DV Lottery Police Certificate and Medical Exam in Bogota: Costs, Agencies, and Timeline
Three document categories trip up DV lottery selectees more than any others: the police certificate, the medical exam, and the financial evidence package. In Colombia, each of these involves specific agencies, specific formats, and specific costs that differ from what applicants in other countries face. Getting any of them wrong can delay your interview or trigger a request for additional evidence that eats into your already tight fiscal year timeline.
Here is the Colombia-specific breakdown for each requirement.
The Police Certificate: Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales
Every DV lottery applicant aged 18 or older must present a police clearance certificate from every country where they have lived for more than 12 months since age 16. For Colombian residents, this means obtaining the Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales from the Policia Nacional de Colombia.
How to obtain it:
- Go to the National Police website and request the certificate specifically for "migratory purposes" (fines migratorios). The standard certificate for domestic purposes uses a different format and may not be accepted by the US Embassy.
- The certificate is issued digitally with an electronic signature. Print it directly from the police website.
- Navigate to the Cancilleria (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) online portal and select "Apostilla o Legalizacion."
- Choose "Documentos electronicos con firma digital" and select the police certificate.
- Pay the apostille fee of approximately 36,000 COP (roughly $9 USD) via PSE bank transfer or at authorized banks.
Critical detail: Do not try to apostille a physical printout of the police certificate. The US Embassy in Bogota verifies the digital signature on the electronically apostilled version. A physical copy without the verifiable digital chain will be rejected.
The police certificate is generally valid for 24 months from the date of issuance. However, do not obtain it too early -- if it expires before your interview date, you will need to get a new one.
If you have lived in other countries: You also need a police certificate from each country where you resided for 12+ months after age 16. The exception is the United States -- US police certificates are not required. International certificates can take weeks or months to procure, so start early.
The Medical Exam: Panel Physicians in Bogota
The medical examination must be conducted by a US Department of State-authorized panel physician. You cannot use your regular doctor, a hospital of your choosing, or a clinic in another city unless they are specifically designated.
Authorized panel physicians in Bogota include:
- Dr. Rodolfo Jose Dennis -- Fundacion Cardioinfantil, Cra. 13B No. 161-85
- Dr. Jairo Roa Buitrago -- Centro Medico de La Sabana, Cra. 7 #119-14
- Dr. Juan Gabriel Pineros -- Centro Medico de La Sabana (specializes in pediatric applicants)
- Dra. Maria Rey Salamanca -- Fundacion Cardioinfantil
The Colombia to US Diversity Visa Lottery Guide includes contact details and appointment scheduling tips for each of these physicians.
What the exam includes:
- Physical examination
- Chest X-ray (for tuberculosis screening)
- Blood tests for syphilis and gonorrhea (applicants 15 and older)
- Tuberculosis testing (applicants 2 and older)
- Vaccination verification against CDC requirements
Estimated costs:
The total cost for an adult in 2026 is approximately 1,500,000 to 1,800,000 COP (roughly $375-$450 USD). The higher end applies when the applicant cannot prove prior vaccinations and the physician must administer the full slate of CDC-required vaccines (MMR, Tdap, varicella, hepatitis B, influenza, COVID-19, and others depending on age).
Bring your immunization records. If you received standard Colombian childhood vaccinations and have the carnet de vacunacion, bring it. Every vaccine you can prove reduces the number the physician needs to administer and reduces your cost.
Timing: Schedule the medical exam only after you receive your interview appointment notification. Results are generally valid for 6 months. If you schedule too early and the results expire before your interview, you will need to redo the exam at full cost.
Financial Evidence: Proving You Will Not Be a Public Charge
The consular officer must determine that you are unlikely to require US government financial assistance. While the I-864 Affidavit of Support is not legally mandatory for DV lottery winners, the Bogota post strongly encourages presenting robust financial evidence.
What to prepare:
- Form I-134 (Declaration of Financial Support): If you have a friend or family member in the United States willing to serve as a financial sponsor, have them complete this form. It is not legally binding like the I-864, but it demonstrates that someone in the US will help you during the transition period.
- Bank certificates (certificados bancarios): Request these from your Colombian bank showing your current balance and account history. The officer wants to see that you have enough savings to support yourself and your family for the first several months in the United States.
- Property deeds (escrituras): If you own real estate in Colombia, bring the escritura publica. Property ownership demonstrates financial stability and ties to a productive economic life.
- Employment evidence: A letter from your current employer in Colombia, pay stubs, or tax returns (declaracion de renta) showing your income level.
- US job offer (if available): A job offer letter from a US employer is not required, but if you have one, it significantly strengthens your case. Include the employer's name, address, your start date, and salary.
How much is enough? There is no published minimum dollar amount. The officer is making a judgment call based on your total picture: savings, assets, sponsor support, employment prospects, and family size. For a single applicant, demonstrating $5,000-$10,000 USD equivalent in accessible savings plus a credible plan for the first six months is generally considered reasonable. For families, scale proportionally.
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The Total Cost Picture
Many applicants think of the DV lottery as "free." The entry is free (or $1.00 starting in DV-2027), but the total cost to actually obtain the visa is significant:
| Item | Cost (USD) | Cost (COP) |
|---|---|---|
| DV visa application fee | $330 per person | ~1,385,000 |
| Medical exam (adult) | $375-$450 | ~1,575,000-1,890,000 |
| Medical exam (child) | $150-$200 | ~630,000-840,000 |
| Police certificate apostille | $9 | ~36,000 |
| Document translations (if needed) | $50-$100 | ~210,000-420,000 |
| USCIS immigrant fee (Green Card production) | $235 per person | ~987,000 |
| Total (1 adult) | $1,000-$1,125 | ~4,200,000-4,725,000 |
For a family of four (two adults, two children), expect to spend $2,500-$3,000 USD on fees alone, before travel and relocation costs. Understanding this cost structure early prevents financial surprises that could force you to abandon the process mid-stream.
The Colombia to US Diversity Visa Lottery Guide includes a complete financial planning worksheet, step-by-step screenshots of the Cancilleria apostille portal, a medical exam preparation checklist (including which vaccinations to verify before your appointment), and a financial evidence template tailored to the Bogota post's expectations.
Get Your Free Colombia → US Diversity Visa Lottery Guide — Quick-Start Checklist
Download the Colombia → US Diversity Visa Lottery Guide — Quick-Start Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.