Colombia Club

[Jmarsh22 0]

Bad news you guys, maybe you've seen this already and I'm not sure if it has been verified with the embassy or not. But it looks like as of November 19th, the embassy in Bogotá will deliver the visas to the beneficiaries instead of picking them up 48 hours later.

I found it on here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=96213

Scott, since you're the next one up, can please confirm this information for everyone else. It's a real bummer if it's true.

Diana

Hello everyone. I am not sure if anyone has responded to this yet, I am a bit behind of the forum happenings. Lina and I actually went to her interview today. I will post up more details when I get home in about a week. The quick and dirty version is that we showed up about 6am and went straight for line number three as per instructions here on the board. Waited for a while inside the embassy...take a jacket it is cold. The interview itself was done by a male CO and lasted maybe five minutes (no that is not an exaggeration). He only spoke to Lina and didn't ask to see any of our pictures or emails. In response to what you wrote Diana, yes picking up is no longer an option. The service cost 50 000 COP and takes about eight days (or so they said) to get to whatever city you want to have it sent to. I don't think things would have gone so well had it not been for the help I got here and I hope this can help somebody else. Good luck to everyone waiting, and thanks to everyone that helped out.

Congratulations! How do I sign up for one of the 5 minute interviews? Do you have any sense of what was in your package that precluded them asking many questions about the validity of the relationship?

Also, could you fill out your VJ timeline? It will help make the VJ stats as accurate as possible.

I guess waiting for 8 days to receive the visa is no big deal when compared to the length of this entire process but it really bugs me. It will mean that flights can't be booked and plans finalized because no one will know when exactly they will have their visas. Plus someone will need to be at home at all times for fear that they will miss the courier.

Scott, it sounds like you can specify where to deliver the visa. Since you will be in Bogota maybe the courier will deliver your's quickly.

Seems like that info stirred up a bit of a hornets nest. I talked to Lina this morning after reading over the board and she told me that eight days would be the most you would have to wait. I asked her to be sure that we couldn't pick up and she was told that recieving your visa in two or three days might be possible but eight days is the sure bet. The company that is providing the service is called DOMESA and they have offices in several cities throughout the country. The numbers for the Bogota offices are 4248724 and 4248740 in case anyone wants to give them a call. I think it is still possible to be able to fly in a couple of days, but I understand the level of comfort involved in knowing for sure.

Bill to answer your question no I am not sure where to sign up for the same guy. His was definately the express lane though, we watched a couple of other people go in front of us and they were all very fast and all seemed to get approved. The guy was a hispanic (Lina says he was a Colombian) male, looked like he was in this thirties, and didn't have any type of beard, goatee, or anything. He was working at window 3 inside in embassy, but I have sure they don't work the same window every day. I don't know what it was about our packet that he liked. We didn't have many items in the I 129 packet, maybe ten photos, copies of our passports and tickets from when we went on a couple of trips, and around ten emails. I took my last three years tax returns and last three paystubs, and of course all of her documents. That was pretty much it since they didn't ask to see anything else. I subscribe to the "better to have it an not need it" method and it seems that we lucked out. Hope this helps.

[buck501 0]

Jmarsh..........congrats. We must have had the same CO. Very quick and pleasent, even though we were missing a Doc, the CO said all is good. I may be exagerating when I say we were at the window 5 min.

Byron................I don't even know what to say. I am very happy Ledi is OK, but, man oh man!!!! Twice since Paola has arrived here in the US her son has had to be admitted to the hospital, I can relate how you feel. Those times have not been easy for Paola.

Mailing the visa.....................I am glad we were able to pick it up. The experience we had with getting things delieverd, well, it never happened. Paola lives $250.00 by air or $40.00 by bus from Bogota. We had enough trips back and forth as it was. That makes it dificult if you want to attend the interview and then return with your spouse. I wanted to go thru the POE with Paola, sooooooooooo for me it was another trip back down there. Ours was because of not having the one Doc that was required, from now on, everyone will do the same as us.............spend more money. Maybe it is possible to have the visa delieverd to an office and receive it there. I know in Paola's city, you are not going to get any mail or package to your home, period!!!

Scott..............................sorry man, I see 2 more trips to Colombia in your future. In the end I guess what we want we will receive, if we have the patience. I had to pay the $150.00 fee to change the dates of Paola's flight, better then losing the whole amount, but still.

[Bill y Bella 0]

Seems like that info stirred up a bit of a hornets nest. I talked to Lina this morning after reading over the board and she told me that eight days would be the most you would have to wait. I asked her to be sure that we couldn't pick up and she was told that recieving your visa in two or three days might be possible but eight days is the sure bet. The company that is providing the service is called DOMESA and they have offices in several cities throughout the country. The numbers for the Bogota offices are 4248724 and 4248740 in case anyone wants to give them a call. I think it is still possible to be able to fly in a couple of days, but I understand the level of comfort involved in knowing for sure.

