Colombia Club

[WyoDusty 0]

My wife has her medical appointment on Thursday and then the Interview is on the 15th. She has everything I believe, and the Embassy is supposed to have the rest. I just want to inquire with the group to ensure we haven’t forgotten anything.

My wife has her Baptismal Certificate and the letter from DAS. She will have her Medical Examination and Vaccinations prior to the Interview She also has her photographs and passport.

The Embassy should have the following according to the letter we received from the NVC:

OF-169 FORM NOT NEEDED

OF-230-I YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

OF-230-II YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

PASSPORT YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

BIRTH CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

ADOPTION FORM NOT NEEDED

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

MARRIAGE TERMINATION ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

COURT RECORDS FORM NOT NEEDED

FINANCIAL EVIDENCE YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

CUSTODY PAPERS FORM NOT NEEDED

MILITARY RECORDS FORM NOT NEEDED

COLOMBIA POLICE CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

IRS WAIVER FORM NOT NEEDED

PHOTOGRAPH YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

PETITIONER MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE FORM NOT NEEDED

PETITIONER BIRTH CERTIFICATE FORM NOT NEEDED

Are we forgetting or missing anything? Should I send her copies of the Financial Papers (I-864 and Tax Documents)?

[parkpapa 0]

My wife has her medical appointment on Thursday and then the Interview is on the 15th. She has everything I believe, and the Embassy is supposed to have the rest. I just want to inquire with the group to ensure we haven’t forgotten anything.

My wife has her Baptismal Certificate and the letter from DAS. She will have her Medical Examination and Vaccinations prior to the Interview She also has her photographs and passport.

The Embassy should have the following according to the letter we received from the NVC:

OF-169 FORM NOT NEEDED

OF-230-I YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

OF-230-II YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

PASSPORT YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

BIRTH CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

ADOPTION FORM NOT NEEDED

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

MARRIAGE TERMINATION ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

COURT RECORDS FORM NOT NEEDED

FINANCIAL EVIDENCE YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

CUSTODY PAPERS FORM NOT NEEDED

MILITARY RECORDS FORM NOT NEEDED

COLOMBIA POLICE CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

IRS WAIVER FORM NOT NEEDED

PHOTOGRAPH YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

PETITIONER MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE FORM NOT NEEDED

PETITIONER BIRTH CERTIFICATE FORM NOT NEEDED

Are we forgetting or missing anything? Should I send her copies of the Financial Papers (I-864 and Tax Documents)?

I'm not as familiar with the CR-1 route, but I would encourage you to get any essential Spanish documents translated to English. You shouldn't need them for the embassy, as I understand, but you will need them down the line in the US. Unless you know someone here that would translate them for free or for a free meal in the States, I'm sure it's a lot cheaper to get the translations in Colombia. I would also suggest (someone else please correct me) that you take along whatever copies you have of all those needed documents, even though the embassy says they already have what they need. It seems you'll never have enough copies of the same set of papers...

Best of luck to you!!

Charles

[Mononoke28 135]

My wife has her medical appointment on Thursday and then the Interview is on the 15th. She has everything I believe, and the Embassy is supposed to have the rest. I just want to inquire with the group to ensure we haven’t forgotten anything.

My wife has her Baptismal Certificate and the letter from DAS. She will have her Medical Examination and Vaccinations prior to the Interview She also has her photographs and passport.

The Embassy should have the following according to the letter we received from the NVC:

OF-169 FORM NOT NEEDED

OF-230-I YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

OF-230-II YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

PASSPORT YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

BIRTH CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

ADOPTION FORM NOT NEEDED

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

MARRIAGE TERMINATION ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

COURT RECORDS FORM NOT NEEDED

FINANCIAL EVIDENCE YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

CUSTODY PAPERS FORM NOT NEEDED

MILITARY RECORDS FORM NOT NEEDED

COLOMBIA POLICE CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED

IRS WAIVER FORM NOT NEEDED

PHOTOGRAPH YES/DOCUMENT COMPLETE/REVIEWED

PETITIONER MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE FORM NOT NEEDED

PETITIONER BIRTH CERTIFICATE FORM NOT NEEDED

Are we forgetting or missing anything? Should I send her copies of the Financial Papers (I-864 and Tax Documents)?

Dusty,

You're all set, she doesn't need anything else. But like Charles said, it would be good to have a few copies of her birth certificate and translations just in case she needs them here for whatever reason. Same for the marriage certificate if you got married in Colombia.

Other than that, she's all good to go. The embassy will have every document you sent the NVC in a folder ready for the CO.

Diana

[Juan Carlos 0]

After a while of being away (keep reading, I've been spending my time at the Juarez forum), I am back to the Colombia club in need of your support and advice. Happens I am in a very strange situation. Let me explain:

When I met my wife, I was a mortal US Legal resident (meaning, it would have taken forever to get her to the US). So lawyers adviced me to wait to become US citizen before applying for her visa/residence. I was still far faaar away from applying to the US citizenship, so we decided she would move to Mexico. Since I live in the US border, at least we would be able to see each other more frequently. And that part worked really well.

