Colombia Club

[Bill y Bella 0]

Hi everyone. I will be in Bogota the last week of September to celebrate the baby's first birthday. On the off chance I can help anyone while I am there, please let me know. I would be glad to pick up a document or something if it will get someone out of a jam or avoid a 12 hour bus ride. I realize this is not very likely, but I thought I would make the offer just in case.

Bella goes back to her home town Cucuta again this week. The trip is necessary because despite them telling her a month ago that her sister could pick up the baptism certificates, they are now saying she has to pick them up in person. I love Colombia but I am beginning to hate how the rules seem to change on a daily basis!

In any case, I am trying to absolutely positively make sure that she has every document that we could possibly need before she leaves Cucuta. This is what we have or will have after this trip:

Brand new passports for everyone

3 certified and very recent copies of the birth certificates.

2 certified and very recent copies of the baptism certificates for 2 of the 3. The baby has not been baptised yet but will be soon.

school records

immunization records

Is there anything else anyone can think of that we might need for either the interview or after she arrives in the US?

Thanks!

[buck501 0]

Hey Luish!!!

TODAY IS YOUR DAY BUD...BRING US BACK SOME GOOD NEWS!!!

Scott

WOW!!! I must not have been paying attention. GODD LUCK< LUISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[buck501 0]

I was wondering if it is OK to line up on the US Citizens/Residents line during POE. We'll be arriving via Houston and we got crummy seats almost at the back of the plane. This means that almost everyone will be in front of us on the Visitors line.

FYI - If you plan on visiting Bogota and see the sites, go to Monserate or Montserat ?

We made it up the top on foot via the steps in under 2 hours, talk about FAITH!

Or you can take the cable car and be up there in 5 minutes.

Chester, it is a long walk from the plane to the immigration area. If you step out and walk at a good clip you can pass almost everyone on your flight. The big problem may be how many other flight arrive just before yours. I have been there when there are very few people in line and other times there are hundreds. I would not worry to much about being at the back of thre plane.

[santamartachicago 0]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello,

I sent in my 129f the same day, and I just found this site and wanted to communicate with folks who can offer advise or directions. I am handling the process myself.

Thanks

[lucho562 0]

Welcome Eric

[paisita411 0]

Rafael, we also had the same situation and what you need is called a Declaracion Juramental. It needs to be filled out and signed by a relative (not the parents) that can witness the birth (an uncle or aunt will work well) ....they don't care about your religious affiliation. As you know, the baptism certificate acts as a birth certificate for many Colombians who are born far from a city (en el campo) and that is why the govn't uses it interchangeably with the registor civil. The Declaracion Juramental will take its place. If you PM me your email address, I'll forward you the form. Have a relative sign the document with a Notary.

Chester...from what I've read in the POE EXPERIENCE board, your fiance/spouse should be in the US Citizen line anyway, remember, she's immigrating not visiting. I recommend you read up on the POE experiences for your airport. It's good info.

Dre

Edited September 10, 2007 by OskaryAndrea

[parkpapa 0]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello,

I sent in my 129f the same day, and I just found this site and wanted to communicate with folks who can offer advise or directions. I am handling the process myself.

Thanks

Welcome to the site! For the most complete information, you should read the posts dating from November 2006 up to today. That's a lot of reading, but believe me it is well worth your while. Be aware that some folks here are applying for different types of visas. You need to focus on all things related to the K-1 process, as there are some differences in how the others work. Best of luck!

Charles

[Chester y Monica 0]

Nice pic Chester!!!

How many feet above sea level is Monserat?

10,466 feet above sea level.

Nice pic Chester!!!

How many feet above sea level is Monserat?

10,466 feet above sea level.

[HAL 9000 96]

Yeah Bill... since you're heading to Cucuta, be a pal and get us some Cocosette coconut chocolate wafers... to die for!!! (J/K)

have a great trip if I don't read anything previous to it.

[Chester y Monica 0]

Drea - Thanks for the tips on the POE experiences, looks like Houston does not hassle much of the K1.

Buck - I've been through Houston a lot of times when headed for LATAM, and there's always a line when I get there at 2pm. In any case, we have a 4 hour layover anyway to get to SFO.

Again, our heartfelt thanks to ALL that have helped us in our journey. I'm sitting here at the apartment waiting for 3:30 to come and pick up the visa.

I met LUISH and Viviana last night, very nice couple. We are staying at the same place. I have not seen them come back since they left this morning. Monica and I are pulling for them to get approved.

Edited September 10, 2007 by Chester y Monica

[Mononoke28 134]

Rafael, we also had the same situation and what you need is called a Declaracion Juramental. It needs to be filled out and signed by a relative (not the parents) that can witness the birth (an uncle or aunt will work well) ....they don't care about your religious affiliation. As you know, the baptism certificate acts as a birth certificate for many Colombians who are born far from a city (en el campo) and that is why the govn't uses it interchangeably with the registor civil. The Declaracion Juramental will take its place. If you PM me your email address, I'll forward you the form. Have a relative sign the document with a Notary.

Chester...from what I've read in the POE EXPERIENCE board, your fiance/spouse should be in the US Citizen line anyway, remember, she's immigrating not visiting. I recommend you read up on the POE experiences for your airport. It's good info.

Dre

Thanks Dre!! I was wondering about the same thing but yeah, it makes sense to go to the US Citizen line since they're coming here to stay and not visit.

Diana

[santamartachicago 0]

Welcome Eric

I read your timeline outstanding. You are the kind of person I want to learn from. Successful!

I sent the I-129f in to the Vermont Office May 18 2007

I got the notice they received it signature card

About a short time after that I got the letter with the EAC number

July 10 they asked for proof of my divorce, and my birth certificate

Sent it back the next day...i went on the web to see the case status

It says we revcd info on July 16 and they will contact me via mail within 60 days.

Is this normal to have wait the full 60 days. They responded very quiclky with everything else.

Our 60 days is Monday Sept 17...I just want to stay on top of their request.

Any suggestions advice input...

[buck501 0]

Welcome Eric. It is good advice to go back and read the posts. I went back to the beginning read over three times. Then after I felt I was all prepared I skimmed over it again. I found good info each time. It is a bit more reading now but some if not many of the posts are chit chat so it is not as bad as it seems.

There an answear to just about any question you could have in this thread along with the personel reports of those that were sucessful and those that were not. In the end, your in a good place. Of those that post regurly here I can not think of any that were flat out denied. Preperation, preperation, preperation!!! Being delayed is a bummer.

Bob, owner of Colombian Services told me that it seems they will delay some who have grey areas to test the validity of the relationship. Some or many just give up at that point and never schedule another interview. In the end almost everyone that has interviewed has gotten the visa the first time. A few like Poala and I get to take another shot. I believe Drea had the hardest time and they prevailed in the end. Good luck to you!!

[Chester y Monica 0]

VISA at HAND!

Going home to Buga tonight by bus.

POE via Houston on September 16.

[lucho562 0]

Congrats Chester!!

LuisH is MIA?