Hello fellow Colombian Club Members!

My K3 was received by NVC on Monday (11/27/06) and was assigned a case number, but as of Friday (12/1/06), NVC told me they still did not know when they would send it out to Bogota. Hopefully they will send it out sometime next week!

Does anyone have any experience with this new document required in Package 3 mentioned a few posts up in this thread that says there is a new 11th document required from DAS, a letter stating how many times the Colombian national has exited the country? If anyone knows first hand about this requirement, could they expound on this for the rest of us? How much did it cost, how long did it take to get? Is there an actual name for the document? etc.

Thanks,
Tony

I don't know anything about this new document. But I have a friend whose fiance just had her embassy interview about two weeks ago. He's not on this board, but I've sent him an e-mail with the question. If I hear anything I will post it.

Mike

[quote name='Mike and Adriana' date='Dec 3 2006, 09:53 AM' post='600405']
[quote name='Tony & Olga' post='600010' date='Dec 2 2006, 07:46 PM']
Hello fellow Colombian Club Members!

My K3 was received by NVC on Monday (11/27/06) and was assigned a case number, but as of Friday (12/1/06), NVC told me they still did not know when they would send it out to Bogota. Hopefully they will send it out sometime next week!

Does anyone have any experience with this new document required in Package 3 mentioned a few posts up in this thread that says there is a new 11th document required from DAS, a letter stating how many times the Colombian national has exited the country? If anyone knows first hand about this requirement, could they expound on this for the rest of us? How much did it cost, how long did it take to get? Is there an actual name for the document? etc.

Thanks,
Tony
[/quote]

I don't know anything about this new document. But I have a friend whose fiance just had her embassy interview about two weeks ago. He's not on this board, but I've sent him an e-mail with the question. If I hear anything I will post it.

Mike

Thanks Mike!

Just as I think I have a handle on everything something else pops up! Any information you post will be greatly appreciated!
Tony

It's great to see people go out of their way to help others out as you all do on this site. Muy noble. Dios me los bendiga.
I filed our I-295F last week after some "policias acostados" (bumps in the road- Colombian style). Jeez.. my otherwise intelligent Carolina really had a hard time with the English-language forms.
I'm writing to ask you to help out this pobre "Paisita Chiviado" (hecho en las montanas antioquenas pero nacido en Los Junited Estates). I would appreciate any shortcuts, tips, forms, advice, you name it... anything that might make this wait a little shorter. I've already travelled to Medellin 3 times this year and planning another trip for next month, and I'm starting to feel a little light in the wallet (I used to tip to the left when I sat down)
Unfortunately, it seems the legendary Peter Miami is missing in action. Can anyone PLEASE e-mail me the forms and instructions he refers to in the previous posts?
My e-mail: fmore2@aol.com

[quote name='Tony & Olga' date='Dec 3 2006, 11:38 AM' post='600485']
[quote name='Mike and Adriana' date='Dec 3 2006, 09:53 AM' post='600405']
[quote name='Tony & Olga' post='600010' date='Dec 2 2006, 07:46 PM']
Hello fellow Colombian Club Members!

My K3 was received by NVC on Monday (11/27/06) and was assigned a case number, but as of Friday (12/1/06), NVC told me they still did not know when they would send it out to Bogota. Hopefully they will send it out sometime next week!

Does anyone have any experience with this new document required in Package 3 mentioned a few posts up in this thread that says there is a new 11th document required from DAS, a letter stating how many times the Colombian national has exited the country? If anyone knows first hand about this requirement, could they expound on this for the rest of us? How much did it cost, how long did it take to get? Is there an actual name for the document? etc.

Thanks,
Tony
[/quote]

I don't know anything about this new document. But I have a friend whose fiance just had her embassy interview about two weeks ago. He's not on this board, but I've sent him an e-mail with the question. If I hear anything I will post it.

Mike

Thanks Mike!

Just as I think I have a handle on everything something else pops up! Any information you post will be greatly appreciated!
Tony
The 11th document is something call the Das letter and is a document that tell the consulate how many times have you been in and out of the country..if you try to get that document from anywhere outside of Bogota it takes about a month to get it.. but if you go and get it in Bogota it takes 3 days the building address in Bogota is Edificio platinum extranjeria Das..calle 100#11b-27 and the cost is 36.500 pesos..you must pay at Bancafe before you go and you must take 2 copies of your Cedula number..this document is a new requiretment so know we need to be in Bogota 1 week before the interview instead of 3 days..hope this can help a little....

