Colombia Club

[Mononoke28 135]

Congratulations to you both and good luck with the rest of your journey!

Diana

[parkpapa 0]

Congrats Diana and Andres!!!!

[pladam 0]

Our interview is in two weeks (as confirmed by the Department of State two week ago) and I still have not received the appointment letter. Considering there is no mail service in Colombia, I requested on the packet 3 form that the appointment package be sent to me so I can send it to the beneficiary via a private courier in time for the lab and medical. Does anyone know if the Department of State can print and send these, or is it unique to the embassy? Has anyone had any luck with the beneficiary visiting the embassy prior to the interview and requesting a copy to take to the medical? The embassy web site says that without the letter, the beneficiary is only permitted to enter or do the medical on the day of the interview. I can't see how it could be possible to do the lab, medical, and interview all on the same day.

What have been recent K-1 applicants' experiences with vaccinations? The Department of State web site says none are required for K-1's, yet the appointment instructions list about 15 (but the appointment instructions are generic for K-1/K-3 I think). Old posts state that only three are required (TD, MMR, varicela), but I can't find confirmation from anyone who has gone through the process this year. I'm a little weary about asking the beneficiary to have all the vaccinations done now because certain vaccines (specifically influenza) sometimes trigger false positives on HIV antibody tests for a few weeks. With 15 different vaccinations in the system in such a short time, all kinds of wackiness will be going on.

[Mononoke28 135]

Our interview is in two weeks (as confirmed by the Department of State two week ago) and I still have not received the appointment letter. Considering there is no mail service in Colombia, I requested on the packet 3 form that the appointment package be sent to me so I can send it to the beneficiary via a private courier in time for the lab and medical. Does anyone know if the Department of State can print and send these, or is it unique to the embassy? Has anyone had any luck with the beneficiary visiting the embassy prior to the interview and requesting a copy to take to the medical? The embassy web site says that without the letter, the beneficiary is only permitted to enter or do the medical on the day of the interview. I can't see how it could be possible to do the lab, medical, and interview all on the same day.

What have been recent K-1 applicants' experiences with vaccinations? The Department of State web site says none are required for K-1's, yet the appointment instructions list about 15 (but the appointment instructions are generic for K-1/K-3 I think). Old posts state that only three are required (TD, MMR, varicela), but I can't find confirmation from anyone who has gone through the process this year. I'm a little weary about asking the beneficiary to have all the vaccinations done now because certain vaccines (specifically influenza) sometimes trigger false positives on HIV antibody tests for a few weeks. With 15 different vaccinations in the system in such a short time, all kinds of wackiness will be going on.

In the past the beneficiary was able to go to the embassy and pick up packets 3 and 4, that is no longer the case. They are now telling them to go to the US embassy web site and download their case # from there. I've been to the web site and I have no idea what they are talking about. Other members in the Colombian K1 thread have said that the bank, the lab, the medical are letting them in to get everything done as long as they have their BGT# with them. Same goes for the embassy.

As for the vaccines, it's still the same drill, TD, MMR and varicella. If they have had varicella already, the shot is not needed.

Diana

[paisita411 0]

In the past the beneficiary was able to go to the embassy and pick up packets 3 and 4, that is no longer the case. They are now telling them to go to the US embassy web site and download their case # from there. I've been to the web site and I have no idea what they are talking about. Other members in the Colombian K1 thread have said that the bank, the lab, the medical are letting them in to get everything done as long as they have their BGT# with them. Same goes for the embassy.

As for the vaccines, it's still the same drill, TD, MMR and varicella. If they have had varicella already, the shot is not needed.

Diana

If you go to this link, at the bottom you can choose from July or August Appointments

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/iv-appointments.html

dre

[Mononoke28 135]

Hey guys,

I found this info regarding additional vaccines required by the USCIS for AOS starting August 1st. So heads up.

Rotavirus

Hepatitis A

Meningococcal

Human papillomavirus

Zoster

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=142131

Diana

[Andres and Diana 0]

MORE VACCINES!!! UGH!

Just wanted to let you all know WE ARE GETTING MARRIED TODAY!

Yay!

[Ken y Leidys 20]

MORE VACCINES!!! UGH!

Just wanted to let you all know WE ARE GETTING MARRIED TODAY!

