Bogota Interview Crisis

[Dallas Steve 0]

My interview is tomorrow morning at 7 AM and I have a problem which may crash the process. We have everything ready except the visa payment to Banco Helm. I went to Banco Helm this afternoon and they refused to take my money because they said I needed to bring the interview letter. The embassy instructions said nothing about that so I didn't bring the letter. The girl at Banco Helm said they have a branch near the US embassy which opens at the same time, 7 AM. The embassy says we can't be late to the interview. What should we do?

I'm thinking the best solution is for my fiancee to go to the Bank with her passport and the docs they need while I go to the embassy. I should be able to get into the embassy at 7, but will they let her get in 30 ninutes later? Can I do anything else to solve this problem at this time? I see now that I should've gone to the bank earlier, but I didn't know that the bank would refuse to take my money. If you can show me where the embassy says that I need to take that letter to Banco Helm I'd like to see that link. I can't find it.

Thanks mucho

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I'm thinking the best solution is for my fiancee to go to the Bank with her passport and the docs they need while I go to the embassy.

You're going to send your Fiancee to Banco Helm instead of the US Embassy for her Interview at 7 a.m. tomorrow? What have you been drinking???

[az110965 252]

"I'm thinking the best solution is for my fiancee to go to the Bank with her passport and the docs they need while I go to the embassy. I should be able to get into the embassy at 7, but will they let her get in 30 ninutes later?"

Not a good choice. If your fiancee is late to the Embassy they have the right to reschedule teh interview date (and it could take weeks to get another interview date).

Much better choice is for YOU to go to the bank (make a copy of the interview letter and her cedula - scan it at an internet cafe, they're all over Bogota), pay the interview fee and beat-feet to the Embassy. You'll be admitted inside (make sure YOU have YOUR passport), give your fiancee the receipt and you'll be good to go.

Good luck,

Alan

[Dallas Steve 0]

What have I been drinking? I've been drinking "Are they going to let her into the US embassy without her passport?"

The instructions in the appointment package says that the bank must affix a receipt to her passport.

So which is it? She goes to the embassy without her passport or she goes to the bank with her passport? I don't think the embassy will let her in without it. Am I wrong?

And I don't know if the bank will let me pay for someone whose passport is not mine. They may say that she has to do this in person. So if I'm inside, and I'm the petitioner will the embassy cancel the appointment outright because she's at the bank, or will they listen to me, the US citizen petitioner, and give her some more time to arrive? That still sounds best to me.

Now I'm going to have another drink.

Thanks

Edited April 14, 2010 by Dallas Steve

[Dallas Steve 0]

One other note. I called the embassy today and I spoke to a lady in the embassy who said that they would let her in if I was already inside. I also spoke to someone else at the embassy who said that if I was late that I would have to wait until 8:30 which is when they open their doors to US citizens. Either one of them may be wrong or they may be right.

Thanks

[dakay ♥ 10]

What have I been drinking? I've been drinking "Are they going to let her into the US embassy without her passport?"

The instructions in the appointment package says that the bank must affix a receipt to her passport.

So which is it? She goes to the embassy without her passport or she goes to the bank with her passport? I don't think the embassy will let her in without it. Am I wrong?

And I don't know if the bank will let me pay for someone whose passport is not mine. They may say that she has to do this in person. That's right, she is the only one person who can do the payment

So if I'm inside, and I'm the petitioner will the embassy cancel the appointment outright because she's at the bank, or will they listen to me, the US citizen petitioner, and give her some more time to arrive? That still sounds best to me. Could be, maybe another option is enter to the embassy together and then she can go out with permision to go the bank

Now I'm going to have another drink.

Thanks

is late to say this, but, she could pay without the letter, just needed the case number (BGTxxxx) is the only needed by the bank to confirm with the embassy.

[Dallas Steve 0]

yakad

Thank you for the suggestion. I almost didn't see it in my quoted passage. We think that is the best idea. We will go to the embassy together at 7 AM and ask for permission to go to the bank and pay the fees. That's why I posted this question here. I needed someone to think outside of the box for me. My mind is stressed out right now.

Thanks mucho

Steve

[dakay ♥ 10]

Another thing Steve, don´t forget to bring the ds-156 form, 2 copies

[Ken y Leidys 20]

yakad

Thank you for the suggestion. I almost didn't see it in my quoted passage. We think that is the best idea. We will go to the embassy together at 7 AM and ask for permission to go to the bank and pay the fees. That's why I posted this question here. I needed someone to think outside of the box for me. My mind is stressed out right now.

Thanks mucho

Steve

When I was at the Embassy in October, a young woman was there who did not have her visa fee paid and the Embassy told her that she could return to the Embassy with proof of payment of her $131 payment amount. Drink a Ron Medillin after its all over! Buena suerte!!

[Dallas Steve 0]

I'm happy to report that we went to the embassy at 7 AM together and they let us go to the bank a few hours later. It appeared that they were accustomed to handling this problem. We paid at the bank with no problem this time. And they granted the visa after talking to my fiancee and to me. I'm going back to Big D. That is, we're going to Big D.

Thanks mucho

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I'm happy to report that we went to the embassy at 7 AM together and they let us go to the bank a few hours later. It appeared that they were accustomed to handling this problem. We paid at the bank with no problem this time. And they granted the visa after talking to my fiancee and to me. I'm going back to Big D. That is, we're going to Big D.

Thanks mucho

That's good news! When the young woman who did not have her Visa fee paid told us her problems, I thought the worst, but she was told that she could pay the fee off-site and then return to pay the amount. I don't know if she was or was not approved eventually, but this shows the procedure is in place to help people who did not have a chance to pay their Visa fee.

[Audy_Rob 26]

I just love Happy Endings.

Congratulations

[dakay ♥ 10]

I'm happy to report that we went to the embassy at 7 AM together and they let us go to the bank a few hours later. It appeared that they were accustomed to handling this problem. We paid at the bank with no problem this time. And they granted the visa after talking to my fiancee and to me. I'm going back to Big D. That is, we're going to Big D.

Thanks mucho

congratulations!!! blessings in your new life together!

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I'm going back to Big D. That is, we're going to Big D.

Thanks mucho

Anytime I'm away from home for more than a week, I get homesick. Good going!