Colombia Club Part II

[Mononoke28 135]

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!

Dude, I got something like that Robot thing for my cats and they hated it as much as I did. You coudln't put a lot of litter in them because it would get stuck and not having enough of it is just a mess. So needless to say, I gave it away.

Anyway, to answer your question, yes. If the CR1 case is completed and sent to the embassy BEFORE your K3 appointment, then you cand ask the embassy to interview you for a CR1 instead. Make sure they have your case with them or they won't process it and interview you for a K3 which is the paperwork they currently have.

Diana

[Mononoke28 135]

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.

Ken,

When we stayed at the apartment we went to the Gran Estación shopping mall to get cash from one of the bank's ATM machines. I think it was Davivienda. Plus it's inside the mall which makes it a bit safer.

Also, we took a cab to the Salitre shopping mall which has an Exito store to buy our groceries. We bought a few frozen lasagnas and baked them in the apartment a couple of times. We also went to the little store across the street to get tamales during the weekend for breakfast. They were deeelish and only $3k pesos each.

Diana

Edited October 7, 2009 by Mononoke28

[jpcanon 0]

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....

Ken,

Good news? I sure hope so, man.........

Joe

[Ken y Leidys 20]

HEY VJ -- WE WERE APPROVED YESTERDAY!!!

I have LOTS of comments related to our 15 minute interview yesterday. I have to leave for work right now, though. The CO didn't ask Leidys a single question. All he wanted to know was, "Where did SHE go?"

[Mononoke28 135]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Diana

[jimboy 0]

HEY VJ -- WE WERE APPROVED YESTERDAY!!!

I have LOTS of comments related to our 15 minute interview yesterday. I have to leave for work right now, though. The CO didn't ask Leidys a single question. All he wanted to know was, "Where did SHE go?"

And another congradulations. I don't think this good news could be for a better couple. My fiancee's interview is October 22nd (still haven't gotten the actual appointment letter) so we are all anxiously awaiting your report of the interview. Your "story" has been very interesting, and only the best for you and Leidy in the future.

[jpcanon 0]

HEY VJ -- WE WERE APPROVED YESTERDAY!!!

I have LOTS of comments related to our 15 minute interview yesterday. I have to leave for work right now, though. The CO didn't ask Leidys a single question. All he wanted to know was, "Where did SHE go?"

CONGRATS!!!

[CristianAmour 1]

Hey guys, just a simple question!

When everything is completed at the NVC, they schedule your appointment at the embassy, right? Well, how about that paper that you have to mail the embassy to let them know you're ready for the interview? Have I been reading wrong?

Thaks a bunch!

HEY VJ -- WE WERE APPROVED YESTERDAY!!!

Heeeeeey, congratulations!! That's great!! I can't wait to be in your place!!

[Mononoke28 135]

Hey guys, just a simple question!

When everything is completed at the NVC, they schedule your appointment at the embassy, right? Well, how about that paper that you have to mail the embassy to let them know you're ready for the interview? Have I been reading wrong?

Thaks a bunch!

Yes, for CR1/IR1 visas the NVC of that after they complete the case. They make the appointment with the embassy during the first two weeks of the month for the following month. After the appointment is made they mail packet 4 to both, the petitioner and the beneficiary.

The paper you're talking about is for K1/K3 visas only. The reason why they have to mail that signed form is because the NVC didn't make an appointment for them when they sent the case to the embassy. Once the embassy receives this form from the beneficiary, they schedulethe appointment for the interview.

Diana

[Ken y Leidys 20]

My fiancee's interview is October 22nd (still haven't gotten the actual appointment letter) so we are all anxiously awaiting your report of the interview. Your "story" has been very interesting, and only the best for you and Leidy in the future.

Where to start? Diana, thank you for info on Saltre Plaza and the Exito there. Leidys and I realized it was the closest place for us to shop. We hired a taxi on Monday to take us up the street to an Olympica in a nearby, but seedy section of Bogota where we bought some essentials to carry us through Thursday. We ended up not needing most of that food, and just giving it away to a friend of a friend as Leidys and I had so much to carry home to our respective destinations.

