Colombia Club Part II

[ryna 132]

I had an argument with a female friend who insisted that the way it is done in the US makes no sense as the children would not know who their parents were. I told her they could always look at their birth certificates but she would not accept the possibility.

I do understand how some people think i.e. your policeman friend; I know of a gentleman in Cali who adds a second appelido to his business card. I don't know if it's his mother's last name or just a made up one but it seems to be better for business for him.

Even with two apellidos, you still wouldn't know who your parents were, only what their first apellidos are.. lol

In any event, it's all about what you are accustomed to and understanding how it works where the name was given. To make the name change, or not, is a matter of personal preference, a part of which is understanding how your decision affects you. But, I still say there would be no problems for her by keeping her name.

By the way, any word from NVC yet?

[Robert de Bonda 3]

By the way, any word from NVC yet?

I can't get through to the New Hampshire number, so I called the Washington, DC number and spoke to a woman who looked it up for me, found nothing and then asked me when I got my notification; I told her a few days ago. She then told me to call back in 4 weeks. I plan to give them the weekend and call back on Monday.

[ryna 132]

I can't get through to the New Hampshire number, so I called the Washington, DC number and spoke to a woman who looked it up for me, found nothing and then asked me when I got my notification; I told her a few days ago. She then told me to call back in 4 weeks. I plan to give them the weekend and call back on Monday.

Good answer!

If we all waited the standard 4 weeks they always say to wait, we'd all add a couple months to our (already too long) journeys. Another thing, the first time I called NVC, they told me our case was in "Additional Processing" and to call back in 60 days. Of course, I called the next business day and found out it had been sent to Bogota. In other words, never take the first 'No' as an answer.

BTW - The NH number is almost always busy, but with enough presses of the 'Redial' button, you can get through.

[kennym 275]

Thanks...

Do you have their number (I think she still has the Domesa receipt in her purse) and do they speak English? My spoken Spanish, especially when it comes to hearing it clearly, for lack of a better word, sucks...

If not, I'll get her to call to check. She has to call them anyhow to know when to pick it up..

https://www.domesa.com.co/bancoconocimiento/c/Cubrimiento/Cubrimiento.asp

It's an Autoattendant, I had to try various options when I called to speak to a human. The option that worked for me was operations...

* BOGOTA 424 87 24 - 424 87 00

* MEDELLIN 381 43 23 - 262 55 59

* CALI 665 03 02 - 664 70 00

* BARRANQUILLA 379 00 22 - 351 14 58

* BUCARAMANGA 643 29 73 - 647 26 17

* PEREIRA 336 57 78 - 329 22 11

* CARTAGENA 669 47 00 - 669 42 99

* IBAGUE 264 50 59

* CUCUTA 574 44 00

* VILLAVICENCIO 671 5479

* TUNJA 743 8418

* MANIZALES 897 0078

* NEIVA 871 1077

[Mononoke28 134]

I only asked to see if there might be some immigration pitfall that will snag us if she didn't change her name.

Robert

There shouldn't be any immigration problems unless she decides to take your last name after you have filed for AOS. And it's not really a problem but more of an extra expense and hassle because then you'd have to fill out another form and pay like $350 or something like that to get a new green card with her new last name on it.

Diana

[Mark and Carol 4]

Looking ahead, does anyone see any problem with my fiancee keeping her family name and not using mine? I am so not into posession that it matters not to me if she doesn't want to change her name.

Has anyone had to deal with this and were there any unexpected consequences?

My wife had two last names. She decided to take my last name and drop her father's last name. We decided to make her mother's last name as her middle name as she did not have a middle name. I thought this was best because most applications and documents in the US want a middle name. Also, she will have a unique name so mistaken identity should not be a problem. If you have a common last name, it is good to have a unique middle name.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Looking ahead, does anyone see any problem with my fiancee keeping her family name and not using mine? I am so not into posession that it matters not to me if she doesn't want to change her name.

Has anyone had to deal with this and were there any unexpected consequences?

My only concern would be the USCIS. They have a pattern of actually yelling at Leidys and I.

[Robert de Bonda 3]

Good answer!

If we all waited the standard 4 weeks they always say to wait, we'd all add a couple months to our (already too long) journeys. Another thing, the first time I called NVC, they told me our case was in "Additional Processing" and to call back in 60 days. Of course, I called the next business day and found out it had been sent to Bogota. In other words, never take the first 'No' as an answer.

BTW - The NH number is almost always busy, but with enough presses of the 'Redial' button, you can get through.

