Phone Number: |
011-57-1-315-0811 (embassy)
011-57-1-315-1566 (consular section - visas) Weds from 2-4
fax:
011-57-1-315-2197 (embassy)
011-57-1-315-4155 (consular section - visas) |
E-Mail: |
IVBogota@state.gov |
Address: |
Calle 22D-Bis # 47-51 (building entrance)
Carrera 45 # 24B-27 (mailing address)
Bogota, D.C.
Colombia |
Working Hours: |
Mon - Fri 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Observed Holidays - http://bogota.usembassy.gov/calendar.html
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Best Contact Method: |
They are accepting emails. Initial emails will generate an automated response within a few business days and a consulate officer response as soon as a few business days or up to 2 weeks.
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Approx Waiting Time for Interview After Consulate Recieves
NVC Package: |
K1/K3 Applicants
1 month
IR1/CR1 Applicants
The interview appointment will be scheduled approximately 2 to 4 weeks upon receiving case complete from the NVC. After the appointment is scheduled by the NVC, the applicant/petitioner will receive an email with interview date details. The case is forwarded directly to the Embassy when the applicant/petitioner receive the interview letter. With electronic processing the cases it is forwarded to the embassy within a few hours of receiving the interview letter. |
Issues Packet 3? |
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Packet 3 Contains: |
After they receive case from NVC they send an email with a link (below) to the combined packet 3/4.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7hB3bl9Snfkb0NiMVFUd2JsVjA/view?usp=sharing
They do not mail a hardcopy of the packet as the mail system in Colombia is not very efficient. The packet which can be obtained any time before the link is even received contains:
Open appointment letter
DS-160
Information about photos (need for interview and medical exam)
LIST OF DOCUMENTS to be taken to interview
VISA FEE INFORMATION
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
Once you receive a confirmation email from the embassy, that they have received your case from NVC you can schedule the interview appointment by creating a user account online and paying the $265 fee online.
You may also e-mail them as soon as you get your NVC case number and ask what the next steps are. Typically, they will reply with the instructions packet linked above the same day.
The link to pay the fee and make the appointment is:
https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-co/iv
IR-1/CR-1 Instructions
For the IR-1/CR-1 you are not required to pay any fees until your visa is issued unless your case was expedited and skipped the NVC Pre-processing. If your case is forwarded directly to the embassy for an expedite, there is window one where you can pay cash or credit card.
For IR-1/CR-1 you must register the interview appointment by creating a user account online at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-co/iv/users/sign_in and you register your Embassy appointment by scheduling your bio-metrics appointment. If you require an earlier appointment date you must request an expedite by filling out a form on the ais.usvisa-info.com site. The Embassy does not respond by direct email to expedite requests, you must submit one through the online AIS portal.
Medical exams are the same process as K1/K3 and you must schedule an appointment with an approved embassy doctor. The blood exam must be completed before the general medical exam. |
Issues Packet 4? |
No |
Packet 4 Contents (if known): |
Combined packet 3/4 |
Forms to Consulate? |
The following guide is intended to help K1 visa petitioners. It may also apply to other types of petitions, and does for K3 visa petitions.
1. Once your I-129F is approved (NOA2), your case will be forwarded to the National Visa Center.
2. Start calling NVC everyday about 2 days after your I-129F has been approved at: 603-334-0700 press 1 then 5. You will need to reach a live person to get information on your case since the NVC's automated system does not handle K1 visas.
Give this person your case #, they will let you know if your package has been received. Once NVC receives your case, they will assign a new case # that will begin with BGTXXXXXXXXXX. Make sure you get the new case # and write it down.
A. If it has not been received.
Keep calling every few days until they receive it. Don't pay attention
to their script. They will tell you it may take 4 weeks for them to receive your case. It does not usually take that long. Sometimes it only takes a few days.
B. If your case has been received.
Ask them if it has been forwarded to the embassy. If your case has not been forwarded, wait a day and then call again. NVC does not usually hold the cases more than a few days.
3. After NVC sends your package to the embassy it should arrive in approximately 3 business days via DHL. Your package will also be sent electronically to the embassy but it needs to physically arrive before the embassy takes action. Track your package here: https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/
4. When you estimate that your package has arrived at the embassy send an email to ivbogota@state.gov and request the instructions to complete the fiance visa process.
5.You do NOT need to wait until you receive package 3 to fill the ds160 and schedule your interview.
