Can one send Packet 3 documents to the Consulate before they hear from the NVC

[Antonio y Olga 1]

We are trying to gain some crucial dates as the cutoff date is fast approaching, hopefully we could get our interview in February.

Does anyone know if it's acceptable to send our ready-to-go packet 3 documents to the Consulate (in our case Bogota) before the consulate has received the papers from the NVC?

thanks

[MissYoko 4]

We are trying to gain some crucial dates as the cutoff date is fast approaching, hopefully we could get our interview in February.

Does anyone know if it's acceptable to send our ready-to-go packet 3 documents to the Consulate (in our case Bogota) before the consulate has received the papers from the NVC?

thanks

I'm pretty sure it will be a bad idea

[Antonio y Olga 1]

Thanks, can you be more specific as to why you think it's a bad idea? I've seen cases here where Packet 3 does not get to the beneficiary and they have to take matters into their hands, also different embassies work in different ways.

Thanks for your opinion

****************

We are trying to gain some crucial time as the cutoff date is fast approaching, hopefully we could get our interview in February.

Does anyone know if it's acceptable to send our ready-to-go packet 3 documents to the Consulate (in our case Bogota) before the consulate has received the papers from the NVC?

thanks

[MissYoko 4]

Thanks, can you be more specific as to why you think it's a bad idea? I've seen cases here where Packet 3 does not get to the beneficiary and they have to take matters into their hands, also different embassies work in different ways.

Thanks for your opinion

****************

We are trying to gain some crucial time as the cutoff date is fast approaching, hopefully we could get our interview in February.

Does anyone know if it's acceptable to send our ready-to-go packet 3 documents to the Consulate (in our case Bogota) before the consulate has received the papers from the NVC?

thanks

Its only my opinion and not an experience. But, i'm pretty sure they will not like it. Maybe i'm wrong. But i wouldn't take any risks. BTW, if they dont received something from NVC at this time, they dont know your case. So you will be ask to wait.

[lazylivn 0]

We are trying to gain some crucial dates as the cutoff date is fast approaching, hopefully we could get our interview in February.

Does anyone know if it's acceptable to send our ready-to-go packet 3 documents to the Consulate (in our case Bogota) before the consulate has received the papers from the NVC?

thanks

They won't have a file for you at the consulate till they receive your case from the NVC...that is what I'm thinking, but I don't know. So if they don't have your case yet, where they going to file it till they receive your case? Sounds like your taking a risk on it getting lost or misplaced.

[Antonio y Olga 1]

The standing shortcut advises to ESTIMATE the time the packet arrives at the Consulate, this is why I'm thinking that when one estimates one could be off too and if you are going to be off for a day you might as well be off for five.

Thanks, can you be more specific as to why you think it's a bad idea? I've seen cases here where Packet 3 does not get to the beneficiary and they have to take matters into their hands, also different embassies work in different ways.

Thanks for your opinion

****************

We are trying to gain some crucial time as the cutoff date is fast approaching, hopefully we could get our interview in February.

Does anyone know if it's acceptable to send our ready-to-go packet 3 documents to the Consulate (in our case Bogota) before the consulate has received the papers from the NVC?

thanks

Its only my opinion and not an experience. But, i'm pretty sure they will not like it. Maybe i'm wrong. But i wouldn't take any risks. BTW, if they dont received something from NVC at this time, they dont know your case. So you will be ask to wait.

[Otto 83]

We are trying to gain some crucial dates as the cutoff date is fast approaching, hopefully we could get our interview in February.

Does anyone know if it's acceptable to send our ready-to-go packet 3 documents to the Consulate (in our case Bogota) before the consulate has received the papers from the NVC?

thanks

It is like putting the cart before the horse.

Even if you're 100% certain you know what will be needed for Packet 3 and somehow even have the embassy/consulate's checklist, it may not be accepted or at the very least, may get set aside and/or misplaced. Best to let it run it's course.

P.S.,

Can always check the information & reviews for your embassy HERE to see other experiences.

[Andres and Diana 0]

Hi Antonio and Olga,

Just so you know...their is a specific forum that deals directly with any issues pertaining to Bogota... I recommend you read the form title Colombia Club.

I recommend you read all the information from November on since it is the most up to date info.

On page 111 you will find this post by one of the members!

"The following guide is intended to help K1 visa applicants going

through Bogotá, Colombia. Also this guide is only that, a guide.

Always check the embassy's website and call the embassy as well.

This guide was written for K1 visa applicants, both beneficiary

and petitioner that have no kids, have never been arrested and have never been

married.

1. Once your I-129F is approved (NOA2), your case will

be forwarded to the National Visa Center. Normally

it will take about 1 to 2 weeks to get from CSC/VSC to NVC.

2. Start calling NVC everyday about 1 week after

your I-129F has been approved. 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 receipt #, they will let you know

the status of your case, whether it has not yet been

received, already received, or already sent out to

the embassy in Bogotá. Once NVC receives your case, they

will assign a new case # that will begin with BGTXXXXXXXXXX.

