Colombia Club

[HAL 9000 96]

... Sigh! Actually, the I-129F is either already in Bogotá OR it will be delivered on Monday... just checked DHL...

[Mike and Adriana 0]

The current packet 4 requests the tax return from the most recent year only. We actually brought three years of returns (didn't want to give them any opportunity to ask for more information), because the form that we used asked us to list the last three years of AGI. I believe the embassy kept all three copies.

So, minimum, as stated, is one year. But why not bring three years, if it's not a big hassle to get (you can always order a tax transcript if you don't have copies...if you plan to order a tax transcript, do it now....download the form from the IRS website and fax it....it might take a month or so, especially given the time of year now).

Mike

One bit of questioning I have for Mike and perhaps Kathy- in the older instructions for the interview/I-134 state to bring in 3 years of 1040s/W-2s, etc... do the newer Packet supporting documents repeat this demand or has it also been scaled back to just the last year as in the newer I-134 instructions?

Thanks again

[HAL 9000 96]

Excellent. Actually, you can request Tax returns over the phone from the IRS. Its automated I believe. A few years back you could just go to many Treasury Dept. offices and request this in person and you'd walk out with a free, stamped printout.

Lucky me I have copies going back more than 3 years so that part will be a Xerox operation...

... Sigh! Actually, the I-129F is either already in Bogotá OR it will be delivered on Monday... just checked DHL...

[Mononoke28 135]

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I just finished reading 28 pages of K-3 info!!! Phew! My head hurts but thanks to all you fine people I have about 3 pages of notes I've written down so I can be ready for every step of the process.

First of, I want to thank all of you for sharing your stories and tips you've picked along the way. What a great pile of info!

Secondly I'd like to know if any of the documents the beneficiary has to take to the embassy have to be translated. I found the embassy info on this site and it says that any document not in English needs to be translated... even if they're going to the US Embassy in Bogota?? That doesn't make sense.

And my second question is, once the beneficiary receives his/her visa, how long does she/he have to leave the country? Reason I ask is because I'd like to go to the embassy in Bogota with my husband for his interview and be able to come back home (USA) with him as well, but I think I can only take about a week (5-7 business days) off from work. Do you guys think this time frame is reasonable?

Thanks again everybody, you're all awesome!

[Mike and Adriana 0]

My responses embedded below.

Secondly I'd like to know if any of the documents the beneficiary has to take to the embassy have to be translated. I found the embassy info on this site and it says that any document not in English needs to be translated... even if they're going to the US Embassy in Bogota?? That doesn't make sense.

You should have sent translations with the I-130 and the I-129F of relevant documents (such as the beneficiaries birth certficiate). You do not need to bring any translations to the embassy...they can read Spanish. (However, don't get rid of those translations...you'll need them again when you submit AOS...and get your translations done in Colombia....much cheaper).

And my second question is, once the beneficiary receives his/her visa, how long does she/he have to leave the country? Reason I ask is because I'd like to go to the embassy in Bogota with my husband for his interview and be able to come back home (USA) with him as well, but I think I can only take about a week (5-7 business days) off from work. Do you guys think this time frame is reasonable?

The beneficiary has six months. The amount of time is reasonable IF your husband can do all of the legwork on his own before you arrive (get the medical, the carta del DAS, etc.). I shoed up two days before the interview. Our interview was on Friday....so the visa wasn't ready until 4 p.m. on Monday. So, you could go down a day or two in advance (just to make sure everything was in order and your husband understood the process), go to the interview, hopefully get approved, go back to get the visa the next day, and then return to the U.S. in a day or two. Of course, this grand plan is predicated on an approval.

[Mononoke28 135]

I know, it's an "all in a perfect world" type of thing. The good thing is that with all the info I've gathered from all the posts here I pretty much have it nailed down, things such as the location of the DAS office in Bogota, the shots he needs and I even told him to flag the name of Dra. Maria Consuelo Gonzalez because I read that she's pretty sweet. Let's just hope everything turns out ok.

Thanks for the info!!!

[KathyB 0]

One bit of questioning I have for Mike and perhaps Kathy- in the older instructions for the interview/I-134 state to bring in 3 years of 1040s/W-2s, etc... do the newer Packet supporting documents repeat this demand or has it also been scaled back to just the last year as in the newer I-134 instructions?

I'll ask Francisco tonight about the requirements. I ordered the transcripts (as I recall I received them quickly) but given the tax season (as Mike or someone said), I'm not sure if it would be as quick now.

We faxed everything Feb 20, but forgot the OF-169. So we faxed that on Feb 23. So now I'm anxiously awaiting the interview date! Yesterday I called the embassy; they had received everything and were ready to schedule the interview but had not yet done so. I called the number listed on the website (571-315-0811) and asked for the resident's office. It took about 10 minutes for me to connect to a person, but was successful; she was helpful. However, she told me to call back Wednesday to get the date.

[Mononoke28 135]

Does anybody happen to have the list of the Dr.'s and their phone #s for the medical exam? My husband has a few questions regarding his shots and he wanted to call them ahead of time before he gets them. I know Mystery had talked about Dra. Maria Consuelo Gonzalez but I don't have her phone #.

Anybody?

Thanks!

