Colombia Club

[Bill y Bella 0]

Bella and the kids have completed their medicals complete with some new "fresh" and expensive vaccinations. Now we are on the home stretch. Our interview is February 29th and I will go to Bogota on the 26th.

I have a few questions for those who have completed the process recently.

We might not have any child care available on the day of the interview. Were there any small children at the embassy when you were there? The kids are 2 and 9.

As I recall the DS-156's (1 for each) must be completed in Spanish and printed back to back on 1 sheet of paper to take to the bank to pay the visa fee. Is this correct? If so I have a problem. I can find a current version in spanish that expires in 2010. It must be filled out online but much to my surprise it prints out with the form in english. I have a DS156 pdf I could use but it expired in 2004. Is the embassy sending the 2004 version in spanish in package 4? If not, does anyone have a current DS-156 in spanish?

Thanks!

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Bella and the kids have completed their medicals complete with some new "fresh" and expensive vaccinations. Now we are on the home stretch. Our interview is February 29th and I will go to Bogota on the 26th.

I have a few questions for those who have completed the process recently.

We might not have any child care available on the day of the interview. Were there any small children at the embassy when you were there? The kids are 2 and 9.

As I recall the DS-156's (1 for each) must be completed in Spanish and printed back to back on 1 sheet of paper to take to the bank to pay the visa fee. Is this correct? If so I have a problem. I can find a current version in spanish that expires in 2010. It must be filled out online but much to my surprise it prints out with the form in english. I have a DS156 pdf I could use but it expired in 2004. Is the embassy sending the 2004 version in spanish in package 4? If not, does anyone have a current DS-156 in spanish?

Thanks!

Bill,

I know that you're nerves are working on you...we were there not so long ago

Don't worry about the kids because there were kids from babies to teens at the embassy when we were there...

Also as far as the DS-156...the bank will have what you need and it will take all of 10 minutes to fill out so don't bother to stress about that.

(just be sure to fill out an extra copy for the embassy while you're there...1 for the bank and 1 for the embassy)

As I gather from your posts, and the help that you have given others (including Yenifer and I) here at Colombia Club, you are very well prepared and I know that you will have no problem...

Edited February 19, 2008 by Scott n Yenifer

[Bill y Bella 0]

Bill,

I know that you're nerves are working on you...we were there not so long ago

Don't worry about the kids because there were kids from babies to teens at the embassy when we were there...

Also as far as the DS-156...the bank will have what you need and it will take all of 10 minutes to fill out so don't bother to stress about that.

(just be sure to fill out an extra copy for the embassy while you're there...1 for the bank and 1 for the embassy)

As I gather from your posts, and the help that you have given others (including Yenifer and I) here at Colombia Club, you are very well prepared and I know that you will have no problem...

Thanks Scott.

I am not sure if it is a good idea to take the kids or not. On one hand I think they will have a very hard time denying us if I am standing there with the baby in my arms. On the other hand, if it turns out to be one of those days and the kids are a pain it could increase the stress level considerably.

[margara&john 0]

Bill,

I know that you're nerves are working on you...we were there not so long ago

Don't worry about the kids because there were kids from babies to teens at the embassy when we were there...

Also as far as the DS-156...the bank will have what you need and it will take all of 10 minutes to fill out so don't bother to stress about that.

(just be sure to fill out an extra copy for the embassy while you're there...1 for the bank and 1 for the embassy)

As I gather from your posts, and the help that you have given others (including Yenifer and I) here at Colombia Club, you are very well prepared and I know that you will have no problem...

Thanks Scott.

I am not sure if it is a good idea to take the kids or not. On one hand I think they will have a very hard time denying us if I am standing there with the baby in my arms. On the other hand, if it turns out to be one of those days and the kids are a pain it could increase the stress level considerably.

Billy, just sticking my nose in (hopefully not where it doesn't belong). Margarita and I have been going back and forth on whether or not to bring Daniela with us. Daniela is 8 years old. We finally decided not to bring her with us. She would have to miss too much school and I too am scared of "one of those days". Good luck

[parkpapa 0]

Bill,

I know that you're nerves are working on you...we were there not so long ago

Don't worry about the kids because there were kids from babies to teens at the embassy when we were there...

Also as far as the DS-156...the bank will have what you need and it will take all of 10 minutes to fill out so don't bother to stress about that.

(just be sure to fill out an extra copy for the embassy while you're there...1 for the bank and 1 for the embassy)

As I gather from your posts, and the help that you have given others (including Yenifer and I) here at Colombia Club, you are very well prepared and I know that you will have no problem...

Thanks Scott.

I am not sure if it is a good idea to take the kids or not. On one hand I think they will have a very hard time denying us if I am standing there with the baby in my arms. On the other hand, if it turns out to be one of those days and the kids are a pain it could increase the stress level considerably.

