Colombia Club

[santamartachicago 0]

Well I have blown this whole thing. The previous post was sent to my mail box, by accident I think. I copied it and posted here.

Then I responded to Santamartachicas comment about The Colombian Valentines day being the 22nd of Sept. I think it is Sept. 15th. Who is correct? I want to make sure I don't mess this day up. Colombianas seem to be a little sensitive about this kind of stuff. You know...................Que? Tu no amor Paola no mas? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Colombia's Day of Love & Friendship is tomorrow (Saturday).

I was speaking to Dayfenix last night (Bogota) and her older sister told me that it was Saturday 22. That is my source. I will check the flowers to Bogotal website for confirmation. Sorry for the mix up...just trying to help

[santamartachicago 0]

Well I have blown this whole thing. The previous post was sent to my mail box, by accident I think. I copied it and posted here.

Then I responded to Santamartachicas comment about The Colombian Valentines day being the 22nd of Sept. I think it is Sept. 15th. Who is correct? I want to make sure I don't mess this day up. Colombianas seem to be a little sensitive about this kind of stuff. You know...................Que? Tu no amor Paola no mas? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Colombia's Day of Love & Friendship is tomorrow (Saturday).

Dayfenix's sister was mistaken...it is tomorrow. SO SORRY GUYS, I got this quote DIRECTLY from the web site flowerstocolombia dot com so we both were correct. WHEEEY!

Don't forget! September 16th is the Colombian Valentines day, In Colombia it's

called "dia del amor y la amistad" and is celebrated the third weekend of

September.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Not to change the subject guys but I will...what is going on with USCIS?

NO approval today and very few over the last couple of weeks?

This is just pure craziness...and no definite answer as to what the problem is...?

I've given up calling the "help" line because they have less answers that we do and some of them are cold, rude ect... ect... ect...

I'm just so discouraged...tired...mad at our govt's slow...crappy...inefficient system and the horrible people that seem not to care at all about us that "work" there!!!

OK I feel a little better now that I've vented but I think I am pretty accurate in saying that I'm probably not the only one that feels this way.

Thanks for the ears,

Scott

[Bill y Bella 0]

The dia de amor y amistad is traditionally the third weekend in September. There might be some confusion this year because today is the second Friday of the month and tomorrow is the third Saturday.

I looked at a bunch of websites and most of them have the day as the 15th.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

The other thing I appreciate in Colombia is the idea of personal responsibility for everyday things. For example, there are lots of cracks and holes in the sidewalks in parts of Bogota. If you step in a hole and break your ankle, too bad for you (according to my wife)....you should have been looking. Here in the U.S. there'd be multi-million dollar lawsuit against the city!

Mike

Hey Mike,

I have a story a little more on the lighter side of my last post.

Yenifer and I were on our way to the airport in Colombia I think it was in March. I was running a little late for my return trip to the states...OK I was running a lot late...anyway...the cab driver was aware of the time crunch and was cruising at a pretty good clip to get me there on time. Cruising along a very busy 2 lane street (each way) turned into 3...if any of you have been to Barranquilla you know what I mean and up ahead a few hundred yards or so I see and older guy (65 ish) begin to cross this busy roadway. I said to myself "no he isn't". It was like being in a busy firing range trying to dodge bullits and we were the lucky bullit...he bounced off the hood and up and over the car ha ha ha...oops sorry "at the time" that wasn't funny, but now looking back it makes me chuckle.

The guy ended up ok THANK GOD...we changed cabs and carried on to the airport.

The original cab driver was a friend of Yenifer and we found out later that day that the man needed some hospital care (nothing major) but as he was on the ground waiting for the ambulance he was apologizing for being in the street!

You know that would be a huge lawsuit here.

Scott

Edited September 15, 2007 by Scott n Yenifer

[parkpapa 0]

Not to change the subject guys but I will...what is going on with USCIS?

NO approval today and very few over the last couple of weeks?

This is just pure craziness...and no definite answer as to what the problem is...?

I've given up calling the "help" line because they have less answers that we do and some of them are cold, rude ect... ect... ect...

I'm just so discouraged...tired...mad at our govt's slow...crappy...inefficient system and the horrible people that seem not to care at all about us that "work" there!!!

OK I feel a little better now that I've vented but I think I am pretty accurate in saying that I'm probably not the only one that feels this way.

Thanks for the ears,

Scott

Scott,

I'd sure like to know what magic combination of keystrokes you used to reach a live person. I finally gave up after five or six calls and getting cut off each time.

Charles

[parkpapa 0]

parkpapa, what is the current status with your returned AOS package? Any help from your representatives? I have seen where some other people have had the same thing happen to them but it does not seem to be universal. My guess is that there are some contract employees who do not undertand the submittal deadline correctly.

Nothing new, Bill. I have the original AOS in my hands. I made copies of all the 'rejection' notifications and sent those along with a one page letter explaining the situation to each of my US Senators (I haven't contacted my Congressman yet), but have not received anything back from them.

One thing that's interesting about getting the packet back is how I received it. I'm submitting for three people - Lorena and her two sons. There was a I-485 for each of them, an I-130 for each of the boys, the 864 (?) for finances, and other supporting documentation. Each of those groups of papers was separated and stapled together. Where there were photos included, those were placed in a zip-lock bag and that was stapled with the respective packet. Even the original envelope that I mailed the stuff in was included in a zip-lock bag. The question is, if the whole thing was wrong, why did they go to the trouble to separate it out, staple it together, and do all that work? One look at the check should have been sufficient.

As a side note, has anyone seen a thread on VJ that is specifically dedicated to this issue? I'm sure there have to be tons of people in the same boat.