[quote name='ovet16' date='Dec 4 2006, 11:10 PM' post='602892']
[quote name='Tony & Olga' date='Dec 3 2006, 11:38 AM' post='600485']
[quote name='Mike and Adriana' date='Dec 3 2006, 09:53 AM' post='600405']
[quote name='Tony & Olga' post='600010' date='Dec 2 2006, 07:46 PM']
Hello fellow Colombian Club Members!

My K3 was received by NVC on Monday (11/27/06) and was assigned a case number, but as of Friday (12/1/06), NVC told me they still did not know when they would send it out to Bogota. Hopefully they will send it out sometime next week!

Does anyone have any experience with this new document required in Package 3 mentioned a few posts up in this thread that says there is a new 11th document required from DAS, a letter stating how many times the Colombian national has exited the country? If anyone knows first hand about this requirement, could they expound on this for the rest of us? How much did it cost, how long did it take to get? Is there an actual name for the document? etc.

Thanks,
Tony
[/quote]



I don't know anything about this new document. But I have a friend whose fiance just had her embassy interview about two weeks ago. He's not on this board, but I've sent him an e-mail with the question. If I hear anything I will post it.

Mike

Thanks Mike!

Just as I think I have a handle on everything something else pops up! Any information you post will be greatly appreciated!
Tony
The 11th document is something call the Das letter and is a document that tell the consulate how many times have you been in and out of the country..if you try to get that document from anywhere outside of Bogota it takes about a month to get it.. but if you go and get it in Bogota it takes 3 days the building address in Bogota is Edificio platinum extranjeria Das..calle 100#11b-27 and the cost is 36.500 pesos..you must pay at Bancafe before you go and you must take 2 copies of your Cedula number..this document is a new requiretment so know we need to be in Bogota 1 week before the interview instead of 3 days..hope this can help a little....
[/quote]

This document is not required,,,it is only required for an immigrant visa,,,the K-1 is processed as a non immigrant visa...My fiancees sister had her interview 2 weeks ago and it was not required...Greg

I also just spoke with the embassy. They told me that you only need what is in packet 3. No more no less.

Thanks for the good info! I assume that the K3 and K1 would be treated the same in this case then. I was starting to get a little worried about having to spend my whole vacation in Bogota helping my wife get this VISA, as opposed to only having to spend maybe a couple of days there! Not that I wouldn't do it, but I would rather spend it in other parts of Colombia rather all in Bogota running around and waiting on DAS and Doctors. It is not enough that they make everyone wait and nichol dime you to death for this and that and now they tell people they need a letter from DAS stating how many times a person has been in and out of the country. Seems like they could look in the passport for this.

As for what the Embassy told g65nov about only what was in Package number 3, I thought that is what the poster said was in the instructions from package number 3. But if it is only for Immigrant VISA's we should be OK!

Thanks...Tony

I also just spoke with the embassy. They told me that you only need what is in packet 3. No more no less.
[/quote]


[quote name='Tony & Olga' date='Dec 5 2006, 07:45 PM' post='604525']
Thanks for the good info! I assume that the K3 and K1 would be treated the same in this case then. I was starting to get a little worried about having to spend my whole vacation in Bogota helping my wife get this VISA, as opposed to only having to spend maybe a couple of days there! Not that I wouldn't do it, but I would rather spend it in other parts of Colombia rather all in Bogota running around and waiting on DAS and Doctors. It is not enough that they make everyone wait and nichol dime you to death for this and that and now they tell people they need a letter from DAS stating how many times a person has been in and out of the country. Seems like they could look in the passport for this.

As for what the Embassy told g65nov about only what was in Package number 3, I thought that is what the poster said was in the instructions from package number 3. But if it is only for Immigrant VISA's we should be OK!

Thanks...Tony

I

Yes, I get the feeling this "new" requirement is not for non-immigrant visas. I wrote the fiance of a friend of mine and asked her about her experiences and about this new requirement. I translated the response she sent me. While the translation was not great, I got the impression that she knew nothing about the new requirement and hadn't been asked for that information. Her interview was only a few weeks ago.

So, I think we are OK with the DAS background check as currently required.

Mike

Que Rico!

I was informed by NVC at 7:45AM that my K3 Petition/VISA Approval was forwarded to Bogota on 12/05/06.

