Colombia Club

[lucho562 0]

OK i get it now...actually VCS is kind of slow right?

Yes, VSC and CSC are real slow. Sometimes they send you the NOA2 hardcopy right away, weeks after, or some have to actually request the hardcopy NOA2.

You will want to call NVC for the following reasons

1. Find out if you have been approved (NOA2)

2. Find out if you have been RFE'd

3. Find out if your case is still sitting there waiting to be reviewed.

Once the above 3 issues are done and dealt with and you finally get news of your NOA2, there will be other reasons why you should call NVC. These reasons as follows...

1. When did your respective service center (VSC or CSC) send your approved petition to NVC.

Why??

Because NVC knows the exact date that the service center mailed out the approval. This is the point where you can use the shortcuts to get scheduled for an interview at the embassy at a much earlier date.

Let's say that your petition has arrived at NVC

2. You ask the NVC rep, when did your petition arrive. The date of arrival.

Put the shortcuts to work

For example purposes only I will be using fabricated dates.

You now know that your petition has arrived at NVC on Monday, September 17th.

Call NVC on Wednesday/Thursday which will be the 19th/20th of September. Most often than not NVC will forward your petition to Bogota in about 4 days after receiving it. NVC forwards via DHL. DHL service to Bogota is about 3 business days. So now you know that your petition will be in Bogota on the 25th/26th of September. Ok now you give the embassy in Bogota a day or so to process your case in their system. Now on the 27th/28th you will FAX packet 3 to the embassy and follow up by couriering it as well (optional).

The number of days I used for the example are not set in stone, but more often than not, it is dead on or a day or two off. The tracking of all the dates is quite simple, just call NVC every day to find out when and if your petition has arrived/sent or been received in Bogota.

NVC knows all, they know when packet 3 goes out, packet 4 goes out, interview date etc.

I sure hope I didnt confuse anyone with all this. As I feel that I was going in 1 direction then made a left turn on my post. If any of this sounds like mumbo/jumbo to you, let me know and I will try my best to explain it better. At times i'm not sure if I understand my explanations myself.

Edited September 19, 2007 by lucho562

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Lucho is amazing!!!

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

You will want to call NVC for the following reasons

1. Find out if you have been approved (NOA2)

2. Find out if you have been RFE'd

3. Find out if your case is still sitting there waiting to be reviewed.

Lucho,

#2: NVC will know if your service center...in my case CSC...has an outstanding RFE?

#3: NVC will also if your case hasn't been reviewed yet buy the service center?

My thought was that NVC didn't even know we existed until the petition was out of the service centers hands and into theirs...please correct me if I'm wrong.

Scott

Edited September 19, 2007 by Scott n Yenifer

[lucho562 0]

You will want to call NVC for the following reasons

1. Find out if you have been approved (NOA2)

2. Find out if you have been RFE'd

3. Find out if your case is still sitting there waiting to be reviewed.

Lucho,

#2: NVC will know if your service center...in my case CSC...has an outstanding RFE?

#3: NVC will also if your case hasn't been reviewed yet buy the service center?

My thought was that NVC didn't even know we existed until the petition was out of the service centers hands and into theirs...please correct me if I'm wrong.

Scott

Scott,

I may have combined the RFE trick with NVC shortcuts. I told you guys that may have made a left turn on my previous post.

#2: I have read a few instances where petitioners were able to get that info from NVC.

#3: If #1 and #2 are out of the picture, #3 is where you are certainly at.

NVC does know that we do exist because they know the day your petition was approvced by CSC/VSC before they actually receive it.

Nevertheless, if you cannot get certain info from NVC, try your respective service center CSC or VSC. If no dice, try NSC (national service center). Do not get stuck in a situation where you are unaware of the status of your petition. If a phone rep at NVC wont bite, try CSC, NVC.

Dont settle for their lame 'by the book' responses. Drill them until you get some kind of answers. The RFE trick can be taken further. A lot further, i'll post more RFE related tricks tomorrow.

Lucho

[buck501 0]

Off topic, some what.

For those that have their sweetie in the US.......................How is it? What hurdels have you had to overcome? Are they homesick? The Colombian seems to be very close to freinds and family, what happens here in the US? What have you done to overcome the expected homesickness?

I travel alot, Paola will be home alone when I am gone, not speaking the language, not knowing the culture, a small town, no other Colombians. This has been and is a big concern of mine. I am thinking about moving to a new location, for her, not for me. I could live out my life here in a quiet, boring exsistence. That is NOT Colombia. I have been over and over this with her. I know she does not understand what it means to sit alone day after day with no outside influence. I close to thinking it would be cruel to bring her here, you know, like I am a selfish person. I want to involve her in our culture. Get her involved in some university classes, become a part of my community. Truth is, I am a typical american, work hard and long, sleep, not real open to people showing up at my door whenever, without calling ahead. The freinds I have are busy and do not have time for daily contact. Pretty boring compared to the Colombian culture

If I could manage it now, I would live in Colombia. As it is that is most likley about 5 to 7 years out.

Sooooooooooooooo, What has been your experience? How have you overcome?

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Off topic, some what.