Billy, just sticking my nose in (hopefully not where it doesn't belong). Margarita and I have been going back and forth on whether or not to bring Daniela with us. Daniela is 8 years old. We finally decided not to bring her with us. She would have to miss too much school and I too am scared of "one of those days". Good luck

Bill and John,

I don't know that it was different because we were going for a K-3, but Lorena and I went to the interview without the kids. While she was 'tentatively' approved that day, she was required to bring the boys to the embassy the following day to show the officer that the boys did, indeed, exist. Only then was she granted the visas. While it may be different with different folks - or different officers - you might give thought to taking the kids. It could mean saving another trip, especially if your SO doesn't live in Bogota and doesn't bring the kids along to Bogota the first go-round. Best of luck to you all!!!

Charles

[margara&john 0]

Bill,

I know that you're nerves are working on you...we were there not so long ago

Don't worry about the kids because there were kids from babies to teens at the embassy when we were there...

Also as far as the DS-156...the bank will have what you need and it will take all of 10 minutes to fill out so don't bother to stress about that.

(just be sure to fill out an extra copy for the embassy while you're there...1 for the bank and 1 for the embassy)

As I gather from your posts, and the help that you have given others (including Yenifer and I) here at Colombia Club, you are very well prepared and I know that you will have no problem...

Thanks Scott.

I am not sure if it is a good idea to take the kids or not. On one hand I think they will have a very hard time denying us if I am standing there with the baby in my arms. On the other hand, if it turns out to be one of those days and the kids are a pain it could increase the stress level considerably.

Billy, just sticking my nose in (hopefully not where it doesn't belong). Margarita and I have been going back and forth on whether or not to bring Daniela with us. Daniela is 8 years old. We finally decided not to bring her with us. She would have to miss too much school and I too am scared of "one of those days". Good luck

Bill and John,

I don't know that it was different because we were going for a K-3, but Lorena and I went to the interview without the kids. While she was 'tentatively' approved that day, she was required to bring the boys to the embassy the following day to show the officer that the boys did, indeed, exist. Only then was she granted the visas. While it may be different with different folks - or different officers - you might give thought to taking the kids. It could mean saving another trip, especially if your SO doesn't live in Bogota and doesn't bring the kids along to Bogota the first go-round. Best of luck to you all!!!

Charles

Thanks for the heads up Charles. Margarita and Daniela live in Medellin, so it would be a huge burden to make another trip. I wish they would stick to what the instructions say. It clearly states that "children under 14 years of age who are not the beneficiaries of individual petitions do not have to come to the interview" I certainly do not doubt you Charles, but this is the type of nonsense that frustrates me so much. Even when you follow their instructions, you aren't guaranteed that you are doing the right thing.

john

[parkpapa 0]

Thanks for the heads up Charles. Margarita and Daniela live in Medellin, so it would be a huge burden to make another trip. I wish they would stick to what the instructions say. It clearly states that "children under 14 years of age who are not the beneficiaries of individual petitions do not have to come to the interview" I certainly do not doubt you Charles, but this is the type of nonsense that frustrates me so much. Even when you follow their instructions, you aren't guaranteed that you are doing the right thing.

john

John,

My guess is that the folks at the embassy have a lot of latitude in making such a decision. The "rules" we get may say one thing, but if there's a doubt in the mind of the interviewing officer, he/she can pursue it further. Part of why they may have required my wife to bring the boys is the difference in our ages - though our interviewer never asked a single question about that or referred to it in any way. Who knows? Maybe they require that one of every five bring in the kids. It all goes back to what many here have said before - it's better to be over-prepared (and not need any of it) than the other way around. In any case, I wish you guys all the luck in the world. However, if you prepare like the folks here suggest, you won't need too much luck.

Charles

[Osita 0]

I'm so happy..we have our interview on March 31st

[Andres and Diana 0]

I'm so happy..we have our interview on March 31st

Congrats! Hope everything goes great for you!

Lots of luck and let us know how everything turns out!

[santamartachicago 0]

I'm so happy..we have our interview on March 31st

OSITA CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

That is wonderful...i will be praying for your success at the interview.

A little bit of good news I would like to share...our application was approved yesterday NOA2. I am waiting with the cover letter, the ds230 part I, and the OF169 with picture of her p-port to send via fax to embassy.

Just want to verify that once it leaves the NVC headed to US Embassy Bogota is when it is assigned a BGT # or is it assigned the BGT # once it is approved and headed to NVC?

Quick verification

Thanks

OSITA again many contrats on your scheduled interview...you can see the finish line.

God Bless

[Andres and Diana 0]

WOW! Congrats are in order for you too Santa Marta! Yay for you! Finally your wait is over!

As for the BGT# I believe it is assigned once it has been received by the NVC...now in not sure since I haven't been approved yet ... but thats what I have picked up from other posters here in colombia club.

I hope everything is well! Good luck on everything and I hope your with your girl soon!

Kind Regards,

Diana B

[RICARDO Y PATRY 0]

diana,

tienes msn m gustaria hablar contigo

[Osita 0]

You will get the BGT# once your case is received by the NVC.

Regarding my interview, I'm counting the days and thank you for your prayers.

[lucho562 0]

BGT case numbers are assigned once NVC receives and reviews your file.

[Mononoke28 135]

FYI, it does seem that K3 visas are no longer being processed by the USCIS. So if new members are interested in filing for this type of visa for their wives/husbands, you should call the USCIS before you file and see if the CR1/IR1 is your only option at this time (which is a blessing in disguise in my opinion).

Diana