Greg: one last question -- when you say put case number on all forms, is that the case number from NVC? Thanks...George

When do you turn in the DS 156/157?? What I am trying to ask is -- when I am trying to do the shortcut -- when I fax/or carry in the DS 2001, DS230 part I, copy of Birth Certificate and cover letter, do I ALSO bring the DS 156/157? Or is the DS 156/157 brought in at time of interview? Thanks...George

George,

The DS 156 & DS 157 are only needed at your interview.

Yes, the case number from the NVC. For Bogota should begin with BGT then your number. Just write at bottom of each page or form. Take care!

Greg: I got my NOA2 snail mail today and it mentions nothing about NVC. It says: THE ABOVE PETITION HAS BEEN APPROVED,A ND FORWARDED TO THE LISTED CONSULTATE." Others I have seen says it has gone to the NVC. Why does mine not say that? I did request an expedite, so could this mean CSC decided to send directly to consulate??? Or does this language really mean nothing and that it is still going to NVC??? Thanks...

Stinger,

If I were you I would call USCIS and ask them exactly what it means. I saw on another thread here in VISAJOURNEY where someone else had this same situation, but I did not folllow the thread,so I don't know what the out come was. But alsao could be a new procedure with some of the other recent consolidations USCIS has been doing.
Good Luck!

Naaaa,,,it is going to go to the NVC regardless of what they say. Unless something drastic in their process has changed in the past few weeks. Mine took 6 weeks for the NVC to even know that they had the darn thing, but then it only took 1 day to send it off. I have heard of some taking only a few days, so who knows. Once a live person tells you that it has been sent, wait 3 or 4 days and fax the docs to the embassy, with your case number on them, and then just wait. I say a live person because the K-1's are not put in the automatic reply system since they are there for such a short time. And by the way, if you dont like one person that you talk to at the NVC, just call back and eventually you will get someone who will help you. Best of luck, let me know if you have any other questions...Greg

Could someone please email me the letters and forms contained in packet 3 (for K1 fiance visa) so i can look them over...it would be truly appreciated. I would like to see what packet 3 contains...thank you SO MUCH....George

Hey Stinger,
Whats your email address?

i just sent you an message with my email....thank you!

Stinger, just e-mailed packets 3 and 4 to you. Packet 3 is a little outdated. Form OF-169 has been replaced by DS-2001. Please go back and read this thread carefully. HAS ANYONE SCANNED A CURRENT PACKET #3?

Dre, Thank you for such a wonderfully informative reply. The DHL tracking instructions you are referreing to are below in case anyone else is interested. Thanks to Peter Miami for the instructions below. Unfortunaley he seems to still be AWOL.

Tracking Instructions for DHL
www.dhl.com
Track by Reference
Reference: (Depends on Embassy)
I-730
EXPEDITE NIV SECTION (Maybe Non-Immigrant Visas)
EXPEDITE IV SECTION (Maybe Immigrant Visas)
CORRESPONDENCE
Put the range of dates around the date that NVC gives you as package has been shipped.

Could someone please do as a favor and scan in and email a CURRENT PACKET #3. IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL...THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Greg, IF someone EVER GETS Package 3....we'll be sure to scan it and post it!!!! So far, I haven't heard of anyone recently recieving it. I'm curiouse myself. Either way, DO NOT WAIT ON ANYTHING....be proactive and follow the lead of PeterMiami...so far his advice has been excellent for me personally in moving things through the system quickly. And make sure to post your concerns here so that the entire community can chip in the advice.

By the way...does anyone know if the embassy requires my divorce decree to have and Apostille? I was married and divorced here in the states the first time....


Thanks,

Dre

No apostile is required for anything, just what is stated in packet 3, but I know some have not recieved it. I will try and post one, but I dont think I have a OF-169. Basically this is what is in the packet. OF-169 (short one paragraph form that says you wont make travel plans until you have the visa), DS-156 (2 of them, one is taken to the bank the other to the interview) DS-156K (taken to the interview) DS-230 (part one, this is faxed to the embassy with your case number) and a checklist of stuff you need (it is also stated word for word on the Embassy Website under the fiance visa section) Packet 3 really is very generic and other than the OF-169, is all available on the web. I will look through my stuff and if I can find a OF-169, I will post it right away..take care..Greg

Dre,
Re: Apostille
No need.

