Colombia Club Part II

[jpcanon 0]

Thanks very much all for the kind wordsof support- I'm just hangin'....

Thanks,

Joe

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Hit 5 months of being in AP- talk about depressing... Good luck to the guys that have an October appointment at th embassy in Bogota!

Joe

Thanks, Joe. Just hang in there. I take it, you are not receiving email updates like Shane has been receiving? Just silence from the Embassy in Bogota?

-Ken

[Him and I 0]

I have a question...If a Colombian citizen has a civil marriage in Colombia, his or her Birth Certificate is gonna have a note saying that you are married. What about US citizens who get married abroad, how do they change their status? How do they proof they are married , how is that marriage legal in US ? Does their birth Certif. change as here ? Or just if they applied for a CR1 or IR1 Visa the government would update their data base ?

How does that work ?

[jpcanon 0]

Hit 5 months of being in AP- talk about depressing... Good luck to the guys that have an October appointment at th embassy in Bogota!

Joe

Thanks, Joe. Just hang in there. I take it, you are not receiving email updates like Shane has been receiving? Just silence from the Embassy in Bogota?

-Ken

Hey Ken,

No news at all- just I will send an email to the embassy and they always respond within a day or two, but just that it is in progress. That is all both my Congressman and Senator's offices have gotten, as well. I figure they must be investigating all her previous trips to the U.S. she made, before they pulled her tourist visa. I wish I knew what was taking so long, but they won't tell me nada - that is "classified" when I ask for any details. I am open for any suggestions, but otherwise I see no other options except to just wait until they "complete" their investigation......

Joe

[subguy812 1]

Hit 5 months of being in AP- talk about depressing... Good luck to the guys that have an October appointment at th embassy in Bogota!

Joe

Dude so sorry you have to go through this.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Greetings from Bogota, Colombia - the city shrowded in fog/clouds. I´m stationed exactly 2 blocks from the U.S. Embassy, but at the moment, on Carretera 70 waiting for Leidys´ Medical Exam to be completed. The city is a much different environment from the Northern Coast. Sightseeing is an activity reserved for the idle rich rather than a simple VJer like myself.

For Example: A trip into the nearby mountainside to check out a trendy brew pub would cost $45USD per person each way - taking the Transmilleniu Public Transportation. A simple day trip from Barranquilla to Santa Marta del Rodadero by comparision would cost roughly $45 for two persons, meal included. Leidys and I went this morning to have her TB and blood work performed, and I checked out this cool park on the mountainside near Carrera 38. The photography speaks volumes of the local environs, just too bad it is so expensive to travel the countryside.

With all of the Medical exams being completed today, Leidys and I plan to have a VJ reunion with some local Bogotans tomorrow afternoon. Wednesday morning is the Visa Interview, and we´re both anxious and excited for what is to come. WeLoveBogota.com has an excellent apartment that Leidys really loves. She keeps telling me the apartment is so nice, that it makes her feel as if we are already on our honeymoon ¨Luna de Miel¨. Pretty cool advice on the accomodations, VJ - we really love our hotelapartment!

Hasta muy pronto,

Ken

[jpcanon 0]

Hit 5 months of being in AP- talk about depressing... Good luck to the guys that have an October appointment at th embassy in Bogota!

Joe

Dude so sorry you have to go through this.

Hey Troy,

Thanks man- hope all is well there in Florida!

Joe

[jpcanon 0]

Greetings from Bogota, Colombia - the city shrowded in fog/clouds. I´m stationed exactly 2 blocks from the U.S. Embassy, but at the moment, on Carretera 70 waiting for Leidys´ Medical Exam to be completed. The city is a much different environment from the Northern Coast. Sightseeing is an activity reserved for the idle rich rather than a simple VJer like myself.

For Example: A trip into the nearby mountainside to check out a trendy brew pub would cost $45USD per person each way - taking the Transmilleniu Public Transportation. A simple day trip from Barranquilla to Santa Marta del Rodadero by comparision would cost roughly $45 for two persons, meal included. Leidys and I went this morning to have her TB and blood work performed, and I checked out this cool park on the mountainside near Carrera 38. The photography speaks volumes of the local environs, just too bad it is so expensive to travel the countryside.

With all of the Medical exams being completed today, Leidys and I plan to have a VJ reunion with some local Bogotans tomorrow afternoon. Wednesday morning is the Visa Interview, and we´re both anxious and excited for what is to come. WeLoveBogota.com has an excellent apartment that Leidys really loves. She keeps telling me the apartment is so nice, that it makes her feel as if we are already on our honeymoon ¨Luna de Miel¨. Pretty cool advice on the accomodations, VJ - we really love our hotelapartment!

