Colombia Club

[stinger 0]

I just wanted to thank everyone here for the help you all have provided...you have been very kind and made a lot of headaches go away. To those who responded via here or PM, thank you again.

[Yadira's Man 0]

Hi,

Looks like our K3 has arrived in Bogota today by DHL. For confirmation I want to call the US Embassy in Bogota tomorrow.

What is the telephone number of US Embassy for us to call??

Thanks....

[paisita411 0]

Joel...here's the number to call...Call WEDNESDAY BETWEEN 2pm and 4pm... The call is free, speak only in English and tell them you're calling from the US. When I called the first two times and spoke in spanish they completely ignored me and put me into some no answer line. The 3rd call I placed, I spoke in English, said I was calling from the US and the lady was super nice to me and helped me right away

011-57-1-315-1566 (consular section - visas)....also, have your wife fax her PK3 docs in asap, as the cut off date for February is approaching.

Good luck!

DRE

[TonyS 0]

I spoke with a friend today. His fiancee was approved for her visa today. She said that she waited for 5 hours but the interview only lasted a few minutes. She was only asked 3 or 4 questions and none of the documents that she had were looked at. She was a little nervous because a couple of girls before her were denied. One due to problems with the medical exam and the other due to financial documents that were needed. I am very happy for them and I hope next month I will be celebrating too!

[Yadira's Man 0]

Joel...here's the number to call...Call WEDNESDAY BETWEEN 2pm and 4pm... The call is free, speak only in English and tell them you're calling from the US. When I called the first two times and spoke in spanish they completely ignored me and put me into some no answer line. The 3rd call I placed, I spoke in English, said I was calling from the US and the lady was super nice to me and helped me right away

011-57-1-315-1566 (consular section - visas)....also, have your wife fax her PK3 docs in asap, as the cut off date for February is approaching.

Good luck!

DRE

Oh Boy!!! I have been calling that number for almost 2 hours.. This phone number is always buzzzzzzzyyyyyy.

Is there other phone number to call???

Thanks

[Mike and Adriana 0]

No. That's the only one.

In all honesty, if you are reasonably certain of the day your petition left the U.S. and it has been 3 business days since then....your petition should be in Bogota. Go ahead and fax/mail the packet 3 forms! If you want, you can do like me....in the cover letter for the packet 3 info, I mentioned that the petition had been sent by DHL from the NVC and that it had been received by the embassy. That way, if for some reason our petition had not yet been entered into the computer...they would not simply discard our packet 3 materials.

FYI - we faxed our materials two days after the petition arrived in Bogota and then followed up with a hard copy by courier mailed two days later. Our packet 4 was waiting for us when we returned from our belated honeymoony.

Don't wait! Send your stuff....the mid-month deadline is approaching to secure a February interview.

Oh Boy!!! I have been calling that number for almost 2 hours.. This phone number is always buzzzzzzzyyyyyy.

Is there other phone number to call???

Thanks

[stinger 0]

For the medical exam for fiance visa: my fiance needs to bring two DS 156, right? Can she download the forms that are printed in Spanish or do they have to be in English? Anyone know.....????

Also, does she need to bring a DS 157K as well??? Please let me know asap...thanks..Stinger.

[Robert Jorge 0]

I am trying to get the Package 3 stuff turned into Bogota asap. I just wanted to make sure I had the correct fax number. Is the correct number, 1-315-4155? I hope so because this is the number I gave my fiancee. She will be faxing the paperwork tomorrow, 1/12/07, assuming she receives it today. I sent it via UPS from the states on Tuesday.

[Mike and Adriana 0]

My wife is having her medical exam today....so I can't ask her yet.

BUT, according to packet 4, you need the following: cita (appointment letter), passport, and required photographs (packet 4 says two photos, but when my wife called for the appointment, they said she need more...a total of 3, I think).

You only need to take the DS 156 to the bank...and then to the embassy. DS156K (for K-1 only) taken to the interview. DS-157 taken to the embassy (again, I was told that the DS-157 was only for males between 18 and 45....and packet 4 makes no mention of it...but the guy at Banco Credito gave us the form and said to fill it out and bring it to the embassy interview...so we are going to do it).

As for the forms...they can be in English or Spanish. The interviewers at the embassy speak and read Spanish, so I am told. In fact, the forms in packet 3 and 4 are in Spanish.

