Bogota Colombia interview - advice!

[TaniaG 0]

Hi all! After a long wait I finally got my case complete from NVC and am now turning my attention to preparing husband and I got the medical exam, interview, etc.!!!

I'm looking for ANY advice from those who are going through or have gone through the process in Bogota. Thank you!

[Kana Anz 12]

Hi Tania, My fiance and I got our K1 approved on October 28, the only advice I can give you is... be patient, the blood work and X-rays will take about an hour. we had our medical with doctor Monica Caicedo, she was very nice and her staff is also nice and willing to help but the wait times are horrible, be prepared to spend 3 - 4 hours waiting. As for the interview the wait time was not very bad, it took us about 1.5 hours. My fiance attended the interview with me and they let him in with no problem. First step is at the front door, an employee will review your documents and set them in order, then you will be directed to a window where the documents are reviewed again and the medical envelope is opened, they ask you a few questions to verify information, then you will be directed to lines 2 - 6 to sit and wait, the wait there was about 45 minutes. You have to pay close attention since the sound system is not very good and the consuls have a hard time reading Spanish names (it's even funny), you can easily miss the call or not fully understand what window you are supposed to go. Finally at the interview window I was asked about 8 questions regarding how we had met, how many times we had seen each other and what was my fiance's profession... all basic and easy questions. Finally I was asked if my fiance spoke Spanish, as my answer was no then the consul asked me if I spoke English, I said yes so he talked to me in English for the rest of the interview... Including the part when he said our visas had been approved.

It's really easy, there's nothing to worry about when your relationship is sincere!! Good luck in your interview!!

[Ryan H 3,819]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Mexico, Latin & South America regional forum; OP is asking for Colombia specific experiences.

[GYnot 8]

Just finished our process and got the visa. The big thing was we never got a packet of instructions and so I found someone here who had gone through the process and got the package of information from her. It's not complicated but it is tedious, and traffic in Bogota is Horrible. The interview itself was easy, they only asked us 4 questions. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask either here or in private.

Tony

[colombianmainer 2]

Hey.

I didnt really understand much about what you are asking for but, my advice regarding the medical exams is indeed have a lot of patience and be prepared. Bogota is a big city with lots of traffic, especially in the mornings. So you just have to wake up early and be at your appointments as early as possible. I went to the laboratory to get my blood and xrays 45 minutes earlier than their opening schedule and there were already 5 people before me. The process perse only takes about an hour if youre lucky there arent as many people before you. I got out of there at almost 8 am. The physical exam i had it in the afternoon with Dr. Dennis. I had to wait 3-4 hours, i ended up leaving the hospital at past 7 pm but he evaluated me and gave me two sealed envelopes: one with the results of the blood test and xrays and the other with the results of the physical examination, the same day. WARNING: No matter which doctor you choose, be very aware of the vaccination form DS-3025, they're supposed to give you a copy of it, do not hesitate in asking them if you dont see theyre giving it to you, you will need it to adjust status later on (i didnt know about this form because unfortunately i didnt investigate much further plus i didnt provide a vaccination record at the appointment due to not being able to find it).

Now at the embassy, you just walk up to the entrance and tell the blue jacket girls/boys that you are there for a K-1 visa appointment, they will let you in and go to the 3rd line where you will wait for your turn if people are before you. Once your turn comes, they will give you a piece of paper with the order of documents you should put your paperwork in. Once you're finished with that, they will review it and ask you to go through the security checkpoint and finally inside the embassy. Now at the entrance, you'll do a check-in, make sure they cross you out on the paper, and go up to the 5 or 6 window where you do another check-in and receive a turn (I got turn #22) and wait until youre called for a pre-interview. They will receive all the documents, and review them as they ask questions. Its all pretty basic i.e whats your name, whos petitioning for you, how did you meet, etc, so dont be scared. After that, they will ask you to sit and wait from 1-3 windows. I had to wait almost 3 hours until i got called for the actual interview, so again, BE PATIENT.

Questions i was asked (my son was petitioned along with me):

-Whats your name

-Whats your sons name

-Whos petitioning you

-Whats your relationship with the petitioner

-How did you meet

-How many times has he visited

-Have you been to the united states

-Have you and him been married before

-Have you and him been convicted before

-Have you been married to the father of your child

-Whos the joint sponsor

-What is the relationship to the petitioner

-Did you file for a B2 tourist visa last year? (i did but got denied)

-What are your wedding plans

And voila, she said all was in order, visas approved, gave me a panflet with domestic violence information and told me the passports would arrive in 2 weeks (it actually took a week)

The consul was very nice and she made me feel completely comfortable (i think she even was in just her 30's, looked so young lol)

I hope everything goes good with you and your fiance. Just remember to be calmed, patient and honest with all the questions. It will pay off.

