Backlog in Bogota Embassy

[Bri&Alejandro 82]

20 minutes ago, HBundle said:

Congrats!  that's great news!

 

I've got to admit I'm a bit jealous. This seems to indicate that they aren't exactly going first come, first served since our case was sent to the Embassy prior to the pandemic.  Nevertheless, very happy for y'all.  Let me know if you have any questions about how to prepare the documents for the interview.

I really think that my congresswoman may have made this possible. While I have no proof of it, I know that she was actively trying to speak with the NVC about our case. My case still shows as "At NVC", it never went "In transit" or "Ready", which makes me think it got pushed through.

I am still in a bit of shock over it, lol. We are going to begin the DS 160 tomorrow. 

[HBundle 44]

3 hours ago, Bri&Alejandro said:

WE HAVE AN INTERVIEW!!

 

I have no idea how this is possible. My case shows at NVC but 5 minutes later I checked my email and the embassy emailed to inform me that our interview is April 8th. 
 

I had reached out to my congresswoman and I know she contacted the NVC about my case, I am really wondering now if she made this thing move for me. 
 

Anyways, we now have A TON to do in the next couple of weeks and have to figure out how to get both of us to Colombia. Just wanted to give you all a little update on that, I hope this means that the end is in sight for everyone!!

Oh and I'm curious what the letter says-- do they allow the petitioner to be with the beneficiary during the interview? Or can only the beneficiary attend?

 

Thanks

[Bri&Alejandro 82]

4 minutes ago, HBundle said:

Oh and I'm curious what the letter says-- do they allow the petitioner to be with the beneficiary during the interview? Or can only the beneficiary attend?

 

Thanks

My email actually did not have an interview packet included, just a packet with instructions for the medical exam. The email consisted of instructions to create an account on their immigrant visa site, information about the medical exam, and information about documents. 🤷‍♀️ Pre covid, the petitioner was able to attend and so I plan to be there. Maybe I will get more info once I create an account...I will let you know.

[Bri&Alejandro 82]

I had a question for the NVC so I called them, and they confirmed that my case WAS expedited. This tells me that my congresswoman DID push my case through. So, I don't think the embassy is skipping anyone and I bet you will hear from them soon @HBundle 💗

[DanNJ02 19]

2 minutes ago, Bri&Alejandro said:

I had a question for the NVC so I called them, and they confirmed that my case WAS expedited. This tells me that my congresswoman DID push my case through. So, I don't think the embassy is skipping anyone and I bet you will hear from them soon @HBundle 💗

Do you think you could have gotten your case expedited if you had tried through the formal process?

[Bri&Alejandro 82]

1 hour ago, DanNJ02 said:

Do you think you could have gotten your case expedited if you had tried through the formal process?

Good question and hard to say...I do feel that, pre-covid, I had some legitimate reasons to expedite such as my fiancé living in Venezuela in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, my own medical conditions, my mental health, etc. I never pursued it since the embassy stated that they would only approve “life and death” emergency cases right now. Although, requesting an expedite is free and won’t harm you if they say no so it’s worth a shot if you feel you have a chance. 
 

I ended up on the phone with the NVC for over 2 hours (mostly on hold) but they did tell me repeatedly that my case was expedited and they just received word of it yesterday. They said going forward I need to direct all questions to the embassy and bid me farewell. It sounds like my petition will be en route to the embassy very soon. I will definitely continue to keep you all posted with how the interview goes and what we experience 💕

[HBundle 44]

Really happy for y'all Bri, and thanks for the info on the packet.  I too plan to be there for the interview and hopefully I can attend.  I'm still hopeful we get an interview sometime in April--we'll see.  You inspired me to reach out to a local representative to see if they could help.  They previously called on our behalf during the pandemic. I don't know-- couldn't hurt!