For the medical exam for fiance visa: my fiance needs to bring two DS 156, right? Can she download the forms that are printed in Spanish or do they have to be in English? Anyone know.....????

Also, does she need to bring a DS 157K as well??? Please let me know asap...thanks..Stinger.

I am trying to get the Package 3 stuff turned into Bogota asap. I just wanted to make sure I had the correct fax number. Is the correct number, 1-315-4155? I hope so because this is the number I gave my fiancee. She will be faxing the paperwork tomorrow, 1/12/07, assuming she receives it today. I sent it via UPS from the states on Tuesday.

That is the correct fax number.

[Robert Jorge 0]

OK, one last question ... for now! (Thanks for the confirmation that my fax number for the embassy was correct) Alright, I have the forms DS-156 and 156K already. (I'm the petitioner) But, I read that those forms are provided by the consulate at the interview. So, I did not bother to fill them out figuring it was unnecessary right now ... (we are at the package 3 stage). Now, that I am reading a lot more because I am getting closer to the point where the 156's are necessary, people seem to say you have to have them filled out PRIOR to the interview. I was under the impression the 156's were provided at the consulate at the time of the interview. What is the real deal? Should I have these forms filled out and ready to go?

[Mike and Adriana 0]

OK, one last question ... for now! (Thanks for the confirmation that my fax number for the embassy was correct) Alright, I have the forms DS-156 and 156K already. (I'm the petitioner) But, I read that those forms are provided by the consulate at the interview. So, I did not bother to fill them out figuring it was unnecessary right now ... (we are at the package 3 stage). Now, that I am reading a lot more because I am getting closer to the point where the 156's are necessary, people seem to say you have to have them filled out PRIOR to the interview. I was under the impression the 156's were provided at the consulate at the time of the interview. What is the real deal? Should I have these forms filled out and ready to go?

Good that you asked. The embassy, from all that I have read and been told, will expect everything to be completed and in the proper order when you arrive for your appointment. The only thing that should not be completed is the DS-230, part II....which should have everything completed except for the signature.

As for the DS-156, it was provided to us in packet 4. You have to take the completed DS-156 to the bank when you pay the fee (at the Bogota branch, they reviewed the form, input info into the computer, and had my wife provide some additional info in places on the form where they thought it was needed). The branch stamped the DS-156. Can't speak for the DS-156K since we are going the K3 route....but if everything else has to be prepared in advance, I would assume that goes for the 156K as well.

In short, have EVERYTHING ready for the interview.

Mike

[Yadira's Man 0]

Well.....

We have faxed and sent by courier the DS-2001, DS230 Part one and the copies of Yadira's passport on January 11, 2007

When should we call to see when our appointment is???

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Well.....

We have faxed and sent by courier the DS-2001, DS230 Part one and the copies of Yadira's passport on January 11, 2007

When should we call to see when our appointment is???

I believe there is information earlier in this thread about the day and time that the embassy accepts calls.

However, the embassy is usually pretty quick with packet 4. My wife faxed our packet 3 and then we went on our honeymoon. Within a week, packet 4 was at her home with the appointment time. So, if you live in Bogota, it might be easier just to wait. On the other hand, if not, you may want to call. Obviously, you should get a February interview....which will eventually be posted on the embassy web site.

[paisita411 0]

Yadira's Man, I know you're wife esta en la costa...so you definitely want to call NEXT WEDNESDAY to ask for her appointment date. From the past experiences on this thread, they should be able to furnish you one that day. Buena Suerte Chichombiano!!!!

dRE

[Mike and Adriana 0]

For those of you who are getting close to your interview...and who might want to anticipate some of the additional costs....this is what my wife paid recently in Bogota:

*Certificado judicial (certificate from DAS regarding criminal record or lack thereof) - 28,800 COP

*Certificado migratorio (certificate from DAS regarding entries to and exits from country) - 36,400 COP (make sure to give this plenty of time; my wife's report had an error - said she had been to Spain - and she had to wait a few more days for a corrected report)

*Vaccinations - based on packet 4 info, she thought she had all of the required vaccinations; but the doctor said she needed two more (I think one was an update on the tetanus shot) - 70,000COP.

Other miscellaneous costs:

*Four passport photos at Foto Japan - 18,000 COP

*Notarized copy of birth certificate - ?????

*Interview fee - $100 USD (equivalent COP)

*Departure tax (when he or she finally leaves) - $51 USD in Bogota

*Money for shipping excess luggage.

Good luck.

Mike