Colombia Club

[Mononoke28 135]

Charles, Are your sure it is really necessary to have those chat transcripts and emails translated? The embassy appointment instructions specifically state "Translations are NOT required for documents written in Spanish or English." (caps in original) I don't see why they would want correspondence translated when they don't require it for official documents.

Diana, I guess I will print out some of the actual emails in addition to the lists just to be safe.

Thanks to both of you,

CG

CG,

The only things that need to be translated when going to the embassy are any documents that are in French, Italian, Chinese or any other language not in English or Spanish. All of our e-mails, chats, letters and other documents were all in Spanish and we didn't have any problems since the people at the embassy are fluent in both languages. And by this I mean the COs, not too sure about the witches at the first windows though.

Diana

[buck501 0]

Charles, Are your sure it is really necessary to have those chat transcripts and emails translated? The embassy appointment instructions specifically state "Translations are NOT required for documents written in Spanish or English." (caps in original) I don't see why they would want correspondence translated when they don't require it for official documents.

Diana, I guess I will print out some of the actual emails in addition to the lists just to be safe.

Thanks to both of you,

CG

CG,

The only things that need to be translated when going to the embassy are any documents that are in French, Italian, Chinese or any other language not in English or Spanish. All of our e-mails, chats, letters and other documents were all in Spanish and we didn't have any problems since the people at the embassy are fluent in both languages. And by this I mean the COs, not too sure about the witches at the first windows though.

Diana

All of our eviedence was in English. No problem. The witch, and I do mean W-I-T-C-H at the first window did not asked for any of the evidence stuff. Only the requiered docs for the visa. I do not think they have the power to deny your interview. It may be possible if you are lacking many of the docs. We were missing one doc that got us turned down by the CO. The witch told us we were missing it, acting as though we were completly stupid, threw all the papers back at us and told us to go the interview windows where we were asked for the missing doc. We got that and no problem, got the visa.

[SteveSandyHill 0]

CG,

You will do fine. I stressed tremendously over the interview as well, was over prepared. The information provided here in this forum by those who have lived the experiance is priceless. Good luck!

[parkpapa 0]

Posting to move us back up closer to the head of the line.

However..... Where is everybody??? I know nobody can afford a summer vacation.

[HAL 9000 96]

Posting to move us back up closer to the head of the line.

However..... Where is everybody??? I know nobody can afford a summer vacation.

Can't afford not to go on vacation... thank Heaven my boss is so good to me.

Yes... where are all of our new Club Colombia applicants?

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Posting to move us back up closer to the head of the line.

However..... Where is everybody??? I know nobody can afford a summer vacation.

Can't afford not to go on vacation... thank Heaven my boss is so good to me.

Yes... where are all of our new Club Colombia applicants?

I'm lurking, got my ears on.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I gotta situation to share. My fiancee's phone has been not in service for the past 2 weeks. No email, either. She is receiving paperwork from Bogota in the next week or two, so, coordinating things will be less than perfect. Her phone has been disconnected before - thanks to family money issues and sometimes phone lines getting knocked out. Any suggestions besides just dropping in on her and the familia??

[HAL 9000 96]

I gotta situation to share. My fiancee's phone has been not in service for the past 2 weeks. No email, either. She is receiving paperwork from Bogota in the next week or two, so, coordinating things will be less than perfect. Her phone has been disconnected before - thanks to family money issues and sometimes phone lines getting knocked out. Any suggestions besides just dropping in on her and the familia??

Cyber café brother... Make sure no unpleasant surprises arise by dropping in on the folks... even though it shouldn't be unexpected at this stage of the game and might even be welcomed as a nice surprise.

[parkpapa 0]

I gotta situation to share. My fiancee's phone has been not in service for the past 2 weeks. No email, either. She is receiving paperwork from Bogota in the next week or two, so, coordinating things will be less than perfect. Her phone has been disconnected before - thanks to family money issues and sometimes phone lines getting knocked out. Any suggestions besides just dropping in on her and the familia??

Even if the bills are paid, phone service in Colombia can be an iffy thing (though cell phones seem to work most of the time). Mavi's right about the internet cafe idea. Unless things have changed drastically, the rates are incredibly low and the cafes are very common. The only trick is that you'll need to establish some predetermined times to get together online.

My wife is in Colombia right now. She went there unannounced. All the family was thrilled, of course, but her mom about had a coronary. Unannounced visits may be fine for Colombians going back for a visit, but I'd advise against it for a gringo. Always best to have a trusted friend or family member meet you at the airport, etc.

