Colombia Club Part III

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Is that Friday a Colombian holiday? Because it's not a holiday here in the US so the embassy should be working that day. Anyway, if his visa is approved on the 16th and he plans to fly on the 23rd he should have plenty of time. The visa is usually delivered/available in Bogotá 2-3 business days after the interview but if that Friday is actually a holiday, then yes, you'd be kind of pushing it. Also, I'm not aware of his layover time but if it's an hour like OnMyWayID mentioned, then he will most likely miss his connection flight to Nevada. Make sure he has plenty of time in between flights so he can go through customs and immigration and still catch his flight, I'd say between three to four hours.

Diana

Hey there... I was going off the embassy calendar as far as holidays: US Embassy Bogota Calendar "The Visa Section will be closed on the dates listed in the calendar. U.S. citizens with emergencies should call (1) 315-0811." For November the days it has listed are the 11th, 14th, 18th, 24th

[kali1229 6]

Is that Friday a Colombian holiday? Because it's not a holiday here in the US so the embassy should be working that day. Anyway, if his visa is approved on the 16th and he plans to fly on the 23rd he should have plenty of time. The visa is usually delivered/available in Bogotá 2-3 business days after the interview but if that Friday is actually a holiday, then yes, you'd be kind of pushing it. Also, I'm not aware of his layover time but if it's an hour like OnMyWayID mentioned, then he will most likely miss his connection flight to Nevada. Make sure he has plenty of time in between flights so he can go through customs and immigration and still catch his flight, I'd say between three to four hours.

Diana

Great. Thank you guys so much. I think I'm going to have to skip out on Spirit as well OnMyWayID. One hour isn't enough. I was planning on having him stay in FLL until 7 am where he could catch an early flight to lax but my poor husband, I don't want to make him stay in the airport that long. I guess I will be performing a miracle. Thanksgiving got in my way! grrrr.

[kali1229 6]

Just booked the ticket. He will be here on the 2nd. I played it safe. Thank you guys for pointing out the holidays. This would have been a mess!

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Just booked the ticket. He will be here on the 2nd. I played it safe. Thank you guys for pointing out the holidays. This would have been a mess!

Well he misses thanksgiving but Christmas will be good I wish I had thought of the holidays before booking myself! I did nor realize that two of those holidays are right in my time-line. I'm thinking of all the little timing errors that may show up.. I won't be breathing eazy until we make that next plane after the POE.

Edited October 5, 2011 by OnMyWayID

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Congrats on your Interview date! Since her doctor appointment is so early i would recommend call to the lab just to be sure the results will be at the doctor at time for her appointment. So she wont have any problems or something.

The recommendation just because i have seen the doctor appointment is late afternoon when you do both stuff the same day.

Yeesh! Well I am glad you mentioned it! She called up the doctor yesterday to see if could push out the appointment out to later in the afternoon and the woman who answered said "I am so glad you called back! the 7th is a holiday!".. The appointment had to be pushed back to Friday the 4th which really sucks as it means she has to fly in that morning, get the tests done, then fly back to Medellin then head back to Bogota the next Tuesday to get the results for the interview on the ninth..

So no doctor’s appointments/DOMESA delivery on these dates for November: 7, 11, 14, 18

No Visa interviews or work these dates in November for the embassy: 11, 14, 18, 24

Lots of landmines in November if you are wokring with time limits for travel or delivery expectations. Crazy!

[kali1229 6]

Yeesh! Well I am glad you mentioned it! She called up the doctor yesterday to see if could push out the appointment out to later in the afternoon and the woman who answered said "I am so glad you called back! the 7th is a holiday!".. The appointment had to be pushed back to Friday the 4th which really sucks as it means she has to fly in that morning, get the tests done, then fly back to Medellin then head back to Bogota the next Tuesday to get the results for the interview on the ninth..

So no doctor’s appointments/DOMESA delivery on these dates for November: 7, 11, 14, 18

No Visa interviews or work these dates in November for the embassy: 11, 14, 18, 24

Lots of landmines in November if you are wokring with time limits for travel or delivery expectations. Crazy!

Aw shucks! I was going to schedule the appointments on the 14th. I wish I worked at the embassy in Bogota. I'd have a holiday like every week.

