Colombia Club Part II

[bramirez04 2]

holy ####### guys...we have our interview next week March 31st...talk about short notice!!! Im stressing now

WOW that was super fast!!!!

Everything will be fine!! Goodluck!

[xelance 31]

the woman at the embassy who talked to my wife said we need translations for all documents...why the heck is that? We didnt need them at the NVC stage (we didnt send any of our documents though), so why would we need them now at the US embassy in Colombia when all of her documents are in the official language of Colombia? This is the weirdest thing...now I have to spend more money and just hope they are done in time for her interview. You would think that all of the embassy staff would be able to understand Spanish...I just dont get it.

[bramirez04 2]

hi all! i have two questions...we are waiting to get my husbands green card in the mail. My cousin owns his own company and he wants Juan to start working with him...my first question is when we recieve his green card will he be able to start working right away or do we have to wait until he gets a Social Security number? because he still doesn't have one i guess if we go to the SS office and show his green card they will mail him one right? thanks everyone!!

[Mononoke28 135]

Diana,

One more thing since I'm thinking about it and you are very knowledgeable about these things...

Do you know if the restriction on being in Colombia for at least 10 days prior to getting married applies to Church ceremonies if you are already married civilly outside of Colombia? I guess we need to know if we should plan for a one or two-week visit when we make our plans... The Church (here in the U.S.) said because we are already legally married, it is a slightly different thing (which makes since because we're not "marrying" twice.)

Thanks

ryna,

Uhmm... this is an iffy one because since you're already married, the religious wedding in Colombia will pretty much be symbolic. However, it is my understanding that a marriage that took place outside of Colombia needs to be registered there but I'm not really sure about that to be honest with you since I got married in Medellín. The best thing would be to ask the church personnel directly to find out what their requirements are.

Diana

[Mononoke28 135]

the woman at the embassy who talked to my wife said we need translations for all documents...why the heck is that? We didnt need them at the NVC stage (we didnt send any of our documents though), so why would we need them now at the US embassy in Colombia when all of her documents are in the official language of Colombia? This is the weirdest thing...now I have to spend more money and just hope they are done in time for her interview. You would think that all of the embassy staff would be able to understand Spanish...I just dont get it.

xelance,

The only time the US embassy requests for translations of all documents even if they're in English and Spanish, is when the applicants are doing Direct Consular Filing for either a CR or IR visa. That's the only time I've seen this. It seems to me, and it's the only logical explanation I can come up with, that since you skipped the NVC process by expediting your case, it will be treated by the embassy as DCF and that's why you're not only getting such a quick interview date, but also having to have translations of the civil documents.

Diana

[Mononoke28 135]

hi all! i have two questions...we are waiting to get my husbands green card in the mail. My cousin owns his own company and he wants Juan to start working with him...my first question is when we recieve his green card will he be able to start working right away or do we have to wait until he gets a Social Security number? because he still doesn't have one i guess if we go to the SS office and show his green card they will mail him one right? thanks everyone!!

He definitely needs to have a Social Security number to legally work anywhere in the US. He needs to take his green card with him to the SSA office so he can get one. They should be mailing him his card within 2-3 weeks.

Diana

[ryna 132]

ryna,

Uhmm... this is an iffy one because since you're already married, the religious wedding in Colombia will pretty much be symbolic. However, it is my understanding that a marriage that took place outside of Colombia needs to be registered there but I'm not really sure about that to be honest with you since I got married in Medellín. The best thing would be to ask the church personnel directly to find out what their requirements are.

Diana

Yeah... We spoke with the priest in Colombia a year ago (Wow!) when we were looking at possible Churches and we made it clear that it would be a ceremony several months or more after we were civilly married in the U.S. and he said it didn't matter if the Colombian ceremony was first because one wouldn't affect the other. He seemed surprised when I explained to him that the U.S. automatically recognizes all legal marriages regardless of where they were performed. Kind of a "Hmmm, interesting..." response. This leads me to believe that Colombia doesn't recognize our marriage automatically and may subject us to the 10-day wait unless we register it with the consulate first.

He definitely needs to have a Social Security number to legally work anywhere in the US. He needs to take his green card with him to the SSA office so he can get one. They should be mailing him his card within 2-3 weeks.

Diana

I agree.. The good news is it's with your cousin so you know he will wait the couple of weeks.

[xelance 31]

xelance,

The only time the US embassy requests for translations of all documents even if they're in English and Spanish, is when the applicants are doing Direct Consular Filing for either a CR or IR visa. That's the only time I've seen this. It seems to me, and it's the only logical explanation I can come up with, that since you skipped the NVC process by expediting your case, it will be treated by the embassy as DCF and that's why you're not only getting such a quick interview date, but also having to have translations of the civil documents.

Diana

yep, makes sense Diana...and now I found out they need to be notarized...woohoo.

[Mark and Carol 4]

hi all! i have two questions...we are waiting to get my husbands green card in the mail. My cousin owns his own company and he wants Juan to start working with him...my first question is when we recieve his green card will he be able to start working right away or do we have to wait until he gets a Social Security number? because he still doesn't have one i guess if we go to the SS office and show his green card they will mail him one right? thanks everyone!!

If Juan has his EAD card then he can go to SS office now for SSN...you don't have to wait for GC. Take his passport, EAD card, marriage license, & birth cert. and he should receive his SSN card in 1-2 weeks.

Edited March 24, 2011 by Mark and Carol

[DBAFra 1]

the woman at the embassy who talked to my wife said we need translations for all documents...why the heck is that? We didnt need them at the NVC stage (we didnt send any of our documents though), so why would we need them now at the US embassy in Colombia when all of her documents are in the official language of Colombia? This is the weirdest thing...now I have to spend more money and just hope they are done in time for her interview. You would think that all of the embassy staff would be able to understand Spanish...I just dont get it.

Congratulations and good luck. I just received my NVC letter today. My fiance is completing her paperwork now. I about to send an email to see if they received our packet, but I am a little nervous that we will get an interview too quickly. I was planning and/or hoping for May, because I plan to attend the interview with her. I guess we will have to roll the dice!

[xelance 31]

Congratulations and good luck. I just received my NVC letter today. My fiance is completing her paperwork now. I about to send an email to see if they received our packet, but I am a little nervous that we will get an interview too quickly. I was planning and/or hoping for May, because I plan to attend the interview with her. I guess we will have to roll the dice!

Thanks! We were an exception to the rule because we were expedited...I think you will be just fine. Normally they dont give you only a weeks notice lol...I would think your interview would be late April/May as you were planning on!

[bramirez04 2]

If Juan has his EAD card then he can go to SS office now for SSN...you don't have to wait for GC. Take his passport, EAD card, marriage license, & birth cert. and he should receive his SSN card in 1-2 weeks.

Thanks a lot...he didn't get his EAD card. we just got an email saying his green card was approved and we should recieve it in the mail soon. so we have to wait for his GC to come to go to the SS office.

[bramirez04 2]

My hubby got his GREEN CARD IN THE MAIL TODAY!!!! thank god!

[DanVanessaSiempre 0]

My hubby got his GREEN CARD IN THE MAIL TODAY!!!! thank god!

WOO-HOO!!! Congratulations!

[Ken y Leidys 20]

My hubby got his GREEN CARD IN THE MAIL TODAY!!!! thank god!

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S!!!

When Leidys received her Green Card, we headed straight for the International Border (2 hrs away) and partied like Rock Stars! Um, don't forget Juan Esteban's Passport and new Green Card!

San Felipe, Baja Mexico Norte!!

Miles of Shells!!

Ensenada, Baja Mexico

Driving Back to San Diego, California, USA