Let me fast forward to present times, and happens that yesterday she had her interview in the Juarez consulate. (yep, NVC assgined us Juarez as our consulate for the interview, even though we got married in Colombia). I called the NVC to verify if this was ok, and they said: "yes, because the consulate is assigned based on where she resides and not where marriage took place".

Well, guess what. Yesterday her visa was "soft denied'. Juarez consulate refused to process her K3 visa, for it "must be processed in the Country where marriage took place". They accepted it was NVCs mistake... still, nothing they could do. They gave us three options: go to Bogota for the K3 visa, pursue the IR1 status, talk with my congressman.

Anyway, now my problem is that my I-129F is only valid until the last week of July. (got approved in March... but you know, time it took to reach NVC, time for Juarez to process it, etc etc). To my understanding, if we don't get an interview in Bogota within the next 3 weeks... that is it for our K3 visa. Do you also see it that way? Also, I am extremely frustrated, for now my file is who knows where. Juarez must send it to Bogota (when?? who will do that?); Bogota must process it (again, when? and how to explain them my situation?)

IR1 is always an option... but I don't want to wait the 370 days (average time for Juarez consulate to process an IR1)... I think Bogota is doing much better, at an average of 160 days.

I would appreciate any ideas, guys.

Thanks,

Juan Carlos.

[Andres and Diana 0]

After a while of being away (keep reading, I've been spending my time at the Juarez forum), I am back to the Colombia club in need of your support and advice. Happens I am in a very strange situation. Let me explain:

When I met my wife, I was a mortal US Legal resident (meaning, it would have taken forever to get her to the US). So lawyers adviced me to wait to become US citizen before applying for her visa/residence. I was still far faaar away from applying to the US citizenship, so we decided she would move to Mexico. Since I live in the US border, at least we would be able to see each other more frequently. And that part worked really well.

Let me fast forward to present times, and happens that yesterday she had her interview in the Juarez consulate. (yep, NVC assgined us Juarez as our consulate for the interview, even though we got married in Colombia). I called the NVC to verify if this was ok, and they said: "yes, because the consulate is assigned based on where she resides and not where marriage took place".

Well, guess what. Yesterday her visa was "soft denied'. Juarez consulate refused to process her K3 visa, for it "must be processed in the Country where marriage took place". They accepted it was NVCs mistake... still, nothing they could do. They gave us three options: go to Bogota for the K3 visa, pursue the IR1 status, talk with my congressman.

Anyway, now my problem is that my I-129F is only valid until the last week of July. (got approved in March... but you know, time it took to reach NVC, time for Juarez to process it, etc etc). To my understanding, if we don't get an interview in Bogota within the next 3 weeks... that is it for our K3 visa. Do you also see it that way? Also, I am extremely frustrated, for now my file is who knows where. Juarez must send it to Bogota (when?? who will do that?); Bogota must process it (again, when? and how to explain them my situation?)

IR1 is always an option... but I don't want to wait the 370 days (average time for Juarez consulate to process an IR1)... I think Bogota is doing much better, at an average of 160 days.

I would appreciate any ideas, guys.

Thanks,

Juan Carlos.

Wow...thats one heck of a situation. The only thing would be to confirm with Juarez what the next step is...do they send it to NVC or to BGT? Next would be to see if NVC (since it was their fault) will make an exception for their error and allowing some kind of extension for the application (im not even sure that something like that exists). It would be worth a try. If you wanted to go the interview route with BGT then you would probably have to req an expedited interview with BGT. Trust me its not an easy task especially if you get Paulina Ramirez as the customer service rep (a hag that works for BGT customer service).

The only thing you can do is call arround and ask and see what acceptions can be made for NVC's error.

Let me know how it goes! Good luck!!

Diana B.

[Mononoke28 135]

Juan Carlos,

You have to call the US embassy in Juarez so they can forward your wife's case to Bogotá. They HAVE to do it and if not, call your US congressman to appeal it for you. It was NVC's mistake in the first place since every K3 interview is scheduled in the country the marriage took place, no ifs or buts about it. Pursuing the IR1 will take a very, very long time via Juarez and you've already waited long enough.

I say fight it with everything you have and don't let either embassy push around since it was the NVC's and their fault from the very beginning anyway. But for now, getting the Juarez embassy to forward your case to Bogotá before the end of July or giving you some kind of extension should be the way to go.

Don't give up!

Diana

[Andres and Diana 0]

Just wanted to give you guys a little update.

Our second interview was moved up from August 21st to this Thursday July 10th. Andres is already making preparations to leave Tulua and make the 10 hour bus ride to Bogota.

Pray for us you guys! I hope we have good news to share on Thursday!

Diana B.

[Juan Carlos 0]

Thank you for your words, Diana and Diana.

You actually gave me courage and a couple of great ideas.

I just called the Consular Section of the embassy in Bogota, and they asked me to call back their inmigrant visa section between 2pm and 4pm. Apparently they only take calls on Wednesdays.

