Colombia Club Part II

[dakay ♥ 10]

Yakad

Nice to hear from you and thanks for your reply..

Ok, so the permission from the father is needed for the Interview or before the daughter actually travels?

Just curious if they will require it grant the visa or simply need to show it when she is ready to travel...

Thanks

your fiancee can ask in any DAS office or read on the website: http://www.das.gov.co/das/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1331&Itemid=160#emigracion for more information. To get the permission, things can be easy or difficult depending on the relationship with the father (in the link above there are details) your fiancee will need it to leave with her daughter, this permission is not required to get the visa, it is only needed at the moment to leave, in the DAS immigration control at the airport. The child will need it each time that she leaves Colombia

If the parent is in Colombia, the permit must be signed in a Notary.

[Robert de Bonda 3]

Hi Colombia Club! I am back from Medellin, my boyfriend arrives Aug.30th at the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Our interview was super easy we arrived at 6:40am. We got all the paper work ready in the brown folder they gave us. and Juan was called up at about 9:00am to check all the paper work it was a Colombian lady she wasn’t so nice she checked everything and told us to go have a sit on the other side of the room. About an hour later he got called up for fingerprints. And we waited about 45mins until they called him to window 6 for the interview it was an American lady super nice, I went up with him and she asked him who I was he answered. And she asked him when we met, than she asked to talk to me. she asked me in English where I lived, who I lived with she also asked me when we met. Then she told me that we sent a lot of evidence and that she can see that we have more to show her but that she doesn’t want to see it because she believes in our relationship and she can tell we love each other and then she asked to talk to him again. He got on the phone and she said VISA APPROVED YOU MAY GO PAY DOMESA. We kissed and hugged each other and cried everyone around us looked happy for us kept giving us the thumps up because it was seriously like 2 mins. We were super nervous because everyone before us got denied we were the first couple to get approved that day! We left the embassy at 11am.  thank you everyone for all your help! We wouldn’t of been able to do it without you.

Congratulations to you both.

[kennym 275]

We were super nervous because everyone before us got denied we were the first couple to get approved that day! We left the embassy at 11am.  thank you everyone for all your help! We wouldn’t of been able to do it without you.

Hi... Great News!!! COngratulations

Any idea of the reasons why some of those others got denied?

Kenny

[Mononoke28 135]

Great Thank You.. Will Do...

However, another question, I posted this question in another forum, but maybe someone here has some thoughts...

how many of you have dealt with a Beneficiary child who will follow mom at a later time?

I am a little confused regarding the completion of the DS-156.. In the Appointment package it says 2 copies for each family member including children..

We intend to have the child follow within 1 year of her mom.. Do I need to simply submit additional copies of the same form I completed for my fiancee or fill out a completely new DS-156 for her child? Her child is 8 years old..

Also, I hope you guys don't think this is extemely stupid, but does the child need a passport?

will there be a seperate visa in the childs passport?

Since we are submiting the DS-156K indicating the child will follow....,

Does she need to have her DS156 submitted at the same time as her mom?

Does the Visa Fee need to be paid at the same time or at a later time? when?

Just need a little clarification on how this actually works for her child..

Thanks again everyone...

kennym,

As long as you put your fiancée's child's name in the I-129F you're fine. Don't pay for her visa yet or get her medical done. Your fiancée can tell the embassy during her interview that her child will follow at a later time. When you're ready all you have to do is send the embassy packet 3 and take it from there, pay for the visa and get her medical done. You only have 12 months to do this but after she gets her visa, she has another 6 months to use it.

As for the permission to leave the country, she will need one signed and notarized from each parent if she's going to travel alone (which I don't recommend since she's only 8 years old). It has to be issued 30 days before departure and it has to be done every time she leaves the country until she turns 18.

Diana

[kennym 275]

kennym,

As long as you put your fiancée's child's name in the I-129F you're fine. Don't pay for her visa yet or get her medical done. Your fiancée can tell the embassy during her interview that her child will follow at a later time. When you're ready all you have to do is send the embassy packet 3 and take it from there, pay for the visa and get her medical done. You only have 12 months to do this but after she gets her visa, she has another 6 months to use it.

As for the permission to leave the country, she will need one signed and notarized from each parent if she's going to travel alone (which I don't recommend since she's only 8 years old). It has to be issued 30 days before departure and it has to be done every time she leaves the country until she turns 18.

Diana

Diana

Thank you for your response.. I was really currious about how all that worked.. In the directions, it says young children do not need to attend the VISA Appoinment. I assume though that they need the Medical Exam..

I am a little concerned about the logistics to get that done.. My plans currently involve me being present with my fiancee for her interview.. Once she receives her Visa, we intend for her to travel to the US within 30 days or so...

How does the medical work? Since all the clinics are in Bogota, can the exam be done the same week or the day before? How much time should we allow for the medical exam?

