- The USCIS Bogotá Field Office remains fully operational following the powerful seven point four magnitude earthquake.
- Migración Colombia has suspended in-person services at seven regional offices including Medellín and Cali as a precaution.
- A national disaster declaration may extend office closures in affected departments like Chocó and Valle del Cauca.
The USCIS Bogotá Field Office remains open after the earthquake, while Colombia’s national immigration agency has suspended in-person services at seven regional offices. Applicants should check whether individual appointments have changed.
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, at 07:34 local time, with its center near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó. The disaster killed over 110 people, injured nearly 100 and damaged infrastructure across several departments.
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U.S. consular operations in Bogotá also continue. The U.S. Department of State said emergency services for U.S. citizens remain a priority, while consular services in the capital remain available for emergency assistance.
The agency issued its closure update as regional authorities assessed damage. Bogotá’s government buildings did not sustain structural damage, and Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues visa application processing and adjudication from the capital.
Migración Colombia has taken a different approach in affected regions. The agency suspended services at seven offices as a precautionary measure.
"Following the earthquake recorded in Colombia on August 10, 2026, Migración Colombia has temporarily suspended in-person services at seven offices until further notice as a precautionary measure. All other Migración Colombia locations across the country continue to operate normally."
The statement came from Migración Colombia on August 11, 2026. Its suspension affects foreign national registrations, local identity card issuance through the Cédula de Extranjería, and travel permits known as salvoconductos.
Bogotá and four other major centers remain open
Migración Colombia says locations not included in the suspension notice continue operating normally. Open centers include the agency’s primary headquarters and service centers in Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga and Cúcuta.
The open locations provide alternatives for some applicants, although people requiring services tied to a specific regional office may still face delays. The agency’s notice does not set an end date for the suspensions.
| Status | Locations | Services position |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga and Cúcuta | Operating normally |
| Suspended | Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Medellín, Pereira, Popayán and Quibdó | In-person services suspended until further notice |
The closures include Medellín and Cali, two cities with large populations of foreign residents and digital nomads. Their absence from the operating list may add pressure to nearby or national service centers.
Regional closures affect permits and identity documents
People whose permits expire while a local office is closed may encounter delays in status regularization and renewal. The disruption also affects foreigners who need salvoconductos to leave Colombia from the suspended regions.
Some applicants may need to wait for their regional office to reopen. Others may be able to travel to an open location if permitted.
The effects extend beyond immigration counters. Commercial flights at airports in Armenia, Buenaventura, Cartago, Manizales, Pereira and Popayán were suspended while officials conducted safety inspections.
That interruption can make a trip to another service center harder. It also affects people trying to leave areas where travel permits are required.
U.S. services continue in Bogotá
The U.S. Embassy in Bogotá continues to operate, according to the State Department’s Natural Disaster Alert: Colombia Earthquake Update 1, issued August 11, 2026. The alert urged U.S. citizens in affected areas to follow local authorities’ instructions.
The department said:
"The Department of State is monitoring the impact of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake in western Colombia. U.S. citizens in the affected areas should follow the instructions of local authorities. Consular services in Bogotá remain available for emergency assistance."
The alert covers emergency consular assistance rather than a broader suspension of embassy work. USCIS has reported no closure for its Bogotá field office in the office-closings update dated August 11.
Applicants with appointments should still verify their individual arrangements. A field office can remain open while particular appointments change.
Disaster declaration could extend regional disruption
President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of national disaster on August 10, 2026. The declaration allows administrative resources to shift toward relief operations.
That reallocation could extend the regional office suspensions. Migración Colombia has not announced a reopening date for Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Medellín, Pereira, Popayán or Quibdó.
The earthquake was the strongest recorded in Colombia in over a decade. Immigration operations in Bogotá continue, but access in the hardest-hit regions remains tied to local safety conditions and transportation checks.