Now, I am planning on using Peter's Short Cuts, by having my wife fax and courier the documents required in Package #3 to the Embassy. I am tracking the NVC package via DHL and plan to have my wife send the documents a day after DHL confirms to arrival of NVC's package. I hope this will help us get an interview date in January as opposed to February. I am also hoping the interview date will occur while I am in Colombia (12/29/06 through 01/12/06)! What are the possibilities? Anyone want to take the odds? jaja! Some how I am not very optimistic about this happening, but, Espero que si!
Bueno Suerte!
Tony

Tony&Olga, Congratulations on you news!! I'm on you coat tails...my K3 was recieved at NVC yesterday (Dec 5th) so if my timeline continues to trail yours, my docs should be on their way to Bogota by next Monday!!!! I wish you the best of luck for the January interview, I hope to be there too, though I may be more ambicious than you!!!! Anyway, I'll keep reading your posts to see where you stand...

---Dre

I'm beginning to prepare the Packet #3 forms to send to my fiancee. I recv'I have a few questions.

- Regarding form DS-156... The Packet #3 instructions state 2 copies per person are to be completed. If the beneficiary has a child under the age of 21 one must also complete 2 DS-156 for the child. In my situation there is 1 beneficiary + 1 child. Is that a cost of $400 just for the DS156 forms? $100 per form per form, 4 forms, paid at Banco Union Colombiano.

-Other than referencing from OF-169 instead of form DS-2001, are the instructions Peter scanned, and Mike was good enough to forward to me, still up-to-date?

-Mail service in Colombia, especially residential, is less dependable than the weather forecast. Stuff goes missing all the time, but it seems to me to be more dependable in commercial areas and when consigned to a business. In addition, no one is at my fiancee's home during the day. Would it be possible to have the Embassy/Consulate send packets 3 and 4 to her workplace?

If anyone has recently recv'd or expecting their packet 3 or 4 from the Bogota Consulate PLEASE scan the documents... pdf of jpg files. I will do the same as soon as we recv our packets. Lets try to keep this thing going.

Fernando

Tony and Olga and Oskar and Andrea:

We may all end up with the same interview date! I just got off the phone with the NVC. They said they had received the petition from the CSC, had assigned a case number and had shipped the petition off to Bogota today! I am so excited about the quick turnaround time by both the CSC and the NVC!

I plan to use the short-cuts as well and feel pretty confident about getting a January interview - a month ahead of what I optimistically expected. I am happy for all of you...and for us too!

Mike

Hi All!

Here's a little review of the K3 process we went through. Our Interview is scheduled for Dec 15th but Sendy is leaving for Bogota tomorrow, a bit early to do some running around as well as the Lab/Medical stuff.

Anyway, just let me know of any specific questions and I'll do my best to answer them.

James


Our K3 Journey (Post Approved I-129F)


1. Once you know that your case has been forwarded to Bogota, I'd say give them 1-2 weeks before it will be entered into the system. During this time, you should recieve an I-797C notice that has this case # (it will start with BOG....).

2. Next, go ahead and give the Embassy a call (check the website for the contact details). If you call the main phone and tell them you are requesting info regarding your K3 Visa application, they will connect you or give the number to call. I think it's only Thursdays between the hours of 2pm-4pm that they accept calls regarding K3's. This call is just to verify that they have recieved the packet and is entered into the system. You can also make any special requests (perhaps changing where you want the Packet sent? Not sure).

Also -- at this point I wish that I had requested they send me the Packets as well here in Florida. Might be a good idea to request because I have zero confidence in the mail system.

* this next step is where I WISHED I had been more proactive. Sendy and I waited a total of 2 months for the Packets #3/4, never to get them.

3. Once you know the petition is entered into the system, you are now basically waiting for it to arrive. So... Head over to the Embassy website and download the required forms (DS-230, 157, 156, etc...) and fill everything out. Sendy and I got an Instant Messaging session going and we worked on it together (they are "fillable" .pdf files that you complete then print out).

4. Fax and send via courier what they ask for in Packet #3. Sendy made a copy of her Cedula, Passport, the DS-230 P1, and a short cover letter explaining what was being sent.

5. Give them 1-2 weeks to get things entered into the system, then call the Embassy. The purpose is to find out if they recieved everything, and ask if they issued an interview date. It's possible that at this point they already have that date and simply put it in the Packet #4. Again, I wish I had requested them send the Packet #4 to me here in Florida

6. Complete the I-134 Affidavit of Support and compile all supporting documents. I sent this via DHL to Sendy and it arrived in 5 days @ $70.00

7. The petitioner should call to make the medical appointment based upon the date of the interview. Sendy's Medical Appt is Wed, so she is doing the lab work on Monday and her interview is Friday.

