Name Match in Colombia Causing Visa Delay

[Ramirez65 69]

My husband and stepson went to their interview at the embassy in Bogota, Colombia on 7/6/23.  Colombia is now implementing a new procedure at each interview where the applicant's name is matched to known ex-guerrilla members in Colombia.  If there is a match, the applicant is told that their visa is approved but pending issue until the applicant proves they are not the person who matched their name.  This happened to my stepson during their interview.  After the interview they had to send an email to a government agency requesting a special document be forwarded to the embassy stating my stepson is not the person he matched names with.  We received a confirmation from the government agency that they received our request but there is no way to follow up or check status (they never answer their phones or respond to email inquiries) - the only way we're going to know this document went to the embassy is when they issue the visa (they kept his passport).  Has anyone going through the embassy in Colombia had this same experience?  If so, how long did it take to get resolved?

[Crazy Cat 41,190]

That's pretty common.  Additional background check after the interview is part of administrative processing.  It can take a bit of time to complete the process.  

Edited July 13, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Chancy 6,239]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures to US Embassy & Consulate Discussion, as the topic is about admin processing at a specific consulate ***