DCF: Bogota, Colombia

[c.georges 0]

I would first like to thank MattCali for posting his DCF Guide/Walkthrough for Bogota, Colombia it was very useful and made me prepared for what we would be in for today.

Today we filed the Petition I-130 for my wife. The experience was a bit nerve racking as I wasnt 100% sure what to expect but it was still easy and painless non the less. The staff at the embassy were really friendly and nice.

I will not review over the papers require as this is already explaned in MattCali's post. I will just let you know the whole process that I went through with my wife.

We arrived at the embassy entrance at Av Carrera 50 and walked south east between a viaduct and the fence of the embassy. Before you go into the security checkpoint they will line you up by the reason you are there. This day we waited in the 3rd line and it was raining really bad and it was really cold so I spoke with the person who was checking the passports of the people in the 1st line and she let us right through (this was around 12:30, they tell you to arrive to the embassy 30 minutes before the appointment)

We waited at the line for the security checkpoint to speak with a lady behind glass through a telephone, she asked the name that we had the interview under and checked my passport and handed me a folder with a sheet of paper attached to it of all the documents to put in a certain order (however this really didnt matter as the person later on asked me to give them the papers as they asked for them). The lady gave us two silver stickers to wear and be seen on us at all times and a green card with a number on it (the colors can vary, probably day by day and depending on the type). We then went through the security check point, which is basically like going through airport security, however at this point they take your phone from you and give you a piece of wood with a number on it to reclaim your phone later.

Once through the security checkpoint we finally walk into the grounds of the embassy and towards the waiting area. They have a separate area for the Immigrant Visa applicants, this is windows 2-6 (window 1 is a cashier). All of these windows are very thick glass and you talk to the person via the phone. We sat down and organized our papers according to how they asked us to, and then a lady came along and told us all to line up by a certain color and our numbers. We were called up to the window and presented the lady with our card first and then she asked us for the documents. I proceeded to hand her the folder with all of the documents they requested in the order they requested. However, she pulled out a new folder with a checklist and told me to just give her the documents as she called them off and that we would go down the list (I think that's a better method honestly). She said that it looks like everything is fine and that we will now need to go pay the cashier and then wait for an "interview". I went and paid the $355 filing fee and the nice man told me about the $404 that I would have to pay when we come back (thanks for the reminder guy!).

We then went and sat back down and waited for our name to be called over the loud speaker (you will need to have VERY good ears to listen for your name). We waited and waited and waited until finally my name was called and I didn't hear what window they called me to. Thankfully the lady called again and clearly said the number of the window. I went to the window and apologized and said I couldn't hear well through the speakers. She was very friendly (I believe a US citizen and a immigration officer) and told me not to worry about it. She told me that everything was in order and gave us the DS-2100 to fill out and send back to them (I plan to e-mail it, she said that would be the best) and the DS-230 I and II and the list of documents. She then asked if I had any questions and I asked about how long it would take after we send in the DS-2100 and it is received before we are given an interview date, she went away for a bit and then came back and told me the average time is 30-60 days. I then also asked her how the interview was done when my wife comes back and if I could come with my wife. She said that it was fine that I came but the person who is doing the interview may not want to speak with me (she said she prefers it when she conducts the interviews as it gives her a better idea of the relationship). She told me the interview is done through the phones and the glass and we joked a bit about how impersonal it is.

All in all it was a great experience and day and I wouldn't have changed anything about it (except for the rain).

Everyone whom I have had contact with so far has been really friendly and helpful.

I think that covers everything. Once we go on to the next step I will update this post....

[c.georges 0]

Hope everyone is doing well.

So at the end of October we received the Package 3 in the mail and submitted the forms DS-2100 and DS-230 Part I. We just received an email today telling us that our appointment has been scheduled for January 3rd! We will take the medical exam at the end of this month and then go to visit my wife's family before we come back to Bogota for the interview!

[dtbrooklyn 0]

Best of luck today! Make sure to update us on how it goes!

I'd love to hit you with some questions as well, as I'm thinking of going through the DCF as well.

cheers,

dt

Hope everyone is doing well.