"Apostille is commonly used in English to refer to the legalization of a document for international use under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. Documents which have been notarized by a notary public, and certain other documents, and then certified with a conformant apostille are accepted for legal use in all the nations that have signed the Hague Convention."

Since your divorce decree is from the US and you are sending it to a US Consulate it is not considered international. You would need to apostille a document from the US if you were to send it to a Colombian official or Colombian authorities and still have validity. This was explained to me my the 'registrador' in the Colombian Consulate in NY a few weeks ago when I was planning to marry my fiancee in Colombia. (BAD IDEA! especially if you were previously married in Colombia and then divorced in the US)
You do need however to make sure that it is a CERTIED copy. I went to the Queens (NY) County Clerk's office, where divorces are recorded in my neck of the woods, and asked for a Certified copy of my divorce record. 10 pages, $9, with raised stamp on each page.

Fernando, Thank you for the response on the apostille...makes complete sense. Dre

Greg, my understanding is that DS-2001 replaced OF-169...I have OF-169 if you want it, but I did not include it with my PK3 docs that I faxed & mailed to the consulate. I only included DS-2001.

We call NVC everyday and still they that our file has not reached there yet.. What is going on???

Yadira'sMan - Are you speaking to a HUMAN or are you using the automated system?

Dre,

Have you received your hard copy notice in the snail mail from NVC that your patition has been forwarded to the Embassy or only the information from the person on the phone at NVC?
I ask because I have not received mine as of yet and the person told me that my case had been sent on December 5th. I know they are slow about this, but it has been two weeks now.
Also have you heard anything from the embassy yet? We faxed and sent our Packet 3 info the same time you did. I tried calling them today to find out if they received our info and the person at the embassy could not/would not tell me anything other then to call USCIS or track it online through USCIS! As I suspected calling the embassy was a waiste of money, although I do not know what other choice we have if we do not get packet 4 soon!

Thanks,
Tony

Tony, I recieved my notice from the NVC last Saturday, but it could have arrived anytime last week (I was too busy to check the mailbox)!!! I'm soooooooooooooo disapointed to hear that you didn't get any answers in Bogota. We are planning to call today between 2 and 4pm.... I'll let you know how it goes.

Dre and all others who follow us!

I just called NVC to track down our missing confirmation letter that our K3 Petition was indeed sent to the Bogota Embassy. They told me they sent it to the wrong zip code, but more importantly I confirmed that the petition was sent to Bogota on December 5th. When I told the lady that I tried to call the embassy to confirm they had received it and got no where with the person on the phone, the lady at NVC said I should call this number (011-571-315-0811) and ask to be transfered to the K3 Processing Department and they could tell me everything! I plan to do this tomorrow. The number listed on the Embassy web site that requires that you purchase a PIN for $16.00 is a rip off! (IMO) They don't tell you anything. It was a total waste of my time and money! I will post the results of my call at this new number tomorrow.
Live and learn I guess!

Cuidate!
Tony

Tony&Olga...I called that number today and asked in SPANISH for information and was transferred to a line with no answer. Did this again with the same result. My husband called from Medellin and got the same treatment. I stopped, took a deep breath, called again and spoke in english (I have zero accent), said "hello, I'm calling from the United States to inquire about my husband's K3 application....You wouldn't believe the difference!!! I was ASKED to hold for a moment, and transferred immediately to another rep who politely asked me for the case number. I was SO nervouse, that having the case number in front of me on the letter from the NVC, I told her I couldn't find it and to wait while I booted my laptop....while we waited, she said "why don't you give me the beneficiary's name and I'll start searching with that..." she found our case at the same time that I found the case number on the letter under my nose.. I told her I had the case number, she said "no need...your husband is scheduled for an interview on January 22nd at 7am" I asked if they sent package 3 out yet, she said, "Yes, can I help you with anything else". I paid NOTHING for the call.

Tony, I suggest you try calling them yourself. I'm not sure if that's what you did to begin with. I'm sorry that I didn't get the agent's name. I was SO nervouse that I couldn't think straight. I hope this information helps for your call tomorrow.

And to EVERYONE in this community. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. The advice and input you've all provided has been invaluable. If ANYONE needs my help, please let me know. I'll try to share every step of the process with each of you.

God Bless and Merry Christmas

You guys need to call 011-571-315-1566 on Mon or Wed between 2-4pm.

