Congratulations LUCHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

That's great news, Lucho!!!!!!!!! Congrats to both of you!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

Gracias Nydia y Gracias parkpapa.

It was really helpful to know that it's actually called Certificado de Migratorio. Now we know what to expect and how to go about in getting this document.
Looking at the timeline, Nydia - es posible mi prometida y tu vas en similar tiempo para la entrevista. Ojala todo salga bien. Perdon mi espanol

jaja no te preocupes, bueno si vamos similar, pero es mejor que llames al NVC y pidas si tu caso ya salio de alli, porque en la pagina del USCIS la fecha de aprobacion de la NOA2 dice Junio 25/07 y cuando llamo al NVC me dicen su caso salio de aqui para Bogota en Junio 20/07

Quede loca... pero creo que aqui a la embajada de bogota solo hay un dia habilitado para recibir llamadas que es el miercoles. Espero que me den respuestas.

A proposito el numero del NVC es (603) 334-0700.

Way to go!!!!!!!! See you on the AOS side!

Jeje, por el momento la batuta se la dejamos aunque fuera en español... pero mi nick es maviwaro, no waviwaro... jajaja.

Por cierto le toca darle duro al inglés.

Muy grande WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...................Congrats!!

lucho and wendy, congrats!! i just got into bogota, i'll be calling you tomorrow. my wife and i are sooooo happy for you.
JK

No Lucho yet?? You know I'm waitin' for details.

Does the embassy ask for the X-Rays from the Medical exam? I forgot.

SamyNidia.....I found the answer to your TRANSLATION QUESTION.....

This is from PKG 3 from the US Embassy in Bogota...."NO NECESITAN TRADUCCIONES los documentos en INGLES o en ESPANOL. Los documentos escritos en OTROS idiomas deberan ser traducidos al inles por un traductor comptente, certificadas y debidamente juramentadas por el traductor ante un notario publico."

In ENGLISH " IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO TRANSLATE documents written in English or Spanish. Only docuements written in languages OTHER than Spanish or English require translation by a competent translator, certified and notarized by a public notary."

Hope this keeps you from having your finace travel back to her hometown or paying extra for anything. Once she's here, if you need the documents translated to English, you can find it pretty inexpensively at any Hispanic Service company, depending on where you live.

Espero que resuelve esto tus dudas. Tengo el original si lo necesitas ver por ti mismo. Just PM me.

Dre

For k1 visas they do not ask for the x-rays.

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

Bro, how are you handling this weather? I caught a cold today but combatting it with all I got and help from la drogueria. What part of town are you staying in?

Not for the K-3 either. Lorena was told that the x-ray might be asked for at the airport (not sure why), but she basically carried it around for days for no reason. Noone asked to see it. Of course, that does not mean that this will always be the case.... so who knows?

I have been making jokes about this... the X-Ray is... well... too revealing if you ask me!

Yeah, so it is really silly that someone at the Airport would want to see it. What reasons could they come up with?

Yeah I noticed that also. I guess some stranger might look that close on purpose, but talk about cheap thrills!!

Thank you Lucho!!! I loved every minute of it, especially Wendy screaming when they called her 'cause I tend to react the same way. Congratulations once again.

And man, that whole thing about picking up the visa has me up in knots. I really want to go to the interview and come back home with my husband but if they push out the time to pick it up, it will really screw us over.

One question, I'm assuming that CR1 visa petitioners will also stand in line 3, right? I keep forgetting about that one.

Congratulations buddy! I don't get tired of saying that!

Diana

P.S. One more thing, where did you end up staying in Bogotá?

AAAYY QUE CHEVEREEEE!!!

FELICIDADES LUCHO Y WENDY!! POR JIINN !!!

jajaja me imagino los nervios pero gracias a Dios todo les salio muy bien. Me alegro por ustedes.

jiji mawaviaro jajaj me cuesta escribirlo pero ahi voy aprendiendo

OskaryAndrea gracias por su aporte, de veras que no lo sabia

A todos los mejores animos en esta carrera que parece sin fin, pero que ya se van viendo resultados de a poquito.

Yo por mi parte les comento que el lunes voy a enviar los papeles del paquete 3 teniendo en cuenta las recomendaciones que da Petermiami en su post, viendo los timeliner de todos los que estamos aqui, es muy probable que mi caso ya este en Bogotá desde hace ya unos 10 dias. Yo quisiera la cita para el mes de agosto entonces voy a aprovechar a jugar con las fechas y bueno a ver que pasa... es que en agosto cumple años mi Sam y quiero pasarla con el.. ta solito

Congrats luchco..................I hope ours goes as easy as yours. I am going to stay a week after the interfview to be sure we get the visa in hand.
I am pretty sure Paola will squeal a time or two. I love to hear that!!!
Warm clothes seem to be in order. Paola says she is cold when it gets down to 80 deg. LOL. By the way, did you have any problem with the altitude of Bogota? I just found out it is at an elevation of 8600 ft. I live at 200 ft and Paola lives at sea level. Not that it really matters I guess.
I am very happy to hear things went so well for you. You were well prepared. Thanks for the tip about the scammers while waiting in line.

