Colombia Club

[Juan Carlos 0]

Welcome to the club, George!

For those of you waiting for an interview date, I have great news: sent my packet 3 documents on Friday, 8/22 via fax; delivered by Servientrega on 8/25. Called last Wednesday and my interview was already scheduled!! The big day: 9/25. I was a little worried because our case is not included in September's list. I say only a little worried, cause I remember Diana saying the list is worthless. In any case, I called the DOS to verify and yep, we are good for 9/25!!

So, my friends, now I have a couple of questions for you:

- Do you know how long it is taking these days to get the "Certificado Migratorio del DAS"? (we will request it in Bogota).

- Do you have any advice on a good place to stay? I have kept links of places from previous months / years, but has anyone found recently any nice, cozy, cheap, clean, close to the embassy (you know what I mean) place to stay?

[Juan Carlos 0]

For those of you waiting for an interview date, I have great news: sent my packet 3 documents on Friday, 8/22 via fax; delivered by Servientrega on 8/25. Called last Wednesday (8/27)and my interview was already scheduled!! The big day: 9/25. I was a little worried because our case is not included in September's list. I say only a little worried, cause I remember Diana saying the list is worthless. In any case, I called the DOS to verify and yep, we are good for 9/25!!

I must admit I was impressed by how quickly the Bogota Consulate processed our case. Way to go, Bogota!!

So, my friends, now I have a couple of questions for you:

- Do you know how long it is taking these days to get the "Certificado Migratorio del DAS"? (we will request it in Bogota).

- Do you have any advice on a good place to stay? I have kept links of places from previous months / years, but has anyone found recently any nice, cozy, cheap, clean, close to the embassy, etc, etc (you know what I mean) place to stay?

BTW, Welcome to the club, George!

[George Donnelly 0]

- Do you know how long it is taking these days to get the "Certificado Migratorio del DAS"? (we will request it in Bogota).

Is that the "Movimientos Migratorios" thing? I believe that if you order it in person in Bogota you can get it the same day.

I ordered one in Medellin and they said I could pick it up in Bogota in around 4 days. This was in Jan of 08.

Edited September 1, 2008 by George Donnelly

[Juan Carlos 0]

Thanks, George. I called DAS today, and apparently it takes between 3 and 5 days if you request it in Bogota. What we'll do is request it from Cucuta (my wife's home town) and then pick it up a few days before our interview.

Now... I have another question. For those of you who went to the interview without ever receiving packet 4... how did you make it through the medical exam? Today I scheduled our appointment, and I was told it was necessary to bring the letter or at least a print out of our interview scheduled on the consulate's web site. Problem is my case is not on their web site, and I am not sure if I will ever receive packet 4. So what have others done in this situation?

Thanks,

Juan Carlos.

[Juan Carlos 0]

Sorry for posting yet another question... but I am sure you understand what I am going through:

The newest I-134 form that I've been able to find (at uscis.gov) expired on 2/28/07. Do you know if this matters or has anyone been able to find a more recent one? Thaaaanks!

[USbride 0]

Juan,

The USCIS form is the right one. If you look on the page with all the forms, it shows the acceptable versions. Not only is this one acceptable, but the previous three are also acceptable.

They always tell you to check USCIS for the most current version, so if you are getting it from there, you are good to go.

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Hey everybody,

I just wanted to let the usual suspects know that my wife finally arrived in the US on Friday. We had a nice Labor Day weekend and she is adjusting. I showed her around town and did some shopping. Luckily, there are lots of places to get Colombian food here in town so we hit up the supermarket for arequipe, arepas and a bunch of other stuff. She picked up a bunch of Colombian flours so she can make various dishes. She also brought a bunch of my favorite foods from Colombia. She lived in the same neighborhood that my mom's family is from so she likes a lot of the same stuff I grew up eating.

I asked her what made the biggest impression on her. I though she might mention the massive freeways. the giant stores or something along those lines. The funny thing is that she wasn't particularly surprised or impressed by much of anything except the food portions and drink sizes. She observed that it is no wonder most people are overweight in the US since they serve you enough for three people every time you sit down at a restaurant.

One visa related note is that her POE experience was a bit odd. We were expecting that she would go through the typical new K-3 processing, but they just took her fingerprints, stamped her passport and sent her on her way. She was never even sent to another office or area for processing. I hope this doesn't cause problems in the future for POE.

In any case, thanks to everyone here who has helped with advice and support. Good luck to all of those who are still trudging through the visa process.

CG

[ColombianoGringo 0]

- Do you have any advice on a good place to stay? I have kept links of places from previous months / years, but has anyone found recently any nice, cozy, cheap, clean, close to the embassy (you know what I mean) place to stay?

