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| Bogota, Colombia |  Review on April 22, 2021: |
HBundle
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Had our interview on 4/19/21 at 7:45. We originally had an appointment to do our biometrics on Saturday 4/17 but received a call that they cancelled it due to Pico y Cedula on that date. We were told we would do them at the Embassy. It was a weird call so we went to the Biometrics appointment anyway and were turned away. However, it all turned out alright because we did the biometrics at the Embassy.
We showed up at around 6:45 at the Embassy and waited in the group in the parking lot next to the entrance. There are a few guys there that give some helpful advice (and of course would love a tip). We had a big folder of documents in case they ask for anything strange, but most importantly I had two folders -- one for originals and one for copies. These folders included all of the documents that are listed in the P3 packet and in the same order as listed. The visa picture should have the full name of the fiancee written on the back.
Eventually around 7:30 or so they called people to get in the line. I'd try to get up front if possible because they seem to just go by order in the line and not order of appointment and the line quickly got very long. We were one of the first few in line.
Once you get to the front of the line, they check your documents and make sure they are in order. The only document I didn't already have in order was my (US Citizen) birth certificate and copy of the the birth certificate, which isn't listed on the P3 packet. Luckily I had it and put it in the packet.
After they review, you go through an airport style metal detector. I had to give them a USB Flash drive (with our documents) because they wouldn't allow it in (they gave it back when we left the Embassy). They made us turn off our phones.
In the next area they checked teh documents again and we sat down in what I would describe as an airport terminal with a bunch of stadium-style ticket counters up front. Eventually they called our name after about 10 minutes. A man who appeared to be Colombian reviewed the documents again. He didn't really say much and didn't respond to our question. He gave my fiancee the sheet about human trafficking that they sent in a prior email. He also got her to fill out and sign a new letter about her intention to marry in 90 days. after this we were asked to sit again.
After another 10-15 minutes we got called up to another window. This time it was a man who appeared to be American who also didn't talk much but was otherwise friendly. He reviewed the documents again, and while doing so asked the interview questions. I was a bit surprised because I thought we would have a more formal interview at a desk or something, and not at a window. The questions were asked in Spanish while he was flipping through documents. He asked how we met, when we met, how often I (the US Citizen) visited, and that's about it. His Spanish was not perfect and seemed like he was reading off a card. He reviewed my fiancee's birth certificate a bit closer and asked if it was original-- it looked like a copy, but it was original and stamped. After looking at it a bit, he seemed to determine it was genuine. He then said we were approved and that we would receive her passport back in about a week. We are now 3 days out and still haven't heard back, so hopefully it will be soon.
Overall, very favorable experience. Almost a bit unclimatic after after such a long process, though obviously we were thrilled. The staff are all very nice and generally helpful
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #29533