Colombia Club

[Agentes 0]

I got burned using Western Union then I switched to Money Gram. Now, I usually just use my ATM card too. What I ended up doing is opening a second account that I always keep a couple of bucks in for my wife to always have for daily use or in case of emergency. I deposit a couple hundred a month in there for her and she can take it at her leisure as opposed to me running to WU.

Our card is with Bank of America and the fee is $5.00 international ATM fee + 1%. It runs me a lot less than the other services, and since it is temporary I haven't been looking to hard to find a cheaper one, but some guys swear by the PayPal debit card account.

[gringi 0]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the site and thanks to everyone here, especially the Colombia club thread. I have saved a lot of time and learned quite a few tips.

I was wondering if someone here who has gone thru the K-3 route in Colombia could give me some advice.

I have been planning to send out my I-129F, after receiving the NOA1 on my I-130 petition, which I just received. But there still are a couple of things that I'm not sure about.

I am considering not filing the I-129F and just letting the I-130(CR-1) go thru on it's own (since it would save a few steps). In Colombia is this a good strategy? Or should I stick to the original plan and go ahead and file the I-129F ? My main goal is to be with my wife as soon as possible. I'm not worried about her getting her SS# right away, it would be nice, but definitely not worth an additional delay.

I made 1 mistake, I sent in scanned copies of my wife's G-325A's not the originals. I had an original set of her G-325A's when I left Colombia, but unfortunately after I arrived here, I realized that I had left out some info and her form wasn't filled out right, my mistake. The originals are on their way and should be here by the end of the week. I already received my NOA1, so am I in the clear now or should I still be expecting a RFE ?

I received my NOA1 but no transfer notice. Is this all I will need to file the I-129F or should I wait for the transfer notice, before I proceed?

I sent my I-130 petition out on 2/22/08 and my NOA1 date was 3/3/08, that's just over a week! I hope the other service centers don't hear about this, as I'm sure a reprimand will be handed out to the person who is working on my case, for being too efficient... (they must be new).

Thanks

Hello Michael and welcome to VJ and the Colombian Club,

Thank you for reading the thread to get a basic knowledge of what the process is all about.

I got two things for you and they're just my own personal opinion. The first one is that I advise you not to file the I-129F for the K3 for two reasons 1. the USCIS stopped processing I-129F petitions for K3 visas, so if someone files for a K3 they will only process their I-130 petition for a CR1. Nobody knows if this is a permanent decision but it has happened to a lot of people who filed after 07/30/07. The other reason is because the CR1 visa for people going through Bogotá only takes about 1-2 months longer to process and once the beneficiary gets to the States there is nothing else that needs to be done unless their SS card doesn't arrive on time. Food for thought and for you to do some more homework about the possible cancellation of K3 visas.

The other thing is that if you forget to send any document to either the USCIS or the NVC, it's best to wait for them to send you and RFE because if you send it before, they will either not get it or get confused about why you sent it and delay your process even further. You might not even get an RFE but you will probably delay the process if you send something that was not needed in the first place. The best thing is to sit tight and wait.

Diana

Hey Diana, Thanks for the info

I read thru the links you posted and it does seem like there is something going on with the K3's.

It looks like the USCIS is still drowning in last summer's glut and they are doing whatever they want to ease their backlog. I don't know if anyone is sure, if this is a new policy or just a way to help them get caught up, so it looks like for now the best strategy is to just let the I-130 go on by itself. If Bogotá doesn’t hold up the CR1's anymore than any other visa, I agree the CR1 route, overall is the best way to go. I only hope my CR1 goes thru as fast as yours did.

Thanks again Diana.

Mike

[Mononoke28 134]

Hey Diana, Thanks for the info

I read thru the links you posted and it does seem like there is something going on with the K3's.

It looks like the USCIS is still drowning in last summer's glut and they are doing whatever they want to ease their backlog. I don't know if anyone is sure, if this is a new policy or just a way to help them get caught up, so it looks like for now the best strategy is to just let the I-130 go on by itself. If Bogotá doesn’t hold up the CR1's anymore than any other visa, I agree the CR1 route, overall is the best way to go. I only hope my CR1 goes thru as fast as yours did.

Thanks again Diana.

Mike

Mike,

The only delay you may come across with is if the USCIS takes its sweet old time approving your I-130. But once the NVC receives it and assigns you a case, things start moving faster.

Diana

[M&J 0]

Hello Colombia Club!

I was wondering what kind of evidence (if any) should I submit with the AOS package??

