CR-1/IR-1 Colombia Club

[Looking4Wife 0]

If I am married to a Colombian citizen will I have difficulty entering Colombia 10 or 12 times a year and staying approximately 1 - 2 weeks each time? I am certain that US customs will be very curious about my frequent trips, but other than that should I expect any difficulty?

Thanks!

I go see my wife about every 2 months. I haven't had any problems with customs... other than that one smuggling incident

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Well, you never know....but I can tell you that I visited Colombia 10 times between April 1, 2006 and January 31, 2007. The times varied from 4 day to 2 weeks. I was NEVER questioned by Colombian authorities or U.S. customs in Miami. In fact, I feel like I am old friends with the customs guys and the guy at the Avianca ticket window.

The ONLY time I have ever been pulled aside by U.S. customs was in Atlanta on a return from Netherlands/Belgium.

Mike

If I am married to a Colombian citizen will I have difficulty entering Colombia 10 or 12 times a year and staying approximately 1 - 2 weeks each time? I am certain that US customs will be very curious about my frequent trips, but other than that should I expect any difficulty?

Thanks!

[florida-photo 0]

Does anybody know how long it normally takes to receive the interview package from the embassy when the applicant lives in Barranquilla? They sent it on 21 February. I know that another VisaJourney member received the package in 8 days, but maybe that was faster than normal. No word today and Monday will be 12 days. When do we need to start to worry? Is there a way to have a replacement package sent via Servientrega or DHL if we never receive the original package? Thanks.

Mark

[dougyceci 0]

Can't answer your question Mark, not sure anyone can when it comes to the Colombian mail system. With Ceci living in Bogota, I she might get hers first. Just kidding. If it were me, I would email Brad and see if he could fax you what Vicky received. Then you can email it to me, lol. I am sure someone has it in some form then could email you. Called the DC number today, in the system but no word yet from Bogota.

Doug

Edited March 2, 2007 by dougyceci

[Mike and Adriana 0]

I would expect more like 2-3 weeks...based on previous posts I've met.

I remember reading one post where the guy and his fiancee actually went to the Cartagena post office to search for the packet....and they found it just sitting there.

I do not believe that the embassy will pay to send it by courier or DHL.

I agree with what Doug said....calll to get your appointment date...and then see if you can get a copy of the packet from someone else. But it might not be a bad idea to make a trip to the post office in another few days!

Good luck,

Mike

Does anybody know how long it normally takes to receive the interview package from the embassy when the applicant lives in Barranquilla? They sent it on 21 February. I know that another VisaJourney member received the package in 8 days, but maybe that was faster than normal. No word today and Monday will be 12 days. When do we need to start to worry? Is there a way to have a replacement package sent via Servientrega or DHL if we never receive the original package? Thanks.

Mark

[florida-photo 0]

Can't answer your question Mark, not sure anyone can when it comes to the Colombian mail system. With Ceci living in Bogota, I she might get hers first. Just kidding. If it were me, I would email Brad and see if he could fax you what Vicky received. Then you can email it to me, lol. I am sure someone has it in some form then could email you. Called the DC number today, in the system but no word yet from Bogota.

Doug

Thanks for the replies so far. I am sure I can a copy of the packet from someone else, but you need the ORIGINAL appointment letter to get the medical done and to enter the embassy. Neither of these can be done without the original letter addressed to the applicant.

Mark

[florida-photo 0]

Can't answer your question Mark, not sure anyone can when it comes to the Colombian mail system. With Ceci living in Bogota, I she might get hers first. Just kidding. If it were me, I would email Brad and see if he could fax you what Vicky received. Then you can email it to me, lol. I am sure someone has it in some form then could email you. Called the DC number today, in the system but no word yet from Bogota.

Doug

Doug and Mike:

I just got a call at work from my wife and she said that she got a call from the post office this afternoon informing her that the package was in their office. She went and picked it up! I'm feeling better now. Thanks again!

Mark

Edited March 2, 2007 by florida-photo

[dougyceci 0]

That didn't take long to get there at all. Anyone had an interview lately or hear anything. Forum has been quiet. Still waiting for Bogota to enter us into the system on their end and assign the interview date.

[Looking4Wife 0]

I tried to track my case from NVC to the embassy in Bogotá, but NVC info conflicts with DHL... is this normal?

