Colombia Club

[TonyS 0]

Oh yes...you definitely don't need professional translator. My advice was for people who may not have the luxury of family or friends to translate.

[Mononoke28 135]

Olga,

I don't think your age difference will raise any red flags at the time of the interview since it's only a year. I am also older than my husband and I just plan on going in there (if I can) and be honest about everything. I think as long as we're prepared and honest, we're good to go.

Diana

[Mononoke28 135]

Hey everybody,

I found this article in ElTiempo.com today, just in case you were curious.

Diana

26 de Julio de 2007

Nuevos requisitos que deben cumplir los menores que pretendan salir del país

El 8 de mayo pasado entró en vigencia la Ley 1098 del 2006, por la cual se expidió el Código de la Infancia y la Adolescencia

Según el artículo 110 de esta norma, con la que las autoridades nacionales buscan obtener información adicional, "cuando un niño, una niña o un adolescente vaya a salir del país con uno de los padres o con una persona distinta a los representantes legales deberá obtener previamente el permiso de aquel con quien no viajare o el de aquellos debidamente autenticado ante notario o autoridad consular".

Dicho permiso deberá contener, además, el lugar de destino del menor, su propósito del viaje y la fecha de salida e ingreso de nuevo al país.

La información completa relacionada con los requisitos para salida del país de los menores de edad puede encontrarse en la página de Internet del Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad (DAS): www.das.gov.co.

[HAL 9000 96]

Thanks for the tips! You guys came in the knick of time....i'm sending the packet out tomorrow....have to avoid the price $ hike deadline. However lucky for us, my parents said that they want to pay for AOS and have a reunion for us this weekend as a wedding gift

I was aware that it could be anyone that can translate the document. I just want to see a rough draft, then I'll do it myself and have my cousin sign it...lol

Maviwaro,

Are you going to sign the translation yourself?? I wouldn't even though I am capable of. It might look funny in the adjucators eyes. Who knows?

Anyone else translate and sign off on it for their SO?

Don't sign it yourself. I've read on these boards that it can't be you. I can't confirm that with established law...but even if you get away with it, why take the risk of raising an officers eyebrow. Have your cousin do it, or your neighbor, or anyone else...

Interesting point. It seems Spanish to one adjudicator may not be the same Spanish to another. For example, Fecha de Nacimiento, instead of the sensical Date of Birth could mean Date of Marriage in the eyes of another USCIS adjudicator. Thanks OjosAzules.

But yeah, I'll probably just ask my fiancee's cousin to sign off on it, even though her English is not the same as mine.

[paisita411 0]

I'm back in Atlanta and Happy as can be

Olga, it doesn't appear that you're case will raise any red flags USCIS or the Embassy if its only a 1 year age difference. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

I have sample docs for birth certificates, vaccinations, marriage and divorce...whatever you need, just PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you.

LOL

Dre

[buck501 0]

Paola called the emabassy yesterday, she was told to fax them a letter explaining about not getting Pkt 4. She requested they call her on her cell phone. They just called and told her she can pick up the Letter of invitation next Tuesday, July 31. WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can quit stressing about that now and focus on the interview. So for her it will be a 12 hour bus ride each way to Bogota or a $245.00 1 hour plane ride. I really don't care for either option.

I was out of town on biz yesterday and just got caught up on the board. There seems to be a whole bunch of positive energy going on now..........FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TonyS 0]

Welcome home Oskar and Andrea . Buck, when I was in Colombia for the interview, my wife also had cousins traveling to Bogota ( for a tourist visa interview ) the same week. There were traveling long distance ( 14 hrs + ) by bus. The driver made a mistake and the bus plummeted over the side into a ravine. 7 passengers were killed.!. 2 of my wife's child cousins were killed. She told me bus accidents are common, so I recommend air travel. Plus you novia will arrive fresher and ready.

[buck501 0]

Welcome home Oskar and Andrea . Buck, when I was in Colombia for the interview, my wife also had cousins traveling to Bogota ( for a tourist visa interview ) the same week. There were traveling long distance ( 14 hrs + ) by bus. The driver made a mistake and the bus plummeted over the side into a ravine. 7 passengers were killed.!. 2 of my wife's child cousins were killed. She told me bus accidents are common, so I recommend air travel. Plus you novia will arrive fresher and ready.

Tony..............exactly my fear. I guess I will bite the bullet and send her by plane.

[Mononoke28 135]

Oh noooo, that is horrible.

We always travel by bus, that's how us pooh people do it. Can't complain, I actually enjoy it every time.

Edited July 26, 2007 by Mononoke28

[lucho562 0]

I'm too much of a chicken to go by bus. Forget that bro, send her by plane. At least Aero Recocha.

[TonyS 0]

I always drive here, so I enjoy riding the bus too, but only for short trips ( 3 hours or less ) and definitely not on the side of a mountain!

[paisita411 0]

Buck, if you really love her, you'll send her the airfair!!!

LOL

Dre!!!!

[parkpapa 0]

Lucho,

We translated the birth certificate ourselves and had no problem. I used word and tried to keep everything lined up in a similar fashion.

It doesn't hurt to put a line at the end stating that the translation is accurate. We forgot to put that line on there and flew right through the AOS with no questions.

There is a myth that the translation has to be done by some sort of "certified " translator but that is not true.

As a confirmation of this information, I paid to have some early documents translated but then figured out that I could do my own translations. All I did with the completed translation was take it and the original document (the boy's birth records) to a local Mexican restaurant. I asked the manager if someone on staff would be willing to affirm that my translation was correct. He asked one of the waitresses to read it over. I already had a printed block on the page for her to sign and date. The signature block contained a statement that she "certified" that the translation was correct and that she was fluent (enough) in English and Spanish to confirm the translation. A $15 tip (as part of the meal) seemed to be more than sufficient payment for the service rendered. And much better than the $75 or more per page that a translation service would have charged.

[parkpapa 0]

Oh noooo, that is horrible.

We always travel by bus, that's how us pooh people do it. Can't complain, I actually enjoy it every time.

There is NO absolutely safe way to travel in Colombia. We had a near miss at landing when flying with Satena. The main reason I was concerned about the bus rides was the potential threats from FARC or the para-militaries. At least native Colombians are (relatively) safe riding the bus.

[buck501 0]

Buck, if you really love her, you'll send her the airfair!!!

LOL

Dre!!!!

Dre.......ya I guess I do love her. LOL>LOL. I'm sending the money in the morning. Parkpapa, you are correct, there is no real safe way to travel there. One taxi ride will convice you of that.