Colombia Club

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Whoops Bryon.....................Have US dollars, pesos aint no good in Panama. The US dollar is the currency. Take pesos and you will get burned big time on the exchange rate. I sent the money Western Union and had the payout be in US dollars.

Thanks Buck!!!! I'll keep in mind the carrying our passports point, very good to know!!!! I am sending her the money through an uncle that is traveling there a couple days before the departure date and now i know that she should keep it in dollars!! Again Buck, thanks for all the info

[parkpapa 0]

Congratulations to Buck and Diana!!!!!!! Seems I'm late to the party yet again, but I was sure you guys would be successful.

As others have pointed out, be OVER-prepared!!! When we had our interview, it only lasted 10 to 15 minutes and the CO never asked to see supporting documentation. He did, however, ask to see Lorena's two sons in person before he'd issue the visa. Maybe the boys were the supporting documentation. Who knows?

As for photos, from all I've seen and read (here and elsewhere), it's good to have a large selection for the CO to view. More than anything, though, you need to have LOTS of photos of YOU with your novia/novio and her/his FAMILY, if that is at all possible. More than 10, if possible, with you and the family.

A lot of the process (including the AOS, it seems) can be pretty arbitrary, or at least seem that way. It could be that the different bureaucrats involved are under the same guidelines as many police officers. They may have quotas or may be required to more closely screen every other, or every third (fifth?), applicant. There often seems to be no rationale for who they choose to grill or why. Your best defense is to be cool, and, when necessary, flood them with evidence that your case is MORE than worthy of approval.

No hill is to big to climb, is it Diana? B)

[paisita411 0]

Buck, thank you for the overview on your observations at the embassy. I started thinking you were there the day Oscar's visa got approved. We kept getting called back and forth and had reams of paper, too. The funny thing is that in the end, they didn't look at a single picture or letter at our third interview. I missed the first, was there for the next two. Number two I didn't take as seriously as I should have and we didn't review one question. BIG MISTAKE. The stress that you feel when you're being question is incredilbe, especially when you get the vibe that they aren't believing you. Simple questions are forgotten and you can look very foolish. On my second turn, Oscar's 3rd (poor guy), we practiced every question we could get a hold of. The funny thing was that at the interview, the only thing Oscar was asked were the DATES of my trips to Colombia and THANKS to our review, he spit them out without hesitation. That's all he was really asked and afterwards we were both grateful we had rehearsed. It really makes me angry that they make us all go to such extreams, but I understand the volume of applicants they must see and they are trying to make a fair judgement on getting to know you in just 5, 10, 20 minutes. Preparation is key. Those of us that have been through it can't stress it enough. My apathy and over-confidence in February extended not only the visa approval process, but Oscar's actual trip here (for non USCIS reasons). The heartbreak and fear was a heavy burden for us to bear. In Feb, we were told by several attorneys that the wait could be 12-15 mos for another interview. The interview in July came from Divine intervention and the help of VJers that had gone through similar situations. PLEASE, take the interview seriously and PREPARE PREPARE PREPARE. Like someone here said, reviewing the questions will help you to get to know each other even better than you do now. There are many things you think you know and you don't, and others you hadn't even thought to ask.

Well guys and gals....overall...we had a great round of approvals this week!!! Keep up the good work!!!

Dre

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

:help: I'm looking for a good list of common questions asked during the interview so that Yenifer and I can review and practice...practice...practice. Anyone know where I can find such a list?

[Entonces... 0]

Scott,

I have gone back to the post on this thread to save some time on questions. I have been taking notes and found some questions. But for what I have read the questions may vary...

How did you meet?

When was the last time you saw your novio?

How many times have you seen him?

Why do you want to get married? (I'm sure LisaD and TracyTN think this was a very good question!)

Where does he live?

What does your family think about you leaving for the US?

When did he buy his house? (she didn't know the answer and the lady said that was ok)

Do you have any friends/relatives in the US and where do they live?

hope it helps ,

Rafael

[buck501 0]

I think I still have a large list of questions asked in english and spanish, PM me with your email addy and I will send it to you.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Thanks for the help Rafael and Buck.

[buck501 0]

Thanks for the help Rafael and Buck.

Scott, I sent the questions off to you, let me know if you do not get them.

[santamartachicago 0]

Thanks for the help Rafael and Buck.

