If you do the maths, the chances of an advanced extraterrestrial intelligence (or plural) having already "colonised" a lot of the Milky Way galaxy are reasonable. Of course, there are certain variables in such an equation - one being the frequency of life arising on exoplanets and then evolving to an intelligent stage - that we do not know at this point. And any ETI certainly wouldn't say "Hello" to us anytime soon because we're still undoubtedly primitive or barbaric on the psychological or behaviour level, even with our DJI technology.
SpaceX are extremely serious about colonising Mars - and they'll soon nail the landing part for Starship, just as they have for Falcon 9. When Mars happens, going beyond our own solar system, or even galaxy - isn't that far off. Furthermore, our current technological level is likely to be still basic, so future advancements will increase all possibilities and achievements exponentially.
The problem might be our primitive or backward level of current evolution. We might need a "visa" to go beyond our own solar system - a "visa" that is only granted if we stop being idiots, bitching and moaning, raping and murdering, trashing our own planet, etc etc.
But a drone might be permitted...