So at the end of October we received the Package 3 in the mail and submitted the forms DS-2100 and DS-230 Part I. We just received an email today telling us that our appointment has been scheduled for January 3rd! We will take the medical exam at the end of this month and then go to visit my wife's family before we come back to Bogota for the interview!

[c.georges 0]

Thank you! We were approved!

You can find the review here

[j.ismail 0]

Thank you! We were approved!

You can find the review here

Hi C. Georges,

Congrats on the approval! My wife (who is from the US) and I (Australian) will be filing DCF through Bogota as well. Did you have to provide IRS Tax transcripts for you? Also, did you have to have a joint sponsor or fill in any forms for affidavit of support? And lastly, how long does your wife have to enter the US?

Thanks,

Johan

[c.georges 0]

Hi C. Georges,

Congrats on the approval! My wife (who is from the US) and I (Australian) will be filing DCF through Bogota as well. Did you have to provide IRS Tax transcripts for you? Also, did you have to have a joint sponsor or fill in any forms for affidavit of support? And lastly, how long does your wife have to enter the US?

Thanks,

Johan

I did not provide IRS transcripts, just my tax return papers for the past 3 years (they really only require the last years, but I like to give them too much than not enough). We did have a joint sponsor and filled out the I-864 (me and the joint sponsor). The immigrant visa is a one time entry visa that you have to use within 6 months of it being issued. Once you enter the USA they will stamp your passport with a temporary green card (I believe its called I-155) and then they will send the green card to the address you filled out on your forms where you said you would be living.

[j.ismail 0]

I did not provide IRS transcripts, just my tax return papers for the past 3 years (they really only require the last years, but I like to give them too much than not enough). We did have a joint sponsor and filled out the I-864 (me and the joint sponsor). The immigrant visa is a one time entry visa that you have to use within 6 months of it being issued. Once you enter the USA they will stamp your passport with a temporary green card (I believe its called I-155) and then they will send the green card to the address you filled out on your forms where you said you would be living.

Hi C. Georges,

Thanks so much for the info. I have to ask though, the tax return papers from the past 3 years, were they Colombian or American? The thing is my wife has been overseas for more than 10 years and we didn't realize she still had to file tax with the US. We're working on that now but if it can wait until we get to the US then that will be better.

[c.georges 0]

Hi C. Georges,

Thanks so much for the info. I have to ask though, the tax return papers from the past 3 years, were they Colombian or American? The thing is my wife has been overseas for more than 10 years and we didn't realize she still had to file tax with the US. We're working on that now but if it can wait until we get to the US then that will be better.

They were to the IRS, I filed online.

Every US Citizen has to file a tax return with the IRS every year regardless of where you live.

[dtbrooklyn 0]

I just filed the I-130 form in Bogotá as well, and had almost the exact same experience.

A couple of notes:

1) Arrive early. The appointment was for 1pm but they let me in before 12:30. I waited in line 3.

2) The recepionist almost didn't let me in because my wife wasn't with me. I explained that it wasn't necessary and that i just needed to deliver these forms. She was quite skeptical, saying that they needed to interview her- but she let me in anyway. There was, of course, no problem with my wife not being there once I got inside.

3) On the checklist they give you, they ask for a copy of proof of your residency in colombia (in my case a work visa), and I forgot to make a copy and they wouldn't let me out to make a copy. It didn't turn out to be a big deal at all.

4) G325 or g325a it didn't seem to matter which (they are almost identical), as people were submitting both for their spouses.

5) The people behind the windows were very friendly, some americans some colombians - with the colombians i spoke spanish, english obviously with the americans.

6) one slight problem was that my wife's birth certificate was not the original one (she had her name changed when she was 7, and that emended one was the one we brought. Also we translated the marriage certificate and birth certificate ourselves, and had no problem.

