Colombia Club

[indytu 0]

hello, my date is the same day yours!!! november 2.. excusme my english.. where is your girlfriend in colombia??

i am in this foro but in spanish-. I' d like to know your girlfriend before interview if you want, my email is: indytu@hotmail.com

quote name='mikenmeibel' date='Oct 5 2007, 09:43 PM' post='1239288']

Just recieved our packet 4 today and interview date of 11-2. This site has been a great help. Thank you all who post !!

I-129F Sent : 2007-03-23

I-129F NOA1 : 2007-04-24

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-08-07

NVC Received : 2007-08-25

NVC Left : 2007-08-27

Consulate Received :

Packet 3 Received : 2007-09-14

Packet 3 Mailed to Embassy 9-19

Packet 4 received 10-5-07

Interview date 11/02/07

[parkpapa 0]

Scott, Luchco, I agree with both of you 100%. sorry Mike. This thread got started by someone that had a great idea. It has grown to become what I belive to be the the best forum on this site. It is because of some of the banter and non revelent post's that people have bonded togeather.

Yes, this thread has grown and gotten to the point that it is difficult to go through all the post's to obtain info. New folks arriving, asking questions, and participating is what keeps the site strong and the info easier to get.

Mike, you have been one of the most knowledgable folks here for a long time. Your past post's helped me alot. Your input has been accurate, info that one can depend on. I thank you for that, but.........................I gotta disagree with you on this one.

Mike, Scott, Lucho, and Buck...

I agree with all of you - to some point or another. The thread is getting awfully long for anyone to read through, even if "just" from last November. On the other hand, that is the best way to get a real understanding of the complexity of the process. Also, it can be rather tiresome to read what appear to be the same questions over and over. However, what I gather from reading everyone's concerns is that there are no two cases exactly alike, and sometimes, after having your eyes glaze over after reading a month's worth of posts, it is really easy to miss a key word or phrase that might have answered the specific problem you are having.

I tend to think of this forum as a school where many of the new students will quickly graduate to become professors to more new students. Lucho, for example, has gone from being a exuberant freshman to graduate level professor in rather short order. Others will follow.

Knowing the history of the journey through Bogota to the US is very important. ("Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.") But things change - so history tends to change as it grows. Comparing the visa process to computer science, if I were starting on this journey now, would I want to learn only from a tenured professor who learned using FORTRAN, or from a relatively new prof who is familiar with FORTRAN but really learned his/her stuff recently on the front-lines of technology? Sure, I'm sure Bill Gates has forgotten more about computers than we'll ever know, but I'd rather learn from one of his hot shots creating and using the latest and greatest.

Enough with metaphors. There IS a lot to learn here and none of the history should be ignored because YOUR answer may be there. But with all the changes in the visa process, fees, etc., and with more undoubtedly to come, it's good to ask the same old questions because the answers may well have changed.

My opinion plus 4 or 5 dollars might get you a latte at Starbucks.

Charles

[HAL 9000 96]

Gracias maviwaro! Te cuento mi caso:

He tenido visa B1/B2 desde hace más de 20 años, siempre la he usado bien. Como turista nunca he estado más de 20 días en USA. En 2004 saqué visa de estudiante (me la dieron por 5 anos) y fui por 6 meses.

Me casé en diciembre de 2006 con colombiano, en Colombia, él vivió en USA, se casó y se separó. Regresó a Colombia antes de que se le venciera su permiso, no se alcanzó a volver residente.

El pidió renovación de visa de turista y se la negaron.

Yo pedí mi renovación y me la aprobaron, pero a los dos días recibí el pasaporte con las dos visas canceladas (CWOP) (la de turista se vencía en un mes y la de estudiante en dos años) y con una carta de "Procesos Administrativos" 221g, me dicen que me llamarán para una nueva entrevista.

Que pasó?

Porque me mandan esta carta con mi pasaporte si ya me habían aprobado mi visa?

Cuanto tardarán en llamarme?

Es posible que me la nieguen?

Porfavor... alguien que me pueda guiar????

Gracias!!!!

Buenas tardes a todos, quisiera saber si en este post puedo preguntar en español (mi inglés no es tan fluído) y si puedo preguntar por un problema que tengo con mi visa de turista B1-B2.

Gracias!