I know you asked this of lucho, but I'll throw my two cents worth in on the altitude. In Missouri, I live at about 700 ft msl. My first couple of trips to Bogota, I experienced a mild but persistent nosebleed. After that, the only consistent problem I had with the air in Bogota was the pollution. Lorena lived at around 1000 ft msl in Florencia, Colombia. She didn't have any problems. However, when we went up to Monseratte, both of us had difficulty walking up the hillside to the church. We'd have to stop every fifty steps or so to catch our breath. I think this was approximately another 1000 feet in elevation, so I'm not sure why that made a difference, but it did. The other thing on Monserrate is, even if it is warm and comfortable (and sunny) in Bogota, you can have cold drizzle at the top of the mountain. It's one of the prominent landmarks overlooking the city, and worth visiting, but it IS an entirely different climate.

diana, as far a i know it's still line 3 for us. i've tried to get a hold of luch and wendy but no luck. i just sent them a pm, hopefully they'll contact me.
lucho, as far as the weather and altitude, i haven't had a real problem. maybe shortness of breath when we walk alot but nothing major. i hope you get over your cold soon. people here dress like it's winter in nyc, with scarfs and hoods and big jackets. since i'm use the cold it's no biggie for me. anyway, catch you guys later.
JK

Jedi....................Good luck to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone.

The altitude is a minor problem. Shortness of breath mainly, but I am now getting used to it. However I still cant get use to this cold weather, neither can Wendy. She is from hot humid Barranquilla and im from sunny California.

As far as I know, line 3 is for immigrant, k1, k2, k3 visas. I believe cr1 is an immigrant visa. Dont write this on stone.

BTW, forgot to mention that the CO did not ask for 1 piece of evidence, no new photos, emails, calling cards, nada.

Steve, will call you in a few.

Diana, thanks!

We are staying at a furnished apartment that is 1 block away from the embassy. Not bad at all in regards to $. 190usd for 7 days. Here is their website www.welovebogota.com

We stayed at one of their apartments back in January and would have stayed with them again if they had had space. They are reasonable and easy to do business with.

Whoooooaaaaa!! Oscar gave me EVERYTHING in February to hold on to and I broght the darn x-ray home to Atlanta. Well, I moved in May and it was among the last things left in the house and I have a STRONG feeling I threw it away. I NEVER thought we would have an interview before February and I figured O would have to retake his medical exams. Well, I'm glad that no one was asked for it at the embassy or at the point of entry. Oscar was kind of pissed at me yesterday when I told him about throwing it away.

Lucho...what's up with the question about the picture? (if its ok to ask...)

And HOW cold is it? Before I went in February, I was told how cold it was in Bogota (and it was FREEZING in Atlanta), so I took a bunch of winter clothes and ended up having to sweat in all of it for 10 days. It was HOT. So please, before I unpack my winter clothes...be straight with me on the weather....what's the real deal?

OK...yesterday I'm at the office organizing all of my docs for the interview (15 days away now!!) and its about 6:30p and I see a messsage pop up and its the Vice-Consul again. She was emailing me to say that I should bring the I-134 instead of the I-864 (which she asked me to bring originally). Folks, I'm totally freaked out by how nice this woman is being. I'm not holding my breath for anything and I'm prepared for the worst, but I'm really starting to feel SPECIAL with all this attention from the Embassy.

Another thing...about MONZERATE....All of my ROLO friends told me (after I did it) that going up to there with your significant other is the Kiss of Death to the realationship. Has anyone else heard of this?


LOL

Dre

Dre,

The picture in question was me in a tuxedo and Wendy in an elegant dress. The pic was at Wendy´s brothers wedding. I guess she just wanted to know what was going on and who was in the pic. I believe this pic helped alot since it showed I met her family. It is really cold, well i´m from Los Angeles, and not use to this cold weather. If you are from NY or Denver like Diana, it may be a piece a cake for you. But damn its cooooooooooooooldddddddddddd. Its not snowing but the temps are low and strong wind chill.

Hi!

Chicos es que he estado mirando desde la primera página de este tema, y veo que Petermiami habla acerca de como buscar en DHL la información de los paquetes remitidos a Bogotá, pero no encuentro nada. He traducido cada página (80)

Alguien puede ayudarme a resolver esta incognita?