Charles

[parkpapa 0]

Yes I also believe foreign income is not taxed (retirement), dollar is the currency and no property tax for 15 years. But I believe one has to move relatively fast as the foreigners are driving the prices up. But I'm looking at other places Argentina, or some hidden jewel LOL.

You're absolutely right. Prices are rising fast, though I think if you're willing to live outside of Panama City, you can still find some real bargains. Equador and Uraguay still seem to be very affordable and I had a friend suggest Costa Rica. I've been to Buenos Aires a couple of times and LOVE Argentina! A good life there would be affordable now, though I know prices were rising even over the course of the year that I took my trips there.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Not to change the subject guys but I will...what is going on with USCIS?

NO approval today and very few over the last couple of weeks?

This is just pure craziness...and no definite answer as to what the problem is...?

I've given up calling the "help" line because they have less answers that we do and some of them are cold, rude ect... ect... ect...

I'm just so discouraged...tired...mad at our govt's slow...crappy...inefficient system and the horrible people that seem not to care at all about us that "work" there!!!

OK I feel a little better now that I've vented but I think I am pretty accurate in saying that I'm probably not the only one that feels this way.

Thanks for the ears,

Scott

Scott,

I'd sure like to know what magic combination of keystrokes you used to reach a live person. I finally gave up after five or six calls and getting cut off each time.

Charles

Charles,

Your way ahead of the game if you don't speak to anyone when you call because all you will get is "frustrated". In fact you would make more productive your time by watching grass grow!!! ha!ha!ha!

It seems like the problem you are facing right now will go your way. It's again another example of the system we are faced with. A little time and a little trouble I'm sure your problem will be resolved.

I have to keep reminding myself that we are all here for one common reason...LOVE...and everything that we are going through is well worth it and the problems will eventually work themselves out. When you reflect on each leg of this journey you will probably say " that wasn't so bad" but right now it's not so easy to say that. This reminder helps to keep me sane.

Thanks again to everyone in this forum ...it's nice to have so many people to lean on with mucho experience and knowledge about this process.

Scott

[buck501 0]

Not to change the subject guys but I will...what is going on with USCIS?

NO approval today and very few over the last couple of weeks?

This is just pure craziness...and no definite answer as to what the problem is...?

I've given up calling the "help" line because they have less answers that we do and some of them are cold, rude ect... ect... ect...

I'm just so discouraged...tired...mad at our govt's slow...crappy...inefficient system and the horrible people that seem not to care at all about us that "work" there!!!

OK I feel a little better now that I've vented but I think I am pretty accurate in saying that I'm probably not the only one that feels this way.

Thanks for the ears,

Scott

Scott, the wait is painful, the suspense is painful, the only thing that is not painful is hope. Hang in there, we all know exactly how you feel.

[buck501 0]

Bill, the Certificate of Abandoment can be received from the "Beinestar Familiar" or the Family Welfare office. This is one of those things that I would reccommend to get. You need to cover all your bases. I would rather have to much then not enough. I regret falsely inturpetating the requirements. It has cost me time and money, worst of all, Paola is not here with me.

[Bill y Bella 0]

Bill, the Certificate of Abandoment can be received from the "Beinestar Familiar" or the Family Welfare office. This is one of those things that I would reccommend to get. You need to cover all your bases. I would rather have to much then not enough. I regret falsely inturpetating the requirements. It has cost me time and money, worst of all, Paola is not here with me.

Thanks Buck, and I agree with your advice. Any idea if that can be obtained in the ICBF main office in Bogota or if it needs to be obtained in the local office where the abandonment took place? If not we will find out Monday before she leaves. Do you know how long it took her to obtain it?

Thanks again!

[buck501 0]

Bill, Poala got COA in her hometown, I don't know if you can get it elsewhere. I would assume so. It would just take longer. She received in 3 days. She has to get letters from 2 people in the family stateing that the father was no where to be found. I can not remember the cost, but it was not much.

[Bill y Bella 0]

Bill, Poala got COA in her hometown, I don't know if you can get it elsewhere. I would assume so. It would just take longer. She received in 3 days. She has to get letters from 2 people in the family stateing that the father was no where to be found. I can not remember the cost, but it was not much.

Thanks Buck. That is a big help. I really appreciate it.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

parkpapa, what is the current status with your returned AOS package? Any help from your representatives? I have seen where some other people have had the same thing happen to them but it does not seem to be universal. My guess is that there are some contract employees who do not undertand the submittal deadline correctly.

Nothing new, Bill. I have the original AOS in my hands. I made copies of all the 'rejection' notifications and sent those along with a one page letter explaining the situation to each of my US Senators (I haven't contacted my Congressman yet), but have not received anything back from them.

One thing that's interesting about getting the packet back is how I received it. I'm submitting for three people - Lorena and her two sons. There was a I-485 for each of them, an I-130 for each of the boys, the 864 (?) for finances, and other supporting documentation. Each of those groups of papers was separated and stapled together. Where there were photos included, those were placed in a zip-lock bag and that was stapled with the respective packet. Even the original envelope that I mailed the stuff in was included in a zip-lock bag. The question is, if the whole thing was wrong, why did they go to the trouble to separate it out, staple it together, and do all that work? One look at the check should have been sufficient.

As a side note, has anyone seen a thread on VJ that is specifically dedicated to this issue? I'm sure there have to be tons of people in the same boat.

Charles

Charles,

I hope your senators will resolve this for you PRONTO!!...you know...1 phone call from them probably could have resolved all of this paper shuffling for them and for you.

I've learned a lot being involved as a VJer and continue to learn and I know 1 thing for sure...there is nothing easy about this process.

Scott