Colombia Club

[parkpapa 0]

I am going to go ahead and open up a forum topic for those of us about to start/currently undergoing AOS. I assume all of us will be going through that process in a timely manner.

Here it is: Club Colombia AOS!

Thanks for starting that forum!!! Lorena and the boys are HERE!!! We arrived at home late this afternoon and I will be starting the AOS process this weekend. We are so darned happy!

[HAL 9000 96]

Congratulations parkpapa!

It must feel blissful to have your lady and kids with you after such a long wait... tell me, it must feel really awkward after so much of a wait... knowing that now there's a total shift of attention from phones and chats to "caricias y besitos" hahaha.

No problem about the AOS forum. I hope to learn valuable details about the pre-jack up in the price from you and others to really compare how this increase will really translate to an improvement as they promise.

[jediknight 0]

hey, is the embassy in bogota still taking phone calls? if so, when? is it still mon and weds? between what time? i may have to request a copy of the appt letter and packet 4 to be picked up at the embassy. thanks

JK

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Not sure which branch you used, but they should have had blank DS-156s there...and she could have spent 15 minutes filling it out (I saw a lot of folks doing that when we went). I'm not sure where I read it or how I knew....but we knew that the DS-156 had to be submitted on one page (and the second DS-156 must be an exact copy of the first). I don't know if I read it on the form's instructions, on the embassy web site or here....but we knew it. Further, we also knew that the Bogota embassy was not using bar-coding yet, so completing the DS-156 on-line (with generated barcode) is not necessary.

It does not help Lucho....but for the rest of you, listen up.....fill out your DS-156 by hand. If you print it off the Internet, complete both pages, take them to a photocopier and copy it so the copy if "front/back." Then put an original signature of each of the two copies.

Bank issues.

Wendy tried to pay the $100 fee today at the banco. However was told that her ds156 was no good. No good because we filled it out online, once filled out online you click continue. Then everything you entered is saved as a pdf file on 3 pages. Well 3 pages does not work for the bank. They told her she had to print page 1 out and then flip it over and print page 2 on the backside. I know it's not a big deal, but it's a waste of f'n time. The instructions do not say that it has to be on front and back.

Also, she was told that the fee was not $100 but 200.000 pesos. So I guess it doesnt matter the the dollar is at 1900 pesos, they still want their 200.000

Informational and barcode sticker placed on the passport. Small numbered stamp placed on one of the DS-156.

What is my fiance suppose to get when she pays the 100$? Like on the passport and the ds156? How many seals/stickers/stamps?

[KathyB 0]

Hi all! It's been a while since I've been on Visa Journey. Francisco arrived the beginning of May and we have been busy ever since! Francisco has adjusted here better than I could ever have imagined. Anyway, I was reading through posts to get caught up on everyone...but only got as far as Dre's post! That's amazing! Congratulations!

Saw maviwaro's new forum for Colombian AOS and will sure be posting on that as we have just recently filed (last week).

It's good to be back!

Kathy

[lucho562 0]

Not sure which branch you used, but they should have had blank DS-156s there...and she could have spent 15 minutes filling it out (I saw a lot of folks doing that when we went). I'm not sure where I read it or how I knew....but we knew that the DS-156 had to be submitted on one page (and the second DS-156 must be an exact copy of the first). I don't know if I read it on the form's instructions, on the embassy web site or here....but we knew it. Further, we also knew that the Bogota embassy was not using bar-coding yet, so completing the DS-156 on-line (with generated barcode) is not necessary.

It does not help Lucho....but for the rest of you, listen up.....fill out your DS-156 by hand. If you print it off the Internet, complete both pages, take them to a photocopier and copy it so the copy if "front/back." Then put an original signature of each of the two copies.

Bank issues.

Wendy tried to pay the $100 fee today at the banco. However was told that her ds156 was no good. No good because we filled it out online, once filled out online you click continue. Then everything you entered is saved as a pdf file on 3 pages. Well 3 pages does not work for the bank. They told her she had to print page 1 out and then flip it over and print page 2 on the backside. I know it's not a big deal, but it's a waste of f'n time. The instructions do not say that it has to be on front and back.

Also, she was told that the fee was not $100 but 200.000 pesos. So I guess it doesnt matter the the dollar is at 1900 pesos, they still want their 200.000

Informational and barcode sticker placed on the passport. Small numbered stamp placed on one of the DS-156.

What is my fiance suppose to get when she pays the 100$? Like on the passport and the ds156? How many seals/stickers/stamps?

Good idea. We have everything straightened out now. One thing, I thought that the ds156 is not to be signed until the interview? I believe packet 3 mentions this.

Does the 2nd copy of the ds156 have to have that stamp that was given at the bank? In other words duplicate it before or after the bank stamps it?

[paisita411 0]

Hi Kathy...Its good to hear from you. Believe me, I'm on cloud nine since Monday at 11am. I had to update my parceros in the Colombia Club. All of you were so supportive in February after our devestating appointment. The most important thing is that I share every aspect of the process to help everyone coming after me. I don't wish this on anyone. Its tough to see folks that applied WAYYYYY after my approal and their spouses are home with them today, not that I don't wish them well, but it only hightens the unfairness of how we were treated. One thing I'm certain of is that God has his purpose for everything and this experience, though very difficult for both of us, only served to strengthen our committment to each other. As always, I'm open to answer any questions and will help in anyway I can. I wish all of you the best on your 'journey'.