 

Good luck preparing for the interview

[Bri&Alejandro 82]

8 minutes ago, HBundle said:

Really happy for y'all Bri, and thanks for the info on the packet.  I too plan to be there for the interview and hopefully I can attend.  I'm still hopeful we get an interview sometime in April--we'll see.  You inspired me to reach out to a local representative to see if they could help.  They previously called on our behalf during the pandemic. I don't know-- couldn't hurt!

 

Good luck preparing for the interview

As soon as I get an actual interview packet or info on the requirements I will share with the group 😊 I know that will help everyone so you all are not scrambling to prepare like we are now haha

 

You are so right, there is no harm in reaching out. I wrote to just about anyone I could find: the judiciary committee, my senator, my congresswoman, even the president 😂 I really hope everyone here starts getting movement soon, I can’t wait to see it!

[Bri&Alejandro 82]

Hey @HBundle quick question about the DS-160. We just finished it, and I thought I would have to pay a fee at the end of it but it did not ask for any payment. Did you have to pay when you completed yours? 

[HBundle 44]

3 hours ago, Bri&Alejandro said:

Hey @HBundle quick question about the DS-160. We just finished it, and I thought I would have to pay a fee at the end of it but it did not ask for any payment. Did you have to pay when you completed yours? 

No, there's no charge and supposedly it doesn't expire though they could ask me to re-do it since I did it last March. 

[Tacos 70]

5 hours ago, Bri&Alejandro said:

Hey @HBundle quick question about the DS-160. We just finished it, and I thought I would have to pay a fee at the end of it but it did not ask for any payment. Did you have to pay when you completed yours? 

 

Congrats on getting the interview, please keep us updated and give us a debrief about the interview, which I’m nervous about given her previous denials for tourist and student visa applications. I’m also planning on being there for the interview, or at least outside pacing in circles. 

 

Seems that her and my son being in the US near my birthday at the end of June could be a real possibility. 

[Bri&Alejandro 82]

3 hours ago, HBundle said:

No, there's no charge and supposedly it doesn't expire though they could ask me to re-do it since I did it last March. 

Okay got it! I thought I had seen a message that said “at the end of this form you must pay a fee” but I am likely definitely losing my mind from lack of sleep 🤣 

 

I am curious if they will ask you to redo it as well. It took my fiancé and I about 2.5 hours to finish due to a horrible phone connection. I’m glad to have this one thing behind us

[Bri&Alejandro 82]

1 hour ago, Tacos said:

 

Congrats on getting the interview, please keep us updated and give us a debrief about the interview, which I’m nervous about given her previous denials for tourist and student visa applications. I’m also planning on being there for the interview, or at least outside pacing in circles. 

 

Seems that her and my son being in the US near my birthday at the end of June could be a real possibility. 

I will definitely keep you all posted! Hopefully her tourist visa denials won’t be a huge deal...from what I understand it can be pretty difficult to get a tourist visa so that would really stink if they held that against her 🙄

[HBundle 44]

10 minutes ago, Bri&Alejandro said:

Okay got it! I thought I had seen a message that said “at the end of this form you must pay a fee” but I am likely definitely losing my mind from lack of sleep 🤣 

 

I am curious if they will ask you to redo it as well. It took my fiancé and I about 2.5 hours to finish due to a horrible phone connection. I’m glad to have this one thing behind us

To clarify a bit-- you might be thinking of the interview fee. You do have to pay this but its on the interview portal as opposed to the portal you use for the DS-160.  You will have to pay a fee on the interview portal (assuming they are still using the interview portal).  There is no fee to submit the DS-160.

[Bri&Alejandro 82]

3 hours ago, HBundle said:

To clarify a bit-- you might be thinking of the interview fee. You do have to pay this but its on the interview portal as opposed to the portal you use for the DS-160.  You will have to pay a fee on the interview portal (assuming they are still using the interview portal).  There is no fee to submit the DS-160.

Yep, I did see on the portal that it mentioned a fee. Awesome, thanks for clarifying!