Colombia Club Part II

[parkpapa 0]

Ken,

The CO's can be a little hard to read when you are at the window..the only thing I got stuck on was when I was divorced, I couldn't remember...lol. But I asked her if she could help me if she had my divorce decree in front of her. The other thing they grilled me on was how we communicate. She asked me that like 3 different ways and I explained I speak Spanglish and Alexandra went to school for 15 months for English. But she was as cordial as she could be and I did not feel the least bit intimidated, near the end we engaged in a little bit of small talk about Bogota. Alexandra went to the window first and the CO wrote down all of her answers, verified and marked through the answers on her notepad as she ask me the same questions. I was very upbeat and very smiley during the entire process. They do watch your interaction together while you are waiting for your turn.

You will be fine...

I would try to avoid the "not look in your eyes" guy Joe had

From what I recall of the experience (more than two years now - wow!!), I tend to agree that the decision has been made before you arrive at the embassy. I also am pretty sure that they watch people in the waiting area to see how couples interact. The lady at our 'first window' was neither rude nor friendly, but she was moderately accomodating when we discovered we were missing one document (the 157 I think). The CO we had was the same, neither rude nor friendly. He did look at us, at least, when we talked to him. We got some of the same questions about communicating. My Spanish was awful (only a little better now) and Lorena spoke almost no English. I told the story of how we met and how it seemed that I could understand Lorena from the first word, when I had so much trouble with virtually everyone else.

My guess is that for the majority of these embassy folks, they are just putting in their time until something better comes along. I suspect it would get INCREDIBLY tedious and boring to be asking the same questions day after day of literally thousands of (eventually) faceless and nameless people. Almost like working in a factory. Not making excuses for anyone's behavior, mind you, just trying to envision what it would be like.

As I'm sure has been stated here a hundred times or more, be yourself, be honest, be calm, and be attentive - both to each other and to the officials at the embassy. If your relationship is real, it will show.

Charles

[Ken y Leidys 20]

The other thing they grilled me on was how we communicate. She asked me that like 3 different ways and I explained I speak Spanglish and Alexandra went to school for 15 months for English. But she was as cordial as she could be and I did not feel the least bit intimidated, near the end we engaged in a little bit of small talk about Bogota.

You will be fine...

I would try to avoid the "not look in your eyes" guy Joe had

The CO we had was the same, neither rude nor friendly. He did look at us, at least, when we talked to him. We got some of the same questions about communicating. My Spanish was awful (only a little better now) and Lorena spoke almost no English. I told the story of how we met and how it seemed that I could understand Lorena from the first word, when I had so much trouble with virtually everyone else.

As I'm sure has been stated here a hundred times or more, be yourself, be honest, be calm, and be attentive - both to each other and to the officials at the embassy. If your relationship is real, it will show.

Charles

Thanks guys for your input. This is giving me a good idea on what to look out for during the interview.

I first took Spanish in the 8th Grade, 9th-12th, then 1 qtr. at the University I attended. After graduation, I took a "brush-up" class in 1994. From there on, deterioration set in. My co-workers are from; Peru, Mexico, and Nicaragua. They literally taught every day, proud that I took such a keen interest in learning their native language. Now, I converse with them each day in Spanish for about 15 minutes while they ask me about my Visa Journey.

When I met Leidys' family for the first time, they wanted to know what Barrio I lived in (in Barranquilla). I told them, "No. I'm an American." At the hotel, and around town I was asked the same thing. Everyone that didn't know me said, "You're an American because your parents took you to America. American's can't speak Spanish - YOU'RE A COLOMBIAN!" The Spanish is pretty good, plus Leidys can't speak hardly a word of English. I'll be happy to explain (most or all of) this at the interview. Oh Yea!

-Ken

[jpcanon 0]

The other thing they grilled me on was how we communicate. She asked me that like 3 different ways and I explained I speak Spanglish and Alexandra went to school for 15 months for English. But she was as cordial as she could be and I did not feel the least bit intimidated, near the end we engaged in a little bit of small talk about Bogota.

You will be fine...

I would try to avoid the "not look in your eyes" guy Joe had

The CO we had was the same, neither rude nor friendly. He did look at us, at least, when we talked to him. We got some of the same questions about communicating. My Spanish was awful (only a little better now) and Lorena spoke almost no English. I told the story of how we met and how it seemed that I could understand Lorena from the first word, when I had so much trouble with virtually everyone else.

As I'm sure has been stated here a hundred times or more, be yourself, be honest, be calm, and be attentive - both to each other and to the officials at the embassy. If your relationship is real, it will show.

Charles

Thanks guys for your input. This is giving me a good idea on what to look out for during the interview.

I first took Spanish in the 8th Grade, 9th-12th, then 1 qtr. at the University I attended. After graduation, I took a "brush-up" class in 1994. From there on, deterioration set in. My co-workers are from; Peru, Mexico, and Nicaragua. They literally taught every day, proud that I took such a keen interest in learning their native language. Now, I converse with them each day in Spanish for about 15 minutes while they ask me about my Visa Journey.