8. Pay for the Visa. This is now done at a Banco De Credito --- bring another completed DS-230 and a DS-156/167 and a passport because once you pay, they place barcoded stickers on each of these.

9. Spend some time with your "honey" to review the documents, go over some possible questions the interviewer may ask, and make sure everything is in the correct order (the instructions in the Packet #4 specifically state the order everything should be in and is important to follow when you arrive to the interview).


Well... That's everything I think. Like I said, you can save some time by not waiting for a packet that may or may not arrive ---- I sure wish I had been a bit more proactive. We could have saved 2-3 months (our I-129F arrived in Bog around August 21st). We had to reschedule our Nov 3 invterview because waiting for Packet #3 did not give us enough time to get everything in order (including me sending the I-134 --- it will take some time to get all the support docs!!!!!!).

Anyway ---- I truly hope that everyone is successful in their Journey!!!!

We will be sure to report on our Interview after Dec 18th!

Take Care,

James

Hola!!! Just wanted to keep everyone updated.....Our package is on its way to Bogota

Forgot to mention....

The Packets #3 & #4 that Peter has provided are outdated. I noticed this last night while going over everything with Sendy. Unfortunately, I have already sent these to her and I do not have a copy!!!!

In the next few days I will go over the ANEXO B pages to see where the changes are made --- from what I can remember off hand, I think a couple of items were added.

Either way, I recommend that you use the Packets ONLY as a guide. I say this again -- when I first called the Embassy to see if they sent out Packet #3 & #4, I WISH that I had requested them send these to me as well here in Florida. This is ultimately how Sendy got Packet #4 (Embassy sends to me, then I send to her via DHL). The Packets STILL have not made it to Sendy in Cartagena since the embassy sent Packet #3 in August!!!!

Take Care,

James

Hi James,

I for one would appreciate any information you have regarding any new or different forms that are sent in Packet 3. I am using a combination of the short cut tips from Peter and the Bogota Embassy web site for current forms and everything else I can glean from this site!

Thanks,

Tony

Hello all. I'm just getting started but I am joining the club to learn and share experiences. Look forward to hearing from y'all in the future.


Tony

Tony (&Olga) ---- Sendy and I were in such a rush to get things together (like waiting for Packet #4 to arrive in Florida only to send it back to Colombia! arrggghh!) that I did not scan the documents. But we will be going over the Anexo B page together where I noticed some differences from the Packet Peter has supplied (I think from 2004). She is travelling today, and will probably give her time to settle in -- so I'd say peheraps sometime this weekend we will review everything together.

Sorry, we still have not recieved Packet #3 so I can't help with that one --- I seriously doubt we will ever get it!!!

Anyway -- will definitely post what I find.

TonyS,

Glad to have you on board. There is a ton of good information going on this thread --- you will definitely want to "track" this thread to keep up with any new posts (if you look near the top of the first post on this page, you will see an "Options" tab. By clicking you will see several options to select from the drop-down menu. Just click "Track This Topic" and you will get an e-mail each time a new post is made).

Also -- Create a "Timeline" in your signature line. This will help understand where you might be at in your timeline and could help answer any questions.

Take Care Everyone!

James

From everything that I have read, the only change to packet 3 is that they want the DS-2001 instead of the OF-169. I am actually sending both (the OF-169 I got from Peter and the DS-2001 I got off of the U.S. embassy website for El Salvador and for the UK).

If there are any changes to packet 4, I'd like to know. Obviously, Peter's packet 4 was for the K-1...so it did not ask for the marriage certificate.

I am wondering if the Bogota embassy has gone to the electronic version of the DS-156 yet. The electronic DS-156 encodes a barcode on the document and provides an additional page. At this point, I've prepared both an electronic DS-156 and a paper DS-156. If anyone wants to see the electronic version, go to the U.S. embassy in El Savlador's web site.

Mike

Mike,

I don't think so. The petitioner needs to take a completed DS-156/157 to the Banco De Credito where they will place a barcode sticker on the forms after payment is made. Review this page:

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwsc185.shtml

This page will tell you how to pay for the visa. The petitioner takes a completed DS-156 & 157 to the Bank, make the payment, then they will give you barcode "stickers" for the forms and your passport. As indicated here:

"A Banco de Crédito representative will mark the form with a control number stamp. The completed application that you present at the Bank must be the same application that you present with your passport at the Embassy on the day of your scheduled interview."

