Colombia Club Part II

[ryna 132]

I just got off the phone with State Department in DC.. They told me the case was sent out on 8/31 and "loaded" (?) on 9/1. Not sure what this means, but she told me that our case "should be" in Bogota by now but they didn't handle that. So, I decided to give an email directly to the consulate a shot. Hopefully, they'll respond today. If that doesn't work I can always call the consulate tomorrow between 2-4, I suppose.

We just want to send in our packet 3!

[kennym 275]

Hey Ryan

Do you have your BGT Case Number? They've been responding to emails within a day or so and ussually the same day.

Good Luck...

It's really cool that you clear AP soo quickly...

[ryna 132]

Yeah, I've had our BGT number for almost 2 weeks... And, NVC only held it for 5 days. I'm not even sure there was any AP or if the first guy I spoke to at NVC (who gave me our BGT#) was just reading from a script.. Either way, it left NVC after not too much time..

I sent them an email and hope to hear something by tomorrow. They really should have it by now. It's been 8 days since it left NVC and even though there was a holiday in there, the packages still move toward their destination. It's just a matter of someone being there to receive it!

One other thing... I heard it's better to pay for anything at the embassy in USD because the exchange rate they give is bad, but the K1 is paid for at BancoHelm. Do they take USD or at least give a reasonable exchange rate? Anyone know how that works?

Edited September 7, 2010 by ryna

[kennym 275]

fingers are crossed there buddy...

[Robert de Bonda 3]

There is a busy day coming up at the Embassy for VJ'ers. On Thursday 9/2, 3 couples will have their interview. Let's wish luck to:

Allan & Patricia

Mike & Andrea

Jen Barbieri & Nicolas Riveros

Hope that you will all be celebrating Thursday night and all weekend long.

I suppose that it would help if I gave the correct date. They are interviewing 9/9 not 9/2. All the best wishes in the world go out for the three couples.

[arizreynolds 1]

Ken, you are making me really jealous. hahaha. I envy the time that you are now spending together; not in a bad way. Just a little tired of the waiting. Willdefinitely try to head out to LA in the late winter/early Spring. I hope that good adjustment experience is not limited to the California crowd.

jajjaja i second that everytime i see kens picture it makes me also think about the time i will be spending with sandra and it makes it hard to wait

[Robert de Bonda 3]

jajjaja i second that everytime i see kens picture it makes me also think about the time i will be spending with sandra and it makes it hard to wait

It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't have that ear to ear grin going on. Now I know that that man is happy. God I want some of that happiness. There's always January (POE).

[Ken y Leidys 20]

It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't have that ear to ear grin going on. Now I know that that man is happy. God I want some of that happiness. There's always January (POE).

I remember the days and months creeping by until I could visit Leidys. I completely understand how it feels to wait and watch the calendar. The good thing, is you have time to get your life in order, complete schooling that would otherwise be difficult to complete, renovate your house, etc.

Although Leidys hasn't found work due to her difficulty in English, and fear of driving, she attends Adult School 3 nights per week, and she has made quite a few friends. Here is our latest Colombian convention - Annie's B-Day Party - attended by several Colombianas and some Peruvians, too.

[Robert de Bonda 3]

Ken, you are absolutely correct. In the past, I know that I have been spending more than enough time on the internet and not only with my fiancee. A few weeks ago, I decided that I would go to the new house and do something anything each day. I have gotten a lot done this way. Sometimes, when I am there working alone, I take a break and call Victoria. I tell her what I'm doing and the things that she understands (some things don't exist in the Colombian experience) she gives me inout on what I might do. Some things I do only because she wants it. I grew up in houses that were always painted some shade of off-white; she's getting a green bedroom. And because she's getting a green bedroom, I'm getting a blue bathroom.

[Robert de Bonda 3]

Another couple going for their interview tomorrow (9/10).

Best wishes go out to Jose Echeverry and Monica Trujillo.

Please let us know how it went and write a review of your day at the consulate.

Edited September 9, 2010 by Robert de Bonda

[ryna 132]

Good morning all and good luck to everyone having their interview today!

[Robert de Bonda 3]

Good luck to Barry & Maribel as they go for their interview tomorrow (9/2).

Congratulations to Barry and Maribel on the approval of their visa.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/273653-we-are-approved/page__gopid__4178648

[ryna 132]

How long should it take for the embassy to respond to an email request to confirm (physical) receipt of a casefile?

I sent a request on Tuesday but haven't received a response. I called yesterday between 2-4 and the lady told me it hadn't physically arrived yet but was in their system electronically. Will they wait until it has physically arrived to respond to my email? I sent another email this afternoon hoping to hear something by tomorrow. I don't really want to wait until next Wednesday to call again. We spent too much time at VSC and want to send Packet 3 just as soon as it hits their door to make up (a little) for lost time.

The case left NVC 10 days ago, so I don't really know why it isn't in Bogota yet.

Edited September 9, 2010 by ryna

[Ken y Leidys 20]

The case left NVC 10 days ago, so I don't really know why it isn't in Bogota yet.

I had a VJ friend named Lisa track my DHL package. I do not know how she did it, but she was 100% accurate. Perhaps, you can get someone to help you track your DHL package to Bogota? Once again, I don't know how this was done, but it helped with me planning my Package #3 shortcut.

[ryna 132]

I had a VJ friend named Lisa track my DHL package. I do not know how she did it, but she was 100% accurate. Perhaps, you can get someone to help you track your DHL package to Bogota? Once again, I don't know how this was done, but it helped with me planning my Package #3 shortcut.

Good tip... After seeing it, I went and found a thread here on VJ about it. If I did everything correctly, and NVC was correct in telling me that it left 8/31, it should have arrived in Bogota on 9/2. So, either they haven't opened the package yet, lost it or they didn't know what they were talking about when I called yesterday. Either way, they have so far ignored two emails.

Is IVBogota@state.gov the correct email for that question? Anyone know?