Colombia Club

[HAL 9000 96]

WELL FOLKS, great news indeed.

Here is a bit of news for you all:

1. We were the first in line 3 at 6 AM. There were a total of about 10 people there and all were confused when the announcement for "appointments" was donde to line up in line 1. We stood our ground and low and behold, when visa categories were called out K visas were line 3. The entry process was easy and we were directed to sit in the order of entry at the number 40 area. At about 7 AM a young lady came over and asked us to crowd around her while she explained the folders that would be handed out and the strict order to be followed to include in the paperwork.

2. Then the same lady called my fiancee over to her desktop and confirmed the folder and initial processing window (30). This is where that smile-deprived woman checks your paperwork and asks to receive the ordered evidence, etc. For some reason, she liked my tax returns with the highlighted salary, and other evidence with clear highlights in greens and yellows with the proper explanations. I even got a total of two smiles for that! When she informed my fiancee to go the interview waiting area in front of windows 1-8, I smiled thanks as did she, and we went to the actual interview waiting area.

3. My fiancee was called to get fingerprinted at window 5, then we sat and waited. And waited. But at about 10:15 AM she got called to window 7 for what I knew would be it. I accompanied her as did all other US Citizen fiancees I saw there. A nice guy spoke to her in Spanish for about 3 minutes, then asked for me. We spoke for 7 minutes total. And I do mean speak, since it felt more like a conversation. I even asked him some procedural questions. More on this in a moment. Then he asked for her to come back to the phone and about 10 seconds later I could see her smile, then I got the phone, and he told me the great news that we were approved!

-- Evidence asked for: NONE. No pics, no emails, no anything else.

-- Questions asked:

How did we meet? Did she know of my previous marriage? How well did she get along with my sibs? How did I get along with her brother and pàrents? What did I do for a living? How did I pay for my trips to Colombia? How much traveling had we done in Colombia together? What did I study, what am I studying now in grad school, and where? Does she want to go to the USA?

The best answer was the one to the last questions... it did´t matter where, but she just wanted to be with me.

As soon as we were approved he told us about coming today at 4 pm to the embassy to pick up the visa. We gave ourselved a really big kiss in front of the window and waited a minute for a couple of other girls that had also passed their interviews (K1 and K3). Everything was done by 10:25 AM.

4. TODAY... misery struck the embassy. I waited patiently outside, with a Brookliner and a Floridian waiting for their ladies as well. The Brookliner´s wife (K3) got her visa and left. The Floridian and myself will have to come back tomorrow since the infamous computer malady struck the US Embassy´s printing system at 4 PM sharp. We arrived at 3:45 PM and the ladies entered without problem. Tomorrow I will insist that we arrive before 3:30 PM to do the pick up since this inadecuacy in having a reliable printing system is causing a work backup in Bucaramanga for my fiancee.

Other than that, we are extremely happy and we are not all that upset about having to wait another day. I think the big tip here is to be really nice and forthcoming with the embassy staff and COs, ask for clarification if you don´t get something on the first stating, and remain calm. Be affectionate in public without feeling strange, since this person is the one you´ll hopefully be spending the rest of your life with.

Now its time to update our timeline!

Good luck to all of you waiting, don´t sweat it bad, it will come! I´ll post in a couple of days after the visa is actually picked up. Thank you all that have helped out during this process and I wish you all a great journey!

[lucho562 0]

Maviwaro Congrats!!!!!!!!!

You had me scared for a minute. We havent heard from you, I got nervous. lol

[HAL 9000 96]

Maviwaro Congrats!!!!!!!!!

You had me scared for a minute. We havent heard from you, I got nervous. lol

A man dude!! We HAD to celebrate!!

Today we went into a crazy area in the city center looking for some shopping to do before Bucaramanga. Low and behold I will try to enter the embassy tomorrow to say thanks to the staff there for their use of inadequate equipment as a reason for a second shopping trip tomorrow morning!!

[lucho562 0]

Maviwaro,

The order that the lady asked you to present the documents was just like Anexo B says in packet 4?? The lady that made you circle around her.

Edited June 5, 2007 by lucho562

[HAL 9000 96]

Maviwaro,

The order that the lady asked you to present the documents was just like Anexo B says in packet 4?? The lady that made you circle around her.