One of my trips to Colombia, my wife and her friend were late getting to the airport to pick me up. EVERYONE had pretty much cleared out from my flight, though there were lots of cabbies and "others" around willing to "help". I got lucky, though. There was a middle-aged, cleancut Colombiano in a suit - by his actions and manner either plain clothes airport security or police - who noticed me and saw I was still searching for wife. He didn't offer to take me anywhere (first clue he was okay) but he did offer to let me use his cell phone to call my wife. Just as I was putting in her phone number, she showed up. The moral of the story, if there is one, is that not everyone in Colombia is trying to "get you". BUT, just like being in any strange place, the safest assumption is that everyone IS trying to "get you", until they prove otherwise.

Best of luck, Ken.

Charles

[LASPENCE 0]

I gotta situation to share. My fiancee's phone has been not in service for the past 2 weeks. No email, either. She is receiving paperwork from Bogota in the next week or two, so, coordinating things will be less than perfect. Her phone has been disconnected before - thanks to family money issues and sometimes phone lines getting knocked out. Any suggestions besides just dropping in on her and the familia??

Even if the bills are paid, phone service in Colombia can be an iffy thing (though cell phones seem to work most of the time). Mavi's right about the internet cafe idea. Unless things have changed drastically, the rates are incredibly low and the cafes are very common. The only trick is that you'll need to establish some predetermined times to get together online.

My wife is in Colombia right now. She went there unannounced. All the family was thrilled, of course, but her mom about had a coronary. Unannounced visits may be fine for Colombians going back for a visit, but I'd advise against it for a gringo. Always best to have a trusted friend or family member meet you at the airport, etc.

One of my trips to Colombia, my wife and her friend were late getting to the airport to pick me up. EVERYONE had pretty much cleared out from my flight, though there were lots of cabbies and "others" around willing to "help". I got lucky, though. There was a middle-aged, cleancut Colombiano in a suit - by his actions and manner either plain clothes airport security or police - who noticed me and saw I was still searching for wife. He didn't offer to take me anywhere (first clue he was okay) but he did offer to let me use his cell phone to call my wife. Just as I was putting in her phone number, she showed up. The moral of the story, if there is one, is that not everyone in Colombia is trying to "get you". BUT, just like being in any strange place, the safest assumption is that everyone IS trying to "get you", until they prove otherwise.

Best of luck, Ken.

Charles

hey i had that same problem my wife live in fusa 3 hours away from bogota she was a hour late because of work, i arrieve in bogota at 10 pm she didn't show up until 11 this was my first trip i wasn't never scare a little hurry being in a strange country where my spanish was not great but i kept my kool always had my cell phone in my hand witch didn't work to stranger they thought i had a good conversation going on smiling sometime laughing just to keep them at bay, their was a few that though they could intercept the conversation but i knew soon i would have to use someone phone to find out where my wife were ask i spoke to a couple amgios they were more interesting in taking me to a near hotel or giving me a ride in their cab one amigo even told me she wasn't coming i never believe him but in the back of mind strange things can happen on your first trip finally i met someone who got in touch with my wife she told the amigo that she was 10 min away 10 min pass no wife finally another amigo walk to me and kindly let me us his phone to call my wife again come to find out this last amigo was my wife cousin who speak no english but work for the airport i didn't know that they were related until i seen this beautiful tall colombia woman running towards me i was hoping that this wasn't a dream for me to see a muy lindo woman heading towards my way calling out papi si i mean si my wife she told me that the amigo was her cousin out of all the people at the airport i met a family member who i never knew , so always be cool under pressure, from laspence

[jimmy477 0]

I have read in this thread mention of a letter referred to as a "Declaracion Juramental" which has been used at the visa interview to resolve issues with missing or inaccurate baptism certificates. Does anyone have a copy of this and would s/he be so kind as to send me a copy?

Also, in filling out the DS-156, my fiance is adamant that her passport number is the perforated sequence along the edge of all the pages, not the number listed as "passport number" on the biographical page. She says the embassy told her this during the B-2 process in he past. I find this very strange. What have people here been successfully entering as the passport number on the DS-156?

[HAL 9000 96]

I have read in this thread mention of a letter referred to as a "Declaracion Juramental" which has been used at the visa interview to resolve issues with missing or inaccurate baptism certificates. Does anyone have a copy of this and would s/he be so kind as to send me a copy?

Also, in filling out the DS-156, my fiance is adamant that her passport number is the perforated sequence along the edge of all the pages, not the number listed as "passport number" on the biographical page. She says the embassy told her this during the B-2 process in he past. I find this very strange. What have people here been successfully entering as the passport number on the DS-156?

Hey Jimmy-

1. The Declaración is like a notarized affidavit.

2. Not sure on the Passport Number thing. Used to be the # de cédula but that was a long time ago. Whatever the embassy wants, they can perhaps point to as accurate when need be. They do have a tendency to call a beneficiary if something like that arises that conflicts with reality. Even of their own advice- and try to stick to what they actually say.