Yay!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I can't wait to see some photos. I was so worried for both of you because of the Administrative Review you recently went through. This is great news!!

[Mononoke28 135]

MORE VACCINES!!! UGH!

Just wanted to let you all know WE ARE GETTING MARRIED TODAY!

Yay!

Congratulations and best wishes for both. I hope you have a wonderful and memorable day!

Diana

[HAL 9000 96]

MORE VACCINES!!! UGH!

Just wanted to let you all know WE ARE GETTING MARRIED TODAY!

Yay!

Many congratulations!!

[B&E 0]

Well, I just wanted to let everyone know that we were approved on Tuesday. Everything went really well and smooth. Of course we were there for a long time, mostly sitting, but the time went quickly.

We arrived to the embassy around 6:30am and stood in line 3. The temperature was a little cool in the morning, but remember I'm from Duluth, MN, so I can stand alot of cold weather before I'm bothered too much. We were lead into the embassy, through security, who does take your iPod and if your phone has a camera, that too. That initial part was a little mechanical, like cattle being lead into the pasture. But, no one was especially rude to us, just indifferent and mechanical.

Once inside, we sat along the southern most wall on a very cold stone bench. It sucks your heat out your butt. There is no order there, and don't worry about getting ahead there...doesn't matter. You move slowly toward the west end of the area where they take your name and give you a folder to put all your paperwork. That took about an hour to get the folder. After that we got some cappuccinos and cheese bread thingies. Don't recommend those. We then sat near the west bank of windows, close to the green 30-31-32 windows where we'd be called next. We sat there because it was a little away from the crowd and more in the sun.

Around 10:45am Estefa was called the window 32. She talked for a little as the lady looked over our paperwork, and noticed my 2007 tax return wasn't there. Somehow, in all the shuffle we'd left it. No worries though, I had enough other financial support that they didn't seem to mind too much. We were at that window about 5-7 minutes. Then we were told to go to the North-East area to green window 2 for finger printing. So we went and waited there about 30-45 more minutes until they called Estefa for finger prints. We then sat in some chairs close to windows 2-4.

Around 12:10pm we were called up for the interview. Estefa got on the phone first and talked for about 2 minutes...they asked her about her previous trips to the US, where her siblings live etc. No questions about me really. Then the interviewer asked for me. I got on the phone and she told me thanks for coming down for the interview as it helps. I said no problem. She then asked me one question. How do Estefa and I communicate and I answered "In English. Her English is really good." The lady then said, ok, well, her VISA has been approved...go over to the DOMESA (or whatever that's called) and pay for it to be sent." She then said something like good luck or something, I don't remember because my mind had already shut off after she said approved. We went over and paid, and made phone calls from her Cell (which had no camera).

We spent some time talking with family etc...then collected our things from the security check point and exited the embassy. We walked East towards the street and were starving...since neither of us were from Bogota we couldn't really think of where to go to eat, luckily, I looked up in the distance and to the east and slightly south there was a TGI Friday's. I know, it's boring to eat something you can eat at anywhere, but we were just really hungry. We walked there, ordered some large drinks and got drunk and full. A nice little celebration to a stressful morning.

Hope this info helps future interviewers. We did have a huge packet of evidence of our relationship, photos, letters, emails, phone bills, etc. They didn't ask for any of it...I think it was because my original Question #11 extension from the Petition was very good. She did hand that back to me...nothing else though.

[HAL 9000 96]

Congrats on the successful interview!

[Mononoke28 135]

Great recap of the whole thing, loved the cold stone bench that sucks the heat out your butt comment. Great tip!

Congratulations!

Diana

[HAL 9000 96]

Great recap of the whole thing, loved the cold stone bench that sucks the heat out your butt comment. Great tip!

Congratulations!

Diana

Yeah good point. Star for B&E.

Just coincidentally... will La Embajada allow petitioners and beneficiaries to bring in butt-warmers??

[parkpapa 0]

Some news that's slightly off topic...

My wife's mother went for her tourist visa interview on Monday ..... and was APPROVED!!! Que milagro!!

I doubt that it helped, but a month or so ago I sent a letter to the embassy on her behalf. In any case, we hope to have her visit here for the Christmas holidays.