Colombia Club

[paisita411 0]

Mike and Tony,

Thank you both for replying. I've spent the night reading all the consular reviews and it seems that the sponsers who've attended weren't asked anything, so I'm feeling more reassured about the situation. Oscar and I are going over all of the docs together and organizing them very meticulously. I've printed out 1-2 emails per month for the past 12 months, about 100 pages of IMs, screen shots of 6months of IMS and emails, and of course pictures. It seems, thought, that very few people were asked for anything more than pictures. But of course, all of the reviews posted so far have been from K1 folks. Lets be sure to post our consular reviews for the K3s that follow us. Thanks again for the support.

Dre

[FMore 0]

Hi folks. Here's my update.

After getting off to a great start (noa2 in 14 days). I thought my fiancee would have a February appointment I called NVC friday to find out if they had forwarded our case to Bogota. Most cases are forwarded to the consulate within 1 week.They had had our petition for 2 weeks now. Fortunately the lady on the phone was a sweetheart otherwise I would have blown a fuse when I was told that the reason for the delay is that we have been singled out for "Administrative Proccessing". She didn't explain what that meant other than to say that since 9/11 INS, ICE, FBI or DOS... (WHATEVER!!!) have been screening applicants more thoroughly due to security issues. blah blah blah!!!! AARGGGGHHHHH!!!

After doing some reading on VISAJOURNEY and other related websites I think I know what the problem is... For the last 7 or 8 years I have travelled to Colombia, every time I am departing Colombia I have a hard time. I am singled out by the DAS emmigration officials. I am told to get off line, wait for a supervisor, they look at me suspiciously, ask dozens of questions, scrutinize my passport. Sometimes I am told I will not be able to board the plane to NYC. Turns out my name is the same as someone or someoneS on a 'security checklist'. From what I have read this can be a delay as short as 4 weeks or as long as a year until they are satisfied I am not said "desperado".

I found this out friday night.

NOW CHECK THIS OUT!!! Saturday morning I'm driving my son to work. He recently started working for an airline. On the way to the airport a pigeon craps on my windshield. I've heard somewhere that it is good luck to be crapped on by a pigeon (as opposed to ICE, INS, FBI or DOS). I smile. Saturday night I pick my son up at work and he tells me his boss had just promoted him AND approved his benefits package which includes FLIGHT BENEFITS FOR HIS FATHER, mother , siblings and girlfriend. YAHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm on travelocity.com now planning my bi-monthly weekend travel dates for the next year JUST IN CASE. HAHAHA. Looks like nothing is gonna' keep me away from my Carolina.

Anyone here been "Administratively Processed"

[coffeeguy 0]

Hey everyone, count me in for the Colombia Club. Cool to know that there are enough of us who've found love in Colombia that we can help each other out in the visa process.

I've been planning to use James' shortcuts for the CR-1 and PeterMiami's shortcuts for the K-3. While I don't have a lot to contribute now, I'd be more than happy to contribute as our visa process continues.

[paisita411 0]

Welcome CoffeeGuy. We're here to help each other, like you said. Don't break your head over James' shortcuts, unless you plan to wait the CR1 process out (means a much longer wait for your spouse), you won't need them if you go the K3 route. I read over James shortcuts thoroghly and it turns out I won't need them since I chose the K3 route.

My best advise is to read over this thread very well and it should answer many of your questions about the process. And feel free to ask anything, chances are one of us has had a similar question in the past and can help.

Best of Luck.

FMORE...I'm sorry to hear about your Administrative Processing situation. I hope someone can chime in with some advice.

[TonyS 0]

FMore

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate turn of events. I remember that you were running a couple of weeks ahead of me and I thought your fiancee would be interviewing in Febuary. I hope things change soon for you.

Tony

[mystery 0]

How many of you guys fiance actually have recieved Packet 4???

My fiance had the original interview date on 12/22, but we could not make it on that date. Funny thing is that my fiance got the packet for that interview on 12/27!!!

We rescheduled and our interview is on 1/24 and she still has not recieved packet 4.

I know we're most likely going to have to pick it up at the embassy but just curious who here has gotten it mailed and who has not and are having to also go and pick it up.....

mystery

[Mike and Adriana 0]

My wife received received both packets 3 and 4 in a very timely fashion at her home in Bogota. I have read horror stories on this board about folks in other cities in Colombia that receive their packets weeks later...if at all.

So, if she does not live in Bogota...perhaps you need to find another way. If you ask her, Dre (OskaryAndrea) may e-mail you a copy of her packet 4. The interview schedule for January has been posted on the embassy web site....if you need to know you new interview date (assuming it is in January).

