Labs and Medicals in Bogota

[andrea y arturo 14]

Today was the day for the lab work (serology and chest x-ray). My fiancee and I had stayed at the Hotel Casa Embajada the night before (160,000 pesos). Doña Flor Hotel was booked. The hotel is right across from the back entrance to the embassy and it is simply but comfortable. The price includes breakfast and transportation to and from the airport.

We took a cab to the lab place and we were the first to get there. Another lady arrived at 6:10 and another at 6:15. One lady said that the day before had been quite busy. But that morning there were only 3 in line when they promptly opened at 7 am. My fiancee was asked for her "cedula" in addition to her passport and one photo. The lady said it was to verify her identity.

The process took about 40 minutes.

We ate breakfast and went back to the hotel to rest before the medical appointment at 4 pm. I had called the day before to confirm the appointment with Dr. Dennis but due to miscommunication they did not have it on the list. Claudia (the doctor's secretary) was very helpful and said she would work it in.

We are here right now and it has been a busy afternoon for Dr. Dennis so we had a longer than expected wait (one hour). However after Claudia took my fiancees passport, vaccine record, photo and $150,000 peso fee my fiancee was weighed, measured and her eyesight was checked. Andrea had been anxious that there was not a female doctor but after I shared the comments on VJ about Dr. Dennis she felt reassured. The exam was quick and very professional. Now she is off to get one vaccine she was told she needed $110,000 (a little steep if you ask me) but whatever it takes to get the paperwork. Andrea just came back the vaccine that she needed was a triple viral vaccine the MMR, it was free! Doctor Dennis said everything is good.

The cab ride fro the embassy to Fundacion Cardioinfantil (where Dr. Dennis is) was $14,000 pesos

Now we are just waiting for the final paperwork. Ready for the interview on the 13th!

[stefan y karen 23]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!

[Jon&Clau 1]

Today was the day for the lab work (serology and chest x-ray). My fiancee and I had stayed at the Hotel Casa Embajada the night before (160,000 pesos). Doña Flor Hotel was booked. The hotel is right across from the back entrance to the embassy and it is simply but comfortable. The price includes breakfast and transportation to and from the airport.

We took a cab to the lab place and we were the first to get there. Another lady arrived at 6:10 and another at 6:15. One lady said that the day before had been quite busy. But that morning there were only 3 in line when they promptly opened at 7 am. My fiancee was asked for her "cedula" in addition to her passport and one photo. The lady said it was to verify her identity.

The process took about 40 minutes.

We ate breakfast and went back to the hotel to rest before the medical appointment at 4 pm. I had called the day before to confirm the appointment with Dr. Dennis but due to miscommunication they did not have it on the list. Claudia (the doctor's secretary) was very helpful and said she would work it in.

We are here right now and it has been a busy afternoon for Dr. Dennis so we had a longer than expected wait (one hour). However after Claudia took my fiancees passport, vaccine record, photo and $150,000 peso fee my fiancee was weighed, measured and her eyesight was checked. Andrea had been anxious that there was not a female doctor but after I shared the comments on VJ about Dr. Dennis she felt reassured. The exam was quick and very professional. Now she is off to get one vaccine she was told she needed $110,000 (a little steep if you ask me) but whatever it takes to get the paperwork. Andrea just came back the vaccine that she needed was a triple viral vaccine the MMR, it was free! Doctor Dennis said everything is good.

The cab ride fro the embassy to Fundacion Cardioinfantil (where Dr. Dennis is) was $14,000 pesos

Now we are just waiting for the final paperwork. Ready for the interview on the 13th!

Arturo, thanks for sharing this info. My fiance' also has her appointment with Dr Dennis next month. One question, you said at the end you are just waiting for the final paperwork. Are you getting that paperwork the same day as her exam? My fiance' told me the secretary they would give her all the paperwork she needed at the conclusion of the exam on the same day, so just want to make sure that was your experience.

Thanks again for sharing these events with the community!!

Jon & Clau

[D N Medellin COL 75]

I wanted to also thank you for your experience and report. We just received our NOA 2 so I think we will be where you are at in 3 months time which will be here before we know it.

Thanks again for the valuable information!

[andrea y arturo 14]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!

No Problem. Glad to share . This site has given me so much insight and information is the least I can do.