Dre

[parkpapa 0]

Not sure which branch you used, but they should have had blank DS-156s there...and she could have spent 15 minutes filling it out (I saw a lot of folks doing that when we went). I'm not sure where I read it or how I knew....but we knew that the DS-156 had to be submitted on one page (and the second DS-156 must be an exact copy of the first). I don't know if I read it on the form's instructions, on the embassy web site or here....but we knew it. Further, we also knew that the Bogota embassy was not using bar-coding yet, so completing the DS-156 on-line (with generated barcode) is not necessary.

It does not help Lucho....but for the rest of you, listen up.....fill out your DS-156 by hand. If you print it off the Internet, complete both pages, take them to a photocopier and copy it so the copy if "front/back." Then put an original signature of each of the two copies.

Bank issues.

Wendy tried to pay the $100 fee today at the banco. However was told that her ds156 was no good. No good because we filled it out online, once filled out online you click continue. Then everything you entered is saved as a pdf file on 3 pages. Well 3 pages does not work for the bank. They told her she had to print page 1 out and then flip it over and print page 2 on the backside. I know it's not a big deal, but it's a waste of f'n time. The instructions do not say that it has to be on front and back.

Also, she was told that the fee was not $100 but 200.000 pesos. So I guess it doesnt matter the the dollar is at 1900 pesos, they still want their 200.000

Informational and barcode sticker placed on the passport. Small numbered stamp placed on one of the DS-156.

What is my fiance suppose to get when she pays the 100$? Like on the passport and the ds156? How many seals/stickers/stamps?

Good idea. We have everything straightened out now. One thing, I thought that the ds156 is not to be signed until the interview? I believe packet 3 mentions this.

Does the 2nd copy of the ds156 have to have that stamp that was given at the bank? In other words duplicate it before or after the bank stamps it?

One note about our experience with the DS156. We arrived with only one copy of the 156 for each person. Our originals had all information printed from a computer. When the lady told us we needed a second copy, she provided blank copies and we copied all the information by hand. So the copies were not "exact" but the information was identical. Hope that distinction makes sense.

[lucho562 0]

parkpapa, good info. That calms my mind. Thanks a million.

[lucho562 0]

Who else is interviewing soon?????????????????

[Mononoke28 135]

Not me, unfortunately. I'll be praying for you guys. I'm so close, yet so far away.

[buck501 0]

I moved this from the Embassy site to here on the Colombia thread. This was my original post:

My fiancee has received packet #3. I am using a lawyer, they sent me the packet they received from Bogota. It was in Spanish, I can not read Spanish. My lawyer has completed my financial statment. I have done a search here and when I search for "packet 3", nothing comes up. I went to the "sample forms" section but it does not say what packet the forms are in. Paola called this morning and said she is a little confused. I need to know what forms are in Packet 3 to help her. Can I get a copy of that in english on this site? I found one link to packet 3 but it was a dead link. Help please!!! This has been a frustrating experience from the beginning.

I recieved some replys and I thank all that helped.

I went to the Embassy site. It does not specify which forms are in packet 3. The DS156k is a dead link.

I forgot to mention in the post above that I sent packet 3 to Paola via FEDEX so I do not have the info.

Either I am stupid or totaly frustrted, but I can not find any thing by using the "search" tool on packet 3.

I found DS156.........DS230...............I-134, as I said, the DS156K link waqs dead.

Is this it? It seems way to simple. LOL>LOL.

So far this has been a frustrating experience. This part seems easy.

Another question. Paola lives in Buenaventura. They do not have mail service. I have sent two things by FEDEX. I can track them till they get to Cali, after that they dissapear. Fortunatley she has received both of them but at a much later time then FEDEX said they would arrive. Has anyone else had this problem? How do you get info to your sweetie? How does the Embassy send out packet 4 to her since there is no mail service.

Part of it may be due to fact that Buenaventura is a bit of a war zone right now. Also the record keeping in Buenaventura really sucks. Getting a birth certificate was a two month process, then they listed her as a "male"., LOL. We have been trying to get her police certificate for almost four months now and are still waiting on that. Since things are progressing now I guess I am just nervous. Thanks.

[Mononoke28 135]

The mail service in Colombia is pretty bad, period, especially if you're in a small town. My husband is in Tuluá and he decided to get his Certificado Judicial and Migratorio in Bogotá, he didn' want to take any chances with those.

Anyway, as far as the forms that you will need they are:

Form DS-156 (since your fiancée is female, she won't need DS-156K, can anyone else back this up?)

Form DS-230

Form I-134

Form OF-169 (which is in the US embassy link under Instructions for K-1/K-2 Visa Applicants (In Spanish), PAGE 5).

Don't forget that she will also need to get her vaccines done prior to her medical. Those are MMDR, TD & varicella.

Diana

[lucho562 0]

Buck,

I will make this simple. I do not want to confuse you. I was very confused when I was at your step in this process.

Only include the following in Packet 3. TRUST ME

Cover Letter with the NVC issued case #

OF-169

DS230 pages 1 & 2

Copy of her passport (optional buy highly recommended)

That is all

All other forms like ds156, ds156k are to be filled out and given in person at the embassy.

Diana,

The ds156k is needed. Well only needed for K1 visas. Not needed for K3 visas.

[buck501 0]

Buck,

I will make this simple. I do not want to confuse you. I was very confused when I was at your step in this process.

Only include the following in Packet 3. TRUST ME

Cover Letter with the NVC issued case #

OF-169

DS230 pages 1 & 2

Copy of her passport (optional buy highly recommended)

That is all

All other forms like ds156, ds156k are to be filled out and given in person at the embassy.

Diana,

The ds156k is needed. Well only needed for K1 visas. Not needed for K3 visas.

Lucho, Thanks. Very clear now. Diane, thank you also.