Also,

Here is a document that lists locations of Banco De Credito
http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/co1/wwwfnewbank.pdf



Hope this helps!

Take Care,

James

Mike, I filled the I-156 and the I-230 in english for my husband. Do you think we should fill the spanish versions out as well?

THanks, James. That was my understanding as well. Don't think Bogota has adopted the barcode requirement yet.

Andrea - from what I understand, the embassy will accept it either way - English or Spanish. I suspect they offer the forms in Spanish since they expect the beneficiary to complete it...and it would likely be easier for him/her to complete a form in Spanish as opposed to English. We are submitting our in English on an English-language form DS-156 and DS-230.

[quote name='OskaryAndrea' date='Dec 7 2006, 04:52 PM' post='608378']
Mike, I filled the I-156 and the I-230 in english for my husband. Do you think we should fill the spanish versions out as well?

Well, I'm not going to bother with the spanish versions then. I'll be with my husband at his interview anyway. Another thought...if we get our DSL delivery confirmation on Friday, Dec.8th, I was thinking of having Oscar just fax the docs over on monday and send out the hard copies by courier. I figure that by the time it all gets processed they'll end up together? Am I being TOOOO greedy?

Hi Andrea,

Yes this site is a life saver. I am glad I happened apon it when I did. I am having Olga fax and send the DS-2001 I downloaded from the El Salvador Embassy site, along with the Part1 of the DS-230 and a copy of her passport. I think this will suffice from everything I have read. Am I leaving anything out? I will certainly scan our packet 3 when and if we receive it. The last two weeks have gone by fast and now I feel like I am in a race to beat the clock! jaja!

Bueno Suerte atodas!
Tony

Assuming the petitions I am tracking make it to Bogota tomorrow, I will have my wife fax the documents on Monday.

I believe my wife indicated that tomorrow was a holiday in Colombia. Although that should not impact the embassy, I wonder if DHL will be running?

I think we have all agreed on what to fax/send the embassy:

DS-230, part I
DS-2001
Copy of biographical page of the passport

I read somewhere that someone also sent a copy of the cedula...but I don't see that this is required...or that it really adds anything to the packet.

As for the DS-156, yes, it is two copies per person. So, if there is a spouse and a child, it would be two copies of each DS-156 plus the $200 fee ($100 per person).

Mike

Hey Mike,

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwsembh.shtml#English


It seems the embassy celebrates both US and Colombian Holidays. I read somewhere you should give the consulate ample time to scan your documents before faxing your fiancee's ds-2001, ds-230 and passport. Maybe you should call first to confirm it is in their system??? Just a thought.

Thanks. Now that you post that, I remember seeing that calendar on the web site before. It is interesting, because the U.S. embassy is closed for some Colombian holidays, but not all. There are definitely more national holidays than what is reflected on the web site! I guess the day I drove by the embassy, it was one of those holidays that the embassy has chosen not to celebrate.

I see that the embassy is closed today. So, Tony and Andrea, I guess we'll need to hold back on our faxes. Even if DHL is running today (which was my concern), they won't have anyone to deliver the packets to. Next Friday is the 15th....so we are all going to be cutting it close. I am leaning toward a Wednesday or Thursday fax. I'll wait a few days after that and follow with the courier...just in case.

I have been thinking about the possibility of calling the Bogota embassy next week to check on things. But I am getting a little confused by some seemingly conflicting information (or maybe it is just how I am reading it).

The Bogota embassy web site indicates that they do not accept calls....that you must use the Visa information call center and pay a fee.

I seem to recall other members of the board indicating that you COULD call the Bogota embassy directly (although now I can't find the thread), albeit only on certain days and time. In fact, James mentioned that possibility in one of his posts in this thread (or at least I interpreted his comments as meaning you could contact the embassy directly).

Does anyone know which is true? And if you can call the Bogota embassy directly, what days and times do they take calls on K-3s (I believe James indicated he thought it was Thursdays from 2-4 p.m.)?

On another note, some may be wondering why we are going to fax our paperwork to the embassy next week without knowing for sure that our case has been input into the system. Here is my rationale. I know that the cut-off for January interviews is somewhere between December 15 and 20. So, if we want a January interview, we need to submit our DS-2001 and DS-230 by then. If we do not, we'll have to settle for a February interview. So, I figure we'll send in the forms. If the petition has been logged into the system, we'll get our January interview. If the petition has not been logged, then the embassy will either hold the materials or discard them and we won't get the interview. But we'll still have plenty of time to re-submit the data later so that we can get the February interview. Make sense? What do you think Andrea? Tony?