[A123B456C789 1]

I was planning on going to the interview in bogota with my fiancé as I am a US Citizen will they let me in with him when he goes for his appointment. Or will I have to wait outside? Did anyone take their petitioner with them? Interested in knowing

[amarilloslick 13]

I did not go with my girlfriend and she was approved with no problem. (two days ago).

[A123B456C789 1]

Hey.

I didnt really understand much about what you are asking for but, my advice regarding the medical exams is indeed have a lot of patience and be prepared. Bogota is a big city with lots of traffic, especially in the mornings. So you just have to wake up early and be at your appointments as early as possible. I went to the laboratory to get my blood and xrays 45 minutes earlier than their opening schedule and there were already 5 people before me. The process perse only takes about an hour if youre lucky there arent as many people before you. I got out of there at almost 8 am. The physical exam i had it in the afternoon with Dr. Dennis. I had to wait 3-4 hours, i ended up leaving the hospital at past 7 pm but he evaluated me and gave me two sealed envelopes: one with the results of the blood test and xrays and the other with the results of the physical examination, the same day. WARNING: No matter which doctor you choose, be very aware of the vaccination form DS-3025, they're supposed to give you a copy of it, do not hesitate in asking them if you dont see theyre giving it to you, you will need it to adjust status later on (i didnt know about this form because unfortunately i didnt investigate much further plus i didnt provide a vaccination record at the appointment due to not being able to find it).

Now at the embassy, you just walk up to the entrance and tell the blue jacket girls/boys that you are there for a K-1 visa appointment, they will let you in and go to the 3rd line where you will wait for your turn if people are before you. Once your turn comes, they will give you a piece of paper with the order of documents you should put your paperwork in. Once you're finished with that, they will review it and ask you to go through the security checkpoint and finally inside the embassy. Now at the entrance, you'll do a check-in, make sure they cross you out on the paper, and go up to the 5 or 6 window where you do another check-in and receive a turn (I got turn #22) and wait until youre called for a pre-interview. They will receive all the documents, and review them as they ask questions. Its all pretty basic i.e whats your name, whos petitioning for you, how did you meet, etc, so dont be scared. After that, they will ask you to sit and wait from 1-3 windows. I had to wait almost 3 hours until i got called for the actual interview, so again, BE PATIENT.

Questions i was asked (my son was petitioned along with me):

-Whats your name

-Whats your sons name

-Whos petitioning you

-Whats your relationship with the petitioner

-How did you meet

-How many times has he visited

-Have you been to the united states

-Have you and him been married before

-Have you and him been convicted before

-Have you been married to the father of your child

-Whos the joint sponsor

-What is the relationship to the petitioner

-Did you file for a B2 tourist visa last year? (i did but got denied)

-What are your wedding plans

And voila, she said all was in order, visas approved, gave me a panflet with domestic violence information and told me the passports would arrive in 2 weeks (it actually took a week)

The consul was very nice and she made me feel completely comfortable (i think she even was in just her 30's, looked so young lol)

I hope everything goes good with you and your fiance. Just remember to be calmed, patient and honest with all the questions. It will pay off.

When you fiancé went to the interview what type of documents did they take? I wanted to have an idea to start getting documents in order especially if they have to be translated from Spanish to English. Do you know if the documents from your fiancé needed to be translated to English at least for the ounces taken to the US embassy in bogota? Thanks for any advice

[colombianmainer 2]

When you fiancé went to the interview what type of documents did they take? I wanted to have an idea to start getting documents in order especially if they have to be translated from Spanish to English. Do you know if the documents from your fiancé needed to be translated to English at least for the ounces taken to the US embassy in bogota? Thanks for any advice

They dont need to be translated if they are in Spanish or English, if they were in another language other than these two THEN you would have to provide a certified translation but no, its fine either one of them or both.

I lost the piece of paper they gave me with the order but you can find it around in the forums. It is exactly as it is in the 3/4 packet you get from the embassy (you dont need to issue the movimientos migratorios paper with the DAS if you had never left the country (im sorry, i dont know if you are the petitioner or the beneficiary??) and the proof of relationship in another folder...although they never asked me for it.

[A123B456C789 1]

They dont need to be translated if they are in Spanish or English, if they were in another language other than these two THEN you would have to provide a certified translation but no, its fine either one of them or both.

I lost the piece of paper they gave me with the order but you can find it around in the forums. It is exactly as it is in the 3/4 packet you get from the embassy (you dont need to issue the movimientos migratorios paper with the DAS if you had never left the country (im sorry, i dont know if you are the petitioner or the beneficiary??) and the proof of relationship in another folder...although they never asked me for it.

Im the petitioner. Also thinking of going to the interview with him.