Colombia Club

[SteveSandyHill 0]

We are not until the 18th of January, we are very well prepared, yet I find myself going to sleep at night wondering what I am forgetting???? Sandy and I are arriving in Bogota on Sunday the 13th, lab and medical on Monday the 14th (Dr Gonzalez). Sandy's 18 month old daughter is not required to have lab work, yet has to have a medical exam (of course additional fee). Dr Gonzalez informed Sandy she could have her vaccinations done at the Red Cross in Barranquilla prior to arriving in Bogota no problem.

In reading Scott's note after his interview (thank you again Scott!) He stated that the bank required the DS-156 in spanish? This is not what the Embassy told me on Wednesday when I called? My forms have all been completed in english including the N/A in all fields not applicable. I guess I will make an additional copy in Spanish, no problem.

I do not speak alot of spanish, and Sandy speaks little English, is this a potential problem in the interview? We have loads of photo's together, from my trips to Colombia, including the Baptism of her daughter Barranquilla, vacations together in Cartagena, Isles Rosario and Santa Marta. Many e-mails in spanish as I have translation software on my laptop. Phone records, money tranfer reciepts etc.

So in short, I am hoping that there is no major red flag here due to the language barrier that we are working rapidly on to improve!

I do not think the language will be a problem. My novia and I speak Spanglish. We speak to each other in a huge mash of the two languages, me focusing on Spanish, her English. We communicate very well together. I have met many people that speak NO SPanish and their spouse speaks NO English. They got their visa ok. I'd try not to worry about it.

Did you alrady set your appointment with Dr. Gonzalez? We have our interview date on Jan 16 and we were told they were not making medical appointments for January yet?! Was I given bad info? Since our interview is on Wednesday, we are trying to get the medical for Monday. However, we were told to wait untill after the holidays for making the appointment. I have not booked the flight yet since we do not know when the medical is! This whole process is a domino effect! Can't book the flight without the medical, can't book the hotel without booking the flight! I'm going INSANE!!!!

Oh yeah.............Congrats Scott

Bundy

Bundy,

I believe you received some bad info. Sandy had no problem sceduling her appointment with Dr. Gonzalez. She called her on Monday, and as well was informed directly by the Dr. that she could receive her shots in Barranquilla. You should schedule your flights soon as possible. We should meet in Bogota!

Steve

[HAL 9000 96]

Dr Gonzalez informed Sandy she could have her vaccinations done at the Red Cross in Barranquilla prior to arriving in Bogota no problem.

[thought to la Dra] Awesome, Dra Gonzalez... after playing Dr Roa's unethical vaccination game it looks like "you" may be changing your ways. [/thought to la Dra]

[M&J 0]

Congratulations Scott!!

Just a little update...

we got NOA 2 november 26 by mail. Then on the 27 got a letter from NVC saying they received the application. We called NVC and they said our case was sent to bogota. We used the shortcut, I faxed and mailed packet 3 on december 4. I got packet 3 by mail in bogota on the 11. Called DOS and they said interview January 18!!! and today i got packet 4!!! I`m so exited. I will be calling on Monday to doctor's office to schedule appointment.

Since the interview is on a Friday should I get the doctor's app. on wednesday and the Lab on Monday?? What if I need to get all the shoots? can someone help me??

thanks

Marcela

[Mononoke28 135]

You can make your appointmet for either Monday or Tuesday. Most people have their lab work in the morning and medical in the afternoon. If you don't have any of the shots, you can get them done at the doctor's office.

Diana

[SteveSandyHill 0]

Congratulations Scott!!

Just a little update...

we got NOA 2 november 26 by mail. Then on the 27 got a letter from NVC saying they received the application. We called NVC and they said our case was sent to bogota. We used the shortcut, I faxed and mailed packet 3 on december 4. I got packet 3 by mail in bogota on the 11. Called DOS and they said interview January 18!!! and today i got packet 4!!! I`m so exited. I will be calling on Monday to doctor's office to schedule appointment.

