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| Bogota, Colombia |  Review on December 15, 2010: |
josh.paulsen
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
So we got to the embassy at about 6:30AM, jumped into line #3 for IR1/CR1. Don't forget your 4 passport photos, you're going to need them starting now. Showed the lady the appointment letter and the wife's passport, both of us received green dot stickers to put on our jackets. We proceeded to security, which is almost identical to the airport, minus the fact that the embassy doesn't allow cameras of any type. After security we walked about 50 feet and got a little form from a Domesa lady who also puts a little Domesa sticker on the wife's passport. We then walked into the embassy waiting area and got in line with everyone else from our line #3 crew. The line was waiting for the green folder in which to organize all your papers in the order listed inside, and the nice lady at the desk will explain clearly what to do. You'll need your passport with the Domesa sticker, your passport photos, form DS230, form I-864 (with employment letter, last 3 years W2 and IRS transcripts), (both will be given back at the preliminary interview because they have already been submitted a long time ago, and are basically pointless to even put in the folder. But oh well, give them what they want at this point), Colombian Police Certificate, DAS Carta Migratoria (this thing takes minimum 3 business days to obtain if you go straight there in Bogota and request it.), Medical results in sealed envelope, Marriage Certificate, Wife's Birth Certificate. Neither of us have had a divorce, or children so those documents didn't pertain to us. They were listed on the inside of the folder, though. We got everything put in order and ready.
We then waited again to reach the lady at the desk that handed us the folder. In the mean time it was good to know that all staples, binder clips, paper clips, etc. had to be removed from evidence being used at the interview. Also all photos must be removed from albums. Would've been good to know, considering we were ripping 60 photos or so out of their albums while waiting.
Finally reached the lady at the desk and she confirmed all documents were in order, she shuffled through them and handed it back to us, told my wife to wait until her name was called over the loud speaker. So, we pulled up a couple cold as hell metal chairs and waited about 2 hours until her name was called. We proceeded to window 32 and had a little preliminary interview with a lady that was pretty cool, a little serious, but I believe she has to be like that in the position she's in, she did crack a little sideways smile at the end, though which was cool. She'll give you all the documents back that you submitted with the original application you sent in, all 3 inches or so that some of us loaded in there, and also give you back the DS-230 and I-864 stuff you just put into the folder a while ago, they already have all that information. She will ask a few questions about your relationship, etc. Not a big deal.
So back to the cold as hell metal seats, once again waiting for the wife's name to be called. This time you're waiting for finger printing. That's about it. Wife's name is called, finger prints are taken, and back to waiting on the cold metal seats.
So about another 2 hours go by, this time we're waiting for the actual interview. Wife's name is called to window 5. Really nice lady working at window 5, asks my wife about 10 questions or so, all really basic information you've already listed on the forms you've filled out. Nothing to worry over. She did ask my wife one question at the end while I was standing back, and then asked me the same question later. I would highly recommend ironing out any difference in opinion as when you and your loved one are going to have children. We had two different answers to that question and it ended up being pretty hilarious actually. We had the interviewer laughing like hell. Which was actually the last thing I had expected to happen when we woke up the morning of the interview.
So the wife gets the confirmation of approval and a "good luck" wish from the interviewer. We go off to the Domesa office near the waiting area with that little form the Domesa lady gave us at the start of the day. Fill in your info as to where you want your Visa delivered, pay the fee, which is like 57,000 pesos if I remember correctly, and you're off to pop a bottle of champagne or whatever floats your boat.
We found the people at the embassy pretty cool actually, considering the volume of applicants they see in a given day, week, month, etc. Everyone was helpful, not shining with joy, but helpful and kind nonetheless. My wife actually wore a knee length dress and open toed shoes, she looked great but was cold as hell. She's from Cali, so 70 degrees is cold to her, but keep in mind it is a bit nippy just sitting there on metal for 5 hours. And they have a coffee stand, food to buy, Postobon, Coke, etc. as well. Get to the embassy about an hour early and you'll be money. Good luck, and best wishes to all our Colombians out there. Stay positive, stay strong and know you have everything in order, you'll have no problems answering all the questions because you already know all the answers.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6975