE 1800 REGARDING MIGRATORY AMNESTY AND REGULARIZATION OF STATUS

Supreme Decree 1800 was issued by President Evo Morales on November 20, 2013, as part of the enactment of Immigration Act No. 370.

This law seeks to regularize the entry, transit, stay and departure of persons in Bolivian territory, and establishes an institutional coordination that guarantees the rights of Bolivian and foreign migrants.

This represents an opportunity for American citizens living in Bolivia without a legal immigration status to obtain the documentation that will allow them to regularize their immigration status in Bolivia. The decree waives immigration fines for being present in the country illegally. Currently the fine for overstaying in Bolivia is 20 Bolivianos per day.

The law became effective on January 5, 2014, and the amnesty will last for six months until June 5, 2014.

In terms of procedure, foreigners living in Bolivia prior to May 8, 2011, i.e. two years before the date of enactment of the Migration Act, should go to the National Migration Office (DIGEMIG) in La Paz or in their departmental offices to register and fill out a form to start the process of immigration regularization. The total cost for this service is 2,000 Bolivianos. Once immigration has issued the final documents, the applicant is eligible to receive an official Foreign Resident Identification Card from the Personal Identification Service Office (SEGIP) and therefore become a legal resident in Bolivia. The cost to get an ID from SEGIP is 450 Bolivianos. For more information please visit the National Migration Office website (http://www.migracion.gob.bo/web/indexa.php)

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You can stay in touch and receive Embassy updates by checking the Embassy website, found here. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, by calling the regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

U.S. citizens are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). U.S. citizens without internet access may enroll directly at the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the embassy/consulates to contact them in case of emergency. Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.

You can contact the American Citizen Services Unit at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia via e-mail at ConsularLaPazACS@state.gov or by telephone at 591-2-216-8246 during regular business hours (Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) or 591-216-8000, after hours and on weekends. The U.S. Embassy is located at 2780 Arce Avenue in La Paz, Bolivia, and is open to the public by appointment on Monday through Thursday from 08:15 to 11:45, and Thursdays from 13:45 to 15:00. You can schedule a non-emergency appointment by visiting this website http://bolivia.usembassy.gov/.

The Embassy operates two Consular Agencies in the cities of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, Bolivia. These agencies can also provide assistance to U.S. citizens. The Santa Cruz Consular Agency is located on Roque Aguilera Avenue #146 (3rd ring). You can contact the Santa Cruz Consular Agency by telephone at 591-3-351-3477, during regular business hours (Monday and Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 08:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.). The Cochabamba Consular Agency is located on Edificio Saal, Avenida Pando 1122, 1st Floor. You can contact the Cochabamba Consular Agency by telephone at 591-4-411-6313, during regular business hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.). If you wish to visit the Consular Agencies for a non-emergency matter, please schedule an appointment through this website http://bolivia.usembassy.gov/.