Mike

[mystery 0]

My wife received received both packets 3 and 4 in a very timely fashion at her home in Bogota. I have read horror stories on this board about folks in other cities in Colombia that receive their packets weeks later...if at all.

So, if she does not live in Bogota...perhaps you need to find another way. If you ask her, Dre (OskaryAndrea) may e-mail you a copy of her packet 4. The interview schedule for January has been posted on the embassy web site....if you need to know you new interview date (assuming it is in January).

Mike

Thanx Mike.I already know my interview date to be 1/24 because I called the embassy in Bogota. I also have packet 4.

Thing is that everyone needs to recieve their own packet 4 because in it is the letter stating the persons names and interview date. You need to take that sheet that is in packet 4 to the Dr's appt, labs and finally to the embassy on the interview date!!

So we're scrambling to see if anyone can do us the favor of picking it up for us, if not having to send my fiance all the way to Bogota from Cartagena.....

Thanx for your response.

Edited January 8, 2007 by mystery

[bradyvicky 0]

Hello all...

Just wanted to send out our greetings and wish everyone luck in their journey! All our time on the website has been devoted to the K3 then the CR1 forums. Now that we are less than a month from the Interview and have backed off from the forums a little bit, only offering advice or experiences where helpful. We recently found this thread and wanted to introduce ourselves! Long live the Colombian experience, and best wishes to all of you in love out there!

Have a great week! Brad and Vicky

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Mystery:

Yes, I am aware of the need for the appointment sheet (cita), which is part of packet 4. I ready on another post a while back about someone's experience in Cartagena. I believe the packet had been sitting in the Cartagena post office for 3 weeks before the guy and his fiance finally went to the post office and helped them search for it....and they actually found it.

So, you might want to go to the post office. If it's not there and you find someone to go to the embassy for you, you'll probably need to send them with a letter of permission and a copy of the beneficiary's passport and/or cedula. I can't imagine the embassy handing a copy of the cita to just anyone.

Good luck,

Mike

[Tony & Olga 0]

Hello all!

I hope everyone had great holidays as I am still enjoying mine here in Cali with my wife! An update on a couple of things. One we finally received our packet 4 this past Monday in the mail here at my wifes address in Cali. Talk about snail mail, sheesh! I was starting to get worried since we were told our interview date was January 22 via the phone when I called the Embassy back on the 13 of December.

Secondly, the Carta de DAS is required. at least for the K3 VISA people. This is a letter from DAS that states the travel dates and places the colombian national has traveled outside of Colombia. We have all our paper work now, accept this. I am told if you get it in Bogota it takes 3 days, if you order it in any other city it can take 3 weeks or more. So be aware of this! We used the short cut tips found here and improvised is some areas, so we did not have to wait for the packet 3 and we never did receive it!

M wife and I have traveled to Pasto, Bogota and are now back in Cali. I have another 4 days here with her until I have to return to work, but with a little luck she will join me in Orlando within a few weeks. I will update the post with more information when I return!

Bueno Suerte,

Tony

Edited January 9, 2007 by Tony & Olga

[stinger 0]

Will the Embassy accept phone calls on days other than Monday and Wednesday????? I'm trying to find out my fiance's interview date. We faxed and sent via courier the Ds2001, DS230 part 1 and bio page of passport. So, now we're trying to obtain the interview date.

Thanks...Stinger!!!

[paisita411 0]

Mystery....Mike is right about that previous VJrs experience. I read that post too. I also made friends with another VJer from Cali and her interview is the 29th and she hasn't recieved PK4 either. She called the embassy and they told her she could have someone pick it up for her on THURSDAYS AT 12:30PM ONLY. Send your fiance's passport and cedula (copies) with a friend or relative, if you have someone there. Otherwise, you may have to schedule your trip for an earlier date so you can pick it up yourself. Or try the Postoffice suggestion. Best of Luck.

Brad and Vickie, Thanks for signing on. We wish you the best at your interview on the 30th. Let us know how things go.

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Stinger:

I THINK the embassy is pretty strict on only taking calls on the designated times. HOWEVER, I did read a post one time when the petitioner (the American) called the embassy and indicated that he was an American....and he got an immediate answer to his question about the interview date. Maybe worth a try. Worst they can do is tell you to call back.

Now, obviously, if you have a January interview, it is already posted on the web site (by case number).

Mike

[stinger 0]

Stinger:

I THINK the embassy is pretty strict on only taking calls on the designated times. HOWEVER, I did read a post one time when the petitioner (the American) called the embassy and indicated that he was an American....and he got an immediate answer to his question about the interview date. Maybe worth a try. Worst they can do is tell you to call back.

Now, obviously, if you have a January interview, it is already posted on the web site (by case number).

Mike

Thanks, Mike...they told me to call back tomorrow...which I will obviously do!!!!