We were told to line up outside of the Embassy at line #3. We were then told to remove our jackets, belts, cell phones and PDAs, etc. From there, we entered into an airport/TSA-style inspection station where we were carefully searched. With Passports and Letters of Invitation in our hands, we breezed through and walked to the far-side of the grounds where a small circular table was set up for us to file our requested items in a large manila folder (or "Carpeta" in Spanish). Inside of this manila folder, was a list of instructions, and an order of the forms which we needed to have placed inside. Once this was complete, Leidys was called to another window where she handed this Carpeta to the person on the other side of the window.

Realize, that you will be sitting outside in a covered tent parking-lot with steel-wire chairs - you're not inside of a carpeted, climate-controlled building as I had pictured.

After Leidys handed her folder to the receptionist behind the bullet-proof window (movie theatre style w/steel prison phone to speak to the person), we were asked to sit directly on the other side of the parking lot nearest window #2 for our actual CO Interview. A receptionist sitting on a stool called Leidys up to have her finger prints taken and a nice gentleman was behind her, inside of the building, watching our movements and studying our body language. I spotted him looking us over for easily 10 minutes while he was speaking to a woman beside him about something.

It was obvious that with our arms around each other, talking attentively to each other in a loving manner that we were a legitimate couple. But, this was not actually confirmed until our "Pruebas" were given to him, containing so many photographs, love letters, telephone calling card recepts, etc. were slid under the bullet-proof glass. Leidys was not asked a single question, but after giving my oath to tell the truth, I was asked a battery of questions regarding my accent (which he thought sounded as if it was from the Bahamas or Trinidad) while he examined my Birth Certificate from Southern California, dates that we met, dates of my dissolution of my prior K-1 with Onelis Pinedo, and so forth. As I was asked the specific date that we met, my eyes were being studied as if under a microscope. I was asked specific details regarding our first date, why I broke up with Onelis, did I feel I did a sufficient job in closing my K-1 case with her, and how I found Leidys to be special to me.

I watched in surprise as ALL OF OUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND PROOFS WERE KEPT AND NOT GIVEN BACK TO US. These items contained a significant sentimental value to each of us, but they were no longer in our possession. We could have requested black and white photocopies of these items, but Xerox copies aren't quite the same.

After we were told a 2nd time that we were APPROVED (I misinterpreted the CO's words and nearly freaked out in public), we walked to the center of the parking-lot, 1,000 person steel chair, waiting area to the Diomesa building (VISA ACCEPTED), and paid our 56,000 COP K-1 Visa shipping charge, and at 11:20 a.m., we were on our way back to the apartment/hotel, and off to lunch to celebrate. :dance:

[CristianAmour 1]

...and off to lunch to celebrate. :dance:

Congratulations again, and again. I'm actually pretty happy for you guys!

Hope we get there soooooooon!!

Yes, for CR1/IR1 visas the NVC of that after they complete the case. They make the appointment with the embassy during the first two weeks of the month for the following month. After the appointment is made they mail packet 4 to both, the petitioner and the beneficiary.

Diana

Thank you very much, Diana. That clears it up for us!

[Ken y Leidys 20]

...and off to lunch to celebrate. :dance:

Congratulations again, and again. I'm actually pretty happy for you guys!

Hope we get there soooooooon!!

What was your NOA1 date???

[CristianAmour 1]

What was your NOA1 date???

Hmm April 1st. Right now we're at the NVC and about to send the Affidavit of Support! We're actually gonna hold back a little with the IV Package because I won't be able to return to Colombia until December and we don't want the interview to happen until the end of Dec. or January..

I can't wait to get to that day though! And be as happy as you guys are.

[subguy812 1]

HEY VJ -- WE WERE APPROVED YESTERDAY!!!

I have LOTS of comments related to our 15 minute interview yesterday. I have to leave for work right now, though. The CO didn't ask Leidys a single question. All he wanted to know was, "Where did SHE go?"

Ken,

Congratulations!!

Troy

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Ken,

Congratulations!!

Troy

Muchas Gracias, Troy! It was a long week, but it is finally/already Saturday! Time for a beer..