Hasta muy pronto,

Ken

Big day coming for you guys- I am excited for you! I stayed in the same apartments when I was there in April- Alberto and Martha are the contacts, if I remember correctly....

Keep us posted and best of luck,

Joe

[james&adry 3]

Greetings from Bogota, Colombia - the city shrowded in fog/clouds. I´m stationed exactly 2 blocks from the U.S. Embassy, but at the moment, on Carretera 70 waiting for Leidys´ Medical Exam to be completed. The city is a much different environment from the Northern Coast. Sightseeing is an activity reserved for the idle rich rather than a simple VJer like myself.

For Example: A trip into the nearby mountainside to check out a trendy brew pub would cost $45USD per person each way - taking the Transmilleniu Public Transportation. A simple day trip from Barranquilla to Santa Marta del Rodadero by comparision would cost roughly $45 for two persons, meal included. Leidys and I went this morning to have her TB and blood work performed, and I checked out this cool park on the mountainside near Carrera 38. The photography speaks volumes of the local environs, just too bad it is so expensive to travel the countryside.

With all of the Medical exams being completed today, Leidys and I plan to have a VJ reunion with some local Bogotans tomorrow afternoon. Wednesday morning is the Visa Interview, and we´re both anxious and excited for what is to come. WeLoveBogota.com has an excellent apartment that Leidys really loves. She keeps telling me the apartment is so nice, that it makes her feel as if we are already on our honeymoon ¨Luna de Miel¨. Pretty cool advice on the accomodations, VJ - we really love our hotelapartment!

Hasta muy pronto,

Ken

Saludes amigos,

Ken, Adriana was so sad that Leidys never called her because she wanted to go out on Sunday . I hope you guys get to meet up and share your experiences as well as the medical portion. A very big GL on your interview. I am sure Leidys will get her visa. My case is still pending at the NVC for the CR1. I sent in the IV package monday last week overnight so they should be working on it by now. However, my impatience is like a shimmering crock pot soup waiting to explode lol. I try loggin in every day to see if I will get a login fail or call the NVC for updates but they keep on saying they are working on the packages and will inform us of the result with 4 weeks. Crapola i say! The good news is that the K3 interview was pushed far enough back to sufficiently allow my work to take the time off in advance to help support my wife in her endeavor. Also this allows for the CR1 to have enough time to be finished at the NVC as well. I am a bit curious though how they schedule interviews. The K3 date is set for November 19th but should the CR1 close out and be on the Embassy's proximity before the 15th maybe they will schedule this for an earlier date, no se. I am just curious is all and wouldnt mind it to being earlier but work constraints and all. I am doing it just like you all say and playing it by ear. I hope they are still lenient on interview dates as if they have the CR1 interview for December than I can still change it for our K3 interview date instead.

Woooot regardless that there is some good news to be passed. Adriana's best friend Julie is getting married so she will be going back to Barranquilla for 5 days on thursday. Ill take comfort in the fact that she will be spending time with her loved ones too as well as her friend. For me I will be planning to go to the Marine Core Ball in early November. Gotta get my dress blues in tact! Ok now I am just rambling but hey its almost 2am on a Tuesday morning and I am working the late night shift .

Oh yeah.. almost forgot to ask. With my pending reassignment (not a deployment) to Osan, South Korea. How should I go about filing Adriana's paperwork when she arrives here in January but we leave my post in Febuary en route to the other country. I am hoping that we will have no issues regarding our return back to the states in the future, like in 2011, after my time in Korea is done.

take care amigos,

PS- Joe I really am saddened your case has been taking so much time. I pray and continue to hope for the best.. On a separate note, what kind of work do you do that helps occupy your time?

Angie y Shane- I am also saddened how long yours has been taking too. I believe the embassy knows the sense of urgency that is at stake but why they are taking so long is beyond me. I wonder if the interconnected federal branches are involved and when they see a red flag in the system that one agency contacts the other and that one begins a field investigation. The field investigation sends out agents to unravel the facts about the persons being investigated much like the same way a Secret Clearance applicant has to go through when holding a classified level job. Just my thoughts.. but i hope for the best because your case seems so simple in itself.

James on a Tuesday morning

[Mononoke28 135]

James,

I'm assuming that you sent the DS-230 package when you say you sent the NVC the IV package. If so, it will take them about 1-2 weeks to complete the case. The NVC schedules appointments with the embassy during the first two weeks of the month for the following month, which means that you may have a chance of getting an interview for November if they complete the case by this week. If not, then they'll make your appointment with the embassy during the first two weeks of November for a December interview. It's all in the timing. Keep calling their automated system to hear the "your case has been completed" message. Then allow a couple days after that to get in touch with a customer service rep to find out if they were able to give you an appointment for November.

