Colombia Club

[lucho562 0]

Rafael,

I will not get into the vaccination policy or procedures. Wait until your fiance receives packet 3 and see what it says to do. The current packet 3 on the embassys website does not mention a change to vaccines. However, I did see a mentioning to a change, but for a different type of visa, not K1.

The DAS paperwork and birth certificate do NOT expire in a few weeks. The DAS paperwork is good for 1 year. The birth certificate does not expire at all.

Here is the packet 3 for k1 visas link

http://colombia.usembassy.gov/wwwfck1instrucciones_temp.pdf

[Entonces... 0]

Rafael,

I will not get into the vaccination policy or procedures. Wait until your fiance receives packet 3 and see what it says to do. The current packet 3 on the embassys website does not mention a change to vaccines. However, I did see a mentioning to a change, but for a different type of visa, not K1.

The DAS paperwork and birth certificate do NOT expire in a few weeks. The DAS paperwork is good for 1 year. The birth certificate does not expire at all.

Here is the packet 3 for k1 visas link

http://colombia.usembassy.gov/wwwfck1instrucciones_temp.pdf

Lucho.. thanx for the packet 3...

Cool, we will hold off the shots...but we should get the other stuff right...?

so what you think...do think the NOA2 will come around soon. I would really like for her to be here for the holidays ...thanksgiving and Christmas...do you think we have a shot?

Rafael

[lucho562 0]

Hold off on the shots until you get NOA2. By then some people ahead of you should know whats up with the new policies if any.

And yes, you have a shot to have your lady with you by christmas. Just read up, and learn some of the shortcuts and you will succeed.

[Mononoke28 135]

You might based on old data. Earlier this yeat it was taking about 3-4 months to get an NOA2, that seems to have changed after May.

I will keep everybody posted as far as the vaccines. My husband called both offices back in June and they told him that he would be fine if he got them, so he did. Then last week one office told him they had to be not more than 30 days old, the other office said they would be fine. THEN I called myself and Dra. González's office said they had to me not more than 8 days old (one week) and the Dr. Roa's office said that the doctor himself would make the decision on whether the vaccines were still good or not.

Bottom line is, I feel like these doctors are trying to get more money. Vaccines are good for years after you get them and if they ask you to get new ones at their office even 3 months after you got them at some other place, that means they're trying to get more money out of you. But what can you do?

Diana

[Entonces... 0]

Hold off on the shots until you get NOA2. By then some people ahead of you should know whats up with the new policies if any.

And yes, you have a shot to have your lady with you by christmas. Just read up, and learn some of the shortcuts and you will succeed.

Sounds like a plan...thanks champ. I just have to hang in their, it is rough man. I don't how all you have done it..I hope she will like it over here when she gets here. How is you wife, Wendy adjusting to the change? Has it been hard for her? I really want to get prepare for that too.

Yeah most definitely we will use the shortcuts...I used the one you gave to Byron about the RFE..and they did not tell me anything different they just told me your case is pending ...

[Entonces... 0]

You might based on old data. Earlier this yeat it was taking about 3-4 months to get an NOA2, that seems to have changed after May.

Diana

Diana,

Hope all is well. I just had a question about the change since May. Have NOA2 been coming faster or slower?

[HAL 9000 96]

Bottom line is, I feel like these doctors are trying to get more money. Vaccines are good for years after you get them and if they ask you to get new ones at their office even 3 months after you got them at some other place, that means they're trying to get more money out of you. But what can you do?

Diana

Drs. Roa and González along with their Immunologist friends... vs... the CDC in Atlanta?? I just find it hilarious given the fact that some of the vaccines used are the same ones given in the States made by the same pharmaceuticals (Aventis, et al). This may seem interesting, indeed, unless someone at the State Department, the CDC, or at USCIS can clarify what these new vaccine regulations are all really about, we will have plenty of speculation and continued demands for more vaccines than may be actually unnecessary.