[parkpapa 0]

Not sure where else to start looking for this information, so I'll ask here.

This is only remotely an immigration question, I guess, but bear with me. My lovely wife is interested in going to school to become a nurse here in the US. The problem (one of several, but the pertinent one here) is that even LPN schools here are fairly costly and that would be a year and a half to four years where she would not be making money.....only spending it on schooling. While I'm all in favor of her going to school to better herself and her earning power, that is simply not something we can afford right now.

Lorena proposed an alternative idea, though. Seems there are nursing schools in Colombia that, according to her friends, she could go to for free or nearly free, and have a nursing degree in under a year. Even assuming that is accurate information, my question is whether or not such a degree or license would even be valid or recognized in the US. Anyone have any ideas on this? Or know a place I can do some research? Any ideas would be welcome.

Charles

[LUISH 0]

Hi to everyone and my best wishes for the ones that are close to their interview dates, I'm an old member, but i'm back again, for the aame reason than before, searching for help and advice, well, my situation is the following: Me and my faince went thru all the waiting, the getting ready for the interview,etc, she got her visa and eventually came here to live with me (iI live in Florida), well, then the unexpected happened, her grandmother got very sick and my girl, could not sleep thinking that her grandma could die, so we did not get marry and she went back, ias a result she lost her visa, well now we are getting ready to start the process again, and I want to kow if anyone has gone thru this, what I mean is if there is anything that I should be aware of, she did not over stay here, i'm filing the paper work for the same woman, and everything is the same , the only diference is that I 'm doing it for the second time, I read somewhere here in one of the main pages, that If a person had file before for a visa , that person should filled a waiver or something, and that's what has me confused, I want to do everything correct, and do not want to extend the waiting period, so if anyone has an idea about this situation or can provide with some advise, i 'll really appreciated, thanks in advance...........................LUISH

[HAL 9000 96]

Not sure where else to start looking for this information, so I'll ask here.

This is only remotely an immigration question, I guess, but bear with me. My lovely wife is interested in going to school to become a nurse here in the US. The problem (one of several, but the pertinent one here) is that even LPN schools here are fairly costly and that would be a year and a half to four years where she would not be making money.....only spending it on schooling. While I'm all in favor of her going to school to better herself and her earning power, that is simply not something we can afford right now.

Lorena proposed an alternative idea, though. Seems there are nursing schools in Colombia that, according to her friends, she could go to for free or nearly free, and have a nursing degree in under a year. Even assuming that is accurate information, my question is whether or not such a degree or license would even be valid or recognized in the US. Anyone have any ideas on this? Or know a place I can do some research? Any ideas would be welcome.

Charles

Hey buddy

I strongly recommend against that!

The credentials may transfer over. Its a matter of family unity and of course, travel costs in an uncertain market. Plus it MAY look strange for immigration purposes.

However, I do encourage you guys to think about gunning for it here... remember that nursing will ALWAYS be in demand and there are some places that give signing bonuses that wipe out nearly half of tuition debts. Some hospitals also have loan repayment programs. What I would do is try talking with people already in the profession.

Also, did you know you can apply for Federal Student Aid? This may qualify you for smaller-interest loans and some grants. Another creative idea is for employer-assisted tuition reimbursement. Try checking if there are university hospitals in your area where she could try for a job to defray the costs of her degree/certificate program... and that in the long run helps her with job prospects in the field upon graduation.

Mária is looking at a 1.5 year Masters degree in Human Resources Development at a public university here that would costs us a relatively low chunk of change compared to larger universities. Its food for thought that will have a big payoff since she already has a few endorsements on her BS in Psych degree from home.

Hi to everyone and my best wishes for the ones that are close to their interview dates, I'm an old member, but i'm back again, for the aame reason than before, searching for help and advice, well, my situation is the following: Me and my faince went thru all the waiting, the getting ready for the interview,etc, she got her visa and eventually came here to live with me (iI live in Florida), well, then the unexpected happened, her grandmother got very sick and my girl, could not sleep thinking that her grandma could die, so we did not get marry and she went back, ias a result she lost her visa, well now we are getting ready to start the process again, and I want to kow if anyone has gone thru this, what I mean is if there is anything that I should be aware of, she did not over stay here, i'm filing the paper work for the same woman, and everything is the same , the only diference is that I 'm doing it for the second time, I read somewhere here in one of the main pages, that If a person had file before for a visa , that person should filled a waiver or something, and that's what has me confused, I want to do everything correct, and do not want to extend the waiting period, so if anyone has an idea about this situation or can provide with some advise, i 'll really appreciated, thanks in advance...........................LUISH

I heard it won't take you as long and that there is a waiver you can request but not sure where to request it. Good luck and sorry to hear about the circumstances!