Gracias!

Lucho a propósito una amiga que iba por k3 oyo cuando wendy grito jajaja

Besos!!

OOOhh ya encontre como

La duda que me queda es con las cuatro formas de buscar porque parece que solo una sirve: EXPEDITE IV SECTION (Maybe Immigrant Visas)

Estas dice que es imposible buscarlas y no da informacion:
I-730
EXPEDITE NIV SECTION (Maybe Non-Immigrant Visas)
CORRESPONDENCE

Alguien sabe de otra palabra para buscar? Estoy tratando con todo jajaja

Andrea,

Yeah, that's a popular superstition in Bogota. If you go up there with a boyfriend/girlfriend, your relationship is doomed. However, Lorena and I went up there on our first date and that's where she won my heart. The rest, as they say, is history.

I think you make (or break) your own luck. Where you go is not nearly as important as what you do.

Charlie

Seems like we had the same interviewer... awesome dude...

WWOOHOOOOO

A TODOS FELICES NOTICIAS!!! ENCONTRE COMO BUSCAR EN DHL TRACKING JAJAJA

LE DI Y LE DI HASTA QUE POR FIN LOGRE!!! SOY MUY PERSISTENTE, FUERON HOOORAS, PERO A VECES PIENSO QUE ME DEJAN HABLANDO SOLA

A VER LES DIGO LA FORMA:

1. www.dhl.com
2. Select Location: UNITED STATES ON AMERICA
3. TRACK
4. Track by Reference
5. Reference: (aqui se coloca las siguientes palabras: EXP (01 ... 31) (JAN...JUN) 2007A, CYCLE (01...) 2007
6. Colocan en la fecha en la que saben que el NVC envio la peticion a la Embajada. Ej: EXP 20 JAN 2007A, ó tambien si no lo encuentran por ahi entonces por este otro: Ej: CYCLE 25 2007. IMPORTANTE: Es mejor colocar las fechas desde Jan 01 hasta la fecha de consulta en mi caso el dia de hoy Jul 8, para que tome todo.
7. Custome Number se deja en blanco, solo se selecciona en Sender
8. y.. TRACK para que busque las referencias.

ESPERO HABER SIDO DE GRAN AYUDA, YA QUE ME ENCANTA PODER INVESTIGAR Y AYUDAR A LAS PERSONAS QUE LO NECESITAN. ES MEJOR DAR QUE RECIBIR... pero tambien recibo jejeje

BESOOOOOOSSS!!!

Ah, si alguien puede postear esto en ingles, abriendo un post nuevo, la gente estaria feliz de saber lo de sus peticiones.

Nydia,

Últimamente la gente se ha estado quejando de que los tips de Petermiami con DHL no funcionan. Entonces puede ser que cambiaron toda la vaina.

Dre,
As far as kiss of death to a relationship, try going up La Piedra del Peñol. My husband and I were all smiles and giggling going up that big old rock, half way through we weren't smiling so much and as soon as we got to the top we weren't even talking to each other. I know it's dumb but the whole huffin' and puffin' and making fun of how weak we were put us in a bad mood.

Lucho,
I e-mailed the guy on the apartment to find out more about it. I like the sound of it except that I wouldn't like to share the place with other people. Oh well. Let me know how it is when you get back. And take care of that cold, you hear?

Diana

Lucho, thanks for the explination on the picture. Its funny the things they ask some people to explain. I'm going over our entire interview from February...thank GOD we came home and typed it all out that day, today I wouldn't remember a 3rd of what they asked me. And I'm also reviewing the questions posted here, what Mike sent me in February and anything else I can find. We're going to be ready for everything this time. As far as the cold weather, even though I grew up in Miami and live in HOTlanta...I rarely use a coat (don't even own one), anything 40F or above is comfortable to me. I'll take a sweater with me. HEY...did you have to share that apartment with someone? I contacted the guy yesterday and its available for the dates I'll be in Bogota but I don't want to be in there with a total stranger. Thanks for giving us the link.

Diana, at least you made it up to Penyol....I went to the 3rd story and had to crawl down on my @$$. That is one creepy rock. looks like a whale droped out of the sky into the lake!!!

lol - dre

congratulations. i feel like i have given birth to you, lucho. i am glad things finally came together for you. i had my doubts about you at the beginning, especially when you repeat back information exactly opposite of what i already told you. but you finally got it together and now you know enough to help others. i hope you do as my patience has dwindled.

good luck to you and your fiancee.

once he gets ead, he can apply for a social security card. my wife's card took about one month at most.

Por lo mismo me puse a investigar y pues aqui di mi aporte, porque a mi tampoco me funciono el de Petermiami, espero que a alguien le sirva.