When I met Leidys' family for the first time, they wanted to know what Barrio I lived in (in Barranquilla). I told them, "No. I'm an American." At the hotel, and around town I was asked the same thing. Everyone that didn't know me said, "You're an American because your parents took you to America. American's can't speak Spanish - YOU'RE A COLOMBIAN!" The Spanish is pretty good, plus Leidys can't speak hardly a word of English. I'll be happy to explain (most or all of) this at the interview. Oh Yea!

-Ken

Ken,

Ha- yes, I thought you were from "Barrio Riverside!" Good luck on your upcoming interview!

Joe

[Him and I 0]

OMG !!! Visa APPROVED !!!

Wow my knees are still shaking. We are so excited! Everything went nice and organized. My hubby went with me, but they didn't asked him anything.

This is my visa experience: I know there is a special site for this but I just want to share my experience with my Colombian club II !

-We got there about 6:30am (we didn't wanted to miss the "breakfast included" from the hotel)

-Line # 2, you get a green sticker for Immigrant visa applicants.

-Embassy opens gate at 7 am

-We went straight to 40 window, they give u a green folder where u organize your documents:

-They actually listed the baptismal certificate, thank God I got it. They kept it.

-Marriage, Birth, Police Certificate (they had the original I submited a fotocopy), 2 pictures 5"x5", DS230, Financial evidence (AOS, 3 most recent years tax returns, they had it so they gave them back), your passport.

-About 8:45 they called me to a window to check my docs. (4 , 29 to 32)

-9:45 fingerprints

-11:00 Interview, a very sweet and nice CO smiling, just 3 questions and she said the magic words "your visa has been approved" OMG !

-I just turned and kissed and hugged my hubby, he didn't get it right away, he was so surpised. Because other people were taking about 20 minutes per interview.

- then we went to pay Domesa, and that was it !

The order that you are called is aleatory, some people were fingerprinted after me, and they were interviwed first, so be patient.

I want to thank all of you for the advices, specially Mononoke, girl you've been a great help. Good luck for everyone, be organized and prepared and everything goes good. Just submit what they ask you but keep with all what you consider extra or not necesary. Bring a lot of proof of relationship, better safe than sorry.

[subguy812 1]

OMG !!! Visa APPROVED !!!

Wow my knees are still shaking. We are so excited! Everything went nice and organized. My hubby went with me, but they didn't asked him anything.

This is my visa experience: I know there is a special site for this but I just want to share my experience with my Colombian club II !

-We got there about 6:30am (we didn't wanted to miss the "breakfast included" from the hotel)

-Line # 2, you get a green sticker for Immigrant visa applicants.

-Embassy opens gate at 7 am

-We went straight to 40 window, they give u a green folder where u organize your documents:

-They actually listed the baptismal certificate, thank God I got it. They kept it.

-Marriage, Birth, Police Certificate (they had the original I submited a fotocopy), 2 pictures 5"x5", DS230, Financial evidence (AOS, 3 most recent years tax returns, they had it so they gave them back), your passport.

-About 8:45 they called me to a window to check my docs. (4 , 29 to 32)

-9:45 fingerprints

-11:00 Interview, a very sweet and nice CO smiling, just 3 questions and she said the magic words "your visa has been approved" OMG !

-I just turned and kissed and hugged my hubby, he didn't get it right away, he was so surpised. Because other people were taking about 20 minutes per interview.

- then we went to pay Domesa, and that was it !

The order that you are called is aleatory, some people were fingerprinted after me, and they were interviwed first, so be patient.

I want to thank all of you for the advices, specially Mononoke, girl you've been a great help. Good luck for everyone, be organized and prepared and everything goes good. Just submit what they ask you but keep with all what you consider extra or not necesary. Bring a lot of proof of relationship, better safe than sorry.

Congratulations! It seems you had a easy time, mine was not much more intense...but in a nutshell exactly how the procedure goes. I would agree you never know for sure who you are going to talk to through the "prison phone" so have all of your proof of relationship, although they never asked us for one additional piece of anything. I couldn't figure out the rhyme or reason to the order they were calling, based on the order of fingerprinting etc..

[jpcanon 0]

OMG !!! Visa APPROVED !!!

Wow my knees are still shaking. We are so excited! Everything went nice and organized. My hubby went with me, but they didn't asked him anything.

This is my visa experience: I know there is a special site for this but I just want to share my experience with my Colombian club II !

-We got there about 6:30am (we didn't wanted to miss the "breakfast included" from the hotel)

-Line # 2, you get a green sticker for Immigrant visa applicants.

-Embassy opens gate at 7 am

-We went straight to 40 window, they give u a green folder where u organize your documents:

-They actually listed the baptismal certificate, thank God I got it. They kept it.

