Colombia Club

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Yes, that's true. I only used the AOS forum twice and generally did not find it helpful. AOS's are pretty standard, but I have a comfort level with the people I have "met" through Colombia Club. Not exactly sure who to trust in the AOS forum (other than Yodrak and Aussiewench) - that is, who really knows what they are talking about and who is just expressing an opinion or repeating what others have written.

Some of the interesting AOS-related issues that have come up for us:

- Dealing with a change from maiden name to married name (we are doing it through the AOS process)

- Interview appointment rescheduling

- What happens if your immigrant husband/wife does not speak fluent English (relating to AOS interview)

- EAD - get it or not?

- Things to be aware of in the interim between arrival in the U.S. and completion of AOS.

If anyone starts a thread, let me know. Otherwise, I won't be checking the AOS forum.

In fact, it's about time that I start checking out of this thread. I've been on since last fall....first learning from Peter in Miami and then taking it on myself when Peter disappeared. I kinda felt like I "owed" the thread my participation given the help I have gotten. But I've been giving back since December and now there are plenty of other folks who have been through the processs who can now provide good advice to others. That said, I won't be checking this thread as frequently as I used to....so if anyone has any questions for me, just PM me. I will respond.

Chao,

Mike

We can start a Club Colombia thread if you wish... Goodness knows I got thanked by a couple of guys for recommending they start their AOS now instead of in August due to the price hike in the 485.

[HAL 9000 96]

I can try keeping up every now and then with this forum... help is given with the best of intentions and I kind of hoped to have run into other members of these forums while in Bogotá (sorry Parkpapa!) but alás, we were all way too busy running around.

Thanks Mike for the great help

[buck501 0]

We received Packet #3, great!! We are using a lawyer also. My lawyer sent the packet to me and I am sending it on to Paola. My question is.........There is no mention of the Certificate of Migration in the packet. My lawyer has not been informed of the need for this document. I have read on here that it is required. Some have mentioned they had it but never was asked for it. Paola has been trying to get the dang thing for a month now and keeps running into problems. The record keeping and such in her town and even in Cali seems to suck. Have any of you that have been through recently needed it? It is the only document keeping us from sending Packet #3 in. If we do not need it, we do not want to go throught he hassel. It cost $50 US for Paola to travel back and forth to Cali. They have her going back and forth with false info and promises. Everytime they say it ias ready she gets there and they come up with some thing else to delay the certificate. Thank you.

[parkpapa 0]

We received Packet #3, great!! We are using a lawyer also. My lawyer sent the packet to me and I am sending it on to Paola. My question is.........There is no mention of the Certificate of Migration in the packet. My lawyer has not been informed of the need for this document. I have read on here that it is required. Some have mentioned they had it but never was asked for it. Paola has been trying to get the dang thing for a month now and keeps running into problems. The record keeping and such in her town and even in Cali seems to suck. Have any of you that have been through recently needed it? It is the only document keeping us from sending Packet #3 in. If we do not need it, we do not want to go throught he hassel. It cost $50 US for Paola to travel back and forth to Cali. They have her going back and forth with false info and promises. Everytime they say it ias ready she gets there and they come up with some thing else to delay the certificate. Thank you.

Buck, my understanding is that the Certificado de Migratorio is not required but is recommended. Lorena obtained hers in Bogota during my visit in April. The DAS office there can have it in about three days, compared to the several weeks that it seems to take everywhere else in Colombia. In her hometown of Florencia, it might have taken longer.

I have no idea where the recommendation for this document originated. During our interview and such, the CO never commented on it one way or the other. I know that the Certificado is not mentioned anywhere in any of the list of required documents. Keep in mind that this document is not to be confused with the police certificate whis is required.

