Consulate Review: Bogota, Colombia
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
|
| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
November 18, 2014 |
| Embassy Review : |
Overall the process at the Bogota Embassy was smooth. Our appointment was for 830, but that does not really matter (I think everyone's was scheduled for the same time). We left at 650 from the house in a taxi and arrived at 745. There were two lines outside of the embassy, one for CR1's on the left and a very long line for tourist and other visas on the right.
Walked up to the lady at the front, she reviewed our invite, gave us a green sticker and told us to go inside. Went through an airport type security check and was inside the visa interview area of the embassy (inside the gate but outside the building). We were directed to a window, where we waited about an hour (windows 1-6 are for CR1's but not all were staffed). We waited on metal benches for about an hour. They reviewed the basic info, took my wife's passport and returned all original documents. We were told to wait until her name was called.
We went to another set of metal benches and had a coffee as well as an empanada and waited for about 1.5 hours until her name was called. We went up to window 4 and she had her interview over the phone (man behind glass). The interview was about 5 or 10 minutes and questions were very basic (how did you meet, how long have you known each other, where did you get married, where will you live in the US, etc. very basic questions and easy to answer). After this we were told she was approved and given information in regards to next steps.
Overall we were very organized. We hired a lawyer to do all the paperwork. We showed up with a huge stack of paperwork in case we were asked for anything. I had original docs (birth certificates, wedding certificates, etc.) as well as tax returns, proof of relationship,photos, everything you could think of? We had. They didn't ask for any of it, but I think it was because the lawyer had all of this in advance and sent it to the NVC.
Overall it was a very easy experience and not stressful or difficult. The only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 was that we were at the embassy from 800 to 1115 and the wait was a bit long. Otherwise it was a 5 experience. There were a lot of people there that day, so I do not know if that is typical or not. The tourist and student visa lines were crazy long, but we were separated from that. |
| Rating : |
Good |
|
ver 5.0