For those that have their sweetie in the US.......................How is it? What hurdels have you had to overcome? Are they homesick? The Colombian seems to be very close to freinds and family, what happens here in the US? What have you done to overcome the expected homesickness?

I travel alot, Paola will be home alone when I am gone, not speaking the language, not knowing the culture, a small town, no other Colombians. This has been and is a big concern of mine. I am thinking about moving to a new location, for her, not for me. I could live out my life here in a quiet, boring exsistence. That is NOT Colombia. I have been over and over this with her. I know she does not understand what it means to sit alone day after day with no outside influence. I close to thinking it would be cruel to bring her here, you know, like I am a selfish person. I want to involve her in our culture. Get her involved in some university classes, become a part of my community. Truth is, I am a typical american, work hard and long, sleep, not real open to people showing up at my door whenever, without calling ahead. The freinds I have are busy and do not have time for daily contact. Pretty boring compared to the Colombian culture

If I could manage it now, I would live in Colombia. As it is that is most likley about 5 to 7 years out.

Sooooooooooooooo, What has been your experience? How have you overcome?

Hey Buck,

I understand your concerns...fortunately Yenifer speaks fluent English but if she didn't...her transition here would be easier because of the area that we will live (South Florida)...it is a huge mix of cultures including mucho South Americans.

I am a transplant from a somewhat quiet area in Massachusetts and live now in the Fort Lauderdale area (I wouldn't recomend Miami...not as clean and way too much latin influence) and I just love it!

This would probably be a huge change for you and there would be a big adjustment and sacrifice on your part because it is very busy down here but let me just say that you and Paola will NEVER run out of things to do and she will have no problem communicating in Espanol...

Also everything is within walking distance...shopping...movies...dining...don't forget the beaches and most libraries have free Engish classes for the Spanish speakers.

Anyway...it's something to consider and if you want to scope it out I will be glad to be your tour guide.

Scott

Edited September 19, 2007 by Scott n Yenifer

[jpine 0]

i didnt know my ex wife's dob and just guestimated. I had no problems there was a lot of little things that i guestimated on. Not telling you to do it but how can USCIS or Colombia Embassy know your fiance's ex husbands dob?

I have a question related to the G-325A Biographical Information form. My fiancée does not know her ex-husband's date of birth. However, in this form, there is a section where one has to list previous husband's or wives' date of birth. Thus, my question is: since I don't have this information (her ex-husband's date of birth and she does not want to ask him for his date of birth), what do write in the space where his date of birth should go? Do I write "do not know", "none", "unknown"? Any other suggestions? Thanks.

[Entonces... 0]

Lucho,

Do you have the CSC number? There not listed in the book. I found one # but it's disconnected.

Rafael

[lucho562 0]

Rafael,

Just found out that CSC no longer can be reached directly by phone. You will have to call USCIS main center at 800-375-5283. If you are planning on doing the RFE trick, just play around with the automated system until you are able to get to the RFE prompts, then a live operator.

[lucho562 0]

Buck,

I understand how you feel. It has been a big change of lifestyle for Wendy. It was extremely difficult for the first month and half. She was very homesick, missing her family and all. There is not a whole lot that you can do to avoid or even lessen her homesickness. I think the most important thing is to just hear her out, listen to her, console her. Try to keep her occupied as well. English courses on DVD or computer. As well as english classes so that she may interact with others and not get too bored at home. Keep her busy at all costs, dont let her get too bored doing nothing because that is when she'll have the time and her mind free to think of her family and friends in Colombia. Take her out as much as possible, especially after you come home from work. You may be exhausted and just want to lounge, but remember she's been at home doing nothing. Thats all I can think of now. This is what I did to try to make her feel at home.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Hey Colombia Club...I spoke to an officer today and my case was assingned on th 14th and it should be done this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy...I don't know what to do with myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lucho562 0]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Entonces... 0]

Hey Colombia Club...I spoke to an officer today and my case was assingned on th 14th and it should be done this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy...I don't know what to do with myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES! Congrats Scott. This is awesome news!

Rafael

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Lucho,

Do you have the CSC number? There not listed in the book. I found one # but it's disconnected.

Rafael

Rafael...this info and prompt list from Byron will save you phone time since you may have to call several times before you are connected to the service center...if at the end of the prompts a message tells you there are no officers available to take your call you will be transferred to the national call center (this is a waste of time) just hang up and keep trying to get an officer...it took me about 20 tries.

Scott

Call 1-800-3755283

Listen for the choices and follow these steps ...i other words for the first choice press 1, second choice press 2, then 2, then 4, then 2, then 1, then put in your case number ( EAC AND THE NUMBER OR WAC AND THE NUMBER) then 1, and last 1....the last one will connect you with a live operator...then you say you are calling to inquire about the RFE ( request for evidence ) you got, baically you want to know what they are looking for. They will probably say that they havent issued one and thats when you ask what is the status of your case...say some dumb things like..." someone told me that after a certain amount of time waiting it meant that i have an RFE" or " My lawyer told me i had an RFE" say anything to make them think that you are not playing a trick on them.

Bueno suerte!!!!

[lucho562 0]

Another RFE success story....lol

Edited September 19, 2007 by lucho562