[buck501 0]

We received Packet #3, great!! We are using a lawyer also. My lawyer sent the packet to me and I am sending it on to Paola. My question is.........There is no mention of the Certificate of Migration in the packet. My lawyer has not been informed of the need for this document. I have read on here that it is required. Some have mentioned they had it but never was asked for it. Paola has been trying to get the dang thing for a month now and keeps running into problems. The record keeping and such in her town and even in Cali seems to suck. Have any of you that have been through recently needed it? It is the only document keeping us from sending Packet #3 in. If we do not need it, we do not want to go throught he hassel. It cost $50 US for Paola to travel back and forth to Cali. They have her going back and forth with false info and promises. Everytime they say it ias ready she gets there and they come up with some thing else to delay the certificate. Thank you.

Buck, my understanding is that the Certificado de Migratorio is not required but is recommended. Lorena obtained hers in Bogota during my visit in April. The DAS office there can have it in about three days, compared to the several weeks that it seems to take everywhere else in Colombia. In her hometown of Florencia, it might have taken longer.

I have no idea where the recommendation for this document originated. During our interview and such, the CO never commented on it one way or the other. I know that the Certificado is not mentioned anywhere in any of the list of required documents. Keep in mind that this document is not to be confused with the police certificate whis is required.

Thanks Parkpapa. I am pretty much just hanging out on the Colombia thread. It is nice to hear from others who have or are going to the embassy. I want to make sure all goes good.

[lucho562 0]

Buck,

Packet 3 should consist of the following.

Cover letter stating that you are requesting an interview. Must have the BGT case #.

OF-169

DS230 parts 1 & 2

Copy of her biographical page of her passport (optional but strongly recommended)

Only the above is needed. It can be faxed and or sent via courier to the embassy.

BTW, yes you do need the certificado de migratorio. It is mentioned in packet 4. Also you can download packet 3 and email it to her. No need to send it to her.

[parkpapa 0]

Buck,

Packet 3 should consist of the following.

Cover letter stating that you are requesting an interview. Must have the BGT case #.

OF-169

DS230 parts 1 & 2

Copy of her biographical page of her passport (optional but strongly recommended)

Only the above is needed. It can be faxed and or sent via courier to the embassy.

BTW, yes you do need the certificado de migratorio. It is mentioned in packet 4. Also you can download packet 3 and email it to her. No need to send it to her.

I stand corrected!! Glad you caught that, Lucho. I just reviewed our packet 4 and the certificado de migratorio is item 10 but is referred to as a "Carta del DAS". Guess I was being too literal in thinking of the wording.

[lucho562 0]

Buck,

In the link, the first bulleted is the actual packet 3.

And the 4th link is the DS230 part 1 & 2

Form OF169 is 1 of the pages of packet 3.

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

Parkpapa,

Same thing happened to me. I thought carta del das was something else at first...lol

[jpine 0]

posted this in wrong forum, but here is some colombia aos info that may help you out down the road.

One thing i would recomend to everyone is to get while you are doing your k1 during your medical is to get a copy of that I-693A i think it is, which is your official document containing all your vacinations. This can save you a lot of time. Not sure if it is possible but i think the medical examiner in colombia should be able to give you this. Pain in the neck to do it once she/he is in the states and sometimes cost some coin.

Buck,

In the link, the first bulleted is the actual packet 3.

And the 4th link is the DS230 part 1 & 2

Form OF169 is 1 of the pages of packet 3.

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

Parkpapa,

Same thing happened to me. I thought carta del das was something else at first...lol

[lucho562 0]

Jpine,

That I693 is given to her by the person who gives her vaccines, the lab or the Dr.?

Thank you

[buck501 0]

Buck,

Packet 3 should consist of the following.

Cover letter stating that you are requesting an interview. Must have the BGT case #.

OF-169

DS230 parts 1 & 2

Copy of her biographical page of her passport (optional but strongly recommended)

Only the above is needed. It can be faxed and or sent via courier to the embassy.

BTW, yes you do need the certificado de migratorio. It is mentioned in packet 4. Also you can download packet 3 and email it to her. No need to send it to her.