A. If it has not been received.

Keep calling 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.

B. If your case has been received.

Ask them when it was received and if it has been forwarded

to the embassy. If your case has been received but not

forwarded, wait 2 to 3 days from the day NVC received it

to call back and ask again. If it has been forwarded, most

often than not cases will be sent out in 2 days after NVC

receives it.

C. Once you know when your case has left NVC to Bogotá. You

can now calculate when it should arrive via DHL at the

embassy. Our case arrived in only 2 days, however the norm

is 3 business days. For example, if your case was sent on

Monday, it should arrive at Bogotá by Thursday, the latest.

3. Now that your case is in Bogotá. Do NOT wait for the embassy

to send your fiancée the packet 3. Wait 2 business days to use

the following shortcut. Using the example days in section 2C:

If your case has arrived on Thursday it is best to use the

shortcut on Monday. The reason to wait 2 days is to give the

embassy time to input your information in their system. You can

also call NVC and they will let you know if the embassy has

received your case.

Shortcut - Fax packet 3 to the embassy. This will save you at

least 2 weeks if not more by doing so. I would advise to send the

packet 3 via courier as well (i.e. Servientrega)

Packet 3 Contents:

1. Cover letter

2. Copy of fiancée's passport (biographical data page)

3. DS-230 Part 1 (pages 1 & 2)

4. OF-169

The cover letter should be simple and brief. Include the BGT case #

on the cover letter.

4. Two or three days after the embassy has received packet 3, they would have

already scheduled you for the interview. You can wait until your fiancée

receives packet 4 to find out the date of the interview. OR you can

use another shortcut. The shortcut is to call NVC and ask them the

interview date. Once the embassy schedules your interview, NVC is

automatically notified of the date.

Packet 4 Contents:

1. Passport

2. Baptism Certificate (Partida de Bautismo)

3. Birth Certificate (Registro Civil)

4. Police Certificate (Certificado Judicial del DAS)

5. Migratory Certificate (Carta del DAS, entradas/salidas)

6. I-134 Affidavit of Support and evidence.

7. DS-156 (2 copies)

8. DS-156K (1 copy)

9. Laboratory/Medical exams/Vaccinations

10. Evidence of your relationship (photos, e-mails, boarding passes, etc.)

11. Four passport style photos, 5cm x 5cm.

Embassy:

Finally the big day is here. You will want to be at the embassy no later than 6 a.m.

I suggest 5:45 a.m. At 6 a.m. there will already be a small line. At 6:30 a.m. you will

not be able to see the front of the line. There will be 3 lines at the front gate of the embassy.

You will want to get into line 3. Do not follow everyone that gets into line 1.

K1, K3, CR1/IR1 visa petitioners need to get into line 3. This may get you in and out of

the embassy quicker.

Tips:

If your fiancée lives outside of Bogotá, have her start getting the Police

and Migratory certificates ASAP. As it may take several weeks to receive

the certificates for people living outside of the capital. If your fiancée

lives in Bogotá, she can get the certificates in a few days.

Try to schedule the laboratory and medical exam 2 days before the interview.

This will allow an extra day just in case any mishaps should occur.

You will need an English translation of the birth certificate, get it done in

Colombia. It will be a lot cheaper and faster.

LINKS

Packet 3 and Forms

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwsck1instructions.shtml

Packet 4

http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/co1/wwwfck1cita_temp.pdf

DAS

http://www.das.gov.co

You will need to go to SERVICIOS and then click on CERTIFICADO JUDICIAL and EXTRANJERIA (migratory)

This post has been edited by lucho562: Aug 8 2007, 12:51 PM"

Just so you know...If you have any Colombia questions or info please dont hesitate to ask in the Colombia Club forum! Good Luck!

[Antonio y Olga 1]

Thanks for your kindest reply. I'd like to note a couple of things, could you provide the link (URL) for the Colombian Club? especially the one in Spanish? my fiancee cannot read English and I'd like to take a look at it.

Also, the tips below are very valuable however the very last one indicates we need the translation to English of her birth certificate. The documents in Packet 3 and 4 are very clear about this, documents in Spanish and English don't need translation when presented in Bogota. So I believe this tip is in error.

thanks

We are trying to gain some crucial dates as the cutoff date is fast approaching, hopefully we could get our interview in February.

Does anyone know if it's acceptable to send our ready-to-go packet 3 documents to the Consulate (in our case Bogota) before the consulate has received the papers from the NVC?

thanks

It is like putting the cart before the horse.

Even if you're 100% certain you know what will be needed for Packet 3 and somehow even have the embassy/consulate's checklist, it may not be accepted or at the very least, may get set aside and/or misplaced. Best to let it run it's course.

P.S.,

Can always check the information & reviews for your embassy HERE to see other experiences.