-Marriage, Birth, Police Certificate (they had the original I submited a fotocopy), 2 pictures 5"x5", DS230, Financial evidence (AOS, 3 most recent years tax returns, they had it so they gave them back), your passport.

-About 8:45 they called me to a window to check my docs. (4 , 29 to 32)

-9:45 fingerprints

-11:00 Interview, a very sweet and nice CO smiling, just 3 questions and she said the magic words "your visa has been approved" OMG !

-I just turned and kissed and hugged my hubby, he didn't get it right away, he was so surpised. Because other people were taking about 20 minutes per interview.

- then we went to pay Domesa, and that was it !

The order that you are called is aleatory, some people were fingerprinted after me, and they were interviwed first, so be patient.

I want to thank all of you for the advices, specially Mononoke, girl you've been a great help. Good luck for everyone, be organized and prepared and everything goes good. Just submit what they ask you but keep with all what you consider extra or not necesary. Bring a lot of proof of relationship, better safe than sorry.

VERY COOL- CONGRATS to you guys!!!

Joe

[HAL 9000 96]

Congratulations!!!

May I ask one favor for those going into interviews soon?

If you dare... talk with Joe about mentioning to the COs... about their knowledge of his delayed AP... maybe they'll snap to work a little faster and push it through.

[Mr Twister 1]

Can anyone please give us an example of how many days it took you to recieve your visa?

[Mononoke28 134]

I want to thank all of you for the advices, specially Mononoke, girl you've been a great help. Good luck for everyone, be organized and prepared and everything goes good. Just submit what they ask you but keep with all what you consider extra or not necesary. Bring a lot of proof of relationship, better safe than sorry.

Congratulations to you both!!!!!

Diana

[NArocks 13]

Congrats on the approval

Joe still thinking about ya though just to let you know

People always say I have to have latin in my blood also sonce i speak Spanish so well, but i grew up in Miami ( Little Havana area ) so I picked it up when I was about 13 Diana and Hal can attest that I can not write it for nothing

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Ken,

Ha- yes, I thought you were from "Barrio Riverside!" Good luck on your upcoming interview!

Joe

Riverside was primarily White when I was growing up here in the 1980s. In the 90s, places like Temecula, Banning, Murietta, and Yucaipa grew/expanded. After the divorce, I could have bought in any of these places, but being African-American, I have not had to endure skin head intimidation here like I have had to deal with in places like Palm Springs, Sun City, Huntington Beach, and even in Scandinavia. So, I chose to buy in Riverside and stay in Riverside because I haven't had to deal with gangs like the Nazi Lowriders, or the Ku Klux Klan - although, I spotted a guy in the local grocery store with a KKK tattoo on his right rear calf muscle (wearing shorts, of course). He was shocked that I saw his tattoo, and even more shocked that I did not go hands-on inside of the grocery store. Just a little inside info...

[jpcanon 0]

Congrats on the approval

Joe still thinking about ya though just to let you know

People always say I have to have latin in my blood also sonce i speak Spanish so well, but i grew up in Miami ( Little Havana area ) so I picked it up when I was about 13 Diana and Hal can attest that I can not write it for nothing

Thanks very much for the thoughts...

Joe

[jpcanon 0]

Ken,

Ha- yes, I thought you were from "Barrio Riverside!" Good luck on your upcoming interview!

Joe

Riverside was primarily White when I was growing up here in the 1980s. In the 90s, places like Temecula, Banning, Murietta, and Yucaipa grew/expanded. After the divorce, I could have bought in any of these places, but being African-American, I have not had to endure skin head intimidation here like I have had to deal with in places like Palm Springs, Sun City, Huntington Beach, and even in Scandinavia. So, I chose to buy in Riverside and stay in Riverside because I haven't had to deal with gangs like the Nazi Lowriders, or the Ku Klux Klan - although, I spotted a guy in the local grocery store with a KKK tattoo on his right rear calf muscle (wearing shorts, of course). He was shocked that I saw his tattoo, and even more shocked that I did not go hands-on inside of the grocery store. Just a little inside info...

Ken, Very interesting story- thanks for sharing it....you're a good man! I'm in Orange County, as you know, so when you get back from your interview, we definately gotta get together.

Joe

[Angie Y Shane 2]

Our case was put in AP process the day after the interview. I heard this is normal? has anyone in Bogota embassy went threw Ap and what seems to be the average time of this?

Does anyone know if they call you in for a second interview also?

[subguy812 1]

Can anyone please give us an example of how many days it took you to recieve your visa?

I think I remember it being about a week..

Congratulations!!!

May I ask one favor for those going into interviews soon?

If you dare... talk with Joe about mentioning to the COs... about their knowledge of his delayed AP... maybe they'll snap to work a little faster and push it through.

It may be best to not mention Joe within a 5 mile radius of the embassy...joking buddy