Scott, I sent the questions off to you, let me know if you do not get them.

I saw that my status changed from newbie to junior...I guess that says I should know a little bit more about how to work this web site. NOT SO I am posting this question here as well as the other place (where...I dont know) Just looking for some help from you all...

Hello everyone,

I had a revelation ( mind you after I spent the last month reading 158 pages in the colombia club topics ) I wanted to make sure I did not miss anything. I must say it is a wealth of information and beautiful insightful stories. Oh yeah my revelation...is there anyone out there from the colombia club that is will to share their new wife with me (hoooold on ) I have been trying to communicate with Dayfenix via emails, and phone calls all of the incredible information I get from VJers. I just thought if there was someone who's wife has been approved for her visa through Bogota would be willing to help us out directly. My love Dayfenix lives in Bogota and I wanted to advise her on all the things she can get accomplished now and have in hand...but I don't want to get any documents of vacines to early so I ask is there anyone who is willing to share their wife with us to direct us from the point where we are to the finish line. I miss her so much can anyone help.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

I think I still have a large list of questions asked in english and spanish, PM me with your email addy and I will send it to you.

Buck...THANKS A BUNCH!!!...the list looks very complete and I'm sure this will help to ease our minds come interview time.

Rafael...PM me with your email address and I will forward this list to you and anyone else who would like it... I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT !!!

[santamartachicago 0]

I think I still have a large list of questions asked in english and spanish, PM me with your email addy and I will send it to you.

Buck...THANKS A BUNCH!!!...the list looks very complete and I'm sure this will help to ease our minds come interview time.

Rafael...PM me with your email address and I will forward this list to you and anyone else who would like it... I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT !!!

Hello Scott...can you forward me that list of questions as well when you get a chance. I'll be in Bogota within the next 3 weeks.

Thanks

PS i figured out how to post pics...I place some of Dayfenix on there. The ones with us together coming soon

[buck501 0]

I think I still have a large list of questions asked in english and spanish, PM me with your email addy and I will send it to you.

Buck...THANKS A BUNCH!!!...the list looks very complete and I'm sure this will help to ease our minds come interview time.

Rafael...PM me with your email address and I will forward this list to you and anyone else who would like it... I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT !!!

Hello Scott...can you forward me that list of questions as well when you get a chance. I'll be in Bogota within the next 3 weeks.

Thanks

PS i figured out how to post pics...I place some of Dayfenix on there. The ones with us together coming soon

Santa............Pm me with your email addy and I will forward the questions to you. Your chica is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!

[Juan Carlos 0]

Andrea, Buck,

Thanks so much for the information you've provided. Only now do I realize how important it is to prepare for that interview (Scott, I just sent you my email address. I would really appreciate if you can send me that list).

About Panama, I am a little surprised to find out about the $500 USD. Is that because they are Colombian citizens? I ask this because I was in Panama (business trip) for three days back in June and I don't remember paying that much. I flew using CopaAirlines (I think they have a partnership with Continental) and unless the fee was included in the ticket, I didn't pay for it. Maybe rules changed. (overall price for the ticket was $700 USD round trip).

Have a great weekend!

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Andrea, Buck,

Thanks so much for the information you've provided. Only now do I realize how important it is to prepare for that interview (Scott, I just sent you my email address. I would really appreciate if you can send me that list).

About Panama, I am a little surprised to find out about the $500 USD. Is that because they are Colombian citizens? I ask this because I was in Panama (business trip) for three days back in June and I don't remember paying that much. I flew using CopaAirlines (I think they have a partnership with Continental) and unless the fee was included in the ticket, I didn't pay for it. Maybe rules changed. (overall price for the ticket was $700 USD round trip).

Have a great weekend!

Juan Carlos and Santamartachicago...the lists that you asked for are in your inbox.

Edited September 29, 2007 by Scott n Yenifer

[Bill y Bella 0]

To those who are looking for a list of interview questions, I posted a ton of them a few months ago. I had hoped that it would become an interactive list and people would update it (by replying to the post with the latest version of the list) after their interviews but that idea never caught on. I was also hopeful that we could enter the spanish translations right next to the english version but I never got around to combining the two lists. Maybe this list would be easier to manage if I posted it off site.

Here are the links:

List of interview questions I compiled with help from Buck & Dre.

Translation of questions into Spanish by Diana.