Colombia Club

[parkpapa 0]

I'm with Willie on this one Charles. There are so many things that will not allow her to study in Colombia that it's not even worth thinking about it. One, she will soon be a US resident and should not be out of the country for more than 12 months, in fact the POE officers will give her a hard time if she is out for more than 6. Two, she will have to get her license here in the States even if she has one from Colombia, in some cases she will need to take additional courses to do so. And three, she cannot do any of this without proper English. So the best thing would be for her to focus on that and then decide on what to do. Once she's ready she can make appointments at different colleges with counselors and see what they recommend.

Diana

I agree! The problem is not to convince me.....it's to convince HER!

But you raise some very good specific points. I'll talk this over with her when she gets back from down south. Thanks for the support!!!

Charles

[HAL 9000 96]

Yeah... good luck with that!

I hope you can convince her with your logic. Otherwise you'll have fancy handwaving to do...

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Hey everybody,

Thanks for the congrats.

My wife will be traveling to the US in early September. We had scheduled her to come down on July 15. However, her grandmother is turning 100 at the end of August so I suggested that she stay a little longer so she could be there for the big day. My wife is very close to her grandmother as she has lived with my wife and her family since my wife was a little kid. She insisted that she would come up in July if I so desired, but I think that waiting is the right thing to do.

I must admit that coming home is not so bad coming home this time. Now that everything is approved and we have her ticket purchased, the separation is easier.

I am curious about what she will need at the POE. We were given nothing when they approved the visa. We went to Domesa and found out that they don't have the passport delivery service to my wife's city. The strange thing is that my wife was the branch manager for a large staffing company and she knows for a fact that there are both Domesa and Brinks services in her city since she used to hire their employees. In any case, we are having her passport delivered to my uncle's office in Bogota where it goes in the safe until my wife travels. Beyond the passport, will anything else be delivered? I'm going to dig around for some K-3 POE info on this site, but if anyone has some info, please let me know.

Thanks again to everyone for all your advice and support. We really could not have done it without you.

I will write up a full, detailed review of the whole embassy experience. There are several minor points that are important for upcoming K-3 interviews. It will probably be tonight, but if anyone has any urgent questions, please let me know. I am a stickler for details and took notes of the entire process in Bogota.

Peace,

CG

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Charles,

I have to agree that having your wife study in Colombia is probably not a good idea for all the reasons mentioned.

Also, keep in mind that she will most likely have to sit for your state's nursing exam. If she studies nursing in Colombia, she will have a harder time passing this difficult test as she will have learned everything in a different language. Everything from diseases to body parts often have substantially different names in Spanish.

I realize that you are trying to minimize your expenses so you might look into an ADN (Assoc. Degree of Nursing) program. In some cases, these are offered by community colleges(sometimes in conjunction with a university). These degrees take less time and in some states are enough to become an RN. Also, tuition is usually substantially cheaper.

For example, Houston Community College offers an ADN program that is much cheaper than a standard university BDN(Bachelors) program. In Texas, an ADN graduate can sit for the RN exams and become licensed. An ADN graduate might later have some trouble getting a nurse management position, but she could always finish a BDN later or over time.

As I said, this is information for Texas, but something similar is available in many other states. The best thing to do is to call the nurse licensing board for your state. They can help you with information including the availability of an ADN and the requirements for transferring a foreign nursing degree.

Good luck,

CG

I agree! The problem is not to convince me.....it's to convince HER!

But you raise some very good specific points. I'll talk this over with her when she gets back from down south. Thanks for the support!!!

Charles

Edited June 23, 2008 by ColombianoGringo

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Dusty,

She will need two documents from DAS. One is a "Certificado Judicial" which shows any prior criminal issues. The other is a sealed "Carta Migratoria" from DAS in Bogota which shows any exits or entries into Colombia.

I would recommend that you go to the interview if you can. The only denials we saw on our day where for wives who didn't come with their husbands or that did not have photo evidence. Some where approved without their husbands there, but a few that we talked to were told to come back with their husband.

BTW, the so called "Witch" was actually quite cordial and pleasant. In fact, everyone we dealt with at the embassy was nice and very helpful. No one treated us badly in the least.

Good luck,

CG

My wife has her CR1 interview on July 15th. She has yet to receive her Packet 4 from rthe embassy in Bogota but I FedEx'd her the package that was sent to me. Now all our documents have been submitted to the NVC and I am assuming shipped to the embassy in Bogota. The only documents that she will have with her when she gors is the DAS letter, her medical information, the Interview letter, and all our evidence. I told her I would fly down to go to the Interview but she said her friends said it wasn't necessary so I am not going. When she gets in the first line where everyone says the "Witch" asks for the documents, is she going to need anything besides the above mentioned documents. The CO should have all the other documents I am assuming.