Thanks!

[faith11 0]

HELLO EVERYONE IN COLOMBIA CLUB.

I WANT TO POST THIS AND I HOPE THERE IS ANYBODY HERE WHO CAN HELP ME, I AM WORRIED

MY INTERVIEW IS TOMORROW AND TODAY I WENT TO PICK UP THE RESULTS OF MY MEDICAL, YESTERDAY THE DOCTOR MARIA GONZALEZ TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK.

TODAY THEY GAVE ME A CLOSED ENVELOPE FOR THE EMBASSY AND A VACCINATION DOCUMENTATION WORKSHEET ATTACHED TO MY VACCINATION RECORDS, AND THE CHEST RESULTTEST.

MY CONCERN IS THAT ON THE INFORMATION FOR VACCINATION SHE WROTE ON THE RESULTS:

IT WAS MARKED VACCINE HISTORY INCOMPLETES

APPLICANTS MAY BE ELEGIBLE FOR BLANKET WAIVER(S) BECAUSE VACCINATION(S) NOT MEDICALLY APPROPIATE (AS) INDICATED ABOVE.

THEN I SAW ON THE INFORMATION FOR THE TD IT SAYS INSUFFICIENT TIME INTERVAL AND FOR THE VARICELLA SAYS THE SAME THING.

I HAD ALL MY VACCINATIONS DONE 8 DAYS BEFORE THE MEDICAL APPOINTMENT AS THEY RECOMMEND ME WHEN I CALL FOR THE APPOINTMENT.

I HAD THE TD, MMR,AND VARICELLA.

CAN ANYBODY EXPLAIN THIS TO ME PLEASE?

HAS ANYBODY RECEIVED THE SAME RESULTS AND BEEN APPROVED?

SHOULD I BE WORRIED?

PLEASE HELP.

THANKS

FAITH11.

[M&J 0]

HELLO EVERYONE IN COLOMBIA CLUB.

I WANT TO POST THIS AND I HOPE THERE IS ANYBODY HERE WHO CAN HELP ME, I AM WORRIED

MY INTERVIEW IS TOMORROW AND TODAY I WENT TO PICK UP THE RESULTS OF MY MEDICAL, YESTERDAY THE DOCTOR MARIA GONZALEZ TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK.

TODAY THEY GAVE ME A CLOSED ENVELOPE FOR THE EMBASSY AND A VACCINATION DOCUMENTATION WORKSHEET ATTACHED TO MY VACCINATION RECORDS, AND THE CHEST RESULTTEST.

MY CONCERN IS THAT ON THE INFORMATION FOR VACCINATION SHE WROTE ON THE RESULTS:

IT WAS MARKED VACCINE HISTORY INCOMPLETES

APPLICANTS MAY BE ELEGIBLE FOR BLANKET WAIVER(S) BECAUSE VACCINATION(S) NOT MEDICALLY APPROPIATE (AS) INDICATED ABOVE.

THEN I SAW ON THE INFORMATION FOR THE TD IT SAYS INSUFFICIENT TIME INTERVAL AND FOR THE VARICELLA SAYS THE SAME THING.

I HAD ALL MY VACCINATIONS DONE 8 DAYS BEFORE THE MEDICAL APPOINTMENT AS THEY RECOMMEND ME WHEN I CALL FOR THE APPOINTMENT.

I HAD THE TD, MMR,AND VARICELLA.

CAN ANYBODY EXPLAIN THIS TO ME PLEASE?

HAS ANYBODY RECEIVED THE SAME RESULTS AND BEEN APPROVED?

SHOULD I BE WORRIED?

PLEASE HELP.

THANKS

FAITH11.

Hello Faith 11!!

Don't worry about it, mine was the same, I called Dra Gonzalez office and asked the same thing they explained that is because you need a second shoot after a month. I'm looking at my vaccination documentation worsheet and it says the same as yours. My visa was approved and I'm already in the US...

Good luck at the interview tomorrow!!! everything is going to be just fine

Saludos,

Marcela

[Andres and Diana 0]

I hope everything is going well for you Faith! Let us know the outcome of your interview as soon as possible im curious to know how it goes for you!

Tons of luck!

Diana B

[faith11 0]

HELLO MY FRIENDS FROM COLOMBIA CLUB.

I AM JUST GETTING HOME FROM BOGOTA.