A todos espero que sus peticiones sean contestadas lo mas pronto, y pues en vista que como no se hablar ingles mejor dejo de postear.

Gracias.

Nydia...sabes que las instrucciones de petermiami no fueron facil para mi tampoco. Lo logre pq MikeyAdriana y TonyS estaban en las mismas con migo al mismisimo tiempo y ellos me ayudaron a hacer el tracking. Como para mi, ese paso fue en Noviembre del 2006, pues no me afecta, pero si note tu aporte y dige "ehhh, que bueno que tomo el tiempo Nydia para esplicar ese proceso" yo se que va ayudar a muchos que vienen detras de ti. Y por el idioma, no te achantes...YO TE ENTIENDO...y creo que al menos el 50% de los que aportamos a este grupo hablamos Espanol. Buena suerte con todo. Ya sabes que el miercoles debes faxiar todo los docs del PK3 a la embajada cierto?

Animo pues!!!

andrea

Mike, thanks for your input on the EAD. We've pretty much decided to forgoe the IR1 route, don't want to take any more chances at the embassy. We'll just have to cough up the increased fees for the AOS once Oscar is here.


Diana....I got in touch with the guy who rents the apartment that Lucho stayed at in Bogota and it turns out that some Canadian soldier is staying in the master bedroom...that's a deal breaker for me no matter how inexpensive!!! I'm glad you mentioned it in a previous post because it didn't occur to me to ask until then...I'm glad I did. If anyone else has suggestions for an inexpensive hotel, apartment..whatever..that would be helfpul. I have friends and family in Bogota but I'd rather be alone with my husband.


Dre

Hi,

We are new to the club although I have been doing a lot of reading in the forum. This is a fantastic site! I will be submitting the I-129F K-1 petition to Vermont soon. I'm just waitng to receive the G-325A & letter of intent from Bella. I am hoping that we will have the visa before mid December so that Bella and the kids can be here for Christmas. Wish us luck!

I have a few questions / requests I hope someone can help me with.

1. Can someone please send me a recent package 3 from Bogota? I want to have it ready to send in as soon as Bogota receives the package from NVC.
2. How long does it take to get the police & migratorio reports from DAS in Bogota? Any problem getting the reports in Bogota when she has lived most of her life in Cucuta?
3. Does anyone know the best place to catch up on the required vaccinations in Bogota? We are on a tight budget so any tips to save money on this would be greatly appreciated.
4. The DS-230 requests a 10 year employment history and has a field for location. Is city & country sufficient or do they need the actual address?
5. Bella spent most of her life in Cucuta but now lives in Bogota. She will be going back to Cucuta soon for a visit & will pick up 3 new copies of everyone's birth certificates while she is there. Is there anything else she might need to obtain while she is there? I hate to find out that there is some other document she needs that can only be obtained in Cucuta.
7. Are 4 photos enough? I just saw where someone recommended 10 - 12.

I guest I better stop asking questions. This should hold me for a while.

Thanks!

Bill

Hi Bill y Bella,

For the Packet 3 contents, check this link -
http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwsck1instructions.shtml
This will help you get an idea of what documents she needs to get ready prior to the interview.

For Packet 4 contents, check this link
http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/co1/wwwfck1cita_temp.pdf

As for the Certificado de Migratorio please check the info that Nydia posted. To me it looks like 3 days if you get in Bogota.
Hope this helps.





The more photos you can provide the better, especially from different dates/events.

ja ja ja ja jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaajajajajja

Dre,
I also e-mailed the guy where Lucho is staying at and he said there are no guarrantees of renting the apartment for just one person which sucks because I don't want to see a strange guy in his pajamas early in the morning, know what I mean?

My husband suggested staying with his aunt or maybe a cousin but I've never met them and I don't want be uncomfortable. Soooooooo I did some more research on VJ and found this site where they claim to have a 1 bedroom apartment for rent close to the embassy. The pictures look fine so it looks decent.

http://www.apartmentsinbogota.com/

Let me know what they tell ya and if it's all good, then I'll try that route too. I believe Mike also said Suites Real are a good place to stay at, but I haven't checked them out.

Diana

Yo,
No problem, we felt the same way. We rented the master bedroom, own bath, no problems. We had only 1 other person staying with us for a few days only. He was really nice, even lent us his labtop. Dont worry about sharing the apt. with other people, PM me and I will tell you who the guy I shared the apt. with.

I hunted up the site where I rented an apartment early this year. These folks actually own several apartments in a couple of different locations. The two bedroom apartment (with kitchen, sala, y dos banos) was very comfortable and reasonable. http://www.bogota-apartments.com/

Those are two great links and some excellent information.

Thanks!

Bill