Consulate Review: Bogota, Colombia
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
July 25, 2007 |
| Embassy Review : |
Details on our interview.
Labratory
We had our lab exam on July 3rd. We showed up at 6:20am, lab opens at 7am. Since we were the first ones there and totally super cold. We decided to head to a coffee shop around the corner from the labratory. After I chow down a sandwich and coffee. We return to the lab at 6:40am and already were 5th in line. No problem. The labratory is pretty efficient, very fast. Please note thate they do not allow the USC in. So I had to wait outside. No problem, I went back to the coffee shop to keep warm. I returned to the lab at 7:25 and 5 minutes later Wendy was done with the lab tests and x-rays. So it took under 30 minutes for her to get in and get out. The lab asks for her appt letter, passport and 1 photo. The lab stamps the appt letter and 150 mil pesos. The employees as the lab were friendly, no problems here.
Medical exam
Wendy's medical exam was scheduled for the same day at 9:45am. After the lab we head home to eat something, since Wendy was fasting for the lab exam. We head to Dra. Gonzalez office. Arrive at 9:30am. Dra's secretary asks for Wendy's passport, appt. letter, and 1 photo and 135 mil pesos. We were in out in less than an hour, given the fact that the Dra showed up a little late. The secretary and Dra were both very friendly. No problems here either. The lab tests are given to the Dra at earliest 2pm, so we had to come the next day to pick up the the medical exam and x-ray. The medical exam results and are given in a stapled envelope with the vaccinations info papercliped to it. The vaccinations info is typed on an official "Department of State" letterhead. Do NOT open the stapled envelope. This is to be turned in the day of the interview. The x-ray does not need to be taken to the interview. Interesting thing to take note. Varicela and Td vaccinations are given in several doses. Wendy's vaccination noted that here vaccines were incomplete. No worries though, it only was incomplete because there has to be ample time inbetween doses. Such as 1 dose given today and the next dose in 1 full month. So, do NOT worry if your vaccine report says incomplete. NOTE, the Dra did not ask us for a DS156 form. More on this later.
4th of July
Rest, go over all documents and run thru some of the questions that may be asked at the interview.
Interview day July 5th
We walk to the the embassy and get there at 5:45am. Already about 10 people in front of us. Beware that there are "thieves" that roam the lines. They will try to tell you that you need this and that, like notarized copies of passports which is a total lie. They are just there to try to make $ of people that dont know any better. Steer clear and do not initiate conversations with others, as this may confuse you and even worry you. We are told to wait on the main street where the embassy is located. Note this line is not where the lines 1, 2 and 3 are. This line is prior to the forementioned numbered lines. We were let in to the area where "line 3" is located shortly after 6am. Everyone rushes to line 1, as I laugh in my mind. I had already went over the whole process with Wendy. I had told her already to follow my lead and go to line 3 ASAP. Well I guess numbers influenced her other wise. I head to line 3 and expect her to be by my side and behold she heads to line 1. I call her over and have to struggle with her to believe me that I was in the correct line. Since like 100 people or so went to line 1 and I was the only one in line 3 at this time. Please forgive her folks. At about 6:15am an announcement on the PA mentions that BAM immigrant visas, k1, k2, & k3 go to line 3. And yes this felt good. The folks in line 3 were given green stickers that were placed on our shirts. Ok once they placed the stickers on us they told us once we entered we are to to wait in "Area 40". We head on in and wait at 'area 40'. A lady comes over and tells us to circle up and to listen. She told us to get out the appt. letter. We turn in the appt letter to her and she gives us a brown folder with K1 written on the cover. Note, we up to this point have been first in everything. First to receive the folder, first to actually walk in the embassy. (thanks fellow members). We are told to sit and to ogranize all of our documents in the order that is in the folder. NOTE, anexo B and the order in the folder ARE different. I however advise to organize your documents exactly like anexo B. Note again, certificado migratorio is mentioned in packet 4 instructions but are NOT mentioned in the folder. We just placed this behind everything else.
7:15am, Wendy is called to window 29. I go up with her. All of our docs are in order and everything is fine except that the CO asks for 2 more passport photos which was odd. We already had 4 altogether, 1 on each of the DS156. And 1 for the lab and 1 for the mediccal exam which are both in the exam envelope. Luckily enough we had 2 spare photos on us. Dont know what would have happen if we did not. So I suggest to bring 2 additional photos with you. The CO asks Wendy the following questions.
Are you single?
Do you have kids?
Is Lucho single?
Her phone #
Her cell #
My phone # (wendy gave her my cell instead, no problemo)
That was it. The CO analized carefully all the docs, especially the I134 and supporting documents that go with it. CO says everything is fine and to go sit down near windows 2 & 3. This process took all but 10 minutes.
A big relief, but its not over yet. We head to that area and just wait, wait, wait, wait, and wait some more...zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Ok after all that waiting its about 9:15am and they call Wendy and many others in no particular order to get finger printed. She goes up, gets fingerprinted, and we wait again. Ok now its about 9:45am, they call 1 lady over to get interviewed, then another, then finally they call wendy at about 9:55am. When Wendy hears her names she lets out a small scream lol She goes up to the window #3 and I stay a few steps behind her. The CO notices me behind her and immediately waives me over to let me know its ok for me to be with her from start to finish. Wendy gets on the phone and here comes the questions.
CO asks Wendy
How did you meet Lucho?
How many times has he visited you?
Have we traveled together?
Please explain this photo?
CO gives Wendy DS156K and tells her to sign it, that it is an oath of sort that everything Wendy has answered was true.
In the mean time, CO tells Wendy, now let me speak with him. I get on the phone, exchange salutations.
CO asks me
What do you do?
Have you been in trouble with the law?
How did you acquire your citizenship? (I was born in Colombia, I guess this is why this was asked)
I answered all 3 questions and BAM, she tells me, your visa has been approved. I ask the CO, what? we are approved? I was in desbelief. I look at Wendy and smile. I tell Wendy, ya nos aprobaron. The CO gives me a paper that says to return on Monday for the visa which was odd. Since our interview was on a Thursday, we expected to be told to come back today, friday. But oh well, we'll be back on Monday, with the hope of no printer problems.
Ok folks, dont know what else I left out, but if I can think of something, will for sure add it in later. Any questions, just ask. The process was fairly easy.
Lucho & Wendy
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| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0