Colombia Club

[lucho562 0]

Check out the embassy's website. It does not explain the new law about the vaccines, it just mentions that there is a new law.

I believe the embassy started making changes around the first week of July. Hence that is why they tell you to come back 2 days after interview to pick up the visa. That is why the Dra, didnt even ask for our DS156.

[buck501 0]

I have internet access now. The document we need is a certificate of police record in Panama. I read the info on Pkt 4, it said if you reside in another country for more then 6 months you would need the certificate. The time is accumilitive!!!!!!!! Paola was ther for a total of nine months over a 2 year period. She has no criminal record and was not a hooker there. They seem to think all Colombianas in Panama are hookers. Not true. She worked for a lady cleaning and caring for her house and did hair and nails for others. We have a letter from the lady in Panma stating this fact. I flew her to Panama 3 times as well as her mother before I went to Colombia. This was not a problem. The problem was the police certificate. Now I have to get her to Panama to obtain the certficate. We went to the Panama embassy here in Bogota, it would take 2 months to get it here. It will take 10 days and $4.00 to get it in Panama.

It seems she will need to have another interview now also. Bummer!!! I will not be able to be with her on the next interview. . I hope that is not a problem.

The man we had the interview with said all was good, he asked her how we met, when we met, how we communicateand how long we have known each other. That was it. He did not ask for any foto's or other evidence. He said it was not neccessary, he was satisfied we were the real deal. Talk about easy. My fear now is if she has to have another inteview it may be not as easy. The man we saw was very nice.

When we went to the window to present our docs from packet 4 we saw a lady that I am convinced has never been thankful for a breathe she has ever took. She was nasty. She was throwing papers around and looked at me in disgust. I wish I would have taken her name now. Depending on what happens next we could use that in a letter to our congressman. She was way out of line!!!

I have founf out that they can not deny anyone a visa if there is no fraud, as long as you are truthful, have your docs in order they cannot deny you. They can make your life miserable though with all kinds of delays.

The dissapointing part for me was we had gatherd all kinds of extra info and were prepared for anything. Letter from the women in Pamana, a letter from the doctor she worked for for 4 years in Buenaventura, and all kinds of othere stuff. Most of that stuff the ###### threw back at us. The man we had the interview with was very impressed. Too bad about the misunderstanding for the Police certificate. I should have been more careful. We talked about the fact t hat she was there, but decided it was not needed. STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More later, thanks for all your concerns and well wishes.

[Chester y Monica 2]

Accumulative time period? That doesn't make any sense.

For example , I have stayed in the Netherlands over the last 5 years with an accumulative stay of over 6 months. All multiple visits of 4 weeks each. I do understand what your saying Buck, but I can't put logic on it why no official 'wording' is made available by the embassy.

Now this has me concerned, but I will still push forward.

/___/ CERTIFICADOS DE POLICIA: Todo solicitante de visa que tenga 16 años o más

deberá presentar un certificado de policía expedido por las autoridades de policía de cada

país donde haya vivido seis meses o más desde los 16 años de edad. Los certificados deben

cubrir el período total de permanencia del inmigrante en cada localidad. El certificado de

policia de Colombia (libreta verde) es necesario para los mayores de 18 años. Debe

presentar un certificado del DAS válido por un año tramitado en cualquier seccional del

DAS del país. Debe cubrir todo el territorio nacional. NO TIENE QUE PRESENTAR

CERTIFICADOS DE POLICIA DE ESTADOS UNIDOS Y VENEZUELA. Si usted ha sido

arrestado por cualquier motivo, sin importar el tiempo que haya residido en el lugar del

arresto, deberá presentar un certificado de las autoridades de policía referente al arresto, los

motivos del mismo y lo dispuesto por la corte en cada caso.

Tambien debe traer una carta de entradas y salidas de Colombia expedida por el DAS

Edited August 19, 2007 by Chester y Monica

[Mononoke28 135]

I'm sorry to hear this Buck, but it actually makes sense. She was there for a significant amount of time, 6 mos., and taking the word of the lady she worked for is not enough to CO. I hope things get resolved soon and that she doesn't have any more issues when she goes back.

Diana

[lucho562 0]

Buck, I hope you get this resolved asap. Dont get too bummed out.

[buck501 0]

I think it will be OK. I am a little upset that they group all people the same. Colombians seem to get a bad rap over a lot of things. I understand the reason for a Police certificate. I do not understand why it is accumulative time and over what period of time it is accumulative. That was not clear to me. The man that has the apartments where we are staying said he has heard of several Colombianas who have been to Panama having problems gettting the visa. We seem to be ok, but at the same time we do not have the dang thing. I also see the concern for fraud with women that have been or are hookers I guess. I have heard that in some other countries it is a big problem. I don't know about Colombia.

Paola will go to Panama on Monday the 27th. She will be there for 10 days or so, untill she gets the certificate. I don't want to wait 2 months for it in Colombia. I hope that does not create a problem.

The letter was to provide proof of emloyment for her. She has had several jobs, all of them have paid her under the table, including the doctor she worked for in Colombia.

I have internet access now. I just wrote the details of the day of the interview and somehow lost it all. I will post in the morning giving an account of our experience at the embassy.

[jediknight 0]

congrats diana, you're almost there.