What other items will we need to allow time for while in Bogota,.

The other item is the medical exam for her daughter.. If my fiancee is in the US, there won't be anyone to go with her daughter to bogota for the exam? Any ideas on how to get this done? Is it not possible to have the exam done the same time as her mom? What if she intends to follow as much as a year later, will the medical exam expire and need to be redone?

I appologize, but I wish I had more clarity on this?

Edited August 9, 2010 by kennym

[bramirez04 2]

Hi... Great News!!! COngratulations

Any idea of the reasons why some of those others got denied?

Kenny

i am not sure why they were getting denied all i know is that they went alone. none of them were with their SO only like us and two other couples.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Hi Colombia Club! I am back from Medellin, my boyfriend arrives Aug.30th at the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Our interview was super easy we arrived at 6:40am. We got all the paper work ready in the brown folder they gave us. and Juan was called up at about 9:00am to check all the paper work it was a Colombian lady she wasn’t so nice she checked everything and told us to go have a sit on the other side of the room. About an hour later he got called up for fingerprints. And we waited about 45mins until they called him to window 6 for the interview it was an American lady super nice, I went up with him and she asked him who I was he answered. And she asked him when we met, than she asked to talk to me. she asked me in English where I lived, who I lived with she also asked me when we met. Then she told me that we sent a lot of evidence and that she can see that we have more to show her but that she doesn’t want to see it because she believes in our relationship and she can tell we love each other and then she asked to talk to him again. He got on the phone and she said VISA APPROVED YOU MAY GO PAY DOMESA. We kissed and hugged each other and cried everyone around us looked happy for us kept giving us the thumps up because it was seriously like 2 mins. We were super nervous because everyone before us got denied we were the first couple to get approved that day! We left the embassy at 11am.  thank you everyone for all your help! We wouldn’t of been able to do it without you.

Berta - Everyone before you got denied? The CO in Bogota told me that Bogota is a High-Fraud Post, explaining why our 20 minute interview was so thorough. I am happy to hear everything went well for you and Juan. Nice people should be approved, IMO. CONGRATULATIONS AND HAPPY WEDDING BELLS!!

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Hotels near embassy that are the real bargains are disappearing.

I know Martha's rooms and bogotacolombialodging.com were very popular with posters here. Other than those places, are there any others folks care to recommend?

Thank you

Here's an article from the L.A. Times which appeared last week.

Hotels spring up as Colombia grows safer for tourists

The new JW Marriott in Bogota. This year, hoteliers will add about 4,700 rooms across the country, half of them in Bogota, the capital. (Grupo Poma / August 6, 2010)

You might also ask Marta if she knows of any places near the embassy that rents to American tourists, since her place is basically a rental apartment. Perhaps, look on Craigslist to see if anything exists? When my interview was around the corner, my wife in Barranquilla was able to research things more easily than I was since her Google search engine would turn up more results than Expedia.com would, for instance. Good luck,

-Ken

[Mononoke28 135]

Diana

Thank you for your response.. I was really currious about how all that worked.. In the directions, it says young children do not need to attend the VISA Appoinment. I assume though that they need the Medical Exam..

I am a little concerned about the logistics to get that done.. My plans currently involve me being present with my fiancee for her interview.. Once she receives her Visa, we intend for her to travel to the US within 30 days or so...

How does the medical work? Since all the clinics are in Bogota, can the exam be done the same week or the day before? How much time should we allow for the medical exam?

What other items will we need to allow time for while in Bogota,.

The other item is the medical exam for her daughter.. If my fiancee is in the US, there won't be anyone to go with her daughter to bogota for the exam? Any ideas on how to get this done? Is it not possible to have the exam done the same time as her mom? What if she intends to follow as much as a year later, will the medical exam expire and need to be redone?

I appologize, but I wish I had more clarity on this?

The lab tests and medical exam need to be scheduled about 2-3 days before the interview. She can get her lab work done early in the morning and get her medical done that same day in the afternoon so that the lab has enough time to send her results to the doctor doing the medical. The reason why it needs to be done 2-3 days before the interview is so that you can have enough time between the two in case something comes up and you need to take care of it before the interview.

The medical exam is valid for 12 months so her daughter can get it done the same day as her mom. BUT keep in mind that she will most likely need to get another medical exam here in the US for her AOS because in order to file for Adjustment of Status each applicant needs a medical exam if the one they got in their country was done more than 12 months earlier. It can only be done by an approved surgeon here in the US and it can cost between $200-$500. Just an FYI.

Diana

[Mononoke28 135]

Hotels near embassy that are the real bargains are disappearing.

I'm looking for a room from August 22 -- 26 any the best recommendations are unavailable. Martha's booked and I got a surprise message from www.bogotacolombialodging.com that they are currently out of the room rental (appartment/guest house/ bed & breakfast)business.