If you have questions, come to the VJ Colombia Club at http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2572 (is now closed for new postings) and http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=175556(is continuation of topic)and post your question there. There are many helpful people in that forum who have been through the process. For Spanish go to http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/231722-colombianos-con-visa-k1continuacion-2/ |
Other Forms (if any)? |
These documents are needed for the medical exam:
*Passport
*2 passport style photos (5cm x 5cm) of beneficiary and 2 of each accompanying child.
These documents and items are needed for the interview:
*DS-160 confirmation page
*Birth certificate of applicant. (copia del folio del registro civil. Must be an "original" birth certificate which in Colombia means that it is a foto copy that has been notarized.)
*Baptismal certificate of applicant. (with marginal notes. This optional if you have a birth certificate, but if you have why not bring it?)
*Passport valid for 6 months from date of visa issuance.
*Marriage certificate. (registro civil) for K-3's
*Death certificate or divorce certificate showing termination of all prior marriages of both parties.
*Pasado Judicial Issued from State Police website
*I-134 Affidavit of support. (Instruction says: You must sign Form I-134 in your full name. For this reason, it is not necessary to sign Form I-134 before a notary, nor to have your signature notarized after you sign.)
*Petitioner's most recent US tax return with W-2's or IRS transcript. (It is a good idea to have 3 years just in case it is requested.)
*Employment Letter
*Documents received after the medical exam and laboratory tests. X-rays are not required by the embassy.
*Proof of payment of the visa fees. (Note, some fees are paid at the embassy and some are paid prior to the interview.)
*6 passport style color photos (5cm x 5cm)of the beneficiary (2 for medical and 4 for the interview).
*Evidence of a legitimate relationship and having met in person. (Letters, photos, boarding passes, etc)
Any accompanying children must also have passports, birth certificates, photos, and medical exams.
For IR1-CR1 Petitioners
After your case is forwarded to the Embassy, you will receive two emails explaining what documents are required and how to do the medical exams. The required documents are as follows:
•Passport
•Medical exam in sealed envelope
•2 photos 5x5 cm with a white background (passport photos)
•Registro civil de nacimiento "Birth Certificate Original or Authenticated Copy"
•Registro civil de matrimonio "Marriage Certificate Original or Authenticated Copy"
•Sentencia de divorcio "Divorce Certificates for both petitioner and applicant"
•Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales "Police Report within the last 6 months"
•Petitioners Birth certificate (They will ask when you enter the embassy)
•I-864 Photocopy
•I-864 A or I-864 Photocopy for Joint Sponsor or Family Member (if you have one)
•IRS Tax Transcripts AND Form W2 FOR BOTH petitioner and joint sponsor (Schedule C for Business Owners) 3 years if you have them, but the Embassy only requires the most recent year
•Relationship Evidence "Photos, Chat logs, Affidavit of Relationship and/or other supporting documents"
If additional documents are required it will be stated in the email. |
Direct Consular Filing Offered? |
No |
If DCF Allowed: For all or only US citizen lawfully resident in country?
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Residents Only |
Can fiance(e)/spouse attend interview? |
Yes |
Visa fee payment "same day" or "in advance"? |
Same_Day |
Did embassy schedule interview or could you walk-in? |
Scheduled Ahead of Time |
Visa issued same day? |
Sometimes |
If not what's the waiting period? |
Visas are now being shipped to beneficiary via DHL (a courier). You select delivery point when you select interview date and pay online.
For CR-1/IR-1 it is possible to have the visa issued the same day if the consulate officer indicates it has been approved. The consular officer will hand you a domestic violence pamphlet, visa approval letter and verbally say you are approved. If you elect to have the visa delivered to the CAS/ASC Service Center, you must await an email to schedule a pick up appointment. |
Is the Medical exam same day as interview? |
Prior to Interview |
Cost of Medical Exam? |
OFFICIAL BOGOTA INFORMATION REVIEWED SEPTEMBER 2019: As of September 11th, 2019, the exams will have a MAXIMUM cost of $ 665,000 (price subject to change) per person.
As indicated below, some minors must have a tuberculin test for an additional cost.
$ 245,000 (pesos) for the general physical examination; or $ 200,000 (pesos) for blood tests (Serology and X-rays) or $ 53,000 (pesos) for the Tuberculin skin test for children between 2 and 14 years of age or $ 220,000 (pesos) for the Gonorrhea test for people of 15 years and older.