JK

[LUISH 0]

Sorry to hear that Buck, but I'm sure you will resolve that situation, don't worry too much about what other people think about colombianas, we all know that they are very good and dedicated women, just concentrate to get it done and bring home your sweetie, just be patient and don't lose control of the situation,

As for your experience at the embassy will be nice to know how it was, the more we know about the more prepare others will be, as for example your situation for not having a police report about the time Paola has spent in Panama, nobody would figure it out that it was cummulative, now I'm sure others will take that into consideration....

It's only two more weeks Buck, and Paola will get her Visa... you waited this long, two weeks should be really nothing...

Good LUck........

Luish

[Entonces... 0]

Buck, hang in there champ, your almost there. The process seems to "lento pero seguro"...translation (slowly but surely)

[paisita411 0]

Buck, since you have a date for your wife's trip to Pamana confirmed, go ahead and schedule your next appt date at the embassy. You can always reschedule at a later date if needed. I wouldn't be too worried about a second interview. Just have Paola take everything with her again, but I'll bet they will only ask for the missing document. Good luck.

Dre

[Bill y Bella 0]

Hi! I am back from Bogota. Spent most of the time seeing doctors, dentists and school directors in preparation for moving Bella and the kids to the US. Dental work costs a lot less in Colombia, so if you need some work and you will be in Colombia for a visit you might want to consider having it done there.

I flew back through Fort Lauderdale for the second time. I will try to avoid that airport in the future! The lines for customs and immigration are horrible. Each time I waited 2 hours in a line with no bathroom between the plane and the actual customs area. Miami seems to be a lot faster with much better facilities.

I received my NOA1 while I was away so now we are officially in the game. Now it is looking like it will be a long wait for the NOA2 since processing seems to have slowed significantly. I still have my fingers crossed for a pre Christmas arrival, but that is beginning to look less and less likely.

Keep the faith Buck. It sounds like the Panama police certificate is doable so you will be all set soon.

Bill

[parkpapa 0]

Hi! I am back from Bogota. Spent most of the time seeing doctors, dentists and school directors in preparation for moving Bella and the kids to the US. Dental work costs a lot less in Colombia, so if you need some work and you will be in Colombia for a visit you might want to consider having it done there.

Bill

Bill, you are absolutely right about the cost of dental work. Lorena has had considerable dental work in Colombia for less than $400 that would have cost several thousand here. Her teeth look perfect!

Regarding the kids and vaccinations: if the kids are school age, you might want to check with the local school to see what vaccinations they require. Chances are that they are different than what the US Government requires for simple entry to the country. Lorena's older boy (age 11) is having to have several booster shots over the next three months to catch up to where American kids are by the time they enter Kindergarten. Shots involved for him are three polio boosters, Hep B (second and third shots), and Tetanus (second booster).

Colombia is also "the place to go" for face lifts and other plastic surgery procedures. At least the prices are low. I have no idea what the quality of the final product is like. Though I could probably use some at any price. haha

[Bill y Bella 0]

Bill, you are absolutely right about the cost of dental work. Lorena has had considerable dental work in Colombia for less than $400 that would have cost several thousand here. Her teeth look perfect!

Regarding the kids and vaccinations: if the kids are school age, you might want to check with the local school to see what vaccinations they require. Chances are that they are different than what the US Government requires for simple entry to the country. Lorena's older boy (age 11) is having to have several booster shots over the next three months to catch up to where American kids are by the time they enter Kindergarten. Shots involved for him are three polio boosters, Hep B (second and third shots), and Tetanus (second booster).

Colombia is also "the place to go" for face lifts and other plastic surgery procedures. At least the prices are low. I have no idea what the quality of the final product is like. Though I could probably use some at any price. haha

Thanks for the tip on school vaccinations Charles. I had not thought of that so I will add it to my list.

The other great thing about Colombia is that there does not seem to be a wait for medical services. The ratio of professionals to people who can afford their services must be much greater than it is in the US. In Bogota you can call Friday afternoon and get an appointment for Saturday morning.

Bella needs several implants which will cost $1,000 each in Bogota. That seemed high but I just did a quick search of US prices for implants and they seem to be much higher. Actually some of them are astronomical.

In any case, we are using a national clinic called Sonria. It might be a little more expensive than some other places but I felt a little more comfortable with a "brand name". We will probably also have all of our future dental work done in Colombia on vacations.

[HAL 9000 96]

I wish I had more time to spend with my father in law. He's an odontólogo in Bucaramanga that has the most gentle touch these nice teeth of mine have ever come across. I wish I had known him when I had my 4 wisdom teeth taken out.

This is a great advantage for those of us that know how to spot good medical care- take it while the going is good and have your spouses help you negotiate decent, but obviously gringo, prices.

I plan on having lasik done down there at about 1/2 the total cost that it would cost a a name brand clinic here in Chicago, with special attention from my wife's friends that just happen to work at these Colombian name brand clinics. All with a trip, chorizo, and arepas included...

[Entonces... 0]

Can someone help me on this,

Okay I'm hoping that NOA2 is not too far from happening...so, what I was thinking to get all needed documentation now, but I don't want us to spend money on birth cert or DAS paper work, knowing that it will expire in few weeks. Is this true and can anyone offer me some insight. Thanks...

Lucho much props on the fotos of the embassy you took...

I look on the Embassy website and I was unable to find the new vaccination policy. That is another thing that I would hate my fiancé go through twice. If she gets them this month in Cali and we go to Dra. Gonzalez when it our turn does she have to get them again?

Rafael