Then again, Byron's girl won't be eligible for a couple of the shots since she is pregnant... unless that also gets changed in Bogotá as well...

Someone should seriously file a complaint against these MDs if it turns out that they're milking us for extra cash given our collective situation to not protest for fear of not having our loved ones with us at home in a timely manner. Be the matter that this is Colombia is not an excuse for corrupting the system, and even though there is no needed implication that the procedures are prone to corruption, the fact on paper and logic is that if strict demands are placed on applicants and petitioners towards the goal of completing these medical steps, then so too should the actual medical processes be held in strictness cleanliness to avoid any further corruption.

We all know how much the Embassy loves receiving Congressional inquiry into these matters. I think I may be contacting Barack Obama's Senatorial Office soon to inquire. Any other takers? I'll be hopefully working on this soon!

[Bill y Bella 0]

Rafael,

I will not get into the vaccination policy or procedures. Wait until your fiance receives packet 3 and see what it says to do. The current packet 3 on the embassys website does not mention a change to vaccines. However, I did see a mentioning to a change, but for a different type of visa, not K1.

The DAS paperwork and birth certificate do NOT expire in a few weeks. The DAS paperwork is good for 1 year. The birth certificate does not expire at all.

Here is the packet 3 for k1 visas link

http://colombia.usembassy.gov/wwwfck1instrucciones_temp.pdf

Maybe birth certificates do not expire, but they can get to the age where the translators will refuse to translate them. I had several refuse so Bella had to get a new one. Her "old" one was dated in 2004. It annoyed me, but what can you do?

[lucho562 0]

The embassy accepts documents in spanish or english. So, translations shouldnt be an issue at this point. A translated birth certificate into english is needed for Adjustment of Status. If you have trouble finding someone to translate the birth certificate, I can help you translate it for free. No special certification needed to do the translation.

[lucho562 0]

Buck,

Did you have any vaccination issues come up? I'm asking you since you are the last one to go thru the interview process.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Diana,

Hope all is well. I just had a question about the change since May. Have NOA2 been coming faster or slower?

Rafael,

Just to let you know...USCIS just mailed me a hardcopy of NOA1 08/20/07 after receiving our petition on 05/03/07...I hope this is not a relection of the speed of the remainder of our petition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scott

[Bill y Bella 0]

The embassy accepts documents in spanish or english. So, translations shouldnt be an issue at this point. A translated birth certificate into english is needed for Adjustment of Status. If you have trouble finding someone to translate the birth certificate, I can help you translate it for free. No special certification needed to do the translation.

Thanks for the offer Lucho.

I was not preparing specifically for the K1, but instead for later down the road with schools, drivers licenses etc. Who knows what translation requirements we will run into so I wanted to have multiple copies of "officially" translated original birth certificates in case they were needed. I even have one set with the apostle or apistle or whatever the hell its called, just in case someone demands one of those.

I must say the an original Colombian birth certificate is not very impressive. It is a very poor quality photo copy with a difficult to detect raised seal. It took a while for Bella to convince me it was an original birth certificate.

As to the vaccinations, I think Charles makes a good point. If there are kids involved, find out the school requirements and have the kids vaccinated to that standard while they are still in Colombia. Presumably it is a more stringent requirement. Also make sure you keep the doctor's records so you can document the immunizations.

[Chester y Monica 2]

Good luck Nydia on your interview tomorrow!!!!

Muy buena suerte Nydia!

[Entonces... 0]

Sam y Nydia,

I hope all goes well in the interview today. Let us know how it went when you have a chance. Thanks

Rafael

[LUISH 0]

Lucho, a question.....My girl has only been out of colombia once, and it was only for 5 days, when we went for a vacation to peru, I know she has some kindher papers from the police, it's like a card with her fingerprints, now does she need the DAS record for out/in from colombia??, the embassy will ask her for that?, or will they just look at her passport and not ask her for that document, we still have time, because her interview is for September 10th..,