Colombia Club

[LUISH 0]

GOOD LUCK LUIS + VIVIANA!!!

GOOD LUCK CHESTER + MONICA!!!

I hope all goes well with your interviews!!

Bros, the time is now to ask all questions, even the ones you already know.

Chester, How's the police certificate issue going?

Luis, I really didnt understand your question about the birth certificate. Are you talking about the marginal notes?? I will ask Wendy to show me her registro civil. I'll get back to you later on that.

Thanks Lucho for your wishes, as for what I was asking...: I was reading thru all the documents that I have in my posession here , and notice that Viviana's birth certificate has a few stamps in front and back of the document, there are like 4 different stamps, this documents was issued inBarranquilla last year on Nov. 27, actually I was the one that got it, since Viviana was in classes during those days,

let me write what it says but in spanish, maybe you can understand it better or explain it to me better, since my spanish is good but sometimes I have a problem understanding what certain things mean in Spanish

"Notaria primera del Circulo de Barranquilla"

Ana Dolores Meza Caballero

esta copia auntentica tomada del original que reposa en los archivos de esta notaria, valida para demostrar parentesco y tiene vigencia permanente excepto para matrimonio"

and from there there is a name and date of document, so when I read this, I thought that maybe this document is not good to get marry and need to get one that is good , or maybe is just a colombian thing overthere and here in the States will be overlooked...

[TonyS 0]

Hey good luck to Luis and Chester!!!!!!!!

[lucho562 0]

Luis,

My spanish sucks too bro...lol

That is the same exact registro civil that I have in front of me. Same stamps. That is the correct registro civil. Also, Wendy's Partida de Bautismo has the same stamp. I'm guessing they went to the same exact notario en Barranquilla.

No worries, your registro civil is good to go. Only concern is the date your was notarized. However, no mention of expiration dates in Packet 4 in regards to the registro civil. If it worries you, it is easy to obtain another authenticated copy of it.

[Chester y Monica 2]

Hey Guys...I noticed as I'm sure everyone else has that we have 2 couples with interview dates coming up soon...I just wanted to wish them the best of luck.

OK here goes..

GOOD LUCK LUIS + VIVIANA!!!

GOOD LUCK CHESTER + MONICA!!!

Thanks, I fly down from SFO to CLO on Sept 1. I pray to God that everything goes well.

[Chester y Monica 2]

I hope all goes well with your interviews!!

Bros, the time is now to ask all questions, even the ones you already know.

Chester, How's the police certificate issue going?

Luis, I really didnt understand your question about the birth certificate. Are you talking about the marginal notes?? I will ask Wendy to show me her registro civil. I'll get back to you later on that.

For Ecuador they don't issue Police Certificates for foreigners. She never really "lived" in Ecuador, but her total stay cumulative in over 5 years is over 6 months. I was taking the precautions, better safe than sorry.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Hey Chester,

I'm sure you are very excited and nervous about your trip but I'm sure your interview will turn out just fine. Keep your cool make sure you have all your docs in a row...jajajajaja...(a little stupid humor) and you will be comming home a happy couple!!!!

Did Monica ever receive packet 3+4 in the mail?

Scott

[M&J 0]

Hello!!! the Colombian license is good in the US (and in any country) for six months

to get an international drivers license in Colombia is easy and is good for one year. you have to call ACC Automovil Club de Colombia, to ask for the fee (i got mine 2 years ago, don´t remember how much i paid) you need Colombian drivers license, 2 photos and the money, it takes like an hour, and then they will give it to you, is a little book with your picture and some info in 5 diferent languages...

i hope this is good

saludos!!!

M

[Chester y Monica 2]

I have some questions regarding the preparations for the day of the interview.

1. It says on Packet 4 instructions to include "Forma DS230 Part 1". We already faxed this to the embassy and we have a photocopy of it. Do we just make copies of it or fill out a "new one"

2. Questions on the DS-156 - 22. When do you intend to Arrive in the US? (We put a date week after our interview date, is that ok or we say "As soon as visa is approved")

3. 26 - How long do you intend to stay in the US ? "Indefinite", "permanently"

4. 21 - Present Occupation - Since she runs a an Internet Cafe, we wrote "Indepeniente - Internet Cafe Propietaria". Is that ok?

5. I'm making sure DS-156 is printed front and back on the same page.

6. What's the deal with the vaccinations? We can get the ones she does not have in Buga and not from the doctor's office in Bogota. She will have the original vaccination report cards. It's a lot cheaper versus having them done in Bogota. I read something about the vaccinations need to have been applied in the last 8 days. I don't buy that, vaccinations are vaccinations for life.

7. DS-156 and the passport must be brought to the bank when making the payment, correct?

8. DS-156, Hoja de Cita should be brought to the LAB and Doctor's clinic, right?

That's all that I can think of right now, I'm sure there will be more.

