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| Bogota, Colombia |  Review on December 20, 2010: |
Wayne and Claudia
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Josh and Claudia's review mostly mirrors mine and Claudia's experience action per action. We actually entered the embassy 15 minutes late because the embassy workers were late. Our total time in the embassy was 3 hours 15 minutes. The weather was very nice, sunny skies.
Whe the CO called us for the interview she asked my wife how many times I had visited. My wife told her 8 times in 18 months with my son coming twice with me. She asked to see my passport which we passed to her. She then asked us about our Catholic wedding and how important our faith was to us. My wife explained that even when I visited for a short period we always attended Mass together and remain very close to the priest (Padre Valencia) who married us. She asked to see some photos so we handed her a stack of photos. She looked at some and smiled and said, "I am approving your visa." I was never asked any questions. At one point she switched from speaking Spanish to speaking English which was no problem for my wife since she is highly fluent in English.
The whole process was kind of anti-climatic. We, as others have stated, seemed to have expected fireworks but in a flash, all the work and preparation, it was over with 5 words (I am approving your visa). The embassy staff were very pleasent and facilities adequate. I see what people say about the weather being important..if it had been raining, especially early when you are outside of the embassy, it would have been a miserable day.
Our whole week was nice. I arrived in Bogota on Delta from Atlanta at 9:45 pm Saturday (12/11) and had to stand in line for over an hour in passport control due to some flights arriving late, some early, but all at the same time. My wife arrived from Pereira around 3 pm so she had a long wait for me. We hired Grey Line travel to provide us with private airport transportation from the airport to the Holiday Inn Express in northern (nicest) part of Bogota. They were fantastic. They were waiting for us with a sign as soon as I exited baggage claim. We asked about private transportation to all of our week's activities and she provided us with a name of a gentleman. We called him and his rates were more than reasonable. Claudia and I never take public taxis in Bogota mainly for safety and security. The white, private cars are the only way to go. If anyone wants the number to Grey Line (or their web site) or the name and number of a couple of safe, on-time and courteous drivers send us a message and we will be happy to give that information to you.
For the laboratory anyone who is not having lab work done should stay at the motel since you will not be allowed in and must remain outside. I was lucky because it was a warm, sunny morning so I could sit on the outside stairs. Had it been raining it would have been awful since there is only a small overhang and no where to sit.
The doctor's office I was able to go in but always had to remain in the waiting room. I don't remember too much of the process since I fell asleep early with my head on my wife's shoulder, jaja. I remember it was just a little over an hour, start to finish. My wife was told that she would have to return the next day for the final report so be prepared for that. My wife panicked a little when she read her vaccination report and it appeared to show "discrepancies." my wife contacted the doctor and she told my wife that had anything been wrong she would not have the certificate so not to worry.
That was really the whole week. We spent all day Friday after the interview lounged in our motel room sleeping. It was as if we had not slept in months and finally we could breath and relax. The Holiday Inn Express in northern Bogota is a modern, American motel that I highly recommend. It's location can't be beat, has heat and AC, rooms with true king-sized beds, working wi-fi internet, great and numerous cable channels, both english and spanish newspapers (your choice) delivered to your room and a full complimentary breakfast. The restraunt has delicious food and very reasonably priced. The location of the motel is so close to so much great shopping and dining it is a pleasure. The community is actually in the Jewish area of Bogota and is very clean.
All in all it was a wonderous week.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6988