[andrea y arturo 14]

Arturo, thanks for sharing this info. My fiance' also has her appointment with Dr Dennis next month. One question, you said at the end you are just waiting for the final paperwork. Are you getting that paperwork the same day as her exam? My fiance' told me the secretary they would give her all the paperwork she needed at the conclusion of the exam on the same day, so just want to make sure that was your experience.

Thanks again for sharing these events with the community!!

Jon & Clau

Jon and Clau,

You're welcome. And yes your fiancee will receive all of the paperwork at the end of the exam on the same day (assuming that the lab work gets there on time and that her X-rays are ok) . I was writing our experience at the time we were at the Dr's office that's why I said that we were waiting on the paperwork. I will add some extra info about that. Thy do an excellent job in doing the paperwork and they let you know if there are any discrepancies. The medical exam is not very invasive the greatest part of the time is spent waiting on paperwork and vaccines if you need any. At the end you are give an envelope that is stamped and sealed for the embassy (to take on the day on the interview). A Department of State form with all vaccines that the beneficiary has (to be used for record keeping and to show a US document record of vaccines) a rolled up and sealed chest X-ray hat must be brought by the beneficiary and have on hand if immigration requests it.

Our return trip to Cali from Bogota on Avianca took longer than expected. The air traffic controllers are having a controlled strike called "Operation Turtle" They take their time dealing with air traffic so as a result there are multiple delays and some cancellations our 9:10 pm flight was delayed until 11:44 and then we spent an extra 45 minutes on the Tarmac. Avianca employees were extremely polite and gracious despite the fact that they have to put in extra hours.

Arturo y Andrea

[andrea y arturo 14]

I wanted to also thank you for your experience and report. We just received our NOA 2 so I think we will be where you are at in 3 months time which will be here before we know it.

Thanks again for the valuable information!

I see you are part of the new batch of cases where CSC has picked up the pace! 3 months??? No way!!! You can get it done faster than that. You already have your NOA2 if you don't forsee any security clearance problems go ahead an schedule your interview online with the embassy.

[Jon&Clau 1]

Jon and Clau,

You're welcome. And yes your fiancee will receive all of the paperwork at the end of the exam on the same day (assuming that the lab work gets there on time and that her X-rays are ok) . I was writing our experience at the time we were at the Dr's office that's why I said that we were waiting on the paperwork. I will add some extra info about that. Thy do an excellent job in doing the paperwork and they let you know if there are any discrepancies. The medical exam is not very invasive the greatest part of the time is spent waiting on paperwork and vaccines if you need any. At the end you are give an envelope that is stamped and sealed for the embassy (to take on the day on the interview). A Department of State form with all vaccines that the beneficiary has (to be used for record keeping and to show a US document record of vaccines) a rolled up and sealed chest X-ray hat must be brought by the beneficiary and have on hand if immigration requests it.

Our return trip to Cali from Bogota on Avianca took longer than expected. The air traffic controllers are having a controlled strike called "Operation Turtle" They take their time dealing with air traffic so as a result there are multiple delays and some cancellations our 9:10 pm flight was delayed until 11:44 and then we spent an extra 45 minutes on the Tarmac. Avianca employees were extremely polite and gracious despite the fact that they have to put in extra hours.

Arturo y Andrea

Arturo, thanks for the response....I was hoping you were going to say you were waiting in the Doctors office for the paperwork, not waiting until the next day for the paperwork. I did not really want my fiance's exam to be back to back like I scheduled it, but had no choice, as Dr Dennis only had Wednesday available and the embassy only had Thursday available for an interview, otherwise, the next open time for an exam and interview in the same week was going to be end of April. Thanks for the heads up on the airline situation in Colombia. Hopefully it will be resolved by the time I get to Colombia week of March 19th.

Let me know how you interview turns out and best wishes to both of you!!

Jon & Clau

[andrea y arturo 14]

Arturo, thanks for the response....I was hoping you were going to say you were waiting in the Doctors office for the paperwork, not waiting until the next day for the paperwork. I did not really want my fiance's exam to be back to back like I scheduled it, but had no choice, as Dr Dennis only had Wednesday available and the embassy only had Thursday available for an interview, otherwise, the next open time for an exam and interview in the same week was going to be end of April. Thanks for the heads up on the airline situation in Colombia. Hopefully it will be resolved by the time I get to Colombia week of March 19th.

Let me know how you interview turns out and best wishes to both of you!!

Jon & Clau

No problem, let's keep in touch. I just got back from Colombia and counting the days to the interview