PLEASE NOTE THAT BLOOD TEST HAVE TO BE DONE FIRST, THEN THE MEDICAL EXAM. |
List of doctors? |
Blood Test
Instituto y Laboratorio ClÃnico Calle 38 No. 8-28, Local No. 1 Tel. 232-7272
General Physical Exam
Dr. Rodolfo José Dennis Fundación Cardioinfantil Cra.13B No. 161-85 Torre H Piso 9 Consultorio 915 Bogotá Tel: 805-0091; 3182663175, 6672727, ext. 79915, 79950, 79951 E-mail: doctordenniscitas@gmail.com
Dr. Jairo H. Roa Centro Médico de La Sabana Cra. 7 No. 119-14, Cons # 325 Bogotá Tels: 2151763; 6192044; 6192055; 2152970 Desde los EE.UU.: 1-800-609-8339 E-mail: citasdrjroa@gmail.com
Dr. Juan Piñeros Centro Médico de la Sabana Cra. 7 No. 119-14, Cons # 326 Bogotá Tels.: 6121224 E-mail: adopcionesdr.pineros@gmail.com (SOLO atenderá a menores)
Dra. Monica Caicedo Centro Médico de la Sabana Cra. 7 No. 119-14, Cons # 506 Bogotá Tels: 2153949 o 6373219 E-mail: dramonica.caicedo@gmail.com
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How many Passport Photo's Required for the medical? |
4 |
How many Passport Photo's Required at the interview? |
2 |
Estimated waiting time at the consulate on the day of interview? |
2-4 hours. The actual interview can be as short as 5 min. according to posting on visajourney.com |
Vaccination requirements? |
Note (by embassy): Only a physician can determine which of the listed vaccinations are medically appropriate for you, given your age, medical history and current medical condition.
The instructions indicate not to get vaccinations one week before the medical exam because Colombian medical professionals could administer a vaccination that does not meet the Department of State Requirements. The cost of vaccinations at the Embassy selected doctor is significantly higher than local prices and it is possible to get the same vaccinations a month or so in advance of the medical exam for significantly less cost.
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Cheap and good hotels near the Consulate? |
Hotel Casa La Embajada
http://www.hotelcasaembajada.com/
Hotel Casa Paulina
http://www.edificiopaulina.es.tl/Home.htm
Hotel Dona Flor
http://www.viva2100.com/
Hotel Expo Inn Embajada
www.hotelexpoinn.com
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Additional Info? |
Tips:
As today 12/05/2018
Immigrant Visa Applicant a soon you have date & time interview letter (NVC send the letter with all this information) you need to enter at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-co/iv to register your interview date and time, choose the DHL where you want to pick up your documents and choose the ASC/CAS (Centro de Atencion al Solicitante) where you go for fingerprints etc...
ASC/CAS
Address: Ac. 26 #92-32, Bogotá, Colombia
Hours:
Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m.
Phone: +57 1 5088165 ASC/CAS (Address: Ac. 26 #92-32, Bogotá, Colombia
*Try to schedule the laboratory and medical exam at least 3 days before the interview. This will allow some extra time to deal with any unexpected problems.
*Documents in Spanish do not need to be translated into English. However, you will need an English translation of birth certificates to use in the US. It is less expensive to translate them in Colombia.
List of Scheduled Appointments updated on or about the 15th of each month:
http://bogota.usembassy.gov/iv-appointments.html Only if you are K visa applicant
K visa applicants have to pay at the bank because K visas are technically non immigrant visas. They cost $365 USD in pesos and the Embassy collects all non immigrant visa fees through the Helm bank.
K1/K3 and IR1/CR1 applicants should line up in line 3 outside of the embassy. This is the resident line. There is no need to wait with the crowd of people waiting to be called for non immigrant visa (tourist visas) on Calle 24 Bis. You can walk up to the entrance and show the IV sticker on your passport and you will be allowed to enter earlier than an hour before your appointment.
Helpful links:
Bogota Tourism:
http://english.bogotaturismo.gov.co/
Packet 3 and 4
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7hB3bl9Snfkb0NiMVFUd2JsVjA/view?usp=sharing
Police Certificate:
Print and bring to interview and Police Certificate is good for 1 year
https://antecedentes.policia.gov.co:7005/WebJudicial/index.xhtml
DISCLAIMER
ALL INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT NOTICE. |