Colombia Club

[Chester y Monica 2]

Chester,

Hey would you like to post a list of all the documents that you are taking to the interview? That way some of us here can review anything that you may have forgotten. A checklist sort of speak of all documents, wether or not you have them 'autenticadas', 'notarized', etc. This will help you out a lot. Sometimes we think we have everything and the 1 minor thing we may forget. Just a suggestion.

Man this group is just awesome! Especially you Lucho my friend.

I've been so busy at work trying to get all my stuff finished before I disappear for two weeks.

======================

Documents SHE has at hand -

Passports - Copies of the photo page (notarizado)

Registro Civil - Notarized copies (we have atleast 3 notarized copies )

Fe de Bautismo - Authenticated by the "cura" and also notarized ( 3 copies)

Photos of 5x5 cm - 10 copies

Colombia Pasado Judicial - Librete Verde - Original

DAS Recordo de Migratrio -- Sealed envelope

Photocopy of the original DS-230 submission

Copies of MY G325A

Copies of HER G325A

Copies of the I-129F

DS-156K and photocopies

Vaccination cards original (we're missing a few - but those are being done today)

==================

Documents I HAVE with ME:

I-134 and a Jurat from the Notary and two photocopies

Original Letter from my employer and two photocopies

Original Financial Investment letters from my bank and two photocopies

Original W-2s dating back to 2002

Photocopies of W-2s

Printed copies of 1040 dating back to 2002

Original pay stubs dating back to April 2007 and photocopies

DS-156 printed on BOTH sides, 4 copies (I'll print more tonight)

Copies of my AT&T Phone Bills

Copies of my cellphone bill

Original boarding passes

Original Engagement Ring receipt

Photocopies of my "DAS stamps" on my passport

About 22 colored photos arranged in a small notebook

===============

Although she has not stayed in Ecuador for more than 6 months at any given time, the accumulated stay over the last 5 years is over 6 months. I am paying very "dearly" to have someone get her the Certificado de Policia in Ecuador. I'm playing it safe, however, we won't have the document till maybe Tuesday at our hands in Bogota.

I'm flying down on Saturday, Sept 1.

Tuesday Sep 4 - LAB work and in the afternoon is the medical exam with the doctor.

Thursday - D-day

I'm taking tomorrow off from work to do last minute preparations at the house, get my hair done, my nails

To everyone, I really appreciate all the support that you have given us. I calm at this moment but I am also confident that our prayers have not fallen on deaf ears. I hope that the termination of this process will begin the next stage of our lives being together as a couple.

[Chester y Monica 2]

I saw a question in the Colombian forum in Spanish that I thought maybe someone here could answer.

:

:

Can someone with children who has been interviewed recently provide some insight?

I have a stepdaugther and the migratorio is not required for children.

She brought it up this morning and I also said that it's not necessary, but I did tell her to ask the forum to help overcome her restlessness.

Edited August 30, 2007 by Chester y Monica

[Chester y Monica 2]

I've heard the word apostiled mentioned a few times about docs that this was required for...what is that and for which docs?

Scott

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/consul01.html

The above link explains the meaning of that term.

On another topic, where in Bogota can we get documents translated into English? I mean - I "could" translate them, but I don't have those fancy rubber stamp thingies or stamping gizmos to make it look legitimate.

[lucho562 0]

Chester,

Everything looks good at first glance. I will look at your list again in a few hours, to make sure there isnt a thing left out.

Make sure her biographical info on her passport is exactly the same on all other documents, registro civil, bautismo, forms etc.

[lucho562 0]

On another topic, where in Bogota can we get documents translated into English? I mean - I "could" translate them, but I don't have those fancy rubber stamp thingies or stamping gizmos to make it look legitimate.

Check the notarios out. They should be able to do it if not for sure to point you the right way. If you only want to translate the registro civil for AOS. Dont worry about the stamps, but I know what you mean about making it look more professional.