Since the interview is on a Friday should I get the doctor's app. on wednesday and the Lab on Monday?? What if I need to get all the shoots? can someone help me??

thanks

Marcela

Hello Marcella

Sandy and I also have our interview on January 18th. Sandy has already scheduled her appointment with Dra. Gonzalez for Monday the 14th of January. So yes you schedule asap, for that week. Also I posted earlier about the shots. Sandy is getting hers at the Red Cross in Barranquilla prior to arriving in Bogota.

[la vida es bella 1]

Media Note

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

December 13, 2007

Application Fees for Non-Immigrant Visas to Increase On January 1, 2008

Effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for a U.S. non-immigrant visa will increase from $100 to $131. This increase allows the Department to recover the costs of security and other enhancements to the non-immigrant visa application process. This increase applies both to non-immigrant visas issued on machine-readable foils in passports and to border crossing cards issued to certain applicants in Mexico.

Applicants who paid the prior $100 application fee before January 1 will be processed only if they are scheduled and appear for a visa interview before January 31. Applicants who paid the prior $100 application fee and appear for visa interviews after January 31, 2008 must pay the difference -- $31 -- before they will be interviewed.

The Department is required by law to attempt to recover the cost of processing non-immigrant visas through the collection of the Machine-Readable Visa application fee. Because of new security-related costs, new information technology systems, and inflation, the $100 Machine-Readable Visa fee is lower than the actual cost of processing non-immigrant visas. In fact, the $100 fee was already lower than the cost of processing non-immigrant visas when the fee was reviewed as a part of the cost of service study in 2004. The Department has been absorbing the additional cost. We are now collecting 10 fingerprints from each applicant, and the cost charged by the FBI to review those fingerprints no longer allows us to do this. The application fee has increased twice since September 11, 2001, the last time in 2002.

2007/1133

Released on December 13, 2007

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Hey everybody!!!!!!

Just a quick note to say that Yenifer received her visa packet today and we will be in Miami tomorrow!!!!!!!

[Mononoke28 135]

Congratulations!!! That wasn't so bad.

Diana

[Brian and Yenys 0]

Hey everybody!!!!!!

Just a quick note to say that Yenifer received her visa packet today and we will be in Miami tomorrow!!!!!!!

eyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Congrats!!! Welcome to Miami, Bienvenido a Miami ... I am happy for you guys.... Let's stay in touch.

The weather here in Miami is beautiful, it's cool at night and warm in the day. Yesterday Brian and I, went to Dania Beach

Brian and Yenys

[SteveSandyHill 0]

Hey everybody!!!!!!

Just a quick note to say that Yenifer received her visa packet today and we will be in Miami tomorrow!!!!!!!

Congratulations Scott & Yennifer!

[parkpapa 0]

Way to go Scott and Yennifer!

[buck501 0]

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scott!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yennifer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Charles, how ya holding up without your sweetie?? She is warm and comfy in Florida, you are cold and alone. LOL>LOL.

[parkpapa 0]

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scott!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yennifer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Charles, how ya holding up without your sweetie?? She is warm and comfy in Florida, you are cold and alone. LOL>LOL.

You don't need to remind me, Buck! ;-) Thank goodness the boys and I are going to Miami tomorrow to spend time with her and her sister's family. The cold I can tolerate.....with my sweetheart to keep me warm. lol

[Mike and Adriana 0]

I haven't been on the site for quite a while (hard to believe it been close to a year since my wife's K-3 interview), but I wanted to stop back and wish those of your who know us a very Merry Christmas (or happy holidays). For those who don't know us, we wish you the best of luck with you visa quest. I hope that this thread, started by Peter and continued by many of us has helped you along the way.

Regards,

Mike

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Scott Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My nerves are starting to kill me the closer the interview date gets!!!!

I do have one quick question, God willing everything goes OK with the interview and we get the visa, being that i am coming back on the first and Leidy has to wait for the visa, does she have to go through Miami or can I book a direct flight to New York??