Club Colombia AOS!

[buck501 0]

Awesome Scott... it looks like stuff is happening faster now... TODAY, not one week after receiving the CRIS email about the Card production we actually RECEIVED the darn GC... man this has been an interesting week!

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats. Paola recieved her GC just a few days after her notice of approval. It came last Friday. I have been gone for the last 2 weeks on biz, returned home, we went on a mini vacation for a couple of days...........nice. Now, I need to get more papers for Elvin, I will be glad when this is complete.

[bigley 0]

Buck501 I noticed in your timeline your fiance went to the embassy and picked up packet 4 at the embassy. My fiance lives in Bogota and the NVC has our application now I believe (I will call latter today) since we were approved by the USCIS on May 12th. We will use the shortcut once we know the embassy has our application. My question is can my fiance still go to the embassy to pick up packet 4 rather than waiting for it to be mailed? Also when would she go to the embassy for the packet 4? I think that is the one that has the official interview letter No?

[SteveSandyHill 0]

We have a little good news to spread...EAD received, AP received and our case was touched on 05/15 so hopefully we will hear something soon.

That's about it...I just wanted to say HI!!!!!!!!!!! Very happy to see everyone is doing well and I'm always glad to read your posts.

Scott,

Congrats!!! I am right behind you ( some things never change! JUst like the K1 process)

Sandy received both AP & EAD Friday, as well AOP touches May 16 & 18, yeah I did a double take this morning when I checked case status this morning. The 18th was Sunday??? Looks like California is on OT, or someone is working from home! None the less, things are moving quickly.

On a seperate note, not sure if it is because I mailed Sandy & her daughters paperwork together or what, but approvals and touches have been on identical dates throughout this process.

[Chester y Monica 2]

Today May 19 was our interview in San Francisco.

We had to bring an interpreter just in case I was not allowed to translate, it was the good move.

Our appointment was at 8:15 AM and we arrived about 20 minutes early. It was hassle free getting into the building and to the reception area. We were called around 8:30 by the officer and she accommodated us inside her office. The only thing she asked for was: your current address, current phone number, your SSN and and am I still employed. She went to ask about 3-4 questions in the 485 -"are you planning on doing terrorism, have you received any financial support from the government, have you trafficked drugs"

Although we were approved, I would ADVISE and CAUTION those who used the Dr in Texas for "vaccination supplement". She raised eyebrows when she said that you live in California and you had a medical in Austin? After explaining my reason why I did what I did, she asked us to sign and date a sworn statement that said "my medical was completed, but never did I meet this doctor, go to office or examined by this doctor, and that business was conducted by mail". She said that we are approved but, we might get a call from State and Federal officials regarding the practice of doing mail vaccination supplements.

My argument was each of the local Civil Surgeons wanted a FULL physical and cost about $400. I did the mail method for convenience and believed that the instructions in the I-485 said, K1s who had physicals within the last year only need to submit vaccination supplements and not to a full physical. Her argument was that, a doctor who signs the paper, certifies that he/she has examined the patient.

She was really nice and was very thorough. En fin, we'll be waiting for the GC in the mail. She kept the I-94 and EAD card, and she wrote a few numbers on top of the K1 visa.

Thank you Club Colombia! It's been a journey and if had to do it again, I would without a doubt!

I'll always be around for any questions. Monica is active in the Spanish forum for K1 and AOS. If you need us, do not hesitate to drop us a message.

[Mononoke28 135]

Congratulations Monica and Chester!

That's interesting about the medical. I wonder if you can just submit a copy of the vaccines withouth the I-693 since they're saying a full medical is no longer needed.

Diana

[buck501 0]

Buck501 I noticed in your timeline your fiance went to the embassy and picked up packet 4 at the embassy. My fiance lives in Bogota and the NVC has our application now I believe (I will call latter today) since we were approved by the USCIS on May 12th. We will use the shortcut once we know the embassy has our application. My question is can my fiance still go to the embassy to pick up packet 4 rather than waiting for it to be mailed? Also when would she go to the embassy for the packet 4? I think that is the one that has the official interview letter No?

Yes you can pick up Pkt 4 at the Embassy. The invitation letter is the only important part, the rest you can gather from this site.

You will need to call the embassy to pick it up in person. When Paola got hers she could only get it on Thursdays at 4:00pm. Things change so often that I hesitate to give advice. You can call the nEmbassy though. I would recommend it even though your novia lives in Bogota where they have a mail system of sorts. The more you can control the process the better!!! Make your own luck!!!!

[buck501 0]

Today May 19 was our interview in San Francisco.

We had to bring an interpreter just in case I was not allowed to translate, it was the good move.

Our appointment was at 8:15 AM and we arrived about 20 minutes early. It was hassle free getting into the building and to the reception area. We were called around 8:30 by the officer and she accommodated us inside her office. The only thing she asked for was: your current address, current phone number, your SSN and and am I still employed. She went to ask about 3-4 questions in the 485 -"are you planning on doing terrorism, have you received any financial support from the government, have you trafficked drugs"

Although we were approved, I would ADVISE and CAUTION those who used the Dr in Texas for "vaccination supplement". She raised eyebrows when she said that you live in California and you had a medical in Austin? After explaining my reason why I did what I did, she asked us to sign and date a sworn statement that said "my medical was completed, but never did I meet this doctor, go to office or examined by this doctor, and that business was conducted by mail". She said that we are approved but, we might get a call from State and Federal officials regarding the practice of doing mail vaccination supplements.