[Mononoke28 135]

Hey there... I was going off the embassy calendar as far as holidays: US Embassy Bogota Calendar "The Visa Section will be closed on the dates listed in the calendar. U.S. citizens with emergencies should call (1) 315-0811." For November the days it has listed are the 11th, 14th, 18th, 24th

Based on this list of holidays I've come to the conclusion that I need to work for this embassy. That's quite a long list of holidays, I'm surprised they have time to get anything done!

Diana

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Aw shucks! I was going to schedule the appointments on the 14th. I wish I worked at the embassy in Bogota. I'd have a holiday like every week.

It's all about respecting the culture when it comes to taking days off November seems to be the month with the most holidays..

So the 14th is out, the 11th (Friday) is out.. You will be pushed back to the 10th! Has your husband found a place yet? I tried the welovebogota place for te 9th/10th but they did not have anything available (or at least the master bedroom was taken - sounded like the entire apartment was rented).

With the dollar up against the peso right now we are scrambling a bit to get anything paid (or the price solidified to put the pesos aside) that requires pesos (i.e.: the vaccinations, the apartment in Bogota, the fees for the medical, transportation to/from Bogota). Hopefully the uptick will last long enough to help us out...

Edited October 5, 2011 by OnMyWayID

[kali1229 6]

It's all about respecting the culture when it comes to taking days off November seems to be the month with the most holidays..

So the 14th is out, the 11th (Friday) is out.. You will be pushed back to the 10th! Has your husband found a place yet? I tried the welovebogota place for te 9th/10th but they did not have anything available (or at least the master bedroom was taken - sounded like the entire apartment was rented).

With the dollar up against the peso right now we are scrambling a bit to get anything paid (or the price solidified to put the pesos aside) that requires pesos (i.e.: the vaccinations, the apartment in Bogota, the fees for the medical, transportation to/from Bogota). Hopefully the uptick will last long enough to help us out...

Haven't found a place, but his cousin lives a few blocks away from the embassy. Hopefully we can work something out. He also has friends in Chia he could stay with but it's way too far away. Seriously, how do you get a job at the embassy? I'll respect anyone's culture if it gives me that many holidays off! lol

[JosephandKata 0]

I don't have the luxury of staying there with her during all of this but I can definitely say it's gotten more expensive than before to stay there, but still cheap considering .

They have so many holidays in Colombia it's ridiculous! I always make fun of her about it.

[kali1229 6]

I don't have the luxury of staying there with her during all of this but I can definitely say it's gotten more expensive than before to stay there, but still cheap considering .

They have so many holidays in Colombia it's ridiculous! I always make fun of her about it.

lol. I ALWAYS make fun of my husband about it too. Every time he tells me that day is a holiday i say "oh, what is it this time? day of the duck?"

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

lol. I ALWAYS make fun of my husband about it too. Every time he tells me that day is a holiday i say "oh, what is it this time? day of the duck?"

We are both in the "upcoming interview" section on the Colombia portal page.. #4 and #5 ... and tomorrow we both move a spot.. boooo-yah!

[DanVanessaSiempre 0]

lol. I ALWAYS make fun of my husband about it too. Every time he tells me that day is a holiday i say "oh, what is it this time? day of the duck?"

Today is certainly a holiday for ME, as it's three years to the day since I first saw Vanessa online and started chatting with her.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Congrats! Looks like 10/30 is also going to be a holiday Always glad to hear of a success story with all the negative ones we see on the various other threads.

---

Quick question for everyone

My wife is planning on getting the required vaccinations the last week of October (the medical exam is scheduled Fri Nov 4). I did not find exactly what is needed on the embassy website but through reading various threads here I understand there are four shots required. My wife visited the red cross in Medellin to see about prices/scheduled (just drop in) and this is what we are planning:

MMR 27.000

TETANO 12.000

DIFTERIA 77.00

VARICELA 112.100

So four shots for 228,100 pesos or about 120 Dollars.. Does that sound about right as far as the shots to get?

Edited October 12, 2011 by OnMyWayID

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Today is certainly a holiday for ME, as it's three years to the day since I first saw Vanessa online and started chatting with her.

Congrats, Dan + Vanessa!

I also met Leidys about 3 years ago (in July '08).