Bill to answer your question no I am not sure where to sign up for the same guy. His was definately the express lane though, we watched a couple of other people go in front of us and they were all very fast and all seemed to get approved. The guy was a hispanic (Lina says he was a Colombian) male, looked like he was in this thirties, and didn't have any type of beard, goatee, or anything. He was working at window 3 inside in embassy, but I have sure they don't work the same window every day. I don't know what it was about our packet that he liked. We didn't have many items in the I 129 packet, maybe ten photos, copies of our passports and tickets from when we went on a couple of trips, and around ten emails. I took my last three years tax returns and last three paystubs, and of course all of her documents. That was pretty much it since they didn't ask to see anything else. I subscribe to the "better to have it an not need it" method and it seems that we lucked out. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info! It sounds like your package contained the basics.

Scott, why don't you call the courier? Maybe you can make arrangements to pick up the visa there or at least get a better projection as to how long it will take to receive it. Chances are you will be able to work things out. At the very least, you will probably be able to reschedule the flight for a fee as Buck did.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

I asked her to be sure that we couldn't pick up and she was told that recieving your visa in two or three days might be possible but eight days is the sure bet.

Jmarch22'

Was the answer to Lina "no" to picking up the visa in person?

[snoopy 0]

I asked her to be sure that we couldn't pick up and she was told that recieving your visa in two or three days might be possible but eight days is the sure bet.

Jmarch22'

Was the answer to Lina "no" to picking up the visa in person?

Hi Scott

I had been reading around to get information and I’m a bit informed on your situation, I know you and your fiancé have the appointment on Dec 12.

Here is the link from the US embassy in Colombia where they’re explaining about the new changes regaling K packages and passports (visas).

The second link is the carrier website, just in case you or your fiancé want to contact them.

I hope it can help you to get any information in advance. Good luck and please keep us informed.

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/visa...icefeeslist.pdf

http://www.domesa.com.ve/index.asp?lg=en&

[Bill y Bella 0]

The embassy email address is indeed working. I emailed an inquiry last Thursday and received a reply today.

This was their response regarding my visa delivery questions:

"Please see the attached flyer about visa delivery services. Visas can no longer be picked up at the Embassy. Please note that service to the Bogota Domesa office is the fastest option and should take 4-5 working days."

The flyer contained the same information as the link provided by snoopy.

It looks to me as if the process just got a little more difficult, expensive, slower and uncertain.

Jmarsh, please keep us informed of your experience with Domesa.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Can they make this process any more annoying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But of course there is money involved cause who knows how much they get out of Domesa for being their courier!

[Jmarsh22 0]

I asked her to be sure that we couldn't pick up and she was told that recieving your visa in two or three days might be possible but eight days is the sure bet.

Jmarch22'

Was the answer to Lina "no" to picking up the visa in person?

Scott,

What I was understanding was that you pick your visa up from a DOMESA office in whatever city you designate. You can not pick your visa up at the embassy anymore. Seems like the middle man could be bypassed at least in Bogota but no, more than a little ridiculous if you ask me. I am planning on calling tomorrow or the next day and will let you guys know the outcome.

[Bill y Bella 0]

If Domesa has offices throughout Colombia, it is not reflected on their website unless I am missing something. Maybe their website is out of date.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Hey Gang,

First of all thanks for all of the input everyone...

I was able to reach a Bogota branch of Domesa through a number that Jmarsh posted earlier (011-57-1-424-8740) and spoke to a very helpful woman (Angela Fernandez) that told me it "would" be possible to pick up the visa package at the local office which is 5-10 minutes from the Embassy. I will keep in contact with her after the interview to coordinate. The question of when we can pick it up will depend on how quick the Embassy gets it to them. Upon receipt of the package to Domesa we can pick it up immediatly so I am still hopeful. I will also call call the Embassy tomorrow to get a few more details on coodinating that and keep you all posted.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE...YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!

P.S. Brian + Yenys...this may still be doable for you guys...see what you can do

[Juan Carlos 0]

Hello, guys! I am glad to see things are moving... although some times in the wrong direction. So now we'll have to chase Domesa. Scott, Jmarsh, Bill...THANKS SO MUCH for finding this information for all of us. This definetively changes a lot of plans.

And now, a little humor for those of us still waiting for our NOA2. You may want to watch this video, but just replace the word "love" with "visa" or "noa2". It helps!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpGF52FnoH0

[SteveSandyHill 0]

I am so excited! Finally we can join the the list headed to Bogota (hopefully sooner than later)! After the 156 day wait we have been approved, haven't recieved an e-mail or letter in mail yet. Just spoke to someone at Vermont yesterday using the now famous "RFE Trick" as well as my "case status".

[Bill y Bella 0]

I am so excited! Finally we can join the the list headed to Bogota (hopefully sooner than later)! After the 156 day wait we have been approved, haven't recieved an e-mail or letter in mail yet. Just spoke to someone at Vermont yesterday using the now famous "RFE Trick" as well as my "case status".

Congratulations!

PS: Don't forget to update your VJ timeline.

[SteveSandyHill 0]

Bill,

I am so nervous and excited, I can not remember where to go to update my timeline! please refresh my memory!

[Bill y Bella 0]

Bill,

I am so nervous and excited, I can not remember where to go to update my timeline! please refresh my memory!

No reason to be nervous. The Colombia Club will get you through this.

1. At top of this page click Immigration Timelines.
2. Look for timeline functions at the top left of the next page.
3. Click Edit / Add My Entries.