Thanks Lucho. We will keep trying to get the dang thing. Before receiving packet #4.

[jpine 0]

the problem i had no one gave it to her. so i had to go to some "visa" doctor or something like that its called in the states to get her vacination transfered to this document. SOme dr's will require her to take the whole exam again. My dr was real shady guy from nigeria or somewhere like that so he was just happy to get 65 bucks to tranfer vaccinations from one for to another. if i would have know this i would have asked my chick to enquire about this while getting hte exam in bogota. the dr. from bogota should be able to acomidate this quite easily i would think.

so the answer is the lab or dr, not the vacination place.

Jpine,

That I693 is given to her by the person who gives her vaccines, the lab or the Dr.?

Thank you

[jpine 0]

fogot this too. her birth certificate will need to be translated, some certified copy of translation. should be able to find this in colombia pretty easy, i think. i did it on some online thing that cost about 100. not complaining about the price but just thinking of the things i would have done differently. the aos is not that bad b/c your girl is with you. but honestly its so much ####### to do , dont want to rain on anyone's parade but getting here is the easy part then you have to jump through another group of hoops. its not bad but i just hate doing all this paper work.

the problem i had no one gave it to her. so i had to go to some "visa" doctor or something like that its called in the states to get her vacination transfered to this document. SOme dr's will require her to take the whole exam again. My dr was real shady guy from nigeria or somewhere like that so he was just happy to get 65 bucks to tranfer vaccinations from one for to another. if i would have know this i would have asked my chick to enquire about this while getting hte exam in bogota. the dr. from bogota should be able to acomidate this quite easily i would think.

so the answer is the lab or dr, not the vacination place.

Jpine,

That I693 is given to her by the person who gives her vaccines, the lab or the Dr.?

Thank you

[lucho562 0]

thanks a lot!!!

[HAL 9000 96]

We received Packet #3, great!! We are using a lawyer also. My lawyer sent the packet to me and I am sending it on to Paola. My question is.........There is no mention of the Certificate of Migration in the packet. My lawyer has not been informed of the need for this document. I have read on here that it is required. Some have mentioned they had it but never was asked for it. Paola has been trying to get the dang thing for a month now and keeps running into problems. The record keeping and such in her town and even in Cali seems to suck. Have any of you that have been through recently needed it? It is the only document keeping us from sending Packet #3 in. If we do not need it, we do not want to go throught he hassel. It cost $50 US for Paola to travel back and forth to Cali. They have her going back and forth with false info and promises. Everytime they say it ias ready she gets there and they come up with some thing else to delay the certificate. Thank you.

Buck, my understanding is that the Certificado de Migratorio is not required but is recommended. Lorena obtained hers in Bogota during my visit in April. The DAS office there can have it in about three days, compared to the several weeks that it seems to take everywhere else in Colombia. In her hometown of Florencia, it might have taken longer.

I have no idea where the recommendation for this document originated. During our interview and such, the CO never commented on it one way or the other. I know that the Certificado is not mentioned anywhere in any of the list of required documents. Keep in mind that this document is not to be confused with the police certificate whis is required.

Thanks Parkpapa. I am pretty much just hanging out on the Colombia thread. It is nice to hear from others who have or are going to the embassy. I want to make sure all goes good.

It pops up on the list of Packet #4 required documents. Its mentioned as a document that details the entries and departures from Colombia.

Have your lady keep insisting until DAS does its job. Insist nicely...

BTW... my fiancee's Certificado de Migratoria was completely incorrect- it was my fiancee's name and cedula, but it showed that she had departed out of airports within Colombia that she has never even heard of and other places within the country that she'd never been to like Leticia. We did not realize this until after the visa was approved- the certificate was opened by the woman before the actual CO interview and it was returned to us with the rest of the documents. Only airport departures/arrivals for domestic trips was shown, not international information.

Go figure.