Colombia Club

[TonyS 0]

The shortcut tips provided are pretty simple and straightforward. I must admit however that I am not familiar with the OF-169 and DS-2001 forms. I have not be able to locate where to download these forms. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Tony S

[Tony & Olga 0]

TonyS-

You can down load the DS 2001 from the El Savador US Embassy Web Site. This is where I got it from. The OF-169 are the instructions sent out in Packet 3, that tell you what documents you need to prepare for the interview. It is not necessary to have this form or to send it in with the DS 2001, DS 230 Part 1 and the Bio page of the passport of the immigrant. If you just want to see one you can do a Web search and find one from another country like Mexico or El Savador, but you should not use these as they have that particular Country's address at the top on them. Just use it for reference.

[TonyS 0]

TonyS-

You can down load the DS 2001 from the El Savador US Embassy Web Site. This is where I got it from. The OF-169 are the instructions sent out in Packet 3, that tell you what documents you need to prepare for the interview. It is not necessary to have this form or to send it in with the DS 2001, DS 230 Part 1 and the Bio page of the passport of the immigrant. If you just want to see one you can do a Web search and find one from another country like Mexico or El Savador, but you should not use these as they have that particular Country's address at the top on them. Just use it for reference.

Gracias!!!!

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Hello boys and girls:

Back from two weeks in Aruba and Bogota. Always nice to travel, but even nicer to be at home.

My wife and I got a few things accomplished while I was in Bogota, including paying our $200 for the visa appointment at the Banco Credito. Tip - the instructions are serious - they only accept pesos. I brought dollars left over from our honeymoon in Aruba (thinking foolishly that the bank would take either or at least could do an exchange)....but, oh no, forget it. Such is life in Colombia. Anyway, the bank next store had an ATM machine and we were back in business.

The bank knew what it was doing and we got our DS-156 handled quickly and the passports affixed with the appropriate stickers.

For some reason, the folks at the bank gave us a DS-157 to complete and bring to the embassy. Funny, because it says nothing about the DS-157 in the packet four instructions....and I had been told by others on this board that it was only required for MALES between the ages of 18 and 45. Luckily, I had already completed the form for my wife...so we will take it to the embassy just in case.

To answer a few questions posted previously....

1) From what I can tell, the "carta de DAS" requirement is relatively recent. I reviewed the packet 4 instructions provided by Peter and it made not mention of it. However, the packet 4 my wife received mentions it in a separate line. So, now there are two DAS-related requirements - the police report (previously required) and the report on entries to and exits from Colombia. I know nothing about how long this new report takes.

2) I do not plan to scan packet 3. The packet three we received is identical to the one that Peter in Miami has distributed to many of us. Remember what I said....they are still using the OF-169, NOT the DS-2001. Further, they are also using the paper version of the DS-156, not the computer-generated (with barcode) version.

3) I will try to scan packet 4 when I can. My office does not open again until next week and then I'll try to find a scanner. If anyone wants information on how the current packet 4 differs from the one that Peter in Miami provided, let me know. Keep in mind that his packet 4 was for a K-1 and my wife's is for a K-3.

In related news, my wife and I decided that she and my step-daughter will fly to the U.S. on January 26, assuming all goes well with the interview on the 19th.

Mike

[paisita411 0]

Now that we have PK4, how soon should my husband go to then bank and pay the visa fee? He wants to do it as soon as possible. I appreciate your feedback.

FYI...my husband scanned and emailed me the contents of PK3 and PK4 he recieved from Bogota last week. If anyone needs them or is curious, send me a PM and I'll email them.

I wish all of you the very best for 2007 and most importantly as you enter into your new life next to your spouses. God Bless You and thank you for the ongoing support.

Edited December 31, 2006 by OskaryAndrea

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Hi Dre:

If Oskar wants to do it now, I see no reason why he can't. On the other hand, if he wants to wait until the last minute, I see no reason why he can't do that either. Paying the fee was very simple. Be sure he brings his passport, cedula, and DS-156. The bank clerk reviewed the DS-156 very thoroughly and even asked for a few more pieces of information to be added to the form. Once you pay the fee, they will stamp the DS-156 and then put a 3-part sticker on the front of the passport. As long as Oskar is a responsible guy (and I assume he is) who won't lose his passport or damage the stickers on the front, there's no reason why he can't go now and get it over. I am always in favor of doing things now...as opposed to later.

Mike

[paisita411 0]

Thanks Mike....I'll let him know. I think he wants to get it out of the way since there are so many expenses associated with this entire process. Do you know what specifically they'll ask him for on the DS-156 at the bank?

[Mike and Adriana 0]

The bank wanted the passport, the cedula, the money, and the DS-156. The questions related to information they did not feel was complete enough. For example, one question asks when my wife will travel to the U.S. Our response was "as soon as the visa is approved." The guy at the bank wanted a specific date. Also, he had a question about my wife's occupation. She had written "independiente." He wanted a further explanation. On my step-daughter's DS-156, we listed her occupation as "estudiante." He asked her grade in school. The questions are no big deal. Don't worry. I think part of the bank's deal with the embassy is that they ensure everyone has completely filled out the form. I saw many people at the bank filling out the DS-156 or making changes. No big deal.

Mike

[Yadira's Man 0]

Wow..Finally..

