Colombia Club Part II

[PanamaJack 1]

Uncle Sam is currently in conference trying to decide whether or not to increase the fee. Until they make a decision, the fee remains $131. I hope they take their time deciding!

Mark,

I hope you are right..I will be in Bogota in 5 weeks.... As of now I am planning on the current fee.. but will be prepered for the $350.00 cost. whatever it takes at this point to get Maria here ASAP ! I want this to be over and done with .......Hope that Carol feels better and gets the missing info that you need for the DS-230.....Good luck with that...

Drew

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Mark,

I hope you are right..I will be in Bogota in 5 weeks.... As of now I am planning on the current fee.. but will be prepered for the $350.00 cost. whatever it takes at this point to get Maria here ASAP !

It looks like the proposal to change the current $131.00 fee to $350.00 is in a public comment period. I might be wrong, but I did not find anything on-line indicating a change to take place soon. Get your K-1s and get married is my advice. I'm happy with my Barranquierra!

[PanamaJack 1]

Ken,

You mentioned possibly getting stuck in AP..I did my reasearch on this and from what I can see the people that go to AP have issues with DAS or the SO was not at the interview or the relationship was questionable. I work for the US Gov. and included that evidence with my I-129F petition.I will be at the interview in 38 days. I do not forsee a problem.. Your timeline is not up to date so I cannot see where you are in the process.. What are the reasons that you know of why people are put into AP ? BTW my Marriage

is planned for 7-4-10....

Drew

Edited April 4, 2010 by PanamaJack

[jpcanon 0]

Ken,

You mentioned possibly getting stuck in AP..I did my reasearch on this and from what I can see the people that go to AP have issues with DAS or the SO was not at the interview or the relationship was questionable. I work for the US Gov. and included that evidence with my I-129F petition.I will be at the interview in 38 days. I do not forsee a problem.. Your timeline is not up to date so I cannot see where you are in the process.. What are the reasons that you know of why people are put into AP ? BTW my Marriage

is planned for 7-4-10....

Drew

Some reasons are: previous marriage by the Colombian person, maybe a tourist visa revoked, many trips outside Colombia- things like that can set off a red flag! Most people don't get AP, but it can be a short wait or in my case, it was 8 1/2 months, which sucked big time!

Joe

[Tech-MoLeidy 1]

Mark,

I hope you are right..I will be in Bogota in 5 weeks.... As of now I am planning on the current fee.. but will be prepered for the $350.00 cost. whatever it takes at this point to get Maria here ASAP ! I want this to be over and done with .......Hope that Carol feels better and gets the missing info that you need for the DS-230.....Good luck with that...

Drew

With interview date in hand you can just go down and pay your $131 now, can you not? I can see them saying no, go back and pay another $219 on day of interview....... I wouldn't wait the 5 weeks...

[dakay ♥ 10]

What are the reasons that you know of why people are put into AP ? BTW my Marriage

is planned for 7-4-10....

Drew

don't panic Drew, the whole AP is a huge mistery to most of us. Anyone can get an AP, it could be because people provide incomplete paperwork, insufficient evidence (tax information, Das certificate, something with the medical test...)

I pray your interview goes very well and your visa is approved. More couples get their visa approved than get placed on AP. Focus on the positive!!!

p.s. Congrats for your future wedding!

[PanamaJack 1]

Some reasons are: previous marriage by the Colombian person, maybe a tourist visa revoked, many trips outside Colombia- things like that can set off a red flag! Most people don't get AP, but it can be a short wait or in my case, it was 8 1/2 months, which sucked big time!

Joe

Ok Thanks for the answer..That 8 1/2 must have felt like forever..I would have been pissed big time as you were.

Edited April 4, 2010 by PanamaJack

[PanamaJack 1]

don't panic Drew, the whole AP is a huge mistery to most of us. Anyone can get an AP, it could be because people provide incomplete paperwork, insufficient evidence (tax information, Das certificate, something with the medical test...)

I pray your interview goes very well and your visa is approved. More couples get their visa approved than get placed on AP. Focus on the positive!!!

p.s. Congrats for your future wedding!

Thank You...... People here at VJ for the most part are great . Then you always shev someone who likes to get people thinking in another dirrectiuon.. You have to see the source where it starts and almost every time it is someone with issues themselves.

Thanks Again

Drew

[PanamaJack 1]

With interview date in hand you can just go down and pay your $131 now, can you not? I can see them saying no, go back and pay another $219 on day of interview....... I wouldn't wait the 5 weeks...

I did not know that we can pay for it this far out. She has not even done her medical yet. They just mailed it to her on

3-31-10 then came the holiday and everything is closed till tomorrow..

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Ken,

You mentioned possibly getting stuck in AP..I did my reasearch on this and from what I can see the people that go to AP have issues with DAS or the SO was not at the interview or the relationship was questionable. I work for the US Gov. and included that evidence with my I-129F petition.I will be at the interview in 38 days. I do not forsee a problem.. Your timeline is not up to date so I cannot see where you are in the process.. What are the reasons that you know of why people are put into AP ? BTW my Marriage

is planned for 7-4-10....

Drew

Drew,

In my situation, I had a previous K-1 that I ordered my Attorney to have closed. The Beneficiary was a vascilona who abandoned me and the relationship when her Packet 3 information arrived in the mail at her house. I definitely had to attend our interview in Bogota, because of the fact that this previous K-1 could have presented a red flag to the CO (I was cross-examined for 10 minutes regarding this past relationship during the interview). The CO was impressed with the fact that my Mother traveled with me to Barranquilla last July ('09) to meet Leidys' family, so there was no doubt that this was a serious relationship. Had I not attended this interview, it is questionable where my K-1 would have ended up.