Mike

Mike,

We still have not recieved Packet #3, and the only reason why I was able to get Packet #4 was by calling and requesting that they send it to me here in Florida -- which I then sent via DHL to Cartagena. Also, by waiting for the mail to never arrive, we never knew our Interview date. So...

Calling the Embassy and requesting info related to our K3 petition, they connected us to a person who handles these ---- apperantly, they only work on Thursdays between 2pm-4pm

In a previous post on this thread, I laid out the entire process that I went through -- so, take a few minutes and read through the last few pages.

Personally, I would give them 1-2 weeks from the time you know that NVC has forwarded your petition to the Embassy before you call. I simply do not know the exact process they go through in recieving and entering the information into the system. You should wait, at the very least, until you recieve the I-797C from NVC because this notice will have the case number (starting with BOG....) --- you will need this for them to pull up the file when you call.

Hope this helps!

Take Care,

James

Ok....here's my two cents worth:

1. I already have the NVC case number and confirmation from the NVC that my docs were forwarded to Bogota on 12/06/06. I' tracking through DSL and since now I know the Embassy is closed for one of our famous Colombian "Festivos", I expect my docs delivered on Monday, Dec. 11th.

2. The cut-off for a January interview is BETWEEEN the 15th and 20th and it "vaires by month" according to Peter Miami.

3. It may take 1-2 weeks for them to enter the docs, but in light of the trends that I've been reading on the boards, I'm going to take the chance of faxing the docs in on the 13th and sending them by courier the same day for APPOX delivery of Hard Copies on the 14th or 15th. Either way, my P3 docs will be seen twice and I'm hoping this will trigger action by the consulate on my docs. I don't want to risk missing the cut-off day if it falls this month prior to the 20th. If it doesn't work, at best, we're one step ahead for an EARLY February interview????

4. Thank you for the compliment on my sexy mama gif, my 13 year old daughter has it on her myspace and mommy borrowed it.

Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ALL of us. Its getting lonely and cold in Atlanta

James, thanks for the welcome and the information. I will create a timeline and look forward to posting in the future. Take care!

Good Evening fellow Club Members!

Looks like this thread is getting very active with all of us getting approvals and NVC Packets being forwarded to the Embassy.

As far as calling the Embassy, I know they have Wednesday's ear marked for taking calls about VISA's. The last time I was there I learned this. I believe there is a window on every Wednesday between 2:00-4:00 PM that they take these calls. But I also know that they only give out general information about VISA's during this call in time. They will not go into specifics about individual cases. But I am not sure whether they will tell you if they have registered your case number or not.

I for one am not waiting to call and find out, just to pay for the call, be put on hold and then to possibly finding out nothing. I am having my wife fax her documents on Tuesday, now that I realize there was a holiday today. But our packet was received yesterday at 11:00AM according to the DHL Tracking Info. So I concurr with Mike and Drea, I do not want to miss the cut off dates and if they do not have our case registered yet, then oh well, we will wait another week and resend it. That way I know they will have received it and they will have had a chance to register us in the system. We have nothing to loose. Also, if we fax it Tuesday and we are not registered yet, they will send out the normal Packet 3 within a few days after this, when they do finally register it!

I am doing this mainly in the hopes I can be there when she is scheduled for the interview. If for some reason we don't get the interview in the first two weeks of January, then no problem we will just wait until we are scheduled. My wife is working for a University i Cali and we are building a house there also, so she has plenty to do! But, I do miss being with her, especially now that the waether is getting a bit chilly here!

Welcome new club members and please ask and post your experiences here, so that we all may learn!

Tony

I just copied this from the Embassy's Web Site:

Public Inquiries

Versión en español

Due to a dramatic increase in the number of immigration cases being processed, Immigrant Visa representatives are available to speak directly with inquirers on Wednesday afternoons, from 2:00PM to 4:00PM, at (571) 315-1566.

If you are in Colombia and would like to discuss a specific case with an Immigrant Visa representative, appointments may be scheduled through the Visa Information Call Center.

Answers to general questions concerning the immigration process can be found on this web site and in the FAQs.

If your petition was sent to the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), but you have not yet heard from that office or from this Embassy regarding your case, you can locate information about the status of your case at (USCIS).