Monica never received Packet 3 in the mail. Packet 4 was claimed by a friend last Thursday, Aug 23 and arrived by Servientrega today at her house.

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Here are my answers, based on what I know:

1. No need to bring DS 230, part I to the embassy. You already submitted it.

2. The folks at the bank who check the form seem to want a date. We put something similar to "as soon as visa approved," but they wanted something specific, so we put a date. Don't think it matters if you he/she doesn't end up traveling on that date. It did not with us.

3. Yes "permanently"

4. Yes, that's fine.

5. Yes, DS-156 is supposed to be printed front and back, although I think someone said he got away with providing two separate pages.

6. Vaccinations can be done before the doctor. Most get them done (at least in Bogota) at the Red Cross. I'm not sure what you read about the 8 day time limit, but that was not our experience.

7. Yes, passport and DS-156 to the bank when making payment.

8. Yes, DS-156 and appointment letter to the lab and doctor. Doctor will take one copy of the DS-156 and put it in the sealed envelope with the rest of his/her reports/documents.

Mike

[Bill y Bella 0]

Luis,

My spanish sucks too bro...lol

That is the same exact registro civil that I have in front of me. Same stamps. That is the correct registro civil. Also, Wendy's Partida de Bautismo has the same stamp. I'm guessing they went to the same exact notario en Barranquilla.

No worries, your registro civil is good to go. Only concern is the date your was notarized. However, no mention of expiration dates in Packet 4 in regards to the registro civil. If it worries you, it is easy to obtain another authenticated copy of it.

Sabes que? The notary's stamp on the back of Bella's registro says "Este registro tiene validez permanente. Ley 962 de 2005" Period. No mas. There is nothing about an exception for marriage.

I am not sure if this has any significance, but it is interesting that the notaries are not all using the same stamp. Maybe the law changed in 2005 and some of the notaries did not bother to get new stamps.

I am glad not to have the exception on Bella's. Maybe it does not matter, but I am still glad it is not there.

[buck501 0]

Mike & Adriana........................Luchco...........................You folks are the best. Both of you have this stuff DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you do not know it, you are appreciated very much. The US immigration makes this much harder then it needs to be. I would recommend to all that read this forum to trust the info that you read from these two.

As for the folks that have had there fiancee out of Colombia for more then a TOTAL of six months to get a Police record from that country. From what I have learned they may or may not require it. It is up to the US Embassy. Evidently it can raise some red flags.

[lucho562 0]

Chester,

Mike is right on, on everything he responded 1 thru 8. I would like to add a bit.

1. I also had the doubt about taking the DS230 to the interview. Seems like the instructions from the Gov't contradict itself. We took the DS230 to the interview, of course we did NOT need it.

5. DS156 can be printed on 1 page only or on 2 pages according to the online instructions on the dept of states site. However, the bank told us that it could only be printed on 1 page. Again, the US gov't contradicts itself on the instructions. Play it safe, print it on 1 page, front and back.

8. DS156 being brought to the lab. The instructions do say that. However Dra Gonzalez did not even ask Wendy for her DS156. We later found out that in July the embassy has made some changes how things were done in the process. I am not telling you to not take the DS156, but just letting you know that we werent asked for it. If I had to do it again, I still would take it to the office, actually i'd take all my documents with me.

[lucho562 0]

Mike & Adriana........................Luchco...........................You folks are the best. Both of you have this stuff DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you do not know it, you are appreciated very much. The US immigration makes this much harder then it needs to be. I would recommend to all that read this forum to trust the info that you read from these two.

As for the folks that have had there fiancee out of Colombia for more then a TOTAL of six months to get a Police record from that country. From what I have learned they may or may not require it. It is up to the US Embassy. Evidently it can raise some red flags.

Thanks Buck!

Mike taught me a lot. I used to bug him a lot. Maybe that is why I seem to have this stuff "down". I just kept asking questions, questions, and more questions. Until it was second nature to me. That is why when we had our interview, I had such confidence, boderline arrogant attitude. I knew we would get approved.

Like I always say folks, if you have a slight doubt, ask questions here! This process is too important to not be 110% positive in all situations.

[Chester y Monica 2]

Thanks Mike!

Thanks Lucho!

Your answers are very much appreciated!

[buck501 0]

I had Paola make a copy of all the docs she got in Colombia, I made copies of all the docs from the US. The DS156 we had was on two pages. She paid for the visa at a bank in Cali and gave them the DS156 on two pages, no problem. If it was me I would have it on one page just to be sure. I had her take all docs to the lab and the med exam just in case she needed them. I did not and do not trust the info on the Embassy site or on Pkt 4. I "thought" we went overboard. In hindsight, we came up short by not being extra safe by getting the Police certificate from Panama. Even though as I read today it does not say accumulative.