When Leidys received her K-1 approval, and we walked to the DOMESA kiosk within the US Embassy grounds, we were told the K-1 would arrive approximately, "5 working days later." Those 5 working days were actually 7 working days (9 calendar days). The catch is that Leidys was not contacted by DOMESA as to the packages arrival. She had to catch the delivery office personnel when they were in their office, and wait outside in Downtown Barranquilla to receive her package - 13 calendar days later.

Had I purchased her one-way BAQ to LAX ticket with the understanding that she would receive her Colombian Passport and K-1 single-entry permit on or before October 14, 2009 -- without some sort of travel insurance or refund, I would have been out of $670.00 from COPA Airlines. Not good!

I'm not going to comment on other people's Colombian K-1s in a public forum, but I think it would be prudent on your part to purchase a refundable ticket if you must purchase this ticket immediately.

Your Packet 4 paperwork (page 2) states:

No assurance can be given in advance that a visa will be issued. Your case will be carefully reviewed by a Consular Officer to determine your eligibility based on the immigration laws of the United States. You are advised not to make any travel arrangements, such as giving up your job, selling your property or buying your tickets, until after your visa has been issued.

[PanamaJack 1]

Ken,

Thanks for explaining your situation to me. I have a prior K-1 marriage from 2002 also a Colombiana. I divorced her in 2006

As far as the Domesa office. There is an option to pick it up at their office in Bogota. Don't you agree that this is a time saving way of doing it? I agree with you on the airline ticket. To get a refundable ticket is like an extra $550 . The ticket does not even cost this much to New York City area. I called Jet Blue and they said if you buy the ticket and cancell the day of the flight you must give then another date and the fee is only $40.00. Can't go wrong there and the cancellation fee is $100.00 with your money already paid credited toward another ticket when you have a firm date. So for me it is no feasible to get a refundable ticket with this information in hand as of last night. So you never proceeded with the 1st. K1 Correct? I have my divorce documents that were sent in with the

petition from the K-1 from 2002. I do not see where the consulate would have issues with what I did with my life in 2002. Things did not work out. She wanted me to bring over other family members. I said no and she changed as a person So I divorced her. End of strory.

Drew

Edited April 4, 2010 by PanamaJack

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Ken,

Thanks for explaining your situation to me. I have a prior K-1 marriage from 2002 also a Colombiana. I divorced her in 2006

As far as the Domesa office. There is an option to pick it up at their office in Bogota. Don't you agree that this is a time saving way of doing it? I agree with you on the airline ticket. To get a refundable ticket is like an extra $550 . The ticket does not even cost this much to New York City area. I called Jet Blue and they said if you buy the ticket and cancell the day of the flight you must give then another date and the fee is only $40.00. Can't go wrong there and the cancellation fee is $100.00 with your money already paid credited toward another ticket when you have a firm date. So for me it is no feasible to get a refundable ticket with this information in hand as of last night. So you never proceeded with the 1st. K1 Correct? I have my divorce documents that were sent in with the

petition from the K-1 from 2002. I do not see where the consulate would have issues with what I did with my life in 2002. Things did not work out. She wanted me to bring over other family members. I said no and she changed as a person So I divorced her. End of strory.

Drew

Drew - My wife was not even contacted by Domesa when her package arrived at the delivery office in Barranquilla. I asked her to call daily until it arrived, because I became worried that something was amiss. I agree with you that going directly to their delivery office is your best option. I also agree with you that JetBlue has a great policy regarding changing flight plans.

I never proceeded with my first K-1 because she never had my best interest at heart. Thankfully, things terminated promptly and I was able to continue with my life, and eventually marry the greatest woman I ever met. However, the CO had several questions regarding these decisions that were made for me by my first K-1 beneficiary.

With regards to your being divorced, be prepared to explain your situation to the Consular Officer, but I do not forsee any problems related to your irreconcilable differences in your previous marriage. Good luck with everything, and I'm sure your eyes are open to things you were not aware of when you met your previous wife. In my case, I was definitely aware of exactly who I was involving myself with.

[PanamaJack 1]

Drew - My wife was not even contacted by Domesa when her package arrived at the delivery office in Barranquilla. I asked her to call daily until it arrived, because I became worried that something was amiss. I agree with you that going directly to their delivery office is your best option. I also agree with you that JetBlue has a great policy regarding changing flight plans.

I never proceeded with my first K-1 because she never had my best interest at heart. Thankfully, things terminated promptly and I was able to continue with my life, and eventually marry the greatest woman I ever met. However, the CO had several questions regarding these decisions that were made for me by my first K-1 beneficiary.

With regards to your being divorced, be prepared to explain your situation to the Consular Officer, but I do not forsee any problems related to your irreconcilable differences in your previous marriage. Good luck with everything, and I'm sure your eyes are open to things you were not aware of when you met your previous wife. In my case, I was definitely aware of exactly who I was involving myself with.

Ken, You got that right my man.. Eyes are wide open on this one..Have a Happy Easter.. I'm going out to a relatives for some chow..

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Ken, You got that right my man.. Eyes are wide open on this one..Have a Happy Easter.. I'm going out to a relatives for some chow..

Happy Easter!! Feliz Dia De Pascua!!

Leidys and I are meeting and having dinner with Colombia Club II member Caliboylost27 and his beneficiary for Easter dinner tonight.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Yesterday, Leidys and I visited with James and Adriana Dailey. Very great people, and Colombia Club II members.

James and Adriana Dailey discussed their 12 month deployment to South Korea and Visa implication as a result of staying out of the country for extended lengths of time.

We had a wonderful time with our Colombia Club II meet and greet. We hope to visit with them when they return in the future!