[Mononoke28 135]

Ooooh Chester!!! I know a place where you can get them translated in Bogotá but my husband has the address. I think I've posted here before but I'll ask him again and will post it tomorrow.

Also, do you mind letting us know what the doctor says about the vaccines? Both offices told us they can't be older than 30 days but I just don't buy that.

Thanks!!!

Diana

[Mike and Adriana 0]

If anything, you have too much. If you are the paranoid type, no reason you can't bring it all. But if you are trying to be practical...or save space, here are some thing you can leave at home:

"Financial investment letters" from the bank. Not sure what those are, but they are not needed if you are qualifying based on income (as opposed to assets).

Tax returns and W-2s for anything other than the last 3 years.

Pay stubs (although does not hurt to bring the last 3 months).

Any extra copies of the DS_156 that you may have made (you need two, plus a back-up, just in case)

Also, you don't need the vaccination card. That information should already have been summarized by the physician and included in the sealed envelope he/she gave your fiancee. It's good to have a good photocopy fo the entire I-129F packet you submitted, but extra GS-325As, etc. are not needed. Not sure why you are taking a copy of her passport...she need to take the actual passport. You don't need any photos (assuming they've been properly attachd to the DS-156 form....but you will need them later).

I assume that neither of you are divorced or widowed.

And do not forget the appointment letter!

By the way, you are the first guy I've read about getting his hair and nails done for the interview! I guess it can't hurt.

Good luck.

Documents SHE has at hand -

Passports - Copies of the photo page (notarizado)

Registro Civil - Notarized copies (we have atleast 3 notarized copies )

Fe de Bautismo - Authenticated by the "cura" and also notarized ( 3 copies)

Photos of 5x5 cm - 10 copies

Colombia Pasado Judicial - Librete Verde - Original

DAS Recordo de Migratrio -- Sealed envelope

Photocopy of the original DS-230 submission

Copies of MY G325A

Copies of HER G325A

Copies of the I-129F

DS-156K and photocopies

Vaccination cards original (we're missing a few - but those are being done today)

==================

Documents I HAVE with ME:

I-134 and a Jurat from the Notary and two photocopies

Original Letter from my employer and two photocopies

Original Financial Investment letters from my bank and two photocopies

Original W-2s dating back to 2002

Photocopies of W-2s

Printed copies of 1040 dating back to 2002

Original pay stubs dating back to April 2007 and photocopies

DS-156 printed on BOTH sides, 4 copies (I'll print more tonight)

Copies of my AT&T Phone Bills

Copies of my cellphone bill

Original boarding passes

Original Engagement Ring receipt

Photocopies of my "DAS stamps" on my passport

About 22 colored photos arranged in a small notebook

===============

Although she has not stayed in Ecuador for more than 6 months at any given time, the accumulated stay over the last 5 years is over 6 months. I am paying very "dearly" to have someone get her the Certificado de Policia in Ecuador. I'm playing it safe, however, we won't have the document till maybe Tuesday at our hands in Bogota.

I'm flying down on Saturday, Sept 1.

Tuesday Sep 4 - LAB work and in the afternoon is the medical exam with the doctor.

Thursday - D-day

I'm taking tomorrow off from work to do last minute preparations at the house, get my hair done, my nails

To everyone, I really appreciate all the support that you have given us. I calm at this moment but I am also confident that our prayers have not fallen on deaf ears. I hope that the termination of this process will begin the next stage of our lives being together as a couple.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Any Colombian documents that will be used here in the States for immigration purposes don't have to be apostilled. You will find a few translators down there that will tell you that you have to just to make the extra bucks, but it's not true. Get the translations without the apostilles.

Now, any US document that will be used in Colombia for whatever purpose, will HAVE to be apostilled or Colombian agencies won't accept them.

Diana

P.S. Lucho is the man, he's helped me a ton on my stuff.