My argument was each of the local Civil Surgeons wanted a FULL physical and cost about $400. I did the mail method for convenience and believed that the instructions in the I-485 said, K1s who had physicals within the last year only need to submit vaccination supplements and not to a full physical. Her argument was that, a doctor who signs the paper, certifies that he/she has examined the patient.

She was really nice and was very thorough. En fin, we'll be waiting for the GC in the mail. She kept the I-94 and EAD card, and she wrote a few numbers on top of the K1 visa.

Thank you Club Colombia! It's been a journey and if had to do it again, I would without a doubt!

I'll always be around for any questions. Monica is active in the Spanish forum for K1 and AOS. If you need us, do not hesitate to drop us a message.

Congrats!!! It amazes me how different the interviews are both here and in Colombia. The good thing is the results seem to be the same!!

Our interview was a cake walk in Bogota, no questions to speak of, less then 5 min. The AOS interview was about 45 min and a real grilling. Paola has her GC in hand though.

[TonyS 0]

Hey I am happy for you guys! Now would y'all send some luck my way!!!!

Edited May 20, 2008 by TonyS

[TonyS 0]

Had our AOS interview today....Interview lasted about 10 minutes...and we were approved...Card should be here within 30 days!!!

congrats

I am off on a biz trip, Paola called and said her AOS approval came in the mail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GC to follow soon. WAHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

congratss

Hey congrats on the approvals!!! I hope for news soon. Hartford Service Center sucks!!!!!

Been long enough TonyS... write your Congressperson like yesterday!

Well I wrote my congressman back in January. They were very nice and I got a reply letter a few weeks later. Basically said waiting for visa numbers? Also said they would check back and that the status would soon be available online. As of today...still can't check online.

[HAL 9000 96]

Very strange TonyS... very strange.

[PattyS_Husband 0]

Today May 19 was our interview in San Francisco.

We had to bring an interpreter just in case I was not allowed to translate, it was the good move.

Our appointment was at 8:15 AM and we arrived about 20 minutes early. It was hassle free getting into the building and to the reception area. We were called around 8:30 by the officer and she accommodated us inside her office. The only thing she asked for was: your current address, current phone number, your SSN and and am I still employed. She went to ask about 3-4 questions in the 485 -"are you planning on doing terrorism, have you received any financial support from the government, have you trafficked drugs"

Although we were approved, I would ADVISE and CAUTION those who used the Dr in Texas for "vaccination supplement". She raised eyebrows when she said that you live in California and you had a medical in Austin? After explaining my reason why I did what I did, she asked us to sign and date a sworn statement that said "my medical was completed, but never did I meet this doctor, go to office or examined by this doctor, and that business was conducted by mail". She said that we are approved but, we might get a call from State and Federal officials regarding the practice of doing mail vaccination supplements.

My argument was each of the local Civil Surgeons wanted a FULL physical and cost about $400. I did the mail method for convenience and believed that the instructions in the I-485 said, K1s who had physicals within the last year only need to submit vaccination supplements and not to a full physical. Her argument was that, a doctor who signs the paper, certifies that he/she has examined the patient.

She was really nice and was very thorough. En fin, we'll be waiting for the GC in the mail. She kept the I-94 and EAD card, and she wrote a few numbers on top of the K1 visa.

Thank you Club Colombia! It's been a journey and if had to do it again, I would without a doubt!

I'll always be around for any questions. Monica is active in the Spanish forum for K1 and AOS. If you need us, do not hesitate to drop us a message.

Chester and Monica, congratulations!!!!!

I wonder if there is anyone here in San Francisco who can do the vaccination form for a reasonable price. One question though, doesn't immigration provide a translator? I was not cleared about what happened with the translator you took to the interview.

With this in mind, I will try to find some doctor here who can do the stupid vaccination form. Perhaps, I will send a copy of the vaccination worksheets, and if I get an RFE, then I will submit later the other stupid form while looking for a reasonable doctor in San Francisco.

I will try to do some digging while waiting until August to enter the US.

[Chester y Monica 2]

Green Card production ordered! I received notification on May 20th, that the card has been ordered.

Thanks for all the congratulatins. TonyS, that is quite a long time to be waiting compared to what lucho, mavimaro, Mike y Adriana and my timeline. I hope you get some great news soon. Good luck!

[Mononoke28 135]

Just in case you're interested and weren't aware about this info. El SENA is giving free online English classes to all Colombians even if they live outside of Colombia. I'm not sure if it's too late to register for it but you can try. My husband registered and said it's a very good course.

Curso de inglés SENA

Diana

[HAL 9000 96]

EXCELLENT find Diana.

I will pass it on to Mária now...

[PattyS_Husband 0]

Shouldn't the local immigration provide an interpreter? I don't plan to bring any when we go for the interview.