(I'm pretty sure that the nice lady for the Dept. of State in Washington, DC told me that the embassy had my pkg already, but what else am I supposed to do until my wife gets here but obsess over stuff like this )

Anyway, NVC says my stuff was sent to the embassy on 2/13/2007.

Thanks to the great info (re-)posted by "joeyjoey" on DHL tracking, I entered in dates from 2/12/2007 - 2/14/2007.

The only delivery to Bogotá was on 2/12/2007, picked up at NVC at 3:12 pm.

Has anyone else encountered this type of discrepancy?

[Mike and Adriana 0]

From what you just said...I wonder if you are tracking the right thing. You indicate that the petition was sent on 2/13/07. Then you say the "only delivery to Bogota was on 2/12/2007..."

Is it just semantics? Or are you saying you tracked deliveries from 2/12-2/14 instead of pick-ups? I'm not sure I follow you.

If you meant you tracked pick-ups from 2/12-2/14...and there was only one package picked up...and it was on the 12th...that COULD be yours. Maybe she made a one day mistake.

Of course, you can always call the NVC again and ask for the mailing date again.

Remember, it takes 3 business days from the NVC to Bogota via Miami.

I tried to track my case from NVC to the embassy in Bogotá, but NVC info conflicts with DHL... is this normal?

Anyway, NVC says my stuff was sent to the embassy on 2/13/2007.

Thanks to the great info (re-)posted by "joeyjoey" on DHL tracking, I entered in dates from 2/12/2007 - 2/14/2007.

The only delivery to Bogotá was on 2/12/2007, picked up at NVC at 3:12 pm.

Has anyone else encountered this type of discrepancy?

[Looking4Wife 0]

If you meant you tracked pick-ups from 2/12-2/14...and there was only one package picked up...and it was on the 12th...that COULD be yours. Maybe she made a one day mistake.

Yeah, I had a feeling I might not have made myself clear.

The excerpt from your quote above describes what I meant to say.

Thanks for the response, and thanks for clearing that up.

[dougyceci 0]

Out of curiosity I just tracked packages sent from the NVC Feb. 19-23 to see what might happen. I found two shipped the 21 and signed in at the embassy on the 23 and one going the 22nd and signed in the 26th. My package was sent on the 21st and today the lady said something about the 23rd but couldn't quite follow. I am guessing she said they received it then on the 23rd. Can't be sure but am guessing one of them is mine. Thanks for re-posting the DHL info Looking. While I am usually a patient guy, I am chomping at the bit to get the interview date so I can solidify my plans, get the time off work and buy the tickets. I am still hoping for an early April interview as I have the first week off work. I know it is wishful thinking but hey, never hurts to wish.

Doug

[Mononoke28 135]

Can't you guys just call the embassy to find out if they received the package? I believe that's what Andrea said in one of her posts once you "think" DHL delivered your package.

[Looking4Wife 0]

Can't you guys just call the embassy to find out if they received the package? I believe that's what Andrea said in one of her posts once you "think" DHL delivered your package.

Yes. Please refer to my previous quote:

(I'm pretty sure that the nice lady for the Dept. of State in Washington, DC told me that the embassy had my pkg already, but what else am I supposed to do until my wife gets here but obsess over stuff like this )

Calling the Dept. of State is the way to get info from the embassy "locally".

I also called the embassy directly, but grew weary of the juggling act they do with you on the phone between live people who speak various levels of English, dead silence, endless phone ringing, and busy signals

This DHL tracking thing is just something to do to pass the time while waiting until the embassy finally decides to officially enter your case into their system.

Also... the more you get involved with this process, the more you may feel the need to double-verify everything they tell you... since a lot of misinformation is dispensed by the immigration authorities.

[dougyceci 0]

Sure you can call the embassy. I invite you to do so. You have a two hour time frame two days a week from I believe 1-3 pm eastern time. Some of us work and it is very hard to get through. And as Looking said, the local number is much easier to get the same info. For me, I was not concerned that the embassy received the package. I need to know the interview date so I can make plans. I just had a few minutes today and looked at the DHL site for kicks. Today was the first day I called and will call again Friday. Hopefully something will be in the system by then. Mark got his date around the same time frame I am sitting in right now. Looking has been waiting a bit longer but I think that is because he just missed the cutoff for March interviews and they haven't started setting April yet. Just my guess.

Doug