Diana,

Since I will need to bring my divorce cert...would this qualify as being something necessary to be apostilled?

Scott

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Since I saw this, I'll answer if you want to know my experience.

Your divorce certificate does not need to be apostilled (since you are NOT getting married in Colombia). I went down to the local clerk of the court and got them to issue me a "certified" copy of my divorce decree and that is the one I have been using to make copies for the embassy, AOS, etc. I got this copy because the copies I had contained nothing official (no official signature of a judge or of the clerk of the court).

Mike

Diana,

Since I will need to bring my divorce cert...would this qualify as being something necessary to be apostilled?

Scott

[Mononoke28 135]

Correct. Since you are not getting married in Colombia, you don't need to get it apostilled.

[HAL 9000 96]

The questions are getting detailed and the answers are right on the money. Good job to all of you.

Diana, I am still working on consulting with Barack Obama's local office here in Chicago regarding that vaccination issue. As someone modestly versed in health care and CDC issues, I find it appalling that just because the US Embassy gives the financial honor to a local doctor in Colombia, then all of a sudden they themselves can re-write vaccination guidelines that may or may not involve them benefiting financially even more than what they already benefit for the extremely basic health screening they perform. If the procedure was NOT mandatory then of course they'd probably have to tone down on their own mandatory referrals to vaccinations-in-a-hurry. To test this I suggest to whomever will do their medical down in Bogotá to do so at least 2-3 weeks ahead of their interview so that, when presented with this demand for vaccines already taken in the past and well within the CDC guidelines and honest medical recommendations, the patient can simply go ahead and do so at a practitioner of their choice and not at the clinics they 'recommend'.

Should someone have questions on this issue please PM me. Obama's office is understandably busy but he is still Senator from Illinois so there is the matter of representation at hand.

[Mononoke28 135]

I love it, thanks! I'm really interested to see what the doctors office have to say about the vaccines being 3 months old, come on it would be ridiculous if they ask my husband to re-take them. It sounds like a scam to me. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again!

Diana

[Bill y Bella 0]

The questions are getting detailed and the answers are right on the money. Good job to all of you.

Diana, I am still working on consulting with Barack Obama's local office here in Chicago regarding that vaccination issue. As someone modestly versed in health care and CDC issues, I find it appalling that just because the US Embassy gives the financial honor to a local doctor in Colombia, then all of a sudden they themselves can re-write vaccination guidelines that may or may not involve them benefiting financially even more than what they already benefit for the extremely basic health screening they perform. If the procedure was NOT mandatory then of course they'd probably have to tone down on their own mandatory referrals to vaccinations-in-a-hurry. To test this I suggest to whomever will do their medical down in Bogotá to do so at least 2-3 weeks ahead of their interview so that, when presented with this demand for vaccines already taken in the past and well within the CDC guidelines and honest medical recommendations, the patient can simply go ahead and do so at a practitioner of their choice and not at the clinics they 'recommend'.

Should someone have questions on this issue please PM me. Obama's office is understandably busy but he is still Senator from Illinois so there is the matter of representation at hand.

Good for you! That is really taking some initiative and trying to solve a problem in order to help others. I tell you, this group is really amazing!

[Chester y Monica 2]

I'll definitely let everyone know how it goes at the doctor's office. I agree with you, vaccinations are for life.

Ooooh Chester!!! I know a place where you can get them translated in Bogotá but my husband has the address. I think I've posted here before but I'll ask him again and will post it tomorrow.

Also, do you mind letting us know what the doctor says about the vaccines? Both offices told us they can't be older than 30 days but I just don't buy that.

Thanks!!!

Diana

[Chester y Monica 2]

Of course, I was kidding LOL

I have a stack of paperwork about 3 inches thick, I don't mind taking the documents with me. I work in the telecom industry and I carry three of everything in my toolbox!!! B)

By the way, you are the first guy I've read about getting his hair and nails done for the interview! I guess it can't hurt.

Good luck.