Dennis

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Carl,

My wife had her shots at the Red Cross in her city a week before the medical exam. It was actually a bit pricier than the doctor seems to be charging, but it was worth it to have them out of the way. Keep in mind that people often have adverse reactions to vaccinations. Injection site pain, nausea, slight fever, etc. are often experienced for a few days. You don't want he feeling like ####### the day of your interview. It is a long, stressful day and you don't want it compounded by her feeling ill. My wife's arm was still hurting more than a week after she got her vaccinations. It is certainly something to consider.

Good luck,

CG

Hello

Man I so confused about these shots/

My girl lives in Quilla and she has looked into getting a price of them done there ..But as I read here people have different answrs on this subject.I see you pais 138,000 for the three needed thats seems very good to me.If you were in my shoes what would you do>

Thanks

Carl

[Mononoke28 135]

Hey everybody,

Thanks for the congrats.

My wife will be traveling to the US in early September. We had scheduled her to come down on July 15. However, her grandmother is turning 100 at the end of August so I suggested that she stay a little longer so she could be there for the big day. My wife is very close to her grandmother as she has lived with my wife and her family since my wife was a little kid. She insisted that she would come up in July if I so desired, but I think that waiting is the right thing to do.

I must admit that coming home is not so bad coming home this time. Now that everything is approved and we have her ticket purchased, the separation is easier.

I am curious about what she will need at the POE. We were given nothing when they approved the visa. We went to Domesa and found out that they don't have the passport delivery service to my wife's city. The strange thing is that my wife was the branch manager for a large staffing company and she knows for a fact that there are both Domesa and Brinks services in her city since she used to hire their employees. In any case, we are having her passport delivered to my uncle's office in Bogota where it goes in the safe until my wife travels. Beyond the passport, will anything else be delivered? I'm going to dig around for some K-3 POE info on this site, but if anyone has some info, please let me know.

Thanks again to everyone for all your advice and support. We really could not have done it without you.

I will write up a full, detailed review of the whole embassy experience. There are several minor points that are important for upcoming K-3 interviews. It will probably be tonight, but if anyone has any urgent questions, please let me know. I am a stickler for details and took notes of the entire process in Bogota.

Peace,

CG

Congratulations once again CG!

Domesa should deliver her passport which will have the visa on it and a big brown envelop which should not be opened. This along with her cédula is all she will need the day she flies out here. Once she gets here, she needs to tell the Immigration officer that she is coming in with a K1 visa and they will process her. She gives her passport and the unopened brown envelope to the guy, he will take her fingerprints, picture and signature and she'll be all set.

Also, she needs to carry the brown envelope at all times since every person from ticketing, to DAS, to the gate flight attendants will be asking to see it.

Diana

[WyoDusty 0]

Dusty,

She will need two documents from DAS. One is a "Certificado Judicial" which shows any prior criminal issues. The other is a sealed "Carta Migratoria" from DAS in Bogota which shows any exits or entries into Colombia.

I would recommend that you go to the interview if you can. The only denials we saw on our day where for wives who didn't come with their husbands or that did not have photo evidence. Some where approved without their husbands there, but a few that we talked to were told to come back with their husband.

BTW, the so called "Witch" was actually quite cordial and pleasant. In fact, everyone we dealt with at the embassy was nice and very helpful. No one treated us badly in the least.

Good luck,

CG

CG,

Thanks for the reply and Congratulations. I am not sure but I think my wife may have talked with your wife when she when to get her laboratory work completed. She mentioned she was talking with a woman who had her interview the next day. She was going to ask her about getting the vacinations and where she received them. They exchanged email addresses. I had told her she may not be able to get an email from the woman if she received her Visa she would be preparing to travel but she said she was not traveling until September because she was doing something with her Grandmother. She is still insistant that I don't come down for the Interview but i made a nice book of all our photos and the wedding in San Andres and the Wedding in Cucuta with her family.

I worry a little about the interview and would like to be there. I think our photos and the cards and letters from my family will show we have a good relationship and we are not that far apart in our ages so I will pray everything goes well. I will be looking for your post on the details of your Interview and the questions they asked. My wife wants me to quiz her with questions but I told her just be honest and be direct with your answers.

Thanks again,

Dennis

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Dennis,

Too funny! I just talked to my wife and it looks like they did meet. I won't mention names on an open forum, but ask your wife if she and the other lady were laughing at an old guy holding a baby. When I asked my wife about it, she busted out laughing and said that she thought that she knew who it was. If it turns out that we are right about them meeting, please tell your wife that mine doesn't currently have email access at home so she might not return emails quickly. If she has any questions for my wife, just drop me a PM and I'll relay the message.

As far as being there for the interview, several women were approved without their husbands there, but a few weren't. You will probably be OK especially since you had the two weddings and have lots of pictures.

Peace,

CG

Dusty,

She will need two documents from DAS. One is a "Certificado Judicial" which shows any prior criminal issues. The other is a sealed "Carta Migratoria" from DAS in Bogota which shows any exits or entries into Colombia.