In case someone else needs to call, the number is 57 1 315 1566

About Juarez... yes, it is a nightmare. I went today to the Juarez consulate again, and didn't make any progress (ended up with the exact same supervisor I spoke with yesterday). I already contacted my Congressman and have a couple of friends who work at the systems section of the Juarez consulate. Maybe between the inquiry the NVC already sent, the congressman and my friends, something will get done.

Thanks again, Diana(s) and good luck to Andres on his interview!!

Juan Carlos.

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

Our second interview was moved up from August 21st to this Thursday July 10th. Andres is already making preparations to leave Tulua and make the 10 hour bus ride to Bogota.

Pray for us you guys! I hope we have good news to share on Thursday!

Diana B.

FINALLY YOUR DAY IS HERE

GOOD LUCK ANDRES AND DIANA!!!!

[parkpapa 0]

Andres and Diana.... You guys will do great!!! But, good luck anyway.

[Mononoke28 135]

Just wanted to give you guys a little update.

Our second interview was moved up from August 21st to this Thursday July 10th. Andres is already making preparations to leave Tulua and make the 10 hour bus ride to Bogota.

Pray for us you guys! I hope we have good news to share on Thursday!

Diana B.

It sounds like a good sign to me and like they went over his paperwork, otherwise I don't think they would have pushed it up.

Good luck and keep us posted!!!!

Diana

[Mononoke28 135]

Thank you for your words, Diana and Diana.

You actually gave me courage and a couple of great ideas.

I just called the Consular Section of the embassy in Bogota, and they asked me to call back their inmigrant visa section between 2pm and 4pm. Apparently they only take calls on Wednesdays.

In case someone else needs to call, the number is 57 1 315 1566

About Juarez... yes, it is a nightmare. I went today to the Juarez consulate again, and didn't make any progress (ended up with the exact same supervisor I spoke with yesterday). I already contacted my Congressman and have a couple of friends who work at the systems section of the Juarez consulate. Maybe between the inquiry the NVC already sent, the congressman and my friends, something will get done.

Thanks again, Diana(s) and good luck to Andres on his interview!!

Juan Carlos.

Diana and Diana... sounds like a lawfirm...

Good luck with everything Juanca and like I said, don't let them push your around. Remember, it was their mistake fromt he beginning, not yours.

Diana

[Andres and Diana 0]

Im not going to celebrate just yet, but according to Andres they are going to mail out his visa to him.

God willing everything will go without a hitch and this time we wont get a dreaded call again stating "just kidding we aren't going to send it out even though you are approved."

I'll only celebrate once he has his visa in his hand.

The second interview was rather pointless. He was shuffled around from window to window. They asked him if he had any paperwork to turn in...and since none was requested he said no. From what he told me they looked at him kinda funny at some windows and one lady even said "Then why are you here?" After explaining the situation like a million times he was called up to window 1 and was told "we are mailing your visa go pay at domesa" Thing is we already paid for Domesa the first time we were approved and he showed his reciept from over a month ago.

She said ok....and that was it! All those games for them to tell us "We'll mail it!" Seriously! NEways

Now we just wait for the visa I guess....Once he has it we will start looking for airfares.

Thanks for everyone's support! Its been tooo long of a wait but in the end it will be worth it.

Lots of love,

Diana B

Edited July 10, 2008 by Andres and Diana

[Scott n Yenifer 0]

First of all CONGRATS DIANA AND ANDRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second...what kind of games are they playing with people over there at the embassy????

What you guys went through seems unclear, unfortunate and unnecessary!!!!

And after all that you didn't even get a clear answer as to what exactly was the holdup ...that's real embassy/immigration B*LL SH!T!!!

[Andres and Diana 0]

To tell you the truth Scott...I am still clueless!

At our first interview everything was like clockwork! We were approved 3 minutes into the interview! They told us to pay at domesa and that was it!

An hour later we get a frantic phone call from a girl at the embassy stating "DONT BUY A PLANE TICKET!! Come back to the embassy and pick up your passport!"

We were like "What the F*$%!!!!"

At the embassy they said it was THEIR error! That there was a glitch in THEIR system and that they would call us once the visa would be mailed. They never gave us an explanation as to what that glitch was. They assured us that it had nothing to do with our relationship.

It wasn't until I called the DOS to find out what the heck was going on that they told me we were sent to administrative processing. I guess they sent us through another round of name checks with the FBI, the CIA, and everyone and their mothers! They told us that we wouldn't get the visa until name checks were done and that it could drag on for months or even (like some people in MENA have to suffer) years.

Fast forward to now...Andres gets a call from the embassy stating he needs a second interview! When asked why they said "follow the instructions on the white sheet" Andres said he didn't get one. They said "oh then just bring your passport" Andres said "you guys have my passport" Then they said..."well then come with nothing...just show up."

We did all the run arounds...(not to high in monetary funds since I spent so much in Colombia last time I went) and this morning they tell us..."oh...We'll just mail it!"

All of this could have been ended with a phone call you know! Silly Embassy people...we are the puppets and they love pulling the strings!

Grrrr......