As far as your wife's stay overseas, you will have to contact the USCIS about that. Legal permanent residents should not stay out of the country for more than a year without permission. If she needs this permission, you will have to file form I-134 and wait for it to be approved so she can travel with you. It has to be approved before she leaves the US or they'll giver her a hard time when she gets back. Also, find out if there are special rules for military spouses who are in the US on a permanent residency. They may say that she'll be ok coming back given the fact that she was living with you overseas. There are many people in your situation so they may have exceptions to the rule when it comes to the military.

Diana

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Saludes amigos,

Ken, Adriana was so sad that Leidys never called her because she wanted to go out on Sunday . I hope you guys get to meet up and share your experiences as well as the medical portion. A very big GL on your interview. I am sure Leidys will get her visa.

I will get Leidys to call Adriana today. We are running around and getting stuff set up for the big day. Sunday, we had no cash, so we had to walk into the Industrial Sector of Bogota in search of an ATM, a restaurant, and groceries in San Andresito at Plaza Americas. When we got back to the hotel/apartment, we cooked dinner and were already wiped out.

We will get on it and call Adriana...

=============================================================================

Embassy discussion report time....

I´m revising some forms at the Internet cafe, and thanks to VJ, I am sure everything will go smoothly. The line outside the Embassy this afternoon was about 1,000 persons long. Some were dressed in Business suits, and had a real serious look on their faces. We had lunch at this great restaurant across the street from the Embassy, and we´re going back for dinner there with another VJ beneficiary. I´ll report back to what happens tomorrow....

[NArocks 13]

Go for it Ken Please come on ASAP and let us know

Joe I still think about ya

[jpcanon 0]

Greetings from Bogota, Colombia - the city shrowded in fog/clouds. I´m stationed exactly 2 blocks from the U.S. Embassy, but at the moment, on Carretera 70 waiting for Leidys´ Medical Exam to be completed. The city is a much different environment from the Northern Coast. Sightseeing is an activity reserved for the idle rich rather than a simple VJer like myself.

For Example: A trip into the nearby mountainside to check out a trendy brew pub would cost $45USD per person each way - taking the Transmilleniu Public Transportation. A simple day trip from Barranquilla to Santa Marta del Rodadero by comparision would cost roughly $45 for two persons, meal included. Leidys and I went this morning to have her TB and blood work performed, and I checked out this cool park on the mountainside near Carrera 38. The photography speaks volumes of the local environs, just too bad it is so expensive to travel the countryside.

With all of the Medical exams being completed today, Leidys and I plan to have a VJ reunion with some local Bogotans tomorrow afternoon. Wednesday morning is the Visa Interview, and we´re both anxious and excited for what is to come. WeLoveBogota.com has an excellent apartment that Leidys really loves. She keeps telling me the apartment is so nice, that it makes her feel as if we are already on our honeymoon ¨Luna de Miel¨. Pretty cool advice on the accomodations, VJ - we really love our hotelapartment!

Hasta muy pronto,

Ken

Saludes amigos,

Ken, Adriana was so sad that Leidys never called her because she wanted to go out on Sunday . I hope you guys get to meet up and share your experiences as well as the medical portion. A very big GL on your interview. I am sure Leidys will get her visa. My case is still pending at the NVC for the CR1. I sent in the IV package monday last week overnight so they should be working on it by now. However, my impatience is like a shimmering crock pot soup waiting to explode lol. I try loggin in every day to see if I will get a login fail or call the NVC for updates but they keep on saying they are working on the packages and will inform us of the result with 4 weeks. Crapola i say! The good news is that the K3 interview was pushed far enough back to sufficiently allow my work to take the time off in advance to help support my wife in her endeavor. Also this allows for the CR1 to have enough time to be finished at the NVC as well. I am a bit curious though how they schedule interviews. The K3 date is set for November 19th but should the CR1 close out and be on the Embassy's proximity before the 15th maybe they will schedule this for an earlier date, no se. I am just curious is all and wouldnt mind it to being earlier but work constraints and all. I am doing it just like you all say and playing it by ear. I hope they are still lenient on interview dates as if they have the CR1 interview for December than I can still change it for our K3 interview date instead.

Woooot regardless that there is some good news to be passed. Adriana's best friend Julie is getting married so she will be going back to Barranquilla for 5 days on thursday. Ill take comfort in the fact that she will be spending time with her loved ones too as well as her friend. For me I will be planning to go to the Marine Core Ball in early November. Gotta get my dress blues in tact! Ok now I am just rambling but hey its almost 2am on a Tuesday morning and I am working the late night shift .

