Another Colombia embassy live stream

[Louis61404 133]

Colombia's embassy is doing another live stream on Wednesday, November 18th about visas.  The first two have been nothing but "Thank you for your patience" and "We don't have a date for reopening" but maybe this time there will be some answers.

 

At worst, the more of us that join, we can continue to put the pressure on them to open.  I have low expectations based on the first two.

 

You can watch on their Facebook or Twitter.

 

@David G

[David G 117]

Yes, finally they said something about IR1/CR1 visas. 

[HBundle 44]

I missed it because of work-- any real news on K1 and scheduling interviews?

 

Thanks!

[Louis61404 133]

1 hour ago, David G said:

Yes, finally they said something about IR1/CR1 visas. 

My Spanish isn't as good as yours.  Did I hear it right that they are doing IR1/CR1 IR2/CR2 slowly, and if you received the email that everything is done with NVC (DQ) you will get scheduled, slowly?  That's much better than "only emergency appointments, and we don't have a date."

 

 

1 hour ago, HBundle said:

I missed it because of work-- any real news on K1 and scheduling interviews?

 

Thanks!

I believe for K1, they said it is still emergency appointments only.  It was a different answer for spouse visas.

[David G 117]

@Louis61404

 

oh sorry I thought that you were latino.

the CO, Carolina said that actually they are working on IR1/CR1 visas, that they cannot call everyone at ones but those are the ones that they are having interviews right now. 

 

About the NVC she said that the NVC will notify us when we have an interview appointment scheduled, and that the Embassy is letting applicants know the requirements in order that we have everything ready for the interview. And that they are aware that WE (ir1/cr1 applicants)  have been waiting for so long for the interview. 

[MJ-2019 2]

Wow, this is fantastic! Thank you both for the updates. 

[Louis61404 133]

3 minutes ago, David G said:

@Louis61404

 

oh sorry I thought that you were latino.

the CO, Carolina said that actually they are working on IR1/CR1 visas, that they cannot call everyone at ones but those are the ones that they are having interviews right now. 

 

About the NVC she said that the NVC will notify us when we have an interview appointment scheduled, and that the Embassy is letting applicants know the requirements in order that we have everything ready for the interview. And that they are aware that WE (ir1/cr1 applicants)  have been waiting for so long for the interview. 

No, I'm a gringo, but it's hard for me to understand natural speakers sometimes.  Like when Quan was talking, I had no problem!  He talks slow like me.

 

That's some real news, finally!  Best of luck to us!

[David G 117]

1 minute ago, Louis61404 said:

No, I'm a gringo, but it's hard for me to understand natural speakers sometimes.  Like when Quan was talking, I had no problem!  He talks slow like me.

 

That's some real news, finally!  Best of luck to us!

Yes, Finally they addressed a question about our visa category. 

 

I even recorded it with my phone in case that they deleted that. I don't know, I thought that I was dreaming.

[Paco415 60]

1 hour ago, David G said:

Yes, Finally they addressed a question about our visa category. 

 

I even recorded it with my phone in case that they deleted that. I don't know, I thought that I was dreaming.

Is your spouse also in Venezuela and has to process in Bogota? I am in the same situation and very stressed out / impatient! 😩

[Louis61404 133]

2 hours ago, Paco415 said:

Is your spouse also in Venezuela and has to process in Bogota? I am in the same situation and very stressed out / impatient! 😩

I am in this situation.  We are in a weird spot, because if the embassy said okay, your interview is December 1st, she couldn't get there.  They just opened Copa to connect in Panama, and all the availability is gone until January, when it really opens up.  I am hoping for a mid January interview.

 

The land border is still closed.  It's very stressing, hoping for an interview, but hoping she can get to Bogota at the same time.  It really needs to be in January or later.

[Paco415 60]

15 hours ago, Louis61404 said:

I am in this situation.  We are in a weird spot, because if the embassy said okay, your interview is December 1st, she couldn't get there.  They just opened Copa to connect in Panama, and all the availability is gone until January, when it really opens up.  I am hoping for a mid January interview.

 

The land border is still closed.  It's very stressing, hoping for an interview, but hoping she can get to Bogota at the same time.  It really needs to be in January or later.

Does Colombia even understand the problem of Venezuelans getting to Colombia to process if they cannot get out of Venezuela? This is ridiculous. My husband was hoping to come see me when the next flights opened up which were this month but then they were all booked. Was going to fly through the Dominican Republic to get to the USA on his current B2. If we have to wait until January so be it. At least we will be an IR1 by then (our 2nd wedding anniversary is in Dec). He is hoping just to get out of Venezuela ASAP and wait out the time in another country until the interview, that is the only way he will be able to get to Colombia.