Saludos lunita1327

Adelante a preguntar como quiera. Que problema en particular esta teniendo con su visa tipo B?

Recuerde que aqui promovemos hacer las cosas bien desde el punto de vista legal...

Saludos lunita1327

Al parecer esto definitivamente es un tema mas complicado por cada una de sus situaciones pertinentes...

1. Se le nego la visa de turista en base a que previamente estuvo en EEUU y no estuvo el tiempo necesario para adquirir su residencia. Esto levanta banderas con el gobierno pues demuestra que el matrimonio anterior pudo haberse llevado acabo por motivos opuestos al que la inmensa mayoria de los foristas en estos foros reclaman tener. No obstante, le toca justificar y justificar al momento de su entrevista adecuada para convencer a quien le toque. Asi de sujetivo puede ser. Toca ser lo mas honesto posible.

2. En el casu suyo, el tema de haber obtenido mas de un tipo de visado es POSIBLE que haya levantado alguna bandera en la embajada donde algunas veces y por razones desconocidad, algunos representantes del gobierno estadounidense deciden hacerse lo maximo de vigilantes ante individuos que obtengan mas de un visado- por sencillo que fuese como lo seria en su caso personal. Mi recomendacion es acudir a tal entrevista con mente clara, relajada, y si le dicen que debio haber tomado ajustes de estatus a otro tipo de visado pues que le conteste claramente que no debio haber representado inconveniente legal la obtencion de a) un visado pre-existente turistico B y B) un visado estudiantil cuya aprobacion conllevaria ciertos requisitos que se debieron haber cumplido. Por lo tanto, la cancelacion o anulacion de dichas visas estaran pendientes su apelacion por escrito con la embajada tanto como los resultados de su entrevista. Importantemente debe mantener la calma cuando habla con los representantes de la embajada para no demostrar irrespetuosidad porque tales individuos en sus momentos mas debiles son capaces de "cerrarle el libro" en cuanto a sus viajes a EEUU.

Suerte!

[Yazz 1]

Eric,

Not quite exactly, but close. Once NVC receives your approved petition from VSC, they will assign a BGTXXXXXX case number and then mail it off to the embassy in Bogota. Your fiance will submit packet 3 to the embassy once the embassy receives the case from NVC.

Fax only the items listed below. Should only be a total of 5 sheets, nothing more.

1. Cover letter

2. Copy of fiancée's passport (biographical data page)

3. DS-230 Part 1 (pages 1 & 2)

4. OF-169

Hi Lucho,

I am reading the following link taken from the web page of the US Embassy placed in Bogotá (Dated September 2007):

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/k1-k...ionseng-_2_.pdf

I am confused regarding to the DS-230 (sorry but some times they do a good job confusing us, don´t they? , could you help me with this queries:

1. Do we have to fax the complete DS230 (part 1 and 2) or just part 1? signed or not signed?? the Embassy says: complete and sign...

2.Do we have to submit the complete DS230 (part1 and 2) the day of our interview again? or just part 2

Please confirm if this is the right DS 230 we have to fax (taken from Us Embassy web page, part 1 and 2):

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/wwwfcds230en.pdf

How does this form work?? may be I have a lot of information in my mind respect to this process and as they are changing of instructions all the time (at the beginning I had other packet3 instructions taken from the US embassy web page as well but it was updated recently)

Thanks a lot Lucho for your support...

Yazz

[ColombianServices 0]

To send us documents from the Colombia, you must use the Colombian mail system. The mailing address if you use the Colombian mail system is:

Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América

Carrera 45, No. 24B-27

Bogotá, D.C.

They have got to be kidding. The Colombian mail system is horrible. Don't they realize how many people never receive their package 3 and package 4?

Thanks for the info Scott. Now I know that I have to send any documents from the US because there is no way in the world I am going to use Colombian mail.

NEVER EVER send anything inside Colombia using regular mail, (even regular mail from the U.S. is very risky) Servientrega is the best your going to find in Colombia, it's inexpensive and reliable. In 12 years of sending documents around the country and back to Bogota we have never had a problem. BUT, as a precaution, anything your sending to the Embassy, make sure you keep photo copies.

