so, i've applied for a colombia tourist visa for attending the ethbogota and devcon events. received an email from the consulate asking for

3-INVITATION FROM COLOMBIA IN SPANISH LANGUAGE, ID (CC) OF THE PERSON WHO INVITES YOU. OR

HOTEL BOOKING RESERVATION. 4-3 MONTHS LAST BANK STATEMENTS FROM YOU AND 3 FROM THE PERSON WHO INVITES YOU FROM COLOMBIA

anyone has an idea on whose bank statements they're asking for considering that i wasn't invited, and only have purchased the tickets for both events.

Book a hotel reservation that you can cancel before you go, with no charges - and use that for the visa application. Cancel after you get your visa. If you have a hotel booking the invite and support from the invitee should not be necessary.

its your bank statements

@clever-advantage-29037 it seems to me there was some confusion in your application. I think the officer felt you are being invited. Perhaps it was not clear enough. That is why they are asking to see your invitation letter. If you are sharing a covering letter with your application, then just make it very explicit that no one is inviting you. Check your visa category and sub-category. Add hotel bookings, details of the events, tickets for events and your own 3-months back statements.

so, in my online application, I uploaded the following: • passport scanned pages • self bank statements, last 6 months • cover letter of self • letters from devcon and ethbogota; mentioning the dates of events, my confirmation of attendance and that it's self-funded (attached) • flight tickets • airbnb reservation but, i still received the email asking for all these detail:

Your online VISA application has been REQUIRED, for: DOCUMENTACIÓN INCOMPLETA

YOU NEED FOR A TOURIST VISA: UPLOAD AL THE DOCUMENTS IN PDF IN ONE FILE ONLY 1-FIRST AND LAST PAGE OF THE PASSPORT 2-COVERING LETTER OF YOURSELF, 3-INVITATION FROM COLOMBIA IN SPANISH LANGUAGE, ID (CC) OF THE PERSON WHO INVITES YOU. OR HOTEL BOOKING RESERVATION. 4-3 MONTHS LAST BANK STATEMENTS FROM YOU AND 3 FROM THE PERSON WHO INVITES YOU FROM COLOMBIA. 5-RESERVATION OF THE TICKET GO AND FRO, 6-NOC FROM YOUR COMPANY 7-LAST 3 MONTHS OF SALARY SLIP 8-COPY OF THE VISAS IN YOUR PASSPORT

Are all your documents in one file? I'm not sure myself what this means though. Do they expect user to stitch multiple documents into one PDF?

yeah, they provide 6-7 sections to upload individual pdf; and they stitch them together in a single file. this is my 2nd attempt at obtaining the visa. my last attempt, i had selected 'event participation' subcategory and they were expecting bank details from the ethbogota/devcon organisers.

I see. Then I guess it is all about clearly re-stating the needed bits as I feel you have already stated. This happens with visa processing, some countries' processes are worse but happens everywhere.

thanks for the pointers and help here. have uploaded the documents now. hopefully will get a response soon