I just shook my head in disbelief at what the order is in Anexo B and what the order is for the Embassy folks. For your ease, I recommend following the order in Anexo B, putting colored stickies labeled with the form number so you can retrieve them quicker, and then assembling the K folder given to you by the lady at line 40. Keep an extra folder handy to put in the relationship evidence and anythign else you may want to present at the interview itself.

My girl just told me the Embassy folks told her the K1 visa will now be good for 6 months, but I think she is mistaken in the 6 month travel allowance to reach the USA... only if the Embassy would get its act together and actually hand out the visa that was approved... jeje

[lucho562 0]

Maviwaro,

The order that the lady asked you to present the documents was just like Anexo B says in packet 4?? The lady that made you circle around her.

I just shook my head in disbelief at what the order is in Anexo B and what the order is for the Embassy folks. For your ease, I recommend following the order in Anexo B, putting colored stickies labeled with the form number so you can retrieve them quicker, and then assembling the K folder given to you by the lady at line 40. Keep an extra folder handy to put in the relationship evidence and anythign else you may want to present at the interview itself.

My girl just told me the Embassy folks told her the K1 visa will now be good for 6 months, but I think she is mistaken in the 6 month travel allowance to reach the USA... only if the Embassy would get its act together and actually hand out the visa that was approved... jeje

Thanks for the colored stickies tip. I cant wait for our interview, exactly 1 month to this day. If you can give any more tips please do so. Thanks!

[HAL 9000 96]

Maviwaro,

The order that the lady asked you to present the documents was just like Anexo B says in packet 4?? The lady that made you circle around her.

I just shook my head in disbelief at what the order is in Anexo B and what the order is for the Embassy folks. For your ease, I recommend following the order in Anexo B, putting colored stickies labeled with the form number so you can retrieve them quicker, and then assembling the K folder given to you by the lady at line 40. Keep an extra folder handy to put in the relationship evidence and anythign else you may want to present at the interview itself.

My girl just told me the Embassy folks told her the K1 visa will now be good for 6 months, but I think she is mistaken in the 6 month travel allowance to reach the USA... only if the Embassy would get its act together and actually hand out the visa that was approved... jeje

Thanks for the colored stickies tip. I cant wait for our interview, exactly 1 month to this day. If you can give any more tips please do so. Thanks!

Its all in the mind, lucho!

SMILE buddy... that´s the best tip around!

[lucho562 0]

Maviwaro,

" even asked him some procedural questions. More on this in a moment. "

What did you ask him??

[HAL 9000 96]

Maviwaro,

" even asked him some procedural questions. More on this in a moment. "

What did you ask him??

Just the stuff on work authorization via JFK airport... and what probabilities there would be of actually getting the visa sticker on time today... he just told me 4 pm today and well... we know the answer to that question.

[lucho562 0]

Thanks! Sorry if i'm asking too many questions, but i'm trying to hit you with them while your mind is still fresh

[HAL 9000 96]

Thanks! Sorry if i'm asking too many questions, but i'm trying to hit you with them while your mind is still fresh

No problem dude! I´ve been helped here a lot, so there´s no reason to abstain at this point.

Be back in a few days.

[Chester y Monica 2]

Add another member to the Colombia club!

It's really comforting seeing so many of us here. The experiences of others has taught me to be patient and be more prepared for the upcoming steps.

Does the Packet 3 sent to the beneficiary contain Spanish versions of the instructions or forms?

Mi novia, no habla Ingles. Yo hablo espanol y ingles. I would like to have these so she can practice on them.

Muchos gracias!

[lucho562 0]

Add another member to the Colombia club!

It's really comforting seeing so many of us here. The experiences of others has taught me to be patient and be more prepared for the upcoming steps.

Does the Packet 3 sent to the beneficiary contain Spanish versions of the instructions or forms?

Mi novia, no habla Ingles. Yo hablo espanol y ingles. I would like to have these so she can practice on them.

Muchos gracias!

Hang tight bro, I'll post the links in a few minutes

[lucho562 0]

K1 Packet 3 link

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwsck1instructions.shtml

K1 Packet 4 link

http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/co1/wwwfck1cita_temp.pdf

Welcome

[jediknight 0]

congrats mavi!! i'm happy you both had a positive experience and everything went well.

welcome chester.

JK