Oh yeah.. almost forgot to ask. With my pending reassignment (not a deployment) to Osan, South Korea. How should I go about filing Adriana's paperwork when she arrives here in January but we leave my post in Febuary en route to the other country. I am hoping that we will have no issues regarding our return back to the states in the future, like in 2011, after my time in Korea is done.

take care amigos,

PS- Joe I really am saddened your case has been taking so much time. I pray and continue to hope for the best.. On a separate note, what kind of work do you do that helps occupy your time?

Angie y Shane- I am also saddened how long yours has been taking too. I believe the embassy knows the sense of urgency that is at stake but why they are taking so long is beyond me. I wonder if the interconnected federal branches are involved and when they see a red flag in the system that one agency contacts the other and that one begins a field investigation. The field investigation sends out agents to unravel the facts about the persons being investigated much like the same way a Secret Clearance applicant has to go through when holding a classified level job. Just my thoughts.. but i hope for the best because your case seems so simple in itself.

James on a Tuesday morning

Hey James,

Did ya go to bed yet? He he I actually work for Canon- as in cameras. I sell the television broadcast lenses, and have been at it for 20 years, covering 10 western states incuding Alaska and Hawaii. I live in Orange County, CA. - thanks for asking! Hey, you think we may be on some sorts double top secret probabtion or some ###### like that!!!! Who the hell knows.....

Joe

[james&adry 3]

"Hey James,

Did ya go to bed yet? He he I actually work for Canon- as in cameras. I sell the television broadcast lenses, and have been at it for 20 years, covering 10 western states incuding Alaska and Hawaii. I live in Orange County, CA. - thanks for asking! Hey, you think we may be on some sorts double top secret probabtion or some ###### like that!!!! Who the hell knows.....

Joe"

Joe,

Yeah I went to bed shortly after getting off work at 1045am or so just so I can get back up and do it all over again at 9pm yesterday night. I gotta love the night shift! Thats cool. My hometown is Temecula California and I definately miss it, especially Alberto's and their carne asada burritos haha. Well much props to your work, I really like Canon and own a very cool Digital Elph 650 from them thats done me a great amount of justice.

Diana,

Yeah I meant to say the DS230 along with the supporting docs for the IV package. I send this last monday and it was confirmed to arrive on Tuesday. Every day since Wednesday Ive been calling to check up on it but I keep getting the same response; 'keep checking with us the next week.' I found a wonderful thing when I began searching on the USCIS webpage for help for military dependants and their families. They seem to have a hotline available to us to answer the same questions I asked earlier. I guess that part should be easy for me. Anyway the main thing is if they process the IV package before halfway in October that they may schedule an interview for November or not. Either way I still can change the K3 that is on for November 19th to the CR1 like you all been saying right? Thats the biggest issue for me right there is if they will allow that to happen or not. Oh and Diana if your tired of scooping up after your cats get a LitterBox Robot. They are awesome!

Ken y Leidys- mucho buenos suertes for tomorrow bro. I hope all goes well!

[Jessica Carl 1]

Greetings from Bogota, Colombia - the city shrowded in fog/clouds. I´m stationed exactly 2 blocks from the U.S. Embassy, but at the moment, on Carretera 70 waiting for Leidys´ Medical Exam to be completed. The city is a much different environment from the Northern Coast. Sightseeing is an activity reserved for the idle rich rather than a simple VJer like myself.

For Example: A trip into the nearby mountainside to check out a trendy brew pub would cost $45USD per person each way - taking the Transmilleniu Public Transportation. A simple day trip from Barranquilla to Santa Marta del Rodadero by comparision would cost roughly $45 for two persons, meal included. Leidys and I went this morning to have her TB and blood work performed, and I checked out this cool park on the mountainside near Carrera 38. The photography speaks volumes of the local environs, just too bad it is so expensive to travel the countryside.

With all of the Medical exams being completed today, Leidys and I plan to have a VJ reunion with some local Bogotans tomorrow afternoon. Wednesday morning is the Visa Interview, and we´re both anxious and excited for what is to come. WeLoveBogota.com has an excellent apartment that Leidys really loves. She keeps telling me the apartment is so nice, that it makes her feel as if we are already on our honeymoon ¨Luna de Miel¨. Pretty cool advice on the accomodations, VJ - we really love our hotelapartment!

Hasta muy pronto,

Ken

Hi

I hope all went well with your interview today..Congrats

So how did you find Jessica last evening at dinner?