I am checking with www.hotelbogotainn.com owned hotels, but an internet search found comments alleging their BasicasInn is in a questionnable area (Calle 63D N. 22-44).

I know Martha's rooms and bogotacolombialodging.com were very popular with posters here. Other than those places, are there any others folks care to recommend?

Thank you

As Ken suggested, try contacting the people at welovebogota to see if either Martha or her brother know of another place you can rent close to the embassy. In another forum called poorbuthappy they used to talk about a place called Fernando Suites which were several apartments in the north part of the city that you could rent for very little money. They are located in a great area but I just can't seem to find them anymore. Their web site used to be www.fernandosuites.com

Diana

[timberzyx 0]

Here's an article from the L.A. Times which appeared last week.

Hotels spring up as Colombia grows safer for tourists

The new JW Marriott in Bogota. This year, hoteliers will add about 4,700 rooms across the country, half of them in Bogota, the capital. (Grupo Poma / August 6, 2010)

You might also ask Marta if she knows of any places near the embassy that rents to American tourists, since her place is basically a rental apartment. Perhaps, look on Craigslist to see if anything exists? When my interview was around the corner, my wife in Barranquilla was able to research things more easily than I was since her Google search engine would turn up more results than Expedia.com would, for instance. Good luck,

-Ken

Thank you. Martha had no suggestions but I am probably going to settle for one of the 8 hotels offered through the www.hotelbogotainn.com site. They are relatively close to the embassy and reasonably priced from what I can tell not having experienced them yet.

[timberzyx 0]

As Ken suggested, try contacting the people at welovebogota to see if either Martha or her brother know of another place you can rent close to the embassy. In another forum called poorbuthappy they used to talk about a place called Fernando Suites which were several apartments in the north part of the city that you could rent for very little money. They are located in a great area but I just can't seem to find them anymore. Their web site used to be www.fernandosuites.com

Diana

Thank you, I'll look in to that site. Martha had no suggestions. But I have the www.hotelbogotainn.com group as a backup. I found that on VJ in the step-by-step Guide for Colombia.

[TonyS 0]

Hi Colombia Club! I am back from Medellin, my boyfriend arrives Aug.30th at the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Our interview was super easy we arrived at 6:40am. We got all the paper work ready in the brown folder they gave us. and Juan was called up at about 9:00am to check all the paper work it was a Colombian lady she wasn't so nice she checked everything and told us to go have a sit on the other side of the room. About an hour later he got called up for fingerprints. And we waited about 45mins until they called him to window 6 for the interview it was an American lady super nice, I went up with him and she asked him who I was he answered. And she asked him when we met, than she asked to talk to me. she asked me in English where I lived, who I lived with she also asked me when we met. Then she told me that we sent a lot of evidence and that she can see that we have more to show her but that she doesn't want to see it because she believes in our relationship and she can tell we love each other and then she asked to talk to him again. He got on the phone and she said VISA APPROVED YOU MAY GO PAY DOMESA. We kissed and hugged each other and cried everyone around us looked happy for us kept giving us the thumps up because it was seriously like 2 mins. We were super nervous because everyone before us got denied we were the first couple to get approved that day! We left the embassy at 11am.  thank you everyone for all your help! We wouldn't of been able to do it without you.

Congrats to you guys! It has been a few years for us but the experience was awesome. I remember vividly the unfriendly ladies at the first window .

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Thank you, I'll look in to that site. Martha had no suggestions. But I have the www.hotelbogotainn.com group as a backup. I found that on VJ in the step-by-step Guide for Colombia.

When looking for a hotel, and you need to confirm the distance to the US Embassy,

The US Embassy (or La Embajada de los EE.UU) is located at: Calle 22D-Bis # 47-51 Bogota, Colombia - that location is very difficult to Google, btw.

You will want to be as close as possible to Avenida Carrera 50 and Avenida La Esperanza - This is walking distance to "Marta's Place" as it appears in the Google Visual Map.

[kennym 275]

The lab tests and medical exam need to be scheduled about 2-3 days before the interview. She can get her lab work done early in the morning and get her medical done that same day in the afternoon so that the lab has enough time to send her results to the doctor doing the medical. The reason why it needs to be done 2-3 days before the interview is so that you can have enough time between the two in case something comes up and you need to take care of it before the interview.

The medical exam is valid for 12 months so her daughter can get it done the same day as her mom. BUT keep in mind that she will most likely need to get another medical exam here in the US for her AOS because in order to file for Adjustment of Status each applicant needs a medical exam if the one they got in their country was done more than 12 months earlier. It can only be done by an approved surgeon here in the US and it can cost between $200-$500. Just an FYI.

Diana

Diana

Thank you very VERY Much for your reply.. This is exactly the kind of information I was needing...

Muchisimo Gracias...

Kenny