Our case was just recieved by the NVC today, January 3, 2007.

Now what is the next step???

Thanks for any response

[Yadira's Man 0]

Now that we have PK4, how soon should my husband go to then bank and pay the visa fee? He wants to do it as soon as possible. I appreciate your feedback.

FYI...my husband scanned and emailed me the contents of PK3 and PK4 he recieved from Bogota last week. If anyone needs them or is curious, send me a PM and I'll email them.

I wish all of you the very best for 2007 and most importantly as you enter into your new life next to your spouses. God Bless You and thank you for the ongoing support.

Hi,

We would like to recieved these packetts too.

Thanks...

Happy New Year to you all too..

[Mike and Adriana 0]

I wonder what the hold-up was? That's a long time for the petition to be transferred. OK, anyway....

I assume that you have the case number. If not, call the NVC again and get it. In addition, ask them when they intend to send the documents to the embassy in Bogota.

Once you know when the documents have been shipped, you can track them by DHL (instructions have been posted elsewhere on the site).

Once you know the petition has been delivered to the embassy, you have two options: 1) wait until the embassy sends packet 3 to the beneficiary. If he/she is in Bogota, you'll probably get it rather quickly. If he/she lives outside of Bogota, it may take several weeks, if it ever reaches you at all. 2) use the short-cuts that Peter has recommended earlier in this post. Fax (and mail) a cover letter, a copy of the beneficiary's passport, the DS-230, part I, and the OF-169. Be sure to note your case number on the cover letter.

Receipt of this information by the embassy will then trigger mailing of packet 4, which will include the embassy interview date.

Assuming you are in a hurry, you will want to make sure your "packet 3" paperwork is in to the embassy by January 15 in order to ensure a February interview. If you miss the cut-off (somehwere between the 15th and 20th, we have been told), the interview date will slip to March.

Any questions, just ask.

Mike

Wow..Finally..

Our case was just recieved by the NVC today, January 3, 2007.

Now what is the next step???

Thanks for any response

[bradyvicky 0]

Now that we have PK4, how soon should my husband go to then bank and pay the visa fee? He wants to do it as soon as possible. I appreciate your feedback.

FYI...my husband scanned and emailed me the contents of PK3 and PK4 he recieved from Bogota last week. If anyone needs them or is curious, send me a PM and I'll email them.

I wish all of you the very best for 2007 and most importantly as you enter into your new life next to your spouses. God Bless You and thank you for the ongoing support.

Hi,

We would like to recieved these packetts too.

Thanks...

Happy New Year to you all too..

Yadira's Man.... My wife is from Barranquilla and I live in Tamarac.... Kinda funny, we got a lot in common! Drop me a note sometime!

Edited January 4, 2007 by bradyvicky

[Mike and Adriana 0]

WARNING TO ALL - Prices and Requirements Continue to Change.

First...Packet 4 contained information about a price increase in the lab tests and medical exam. If I recall right, the price for the lab tests had jumped from 120,000 COP to 125,000 COP and the price of the exam had jumped from 135,000 COP to 140,000 COP. I spoke with my wife last night and she said that when she went for her lab tests yesterday, they had increased the price yet again to 130,000 COP. She said the medical exam also went up another 5,000 COP. So, be sure to bring a little extra money to cover unexpected price increases.

Second....and I need to talk to my wife about this some more...it appears that you now need extra passport photos for the medical exam. Packet 4 says you need a total of 4 photos - 2 for the DS-156, 1 for the lab tests, and 1 for the medical exam. When my wife called for her mexical exam appointment, she was told she would need 3 photos - new requirement, they said. So, that's now a total of six passport photos, instead of 4 (if I am understanding her correctly). Add the 4 photos required for the AOS/EAD packets when she arrives...and I am sending her to get six more photos.

Finally...and this is especially important for those of you with beneficiaries who live outside of Bogota....the DAS report on entries to and exits from Bogota is now required and it does take time. My wife went to DAS on Tuesday morning, I believe....and I think the report will be ready on Friday.

Mike

[paisita411 0]

Yadira'sMan...send me your personal email and I'll forward package 3 & 4 to you. And my advice is...don't wait to get them, once you track DSL and confirm reciept of your case in Bogota, fax and courier the documents immediately!

Mike: that last part is alarming...are you SURE the DAS letter has to document ENTERENCE and EXITS FROM BOGOTA and not Colombia? My husband has his DAS letter already and it doesn't document movement within the country???? Maybe we need to call the embassy next Wednesday and ask them? Time is running short and getting a DAS letter is not a quick process in Colombia. If anyone else can chime in on this it will be appreciated.

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Very sorry...my bad. For me right now....Bogota and Colombia are synonymous. The DAS letter details entries to and exit from COLOMBIA. Not sure how they would track within country travel.

Mike

PS - Dre, don't know if this happened to your husband...but the bank gave my wife a DS-157 to complete for the interview...even though packets 3 and 4 say nothing about completing the form.

Mike: that last part is alarming...are you SURE the DAS letter has to document ENTERENCE and EXITS FROM BOGOTA and not Colombia? My husband has his DAS letter already and it doesn't document movement within the country???? Maybe we need to call the embassy next Wednesday and ask them? Time is running short and getting a DAS letter is not a quick process in Colombia. If anyone else can chime in on this it will be appreciated.