Tony

I understand that, effective 11/1/06, embassies were supposed to require the electronic version of the DS-156. However, I don't see any mention of it on the Bogota embassy web site (and some other members have stated that the electronic version is being rolled out over time to the various embassies).

Has anyone had a Bogota embassy interview subsequent to 11/1...or received packet 3/4 since 11/1? If so, does the embassy now require the electronic DS-156 with barcode? Or are they still asking for the paper copy?

Thanks,
Mike

PS - posted this elsewhere, but does the Bogota embassy require the DS-156K for K-3 visas...or just K-1 visas? Again, I've seen conflicting evidence and it has been suggested the requirement is embassy-driven.

Is this The NOA2? Can it be? I just sent my app 2 weeks ago!!!


Case Status
Receipt Number: EACXXXXXXXXXXXX

Application Type: I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On December 14, 2006, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

Peter and all....


I can't thank you enough for helping Sendy and I work through our visajourney --- your tips and comments were incredibly valuable. As some of you may know, Sendy still has not recieved delivery of any Packet 3 or 4! But by following this thread, we were able to complete our visajourney.

Sendy recieved the approval from the CO/Interviewer today. Monday she will return to pick up the visa.

We wish all of you still working to complete your visajourney much success!!!!


Thank You. From both Sendy and I, Thank You.

Take Care,

James

Thanks to ALL!!! Without this wonderful community I don't know what I would have done... Maybe OVERpaid some greedy lawyer to be in the dark the whole time. Its great to have an understanding of how this process works and actually have some control after having read the great advice on this site. I'll be sure to put the shortcuts I have learned to good use and then pass on what I have learned and experienced to those coming up after me.
I wish you all the luck we seem to have.
Fernando

Congratulations Fernando and James!

We are now awaiting to see if the Embassy will/is sending us the package 4. We faxed and then sent by courier the DS 2001, part 1 of the DS230 and passport page this past Monday. So we are keeping our fingers crossed for an early interview date. The embassy still has not updated there web site of the interview appointments for December. I gues the chico/chica who is responsible for this is on holiday or something.

I will post when I here or see something!

Bueno Suerte!
Tony

Now that my petition has been approved by VSC, how do I track the satatus of my case? From what I understand one only recvs updates from USCIS-CSSO@dhs.gov and on the website https://egov.immigration.gov until NOA2.
Fernando

Fernando, congratulations on your NOA2 approval...things will start moving much quicker from here. Here's what I did once I recieved my approval, and it was based on PeterMiami's shortcuts. I think Tony&Olga followed the same steps and both of us are waiting for our PK4...hopefully for January!!

1. Next week, start calling the NVC (603) 334-0700 and listen carefully to the prompts (1 for english 2 for spanish...) there will be a prompt that allows you to speak directly to an operator between 7am and MIDNIGHT Mon-Friday...this is great because you can call when there is less traffic on the lines and get a REAL person. You will want to speak to a human and ask 1) if you case has been recieved 2)if YES, then for a CASE Number (should start BGTXXXXXXXX) 3) the date it will leave NVC to Bogota. The first few times you call they may tell you the standard "it takes 1-2 months to process", but just be polite, say thanks and call back the next day and ask the same. I called every other day for a week until I got my case number and by the next day the case had been forwarded to Bogota!!!

2. In the mean time, begin assembling PK3 docs: DS-2001, DS-230 Part I, a copy of your beneficiary's passport (just the biographical page) and a cover letter (i'll be glad to forward all of this to you if you need it).

3. Once your case has been forwarded to BGT, go to the "TRACK DHL PACKAGE" thread on this same forum and follow the instructions for tracking your package... The NVC will tell you they can't give you a tracking number, but PeterMiami's tip was a sure shot for us.

4. When you confirm through DHL that your case was recieved in Bogota (ours took 2 business days), have your fiance fax the P3 docs to the embassy (see the embassy site for the fax number) and send the HARD COPY by courier - Servientrega - to the consular visa division.

5. This should prompt the P4 - appointment letter with your interview date. The interview cut-off date is between the 16th and 20th of each months and does vary, so if your docs get in before the cut off date, you should have an interview the following month. Now, don't wait for the P4 letter or for a posting on the embassy web site, you will want to CALL the embassy on the following Wednesday and confirm reciept of your case from the NVC and of your PK3 docs and at the same time ask if the appointment date has been issued. I'm still in this phase, so I'll keep you posted on how it goes on Wednesday.


Good luck!