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Dra Maria COnsuelo Gonzalez 288-7629 or 245-9290

Dr. Jairo Rosa 215-1763 or 658-9366

Anexo D of Packet 4 includes the list of required vaccinations....age 18-64....Td, MMR, and Varicela.

Mike

Does anybody happen to have the list of the Dr.'s and their phone #s for the medical exam? My husband has a few questions regarding his shots and he wanted to call them ahead of time before he gets them. I know Mystery had talked about Dra. Maria Consuelo Gonzalez but I don't have her phone #.

Anybody?

Thanks!

[waitingforher30 0]

My fiancee's application was received in Bogota yesterday. I have read al 28 pages of this thread and there is a lot of good information. Some say the Migratory DAS is required and some say no. I think the last consensus was yes it is required. I need a copy of the latest packet 3 & 4 if anyone could send it to me. If you could PM me I will give you my email. One person said that having the documents submitted in English slowed the interview process down but when I read the DS 2001 it says either is acceptable, any advice? Also how do you know which vaccinations are required for your particular case. I have noticed that some people go the health department or Red Cross to get their vaccinations. My fiancee's parent's are deceased and she has no idea what vaccinations she has had. Also she does not have her Baptismal Certificate. Is both a Baptismal Certificate and Birth Certificate required or is the Baptismal Certificate only required when you do not have a birth certificate? Where does she go to get Baptismal Certificate with marginal notes? Any help would be appreciated and I could really use those packets.

[KathyB 0]

Also she does not have her Baptismal Certificate. Is both a Baptismal Certificate and Birth Certificate required or is the Baptismal Certificate only required when you do not have a birth certificate? Where does she go to get Baptismal Certificate with marginal notes?

Review the US Bogota embassy website for instructions on what to do if you don't have a baptismal certificate. If you can't find the information, PM me and I will send you the link with the instructions. She has to have a sworn statement made by two people attesting to the fact that she doesn't have a baptismal certificate.

Francisco has his, so I don't know if anyone else on the thread has experience with this statement.

Good luck!

Kathy

[Mike and Adriana 0]

I cannot speak with 100% certainty for the K-1 process, but I can say with 100% certainty that packet 4 for K3/K4 visas does include the requirement of the "carta de DAS."

I do not have the latest packet 4 scanned. You might want to try Dre or Tony S. If however, you'd like a copy of the packets 3 and 4 I got from Peter in Miami, send me a PM with your e-mail address. The packet 3 they sent to him is the same as the one we got in December. The packet 4 is slightly differently (including the "carta de DAS" requirement).

Documents in English slow the interview process? I'm not sure who said this or why. We submitted everything in English (other than original documents in Spanish) and had no problem at all. The COs who do the interviewing, from what I can tell, are all Americans. Send the documents in whatever language you want. I filled out all of the documents, so I did them i English. If the beneficiary fills out the documents, then maybe Spanish is the best choice since it is the native language.

If she has no proof of vaccinations (a vaccination card), then she may well need to get her shots again. Packet 4 lists the necessary immunizations for beneficiaries of various ages (I posted about this earlier today).

If she is Catholic, she was likely baptized. If she is in Bogota, she can get a copy of the certificate from the local church. If she was never baptized, follow the advice of Kathy above. The baptism certificate is required in ADDITION to the birth certificate (unless she was never baptized).

Mike

My fiancee's application was received in Bogota yesterday. I have read al 28 pages of this thread and there is a lot of good information. Some say the Migratory DAS is required and some say no. I think the last consensus was yes it is required. I need a copy of the latest packet 3 & 4 if anyone could send it to me. If you could PM me I will give you my email. One person said that having the documents submitted in English slowed the interview process down but when I read the DS 2001 it says either is acceptable, any advice? Also how do you know which vaccinations are required for your particular case. I have noticed that some people go the health department or Red Cross to get their vaccinations. My fiancee's parent's are deceased and she has no idea what vaccinations she has had. Also she does not have her Baptismal Certificate. Is both a Baptismal Certificate and Birth Certificate required or is the Baptismal Certificate only required when you do not have a birth certificate? Where does she go to get Baptismal Certificate with marginal notes? Any help would be appreciated and I could really use those packets.

[KathyB 0]

Yes, and even if she was never baptized, I believe you need sworn statements attesting to that too!

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Kathy:

I agree with you. Hope I did not mislead anyone. In addition to the birth certificate, you either need a baptism certificate or a sworn statement indicating that you were never baptized. Did not mean to imply otherwise.

Mike

Yes, and even if she was never baptized, I believe you need sworn statements attesting to that too!

[HAL 9000 96]

Kind of hilarious they require a Church document when the nature of the process is not religious.

So yeah... tax returns are good to go... now all we need is the patience and restraint to not submit Packet 3 so as to get inadvertantly scheduled for April... a reversal of previous hurriedness- and at least at my job I am seeing signs of promise that I may not have to quit after all in order to fly down for the interview, even though its on company paper. Just need 3 days to get it done on my side down there. All very carefully planned out.

Good luck Kathy and Francisco!

Waitingforher30... looks like we're a day apart in their having received the paperwork at BOG. Go dude go! To bad I have to wait to push things through!