I AM SO HAPPY MY VISA WAS APPROVED, I WAS WORRIED FOR NOTHING,

TOMORROW I WILL WRITE YOU ABOUT THE INTERVIEW.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ADVICES HERE.

GOD IS SO GOOD.

GOD BELSS YOU

[HAL 9000 96]

Felicidades faith and the rest of you with good news!

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I can't wait to hear about the interview as well. Good to hear it went well for you.

[Andres and Diana 0]

YAY!!! Congrats Faith!!!

I cant wait till im in your shoes...Andres and I are still waiting for the NVC to forward our petition to the Embassy. A couple of days ago I called and they stated that we are in extended review...

Camron...I guess we are in the same boat you were a few months ago. Atleast your experience serves as proof that it will eventually get there...maybe not as soon as others but it will get there.

[Agentes 0]

Congratulations Faith!!!!

I am very happy for you, and also that everything went well.

While I am here... we were approved on the 12th as well. I made the decision that I would use my vacation time when my wife was here instead of using it to go to the interview, and there were not any problems that I was not there.

God is good!!!!

[CamyCar 0]

YAY!!! Congrats Faith!!!

I cant wait till im in your shoes...Andres and I are still waiting for the NVC to forward our petition to the Embassy. A couple of days ago I called and they stated that we are in extended review...

Camron...I guess we are in the same boat you were a few months ago. Atleast your experience serves as proof that it will eventually get there...maybe not as soon as others but it will get there.

CONGRATULATIONS FAITH AND AGENTES! It is exciting to share your good news. I can only imagine your excitement after such a long process. Best of luck to both of you.

Diana B,

Sorry to hear you are hung up in "Administrative Processing" as well. The good news is that there is nothing to it except a delay. I think mine was about one of the longest delays I have read about in Bogota. Mine was just beyond 3 weeks. I have read many others that were in AP that only lasted a day or two. I will keep the faith that yours will be a short process. In any event, you are getting closer and closer. Stay strong and focused. At this point, the longest part of the process should be behind you and each day will make the forward process closer. You will be a May interview and possibly an April interview if they hurry. I am pulling for you!!!

Cameron

[buck501 0]

WOW!!!!!! Congrats to Faith and Argentes. I have been traveling alot and not been in cnnecton with the goings on here. Lot's of exciting news!!!

Paola is leaving this Monday the 17th to return to Colombia for a month. We had the DNA test done, called for another interview date for her son. It is Monday March 31!!! Paola is going down to attend the intewrview with her son and bring him back to the US.

I am a bit worried that she will have problems re-entering the US, given all the hassels that can come up. She has her travel doc's and everything else needed to re-enter the US. There should not be a problem. I am going to miss her badly while she is gone. She will return on April 22.

[faith11 0]

Hola everyone here in Colombia Club, l am back.

The interview was good, it took about 5 minutes.

The lady was nice and she asked me questions about my husband, she asked some questions twice so please be alert with the answers, Then she asked me for the evidences, l showed her the evidences I took with me such as emails, letters, phone bills, pictures. She made questions about the pictures and the wedding, the honeymoon.

then she said that my visa was approved.

I want to give you some recomendations;

1.Be clear with the answers and feel sure of yourself.

2. Take with you all the evidences you can, they may ask for it l noticed that they asked evidence to everyone.

3. Make sure you have all the requirements they ask, it´s better that you have more rather than anything is missing.

Take with you everything you think you may need.

For example in my case when they first ask ed for the documents to check that you have everything, the lady asked me why l made the correction on my name, l explained her why, she didn´t ask anything else. l went prepared to the interview and l took with me the notarized copy of the certificate that l have to make at the Notary when I did this years ago, well she didn´t ask any proof or anything like to explain this but l felt good to have it with me just in case.

Most of the people applying for k1 or k3 were approved.

There was a guy who has to come back in a week because a document from his wife was missing.

A couple was denied, the consular officer gave them a hard time by asking them questions separetely and after that he had them to sit down in different places and wait to be asked asked again separetely. After that they were interviewed again at the same time with different consular officers.

I heard the woman was complaining about the question the consular officer was asking, she said these questions were very personals relating to their sexual relationships.

l was surprised to hera tis because this was the first time l heard anything like this with American Embassy in Colombia.

Ok guys, it was a long day, l was called at 11:50 pm but it was worthy. l am very happy, this process is over now at least this part, l know we have to dela with AOS but l will be by then with my husband.

l wish you the best to all of you, God´s grace is with all of you.

Thanks for your prayings and support.

God bless you.

God bless you.