Because it's getting close to xmas and I know how everyone is going to send their fiance a nice xmas gift: you can send the gift with a Co. called Avianca Express in Coral Gables FL for less than half of what UPS or EedEX will charge, same with sending documents. Overnight mail to Colombia can be 3 days to some cities, even with UPS & FedEX, even those guys use agents, they are not actually employees.

You will need to send the package to Coral Gables using priority mail, they will take it from there, you can call them for all the details as far as paying for their services and the 16% duty tax. (unless you want your fiance to pay the tax. Their No. is 1-800-591-9112.

They also have a website at: http://www.aviancaexpress.com , for those of you that don't speak Spanish, just do a Google search for "Avianca Express", when the search pops up, just click "translate website", however, they do speak English when you telephone them.

Avianca Express

2351 Salzedo St.

Coral Gables, FL 33134

They will take a check for their services and for their service and tax, they actually even may tell you to under value everything.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Scott, Luchco, I agree with both of you 100%. sorry Mike. This thread got started by someone that had a great idea. It has grown to become what I belive to be the the best forum on this site. It is because of some of the banter and non revelent post's that people have bonded togeather.

Yes, this thread has grown and gotten to the point that it is difficult to go through all the post's to obtain info. New folks arriving, asking questions, and participating is what keeps the site strong and the info easier to get.

Mike, you have been one of the most knowledgable folks here for a long time. Your past post's helped me alot. Your input has been accurate, info that one can depend on. I thank you for that, but.........................I gotta disagree with you on this one.

Mike, Scott, Lucho, and Buck...

I agree with all of you - to some point or another. The thread is getting awfully long for anyone to read through, even if "just" from last November. On the other hand, that is the best way to get a real understanding of the complexity of the process. Also, it can be rather tiresome to read what appear to be the same questions over and over. However, what I gather from reading everyone's concerns is that there are no two cases exactly alike, and sometimes, after having your eyes glaze over after reading a month's worth of posts, it is really easy to miss a key word or phrase that might have answered the specific problem you are having.

I tend to think of this forum as a school where many of the new students will quickly graduate to become professors to more new students. Lucho, for example, has gone from being a exuberant freshman to graduate level professor in rather short order. Others will follow.

Knowing the history of the journey through Bogota to the US is very important. ("Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.") But things change - so history tends to change as it grows. Comparing the visa process to computer science, if I were starting on this journey now, would I want to learn only from a tenured professor who learned using FORTRAN, or from a relatively new prof who is familiar with FORTRAN but really learned his/her stuff recently on the front-lines of technology? Sure, I'm sure Bill Gates has forgotten more about computers than we'll ever know, but I'd rather learn from one of his hot shots creating and using the latest and greatest.

Enough with metaphors. There IS a lot to learn here and none of the history should be ignored because YOUR answer may be there. But with all the changes in the visa process, fees, etc., and with more undoubtedly to come, it's good to ask the same old questions because the answers may well have changed.

My opinion plus 4 or 5 dollars might get you a latte at Starbucks.

Charles

When i started the process i started the same way...asking and asking and asking....I then took Lucho and Diana's advice about going back and reading, reading and more reading! It was the best advice possible. I went back to page one eventhough i was told to just go back to November...I know the process will havesome changes but I think the basic structure of it will stay the same...I think that going back and taking notes the way i did and reading though it is time consuming is the way to go!!

[buck501 0]

I got Poala back here with me. Immigration in Houston wa a nightmare!!! We got home at 3:30am, I got up and off to work at 5:30am. I will post details later.

[lucho562 0]

Congratulations Buck y Paola!!!

Great to hear that your mission of being together is finally complete!!!!

[Bill y Bella 0]

Bienvenido Paola!

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

CONGRATULATIONS BUCK!!!!! BIENVENIDA PAOLA!!!!

I wish you both all the blessings and all the luck in your new life together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bill y Bella 0]

To send us documents from the Colombia, you must use the Colombian mail system. The mailing address if you use the Colombian mail system is:

Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América

Carrera 45, No. 24B-27

Bogotá, D.C.

They have got to be kidding. The Colombian mail system is horrible. Don't they realize how many people never receive their package 3 and package 4?

Thanks for the info Scott. Now I know that I have to send any documents from the US because there is no way in the world I am going to use Colombian mail.