7) I asked the lady at the end of the "interview" which is more like a brief information session, if

a) I could mail in the ds 2100 and ds 230 before receiving anything in the mail, as they are available online (she didn't give me a copy, but at least one other couple did receive it there at the embassy) and she said if i was confident that i was mailing in the correct form, that it would be ok.

b) I asked if i needed to be there for the real interview with my spouse, and she said no, but that they need proof that a relationship is real. Reading between the lines, it is muuuuch better if both spouses are there.

c) she reminded me that i need a joint sponsor for the i.864 form, which i already knew.

hope that helps somebody,

dt

[dtbrooklyn 0]

Just another update here. March 11 we received our "packet 3" in the mail with our case number. That was just under a month from dropping off the I-130 at the embassy in Bogota. Now have to figure out how long to wait to send it back - (as I have incomplete tax information) - based on uncertainty about how long in the future they would then grant us the interview. Am really, really trying to get the interview at some point in May, as that would be the most convenient.

I just filed the I-130 form in Bogotá as well, and had almost the exact same experience.

A couple of notes:

1) Arrive early. The appointment was for 1pm but they let me in before 12:30. I waited in line 3.

2) The recepionist almost didn't let me in because my wife wasn't with me. I explained that it wasn't necessary and that i just needed to deliver these forms. She was quite skeptical, saying that they needed to interview her- but she let me in anyway. There was, of course, no problem with my wife not being there once I got inside.

3) On the checklist they give you, they ask for a copy of proof of your residency in colombia (in my case a work visa), and I forgot to make a copy and they wouldn't let me out to make a copy. It didn't turn out to be a big deal at all.

4) G325 or g325a it didn't seem to matter which (they are almost identical), as people were submitting both for their spouses.

5) The people behind the windows were very friendly, some americans some colombians - with the colombians i spoke spanish, english obviously with the americans.

6) one slight problem was that my wife's birth certificate was not the original one (she had her name changed when she was 7, and that emended one was the one we brought. Also we translated the marriage certificate and birth certificate ourselves, and had no problem.

7) I asked the lady at the end of the "interview" which is more like a brief information session, if

a) I could mail in the ds 2100 and ds 230 before receiving anything in the mail, as they are available online (she didn't give me a copy, but at least one other couple did receive it there at the embassy) and she said if i was confident that i was mailing in the correct form, that it would be ok.

b) I asked if i needed to be there for the real interview with my spouse, and she said no, but that they need proof that a relationship is real. Reading between the lines, it is muuuuch better if both spouses are there.

c) she reminded me that i need a joint sponsor for the i.864 form, which i already knew.

hope that helps somebody,

dt

[dtbrooklyn 0]

Another update: yesterday, April 8, we received "packet 4" and our interview date - May 6!!!

We had some trouble sending in our packet 3 as a fax I sent was never received, so a week later I had to email the scanned documents in to the embassy. They received that on March 24.

So from when they received packet 3 to us getting our date - was 2 weeks. (plus a month wait still for the actual interview)

I dropped off the I-130 on Feb 15, and we will have our interview on May 6 - so less than 3 months for the entire process!!!

Now, I just have to get my shite together with my taxes and make sure all the supporting info for the co-sponsor is ok, so we actually get approved!

Just another update here. March 11 we received our "packet 3" in the mail with our case number. That was just under a month from dropping off the I-130 at the embassy in Bogota. Now have to figure out how long to wait to send it back - (as I have incomplete tax information) - based on uncertainty about how long in the future they would then grant us the interview. Am really, really trying to get the interview at some point in May, as that would be the most convenient.

[xelance 31]

good luck

[dtbrooklyn 0]

Visa approved!

I'll write more later, but it was too easy. Out before 10 a.m. with an approved visa. No problem with documents, 5 minute interview with my wife (didn't ask me a single question), didn't ask for any proof of relationship, or to see the photo's. Very friendly, very simple.

Thanks to everyone on this page who helped me get organized. I quite honestly couldn't have done it without your help!

dave

[dtbrooklyn 0]

As a follow-up here is the consulate review with our experience in Bogotá.

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/view-dos-cis-reviews.php?entry=7563

Interesting to note - no questioning at all about residence or domicile. No checking of any of the proof of relationship that we brought. A completely perfunctory interview only with my wife. It was clear that they didn't need to be convinced at all and that they were going to give us the visa.

best of luck to everyone else!