I would recommend that you go to the interview if you can. The only denials we saw on our day where for wives who didn't come with their husbands or that did not have photo evidence. Some where approved without their husbands there, but a few that we talked to were told to come back with their husband.

BTW, the so called "Witch" was actually quite cordial and pleasant. In fact, everyone we dealt with at the embassy was nice and very helpful. No one treated us badly in the least.

Good luck,

CG

CG,

Thanks for the reply and Congratulations. I am not sure but I think my wife may have talked with your wife when she when to get her laboratory work completed. She mentioned she was talking with a woman who had her interview the next day. She was going to ask her about getting the vacinations and where she received them. They exchanged email addresses. I had told her she may not be able to get an email from the woman if she received her Visa she would be preparing to travel but she said she was not traveling until September because she was doing something with her Grandmother. She is still insistant that I don't come down for the Interview but i made a nice book of all our photos and the wedding in San Andres and the Wedding in Cucuta with her family.

I worry a little about the interview and would like to be there. I think our photos and the cards and letters from my family will show we have a good relationship and we are not that far apart in our ages so I will pray everything goes well. I will be looking for your post on the details of your Interview and the questions they asked. My wife wants me to quiz her with questions but I told her just be honest and be direct with your answers.

Thanks again,

Dennis

[LASPENCE 0]

Hi all,

We´re still in Bogota, but I just wanted to drop in and report that we went to my wife´s K-3 interview yesterday and she was approved. We were there from 6:30 am until 1:30pm, but everything went well and the staff at the consulate was very helpful and nice.

I will write a full report next week when I´m back in the states.

Good luck to all that have upcoming interviews and thanks to all those that have helped so much throughout the process.

Peace,

CG

i mean yes ! con grat my amigo from su amigo laspence/dina

[WyoDusty 0]

Dennis,

Too funny! I just talked to my wife and it looks like they did meet. I won't mention names on an open forum, but ask your wife if she and the other lady were laughing at an old guy holding a baby. When I asked my wife about it, she busted out laughing and said that she thought that she knew who it was. If it turns out that we are right about them meeting, please tell your wife that mine doesn't currently have email access at home so she might not return emails quickly. If she has any questions for my wife, just drop me a PM and I'll relay the message.

As far as being there for the interview, several women were approved without their husbands there, but a few weren't. You will probably be OK especially since you had the two weddings and have lots of pictures.

Peace,

CG

CG,

Yes, that is my wife, I was talking to her on the telephone tonight and reading her your letter. She was laughing mucho when I read the part about the old man and the baby. I told her I will send her all the information that you post on the Interview. She said to say Congratulations and hopes all will go well now that your wife has the visa.

Dennis

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Hi all,

I have been working on a new VJ wiki article about the K-3 interview process at the Bogota embassy and the related errands. Those with upcoming interviews may find some helpful information here.

It is not quite complete yet as I'll be adding more information over the next few days. If you have recently been through a K-3 interview at the Bogota embassy, please comment on the content of the wiki. Please suggest any changes or additions that you think might be helpful to those with upcoming interviews. You can post your comments in the related thread at http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=135325 and I'll add them to the wiki article.

The Bogota K-3 wiki article can be found at

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Bogota_Colombia_K3

Thanks,

CG

Edited June 24, 2008 by ColombianoGringo

[LASPENCE 0]

Hi all,

I have been working on a new VJ wiki article about the K-3 interview process at the Bogota embassy and the related errands. Those with upcoming interviews may find some helpful information here.

It is not quite complete yet as I'll be adding more information over the next few days. If you have recently been through a K-3 interview at the Bogota embassy, please comment on the content of the wiki. Please suggest any changes or additions that you think might be helpful to those with upcoming interviews. You can post your comments in the related thread at http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=135325 and I'll add them to the wiki article.

The Bogota K-3 wiki article can be found at

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Bogota_Colombia_K3

Thanks,

CG

hey CG , that some great informacion on wikkk i will use this informacion as a guideline to cover all bases before our interview july 8 , congrats again from laspence/dina

[bigley 0]

I finally got an interview on July 29th with my future wife. Does anyone know if I have to pay $131 for each person on the K-1 visa or only my fiance. She has two wonderful children and obviously I will pay to get them here but is it per visa with them as benificiaries or does each one need a visa. I know about the medical. Thanks.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Colombia Club,

I want to share my situation. My fiancee's phone hasn't been working since the 8th of this month, and I received my NOA2 and later my letter from NVC stating that my case will be processed in Bogota, and that my fiancee "will be receiving a packet with instructions on how to apply for the K-1."

My problem is that I do not know which forms and materials my fiancee will need to gather - nor does she have her passport yet. Everything is all messed up at the moment, because she has not answered her emails in over 2 weeks, and there is no phone service. I'd like to hold her hand through this, but honestly, I can't do everything from my end. This seems like an impossible situation at the moment, and trying to fax paperwork and coordinating things is next to impossible. Any advice???