Dre

Fernando,

I could not have said it better then Dre! I am exactly where they are in the process and followed the directions she listed to the T, accept we did not include a cover letter. I thought the DS 2001 was all that was necessary for explaining what the fax was all about, but then again Olga may have drafted a letter on her own for the hard copy sent by the courier.

I will also call the Embassy on Wednesday to see where and when everything is! It will be interesting to see who's appointment for the interview will be issued first, us or OskaryAndrea. Not that it is all that important to me, but just curious as to how all this positioning and everything comes together.
Best of luck Fernando and Dre, I hope you post when you hear or learn something from Bogota!
Tony

Hi...sorry to bug you...my NOA2 was approved Dec. 13. We were planning on marrying Jan 31 in Vegas (not sure if it will be possible but want to try anyway) So I want to do all I can to try to make this happen. Where can I find the DS2001, DS 230 part 1 and a sample cover letter. Can I fax these with copy of her passport from the States or should I have her do it?

Also, once the embassy receives these do they then send the packet 4? How will sh know when the medical exam is if no packet 4? Or when we call for the appointment date they will tell us the medical date and the interview date???

Finally, what number at the embassy do you call to find if appointment is set??? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.

Hi,
You will recieve a letter from the embassy (Packet 4) to advise you of your interview date. You then call and make an appointment with the doctor. You need the letter to go to the doc, so it is just a process of waiting until you get it. If you see your interview posted on the internet (good luck with that, they have yet to post December interview dates!!) and have not recieved your letter, you can go to the embassy just before the medical and get a copy, or so I hear.. I am posting two of my last posts to give you an idea of what to expect. Good luck and God bless........


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Well, we are here in bogota for the interview tomorrow morning. We had the medical on monday. It went fine. I recommend arriving at the lab around 6 or 615 in the morning. It makes for a much faster visit. We were second in line and were out and eating breakfast (my fiance had to fast starting at 10pm) by 7:45. I had to wait outside but it is a safe area and I just went and got a coffee. The day is free until your appointment at the doctor in the afternoon. They will send the lab results to the doctor for him or her to have when you have your appointment. It is a bit intimidating, but very professional at the doctors office. You need to have your shots up to date, and within the last 30 days as well. My fiance had to get another shot in order to be cleared by the doc. The place to get the shots if you need them is just down the street though. We were out by 6pm and there is a great mall nextdoor to relax after a long day if you feel like it. You will recieve your sealed pack to take to the interview, your shot records for your personal records, and your chest xray. That is pretty much it, tomorrow we plan to arrive at 6am for the interview, hope everything goes well, say a prayer for us!!! I will post how things go and all the details tomorrow evening...Greg


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Dec 13 2006, 04:27 PM
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GREAT DAY!!!!! We were approved today after a long wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I recommend arriving (as we did) around 6am. There were about 15 people ahead of us, but by 630 there was probably 150 people. So early is the key. Have everything organized, they are very thorough at the embassy. They are very serious but very fair. Out of about 15 fiance visa pettions, 11 were approved. If at all possible, both of you should go, and if he/she does, be sure to bring your US passport as they will look at it as well to see the original stamps when you entered the country. Keep good records of your trips, phone calls, emails and so on. If you do all of this, you should have no problem. There are lots of rumors out there as to what you need. You need only what is listed in the checklist. NO MORE!!! I emphasise this because they seem a bit irritated when they have to sift out stuff like letters from your attorney, translations, other DAS forms,,ect..Just bring what is in the packet 3, no more....The embassy is closed tomorrow, so we will have to spend one more day here in Bogota, but who cares???We are happy happy happy,,,when the officer said "your visa is approved it was a very emotional moment, and I am not that emotional, but it made all the hoops you have to jump through for the visa, worth it all...take care...Greg and Tati....

Forgot to add,, yes, fax a OF-169 and Part 1 of the DS-230,,you should be able to get one off the internet fairly easy. We brought our paperwork to the embassy in person, but a fax would suffice. They recieved, I think, our package from NVC on Nov 1, we both went to the embassy in person on Nov 2 and filled out the forms and handed them in in person. Three days later, my fiance recieved another packet 3 by mail that had a note on in that said be sure to put your case number on all forms. So we resent by fax with our case number and recieved a Dec. 13 appointment. Hope that helps...Greg

Greg: thanks for everything...were you allowed into the interview????

Yes, but dont forget to have your passport as well, They may look at it as they did mine to see the original date stamps when you entered and left Colombia to visit your fiance....take care...Greg