I called DOS this morning. I was almost afraid that they had not opened yet as it took so long for them to answer the phone. I gave the rep my info and asked for the new case number. After verifying that I was who I said I was she said "Your new case number is BGTxxxxxxxxxxxx." I asked her when NVC got the file and she told me but said that they had not yet sent it off to Bogota. At this rate, early December looks real possible.

Thank you everyone for all of your help. Even if it was only reading your comments to others. They all surely helped me.

[Robert de Bonda 3]

My only concern would be the USCIS. They have a pattern of actually yelling at Leidys and I.

Does this mean that Leidys kept her family names? And what kind of grief did they give you guys? I'm totally OK with Victoria keeping her name or names and will go along with whatever she decides. I can't let society dictate how this aspect of our life is conducted if there is no legal basis for it. I sure don't want to do it for their convenience.

PS. I was real busy doing the things that you recommended this weekend. I'll get back to you soon.

[kennym 275]

Guys, other than preference, what is the benefit of keeping the name rather than taking on the name of the husband.. I am not certain which way we're gonna go on this, but Maritza prefers to take on my name.. What benefits are there to keep her name?

Thanks

Kenny

[Mononoke28 134]

Guys, other than preference, what is the benefit of keeping the name rather than taking on the name of the husband.. I am not certain which way we're gonna go on this, but Maritza prefers to take on my name.. What benefits are there to keep her name?

Thanks

Kenny

The main benefit is avoiding the confusion it tends to create when we travel to Colombia. We end up having two different names, one that we use in the US and it appears on all forms, credit cards, drivers license and even US passport. And the other name we use in Colombia which is on our birth certificate, cédula and Colombian passport. We have to use one name to enter Colombia and use another name to enter the US which can make some people, and even Immigration officials, confused so we have to travel with a copy of our marriage certificate to explain the confusion.

And no, it's not that easy to change our maiden names in Colombia because you have to jump through all kinds of hoops to not only have it changed on your birth certificate, but also your cédula and passport. It takes months, if that, and it's really not worth the hassle.

Diana

[kennym 275]

The main benefit is avoiding the confusion it tends to create when we travel to Colombia. We end up having two different names, one that we use in the US and it appears on all forms, credit cards, drivers license and even US passport. And the other name we use in Colombia which is on our birth certificate, cédula and Colombian passport. We have to use one name to enter Colombia and use another name to enter the US which can make some people, and even Immigration officials, confused so we have to travel with a copy of our marriage certificate to explain the confusion.

And no, it's not that easy to change our maiden names in Colombia because you have to jump through all kinds of hoops to not only have it changed on your birth certificate, but also your cédula and passport. It takes months, if that, and it's really not worth the hassle.

Diana

Hey Diana

Thanks for that.. Of course I should've thought that all through.. I guess there is no Magical Marriage Certificate that Automatically changes every document with the original name so I suppose Maritza and I will need to discuss all that..

What about registering the marriage with Colombia, what are the thoughts with respect to that? I have discussed this with Maritza and eventually, down the road, we may want to live in Colombia.. So, is it a good Idea to register the marriage with Colombia.. How is that done? what benefits are there to doing that for our future plans? and is it best to do it with her original name or is it best to have her change her name?

Thanks

Kenny

[ryna 132]

Back in the U.S. and just stopping by to say the visa is in the DOMESA office in Bogota and will be in her hands tomorrow morning when she picks it up.

[kennym 275]

Back in the U.S. and just stopping by to say the visa is in the DOMESA office in Bogota and will be in her hands tomorrow morning when she picks it up.

Welcome Back!!

What are your plans for POE? any dates set?

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Does this mean that Leidys kept her family names? And what kind of grief did they give you guys? I'm totally OK with Victoria keeping her name or names and will go along with whatever she decides. I can't let society dictate how this aspect of our life is conducted if there is no legal basis for it. I sure don't want to do it for their convenience.

PS. I was real busy doing the things that you recommended this weekend. I'll get back to you soon.

I was concerned about Leidys keeping her Paternal name 'Guzman' because of the USCIS, but I didn't want her to have an identity crisis the way my ex-wife did when she took my surname along with hers. In the end, Leidys is known in the United States as 'Leidys Cooke'. In Colombia, she is Leidys Fontalvo G. Her Nombre de Cedula is unchanged. The USCIS? Check your email I sent you last week. The interviewer was a complete Jerk. With Leidys taking my surname, I am happy and proud that she did things "old school."