Colombia Club

[Chester y Monica 2]

the same thing happened to my husband and i . we never recieved packet 3 or 4. and we also called and got no answer. so, we sent a fax and miraculously received packet 4 2 days later.

I just looked at your timeline and your interview is on 9/5. We'll probably be bumping into each other getting the LAB and medical done.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Hi Chester...I don't know if this will help your problem but maybe you could try to contact USCIS and get past the customer service people to speak to an agent...the agent may be able to pull some strings at the embassy to get the info you need.

good luck and keep me posted, Scott

Scott,

Just to guide you a little bit more, the USCIS has nothing to do with the embassy. Once they approve the petition, they send it to the NVC and they're done.

Diana

Thanks Diana...this saves me from spinning my wheels when the time comes for us!!!!

Scott

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

I was referring to the actual interview letter. Jediknight posted a sample of his wife's for me to copy and make my own just in case we don't get the letter on time. I know it probably sounded like a far fetched idea but hell, I was just brainstorming

Thanks for the clarification Diana.

Lo and behold. I just got home from a week of business trips and I get a nice manila envelope from the embassy in Bogota. It contains the appointment letter and date, Packet 4 instructions plus other related information regarding vaccinations and bank offices.

Is this the norm? The petitioner in the US getting copies/notices of the same information sent to the beneficiary. I don't recall reading this in the forums. Not that I'm complaining, but maybe the process has changed a bit.

Chester,

I,m happy to see that you received a copy of packet 4...did Monica also receive her copies of packet 4 ?

Scott

[Mike and Adriana 0]

There continues to be some confusion regarding the short-cut to packet 3; not sure why. The instructions below are the original short-cut posted by the founder of this thread, Peter. I was one of Peter's early "disciples" and can attest that this short-cut works. As noted in other posts, the passport copy if not required, but helps to reduce possibility of error. Faxing should be sufficient, but if you are the nervous type or the mid-month cut-off is looming, then sending by courier is also suggested.

Mike

Shortcut - Fax packet 3 to the embassy. This will save you at

least 2 weeks if not more by doing so. I would advise to send the

packet 3 via courier as well (i.e. Servientrega)

Packet 3 Contents:

1. Cover letter

2. Copy of fiancée's passport (biographical data page)

3. DS-230 Part 1 (pages 1 & 2)

4. OF-169

The cover letter should be simple and brief. Include the BGT case #

on the cover letter.

Diana

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Yes, this is the norm. I suspect no one mentions it because usually by the time you get it, your spouse/fiancee has long received it. It's more relevant to him/her than you. As the petitioner, your responsibilities are very limited (unless, of course, you are taking charge of the process and directing your spouse/fiancee, which I did, to make sure everything gets done correctly and on a timely basis; in that case, you probably already got copies of the packets from someone on the baord).

Mike

Lo and behold. I just got home from a week of business trips and I get a nice manila envelope from the embassy in Bogota. It contains the appointment letter and date, Packet 4 instructions plus other related information regarding vaccinations and bank offices.

Is this the norm? The petitioner in the US getting copies/notices of the same information sent to the beneficiary. I don't recall reading this in the forums. Not that I'm complaining, but maybe the process has changed a bit.

[Entonces... 0]

Hello everyone,

My name is Rafael and my fiance lives in Colombia. (Wow, I feel like in an A.A. meeting.)

I went through the previous posts and I have my a question about vaccinations. Does my fiance have to get them now or can she wait? I want to be ahead of the game hear. So any tips are appreciated. Right now she working on purchasing the passport. Currently the passport is $ 131.080 COP. Also I told her to get started on the DAS paperwork and birth cert.

Guys, am I jumping the gun on getting all these things this early on or should we wait?

Guys, thanx. Hope I can be as helpful as you guys have been to me on shedding light on this whole Visa Journey thing. (was not paid to write that) LOL

Welcome Rafael! Yeah, you'll feel like you're in AA after a while (just kidding). ;-)

My suggestion is that you guys go ahead and get done whatever you can do now, rather than wait. That said, however, ONLY do those things if you and/or your girlfriend are very well organized and can put your hands on any give document at any given time. I suggest buying a couple of expandable folders where all documents can be sorted and stored. Another important thing to do is MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING!!! And keep the copies in the same order or sequence as what you send in to USCIS. For example, when you submit the I-130 or I-129, make a second complete copy of everything in exactly the same order. Keep these things in a safe place. It's always better to have too many copies of something than not enough, when you need them.

Charles

Side note to everyone about vaccinations: We are finding that the vaccination schedules and records in Colombia do not always match what is the norm in the US. Be prepared to get more shots when you get here.

Charles,

Thanks for the tip Charles. Yeah I made copies of everything I sent and anything that I will be sending a presenting to USCIS and BGT from now on.

Vaccinations: Charles even if my fiancé gets it from the Red Cross in Colombia.