 

By the way, when you say "really opens up" is Venezuela planning to resume more operations by then? Because they have been doing this for months and they keep delaying. Then again, this is Venezuela so I am not surprised.

 

I am glad to hear from someone else here who is in the same quandry as we are. Thanks for writing!

Edited November 19, 2020 by Paco415

[Louis61404 133]

2 hours ago, Paco415 said:

Does Colombia even understand the problem of Venezuelans getting to Colombia to process if they cannot get out of Venezuela? This is ridiculous. My husband was hoping to come see me when the next flights opened up which were this month but then they were all booked. Was going to fly through the Dominican Republic to get to the USA on his current B2. If we have to wait until January so be it. At least we will be an IR1 by then (our 2nd wedding anniversary is in Dec). He is hoping just to get out of Venezuela ASAP and wait out the time in another country until the interview, that is the only way he will be able to get to Colombia.

 

By the way, when you say "really opens up" is Venezuela planning to resume more operations by then? Because they have been doing this for months and they keep delaying. Then again, this is Venezuela so I am not surprised.

 

I am glad to hear from someone else here who is in the same quandry as we are. Thanks for writing!

First thing to make sure, is don't allow him to fly Conviasa - one of the airlines operating.  It is owned by the Venezuelan government, and sanctioned by the USA.  Flying a sanctioned airline could cause serious problems with getting a visa.  Anyone "supporting" Maduro in any way is banned on that "Muslim ban" proclamation that included Venezuela.

 

I think they'll really open up more flights on February 12th, that's the plan.  And Copa's availability opens up with more options starting in January (from Venezuela).  So in the coming months, I think more options would be available.

 

At some point before then they have to consider opening the legal border crossing in Cucuta too.  That keeps getting pushed back in 30 day increments.  Yesterday because of the flooding a lot of people stormed the bridge and were eventually let in, because they couldn't cross illegally due to the floods.

[EA and MK 48]

On 11/18/2020 at 2:36 PM, David G said:

@Louis61404

 

oh sorry I thought that you were latino.

the CO, Carolina said that actually they are working on IR1/CR1 visas, that they cannot call everyone at ones but those are the ones that they are having interviews right now. 

 

About the NVC she said that the NVC will notify us when we have an interview appointment scheduled, and that the Embassy is letting applicants know the requirements in order that we have everything ready for the interview. And that they are aware that WE (ir1/cr1 applicants)  have been waiting for so long for the interview. 

Strange as they had a Facebook Chat session and I asked about CR1 interviews, only to be told they are working on emergency cases only.

[Bri&Alejandro 82]

Hi all,

 

Just wanted to hop on and say that I am in the same situation as I see some of you are. My fiancé is also Venezuelan. He was living in Peru but returned to Venezuela in February to visit family and has been stuck there since. At this point we have no reason to return to Peru, so we are in the process of transferring our approved K1 petition (still at NVC) from going to Lima to Colombia. That has been a headache in itself. 
 

I check weekly for updates from Colombia on when they will begin processing K1. I saw they posted a video on their Facebook stating they ARE processing K1, but only emergency cases. At this point I suspect we have another year ahead of us. I desperately wish the embassies could find a workaround...virtual interviews? Anything. I have not seen my fiancé since September 2019 and I miss him dearly. 
 

anyways, hang in there everyone. It is comforting to see others who I am sharing a similar journey with. 

[joe and karol 15]

10 hours ago, Bri&Alejandro said:

Hi all,

 

Just wanted to hop on and say that I am in the same situation as I see some of you are. My fiancé is also Venezuelan. He was living in Peru but returned to Venezuela in February to visit family and has been stuck there since. At this point we have no reason to return to Peru, so we are in the process of transferring our approved K1 petition (still at NVC) from going to Lima to Colombia. That has been a headache in itself. 
 

I check weekly for updates from Colombia on when they will begin processing K1. I saw they posted a video on their Facebook stating they ARE processing K1, but only emergency cases. At this point I suspect we have another year ahead of us. I desperately wish the embassies could find a workaround...virtual interviews? Anything. I have not seen my fiancé since September 2019 and I miss him dearly. 
 

anyways, hang in there everyone. It is comforting to see others who I am sharing a similar journey with. 

Good luck.  I would think it would be sometime mid next year to resume.  As far as planning for return of services, they have no idea or plan to restart services.  One day they will just know and figure it out along the way.  Due to safety issues, it is impossible to keep people distanced inside the embassy and it's remarkable how every other government run facilities can stay open during this time, even restaurants and hair salons.   Keep the faith.