JuanK

Congrats on the interview date. I'm glad to see that you finally have an end in sight. As far as a place to stay, I would not put so much emphasis on staying close to the embassy. First off, it is not a particularly good neighborhood. It isn't terrible, but it certainly isn't the safest and there is really no reason to stay that close to the embassy. There is nothing of importance in that area besides the embassy itself. Since you have to be there so early, you really won't have any hassles with traffic. I am partial to Northern Bogota since that is where my family has always lived.

We stayed at the apartments managed by www.FernandoSuites.com and were very pleased. They cost $90,000 COP a night for a nice one bedroom apartment in a nice, much safer area close to good dining, shopping and entertainment. They are private apartments that you don't share with anyone and they have all the amenities you'd expect including WiFi, satellite TV and a full kitchen. Also, it is very close to Dr Roa's office and one of the banks that can accept your visa fee payments. It is on Calle 116 at Cra 22 and is close to Autopista del Norte and the Transmilenio. It took us less than 10 minutes to get to the embassy on our interview day.

Edited September 2, 2008 by ColombianoGringo

[HAL 9000 96]

Hey everybody,

I just wanted to let the usual suspects know that my wife finally arrived in the US on Friday. We had a nice Labor Day weekend and she is adjusting. I showed her around town and did some shopping. Luckily, there are lots of places to get Colombian food here in town so we hit up the supermarket for arequipe, arepas and a bunch of other stuff. She picked up a bunch of Colombian flours so she can make various dishes. She also brought a bunch of my favorite foods from Colombia. She lived in the same neighborhood that my mom's family is from so she likes a lot of the same stuff I grew up eating.

I asked her what made the biggest impression on her. I though she might mention the massive freeways. the giant stores or something along those lines. The funny thing is that she wasn't particularly surprised or impressed by much of anything except the food portions and drink sizes. She observed that it is no wonder most people are overweight in the US since they serve you enough for three people every time you sit down at a restaurant.

One visa related note is that her POE experience was a bit odd. We were expecting that she would go through the typical new K-3 processing, but they just took her fingerprints, stamped her passport and sent her on her way. She was never even sent to another office or area for processing. I hope this doesn't cause problems in the future for POE.

In any case, thanks to everyone here who has helped with advice and support. Good luck to all of those who are still trudging through the visa process.

CG

Wow felicidades to both of you!

I am sure that Houston, having such a sizeable hispanic population, will make adjusting for her not that hard. Of course, if her English needs help, she'll probably have to apply lots of discipline in order to get that out of the way.

See you on the AOS side.

[Mononoke28 135]

Welcome to the club, George!

For those of you waiting for an interview date, I have great news: sent my packet 3 documents on Friday, 8/22 via fax; delivered by Servientrega on 8/25. Called last Wednesday and my interview was already scheduled!! The big day: 9/25. I was a little worried because our case is not included in September's list. I say only a little worried, cause I remember Diana saying the list is worthless. In any case, I called the DOS to verify and yep, we are good for 9/25!!

So, my friends, now I have a couple of questions for you:

- Do you know how long it is taking these days to get the "Certificado Migratorio del DAS"? (we will request it in Bogota).

- Do you have any advice on a good place to stay? I have kept links of places from previous months / years, but has anyone found recently any nice, cozy, cheap, clean, close to the embassy (you know what I mean) place to stay?

Juan Carlos,

- If you order the Certificado Migratorio while in Bogotá, it will take about 2 business days. If you order it from Cúcuta, you can pick it in Bogotá 5 days later.

- We stayes at the We Love Bogotá apartments which are about a 5 minute walk to the embassy. The owner is really nice, the apartment is very nice, comfortable and clean, affordable and I thought it was in a very good neighborhood which is Quinta Paredes which is close to Barrio El Salitre. You a 2 shopping malls Salitre and Gran Estación nearby, a café internet across the street and many other ammenities. Several folks from VJ have stayed there as well. I know that there are a few others who have stayed at another place they really liked but I can't remember the name of it.

Diana

[Mononoke28 135]

Thanks, George. I called DAS today, and apparently it takes between 3 and 5 days if you request it in Bogota. What we'll do is request it from Cucuta (my wife's home town) and then pick it up a few days before our interview.

Now... I have another question. For those of you who went to the interview without ever receiving packet 4... how did you make it through the medical exam? Today I scheduled our appointment, and I was told it was necessary to bring the letter or at least a print out of our interview scheduled on the consulate's web site. Problem is my case is not on their web site, and I am not sure if I will ever receive packet 4. So what have others done in this situation?

Thanks,

Juan Carlos.

Ok, most people have said that they've received packet 4 before the medical, lab and interview but they were told that everybody was informed that an interview letter was not needed, and by everybody I mean doctors, lab people, bank personnel and even the embassy. Now, I don't know if that will be the case if you don't have an interview letter with you but that's what they've been told since they can no longer pick up packet 4 at the embassy. So keep your fingers crossed.