Rafael

[Entonces... 0]

Welcome Rafael!

I'm with Charles on this one, it's never too late to get started. One thing to consider is trying to get her birth certificate translated while she's in Colombia since she'll need it when she files for AOS once she gets here. It's a lot cheaper down there and it doesn't have to be apostilled.

Diana

Bienvenido Rafa! We're here to help. If your fiance can get a hold of her vacuans, than great, same for all of the documents. You'll find that once you get started assembeling things, it takes longer than you imagined and it helps to close the gaps in the process as you wait for subsequent steps. I think the longest wait is between NOA1 and NOA2, after NOA2, the next month or two FLYS by. There are great questions in this thread, tips, short cuts and even a fabulous list of interview questions in English and Spanish that the two of you can use to get to know each other even better! Never be embarassed to ask anything, remember, we've been through it already and most of us have asked the same question at some point. So...hold on for the ride...your JOURNEY has begun!!!

ps...I miss my husband too, so I know how you feel.

Dre

And before any of you ask (me tienen boracha con esta pregunta...), my husband is planning to travel in the next 2-3 weeks.

LOL

Diana and Dre ...thank you for the tips and suggestions.

Diana, I will tell her to get her Birth Cert translated.

Dre, I hope that I ready for that NOA2.

You guys may have a better idea of this, (or does anyone on this forum) how good is the time lime estimator. It says Oct 2. Is it usally after or before?

[HAL 9000 96]

Guys...I spent some time reading some POE reviews for Miami, Atlanta and New York (JFK). It apprears that people going through JFK are issued temporary EADs from 30days to 6mos. This doesn't happen in Miami or Atlanta and folks going through those POEs even mention it in thier reviews. Has anyone from Colombia Club gone through JFK for POE??? If so, did your fiance/spouse recieve a EAD stamp?

Andrea,

JFK is the only airport where hypothetically you can get a stamp. My uncle works at the POE MIA and confirmed they do not have any there.

All you have to do at JFK is ASK for one upon passport inspection.

Suerte!!!

[Chester y Monica 2]

Chester,

I,m happy to see that you received a copy of packet 4...did Monica also receive her copies of packet 4 ?

Scott

Nopes, still waiting..... for ANY mail to arrive at her house.

We faxed a letter yesterday to the embassy. The embassy did call her this morning in Colombia that she can "fax" a notarized letter authorizing someone to pick it up. They also gave her an exact time 1 PM on next Tuesday, Aug 21.

And to all the new folks that joined the club, Welcome!!!

Yes, this is the norm. I suspect no one mentions it because usually by the time you get it, your spouse/fiancee has long received it. It's more relevant to him/her than you. As the petitioner, your responsibilities are very limited (unless, of course, you are taking charge of the process and directing your spouse/fiancee, which I did, to make sure everything gets done correctly and on a timely basis; in that case, you probably already got copies of the packets from someone on the baord).

Mike

The mail system in Colombia is definitely not as reliable when it's outside the big cities. If we eventually get the letters, could you imagine the time wasted (3-4 weeks). Thank goodness for the shortcut and the tips we learned from this forum.

FYI - When I was in Curacao, I mailed a postcard addressed to my sister in California. I returned to the US, went back again to Curacao, then back to the US in a span of 2 months. She finally received the postcard after 2 1/2 months.

A postcard from Cali to California, IF you drop it at the postal nacional and certify it, will get to California in 3 weeks.

Official communication from the Bogota Embassy to a residence in the US only took 10 days.

I don't know why it takes over three weeks from Bogota to Buga, when I could have walked and delivered it myself in less time

Edited August 17, 2007 by Chester y Monica

[Mononoke28 135]

Ok, I called the NVC this morning and we're set for 9/27/07!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FI-NA-LLY!!!

Diana

[lucho562 0]

CONGRATS GIRL!!!!

[Chester y Monica 2]

Ok, I called the NVC this morning and we're set for 9/27/07!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FI-NA-LLY!!!

Diana

Congratulations!!!!

[Mononoke28 135]

Thanks guys, I'm so relieved!!!

Rafael,

The average wait for a petition to be approved, especially by the CSC, is about 90-120 days. So hopefully yours will be approved before the end of September.

Diana

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Hey Chester...

This is great news that you were able to sort out the packet 4 situation...whewwww!!! I'm sure you are releived. Seems like a huge wild goose chase...thanks for the posts...they are so helpful to me and everyone reading them. Keep us up to speed on your progress.

We got a little good news yesterday...Our case was touched after 3 1/2 months!!!!!

Scott

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Thanks guys, I'm so relieved!!!

Rafael,

The average wait for a petition to be approved, especially by the CSC, is about 90-120 days. So hopefully yours will be approved before the end of September.

Diana

Awsome!!!!!!!!!!Congratulations Diana and the best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scott