NEVER EVER send anything inside Colombia using regular mail, (even regular mail from the U.S. is very risky) Servientrega is the best your going to find in Colombia, it's inexpensive and reliable. In 12 years of sending documents around the country and back to Bogota we have never had a problem. BUT, as a precaution, anything your sending to the Embassy, make sure you keep photo copies.

Is using Servientrega from within Colombia still an option? Maybe I am being too literal, but when they say "you must use the Colombian mail system" I assumed that to mean that they would not accept packages from other carriers. I know that sounds ridiculous, but isn't that what it says?

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

I think what it is is that the Colombia Mail system is HORRIBLE!!!

Servientrega is more dependable and you have a more definate date as to when something is getting therer....I used FEDEX 2 weeks ago to send Leidy a cell phone and some other little things i got her and it was great...got there in 2 days.

I will be using either FEDEX or Servientrega when i send my stuff in.

[buck501 0]

I have a few minutes, I will give account of our POE in Houston. When we got there, late of course, there must have been well over 300 people in the visitors line and close to 100 in the US line. We went to the US line. I got pulled out and sent to an area for bad peole. LOL. Paola went to another area. I was in there for a little over an hour. When I came out, no Poala. I asked one of the Border Patrol people where she was. He said he did not know and did not have time to find out. I waited another hour and asked another guy, same response. I got the attention of another person and explained that I had no idea where my fiancee was and what was going on. He told me they had a bunch of people to process and the wait could be as much as 4 hours. GREAT!!!!!!!!!! We missed our flight. She was in there for a little over 3 hours. That was the bad part.

She was interviewed by the same gal that had talked to me about crimes I have never commited, turns out I am white, not black, never been in prison, do not have tattoo's all over my body and am basicly a good guy. When she asked Paola what my name was the lady said, oh yes, I know him, I just spoke with him about 2 hours ago. She then did the fingerprinting and said welcome to the US. That was it. Very easy and no problems. The problem was the airport was full of people, flights were being delayed and the Border Patrol employee's were a little on the grouchy side. We missed our flight, which created more problems. From the time we went to the airport to arrivasl at my house, with the time difference was exactly 24 hours. I am beat, Paola is sleeping LOL>LOL In the end we are home. I would not reccomend traveling on the weekeends if at all possible.

[Bill y Bella 0]

I have a few minutes, I will give account of our POE in Houston. When we got there, late of course, there must have been well over 300 people in the visitors line and close to 100 in the US line. We went to the US line. I got pulled out and sent to an area for bad peole. LOL. Paola went to another area. I was in there for a little over an hour. When I came out, no Poala. I asked one of the Border Patrol people where she was. He said he did not know and did not have time to find out. I waited another hour and asked another guy, same response. I got the attention of another person and explained that I had no idea where my fiancee was and what was going on. He told me they had a bunch of people to process and the wait could be as much as 4 hours. GREAT!!!!!!!!!! We missed our flight. She was in there for a little over 3 hours. That was the bad part.

She was interviewed by the same gal that had talked to me about crimes I have never commited, turns out I am white, not black, never been in prison, do not have tattoo's all over my body and am basicly a good guy. When she asked Paola what my name was the lady said, oh yes, I know him, I just spoke with him about 2 hours ago. She then did the fingerprinting and said welcome to the US. That was it. Very easy and no problems. The problem was the airport was full of people, flights were being delayed and the Border Patrol employee's were a little on the grouchy side. We missed our flight, which created more problems. From the time we went to the airport to arrivasl at my house, with the time difference was exactly 24 hours. I am beat, Paola is sleeping LOL>LOL In the end we are home. I would not reccomend traveling on the weekeends if at all possible.

No tatoos? No prison record? No violent mean streak lurking just below the surface? Soooooooo boring. Why does Paola want to marry you?

Gosh Buck, what an ordeal. You really have had some bad luck in your journey but you never gave up. And now you have your reward.... You are working while Paola is home sleeping. Glad to see that she did not hesitate in letting you know how things are going to be from now on.

In all seriousness, I admire your perserverance and congratulate you both.

Did the child come with you? I was curious to know if DAS required the certificate of abandonment at the airport.

[Mononoke28 135]

Welcome home Buck and bienvenida Paola.

I'm sorry to hear the flight back was a pain but you're right, it was probably because it was a weekend. We flew back last Tuesday through Miami and it couldn't have been faster and easier.

I hope you get some sleep soon!!!

Diana