Diana

[Mononoke28 135]

Hey everybody,

I just wanted to let the usual suspects know that my wife finally arrived in the US on Friday. We had a nice Labor Day weekend and she is adjusting. I showed her around town and did some shopping. Luckily, there are lots of places to get Colombian food here in town so we hit up the supermarket for arequipe, arepas and a bunch of other stuff. She picked up a bunch of Colombian flours so she can make various dishes. She also brought a bunch of my favorite foods from Colombia. She lived in the same neighborhood that my mom's family is from so she likes a lot of the same stuff I grew up eating.

I asked her what made the biggest impression on her. I though she might mention the massive freeways. the giant stores or something along those lines. The funny thing is that she wasn't particularly surprised or impressed by much of anything except the food portions and drink sizes. She observed that it is no wonder most people are overweight in the US since they serve you enough for three people every time you sit down at a restaurant.

One visa related note is that her POE experience was a bit odd. We were expecting that she would go through the typical new K-3 processing, but they just took her fingerprints, stamped her passport and sent her on her way. She was never even sent to another office or area for processing. I hope this doesn't cause problems in the future for POE.

In any case, thanks to everyone here who has helped with advice and support. Good luck to all of those who are still trudging through the visa process.

CG

CG,

Congratulations on having your wife by your side, finally! It's a long process but totally worth it.

My husband said the same thing your wife did about the portions. I took him to Chili's about 2 days after he got here and he couldn't believe it. He can now eat an entire portion and then some since he's so used to it by now.

Good luck with the rest of the process and best wishes to you both.

Diana

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Thanks Mavi and Diana,

I am a bit concerned about the seemingly incorrect POE process. I hope it doesn't bite us on the ### during AOS.

There is so much to do, I am tired just thinking about everything. She will be starting intensive English classes soon as her English is not that great so we need to register for those. She says she doesn't want a cell phone, yet she uses mine so much to call her family in Colombia that I had to add all their numbers to my speed dial. She is getting one tonight! We are sending her parents a Magic Jack so I don't go bankrupt on Orbitel bills. We also need to go to two different banks, the notary, etc. I need a nap.

Luckily, there are lots of places to get Colombian food here. Much to my delight, we found Arepas de Yuca, so I am going to scarf some down at lunch. Speaking of food, I hope she never gets used to the portion sizes. I like that she ended up having to hit up the teens section to get a good variety of clothes that fit her. She told me she was a size six in Colombia, but here it seems to be a size zero to two or even a 14 to 16 in the kids section.

Peace,

CG

[Juan Carlos 0]

USBride, CG, thanks for your advise. Today my wife made the deposit for the DAS documents. The clock is ticking and I am getting more and more nervous by the minute.

Thanks!

Juan Carlos.

[kelvin_omar25 0]

Thanks Mavi and Diana,

I am a bit concerned about the seemingly incorrect POE process. I hope it doesn't bite us on the ### during AOS.

There is so much to do, I am tired just thinking about everything. She will be starting intensive English classes soon as her English is not that great so we need to register for those. She says she doesn't want a cell phone, yet she uses mine so much to call her family in Colombia that I had to add all their numbers to my speed dial. She is getting one tonight! We are sending her parents a Magic Jack so I don't go bankrupt on Orbitel bills. We also need to go to two different banks, the notary, etc. I need a nap.

Luckily, there are lots of places to get Colombian food here. Much to my delight, we found Arepas de Yuca, so I am going to scarf some down at lunch. Speaking of food, I hope she never gets used to the portion sizes. I like that she ended up having to hit up the teens section to get a good variety of clothes that fit her. She told me she was a size six in Colombia, but here it seems to be a size zero to two or even a 14 to 16 in the kids section.

Peace,

CG

Hello CG,

I just wanted to let you know that there is a cheaper way to call Colmbia. I use Orbitel to call my wife's cell phone but I use https://www.eltelefonorojo.com/ this phone to call any land line within Bucaramanga. This service is GREAT!!! Its a little box they send you. ALL you need is High speed internet (for example DSL). You connect this box to the DSL modem and to this box you can connect a regular phone and your computer. And the best part is that if you are talking on the phone this does NOT interfere with your internet conection on your computer. I have a plan that includes 500 minutes for me to call and ALL MY RECEIVED CALLS ARE FREEEE. YES FREE!!!! UNLIMITED!!! This is for $35 monthly. I think its a great value. I talk SO MUCH with my wife its not even funny. I used to use ONLY orbitel... and the monthly expense was ridiculous.

I just thought that this might help you out a little... since I know how hard it is the phone expense. If they ask you who recomended you... and if you want to tell them... Then just send me a private message and I will give you my telfono rojo number and information.

I hope this helps out.

CONGRATULATIONS on completing this long journey!!!

God bless you and your wife...

Kelvin