Dre, Congratulations on getting your interview date. Your persistence paid off. I will cal today and hopefully learn our date as wll. Dre I know you were nervous, but shouldn't you have asked if they sent packet 4? At this point packet 4 is more important I would think. Because, I thought you need to have the interview letter in hand when you go for the medical. But maybe they have mailed that packet along with packet 3 also.

Mystery thanks for the number also!
Merry Christmas!

Tony

We were told that we could pick up the Packet #4 on a Thursday (forget which window to go to). However, what I did on that phone call was to request that they send me the Packet #4 here in Florida. It arrived in about 1 week and then I sent it back to my wife (including the I-134 and other docs) via DHL.

Also -- we finally recieved Packet #4 AFTER we got the visa!!!!! jajajajajja....

Hope this helps.

Take Care,

james

I called the Embassy this morning and finally got an interview date on January 22! Que Rico! They first told me I had to call back between 2-4 PM on Monday or Wednesday, but I explaned/insisted I speak with someone now because I have called before on Monday and Wednesday and got no where and I said Monday was Christmas. They said call Wednesday, I said Nooooooo, I need to speak with someone NOW! This is when they transfered me to someone else and finally gave me an interview date! They actually had not scheduled the interview date when I asked if we had one, she asked if we wanted one and of course I said yes and then she said "January 22". Then she confirmed my wifes address and phone number and said she would send out a packet. I assume it is packet 4.
Anyway, my wife is now scheduling her medical and lab work!
Thanks to all that contributed to making things happen faster and smoother then what it could have been!

Happy Holidays!
Tony

Tony&Olga - I'm so happy for you guys. I'm sure this is a relief and now you can enjoy Christmas. I was so nervouse when I typed my post that I said PK3, but I acutally asked her about PK4 and they said it was already sent out. Glad to see that we're all in line for interviews in January. I'm flying to Bogota on the 19th...let me know if you'll be there too, maybe we can meet up....

Congrats Tony!

Are you the same Tony I've corresponding with through email??? If so, I'm glad it worked out for you buddy....

I have mine 2 days after on the 24th.

Hola amigos! Got email notification of NOA2 today. I knew VSC could be fast but wow!


Tony S

Tony,
You're absolutely correct! Look at my timeline. 14 days from the day I sent my I129F to approval. I spoke to a very helpful and cheery lady at NVC today... She said my file would be sent to Bogota within the next 5 -10 days. I think the best advice to give on this website to someone who has not yet filed would be ...Move within VSC jurisdiction!
Fernando

Hello Fernando

Yes I saw your time line last week and thought " Man what's taking my application so long! ". Good to hear your good news! Are you going to Bogota for the interview?

Tony

Hi James,

Yes This is the same one you have been corresponding with! Thanks for all your help and I guess we will miss each other on the interview dates! Unfortunately I will not be able to go w

We're both very fortunate. Some people wait months and months. I don't know why my case was adjucated so quickly but I did do a very thorough job with my petition to be sure there would be no RFE's. Every page had memo notes or highlighter with concise explanation. I sent tons of evidence of our relationship (even a recp't from "Babes in Toyland" lol).

hello dre, tony, et al.

just got back from our honeymoon in aruba for a week. what a nice surprise we had awaiting us...both packet 3 and 4 from the embassy.

fyi....packet 3 is the exact same packet three that is floating around...the one provided by peter from miami. the packet 3 cover letter actually refers to the k1 visa. it STILL contains the of169....can you believe it?

as some of you know, we did not wait for the packet 3. i discovered that our visa petition had arrived in colombian on monday, december 11. we waited two days and then faxed the packet 3 paperwork, including the ds230, the of169, the ds2001, and a cover letter and copies of the passport photo page. we followed up with a hard copy mailing on friday, december 15.

our appointment is scheduled for friday, january 19, so it looks like we´ll be a couple of days ahead of some of you. i am happy it is almost over. now we just have to make sure we have all of the documents together, get the medical exams, get the das report....and we are good to go.

if anyone has any questions, let me know. i´ll plan to scan the packets when i return to the u.s. on december 28....unless someone has the chance to scan his-her packet before then.

mike

couple of more tidbits you all might be interested in based on discussion on the board....

....ds156k not mentioned in packet 4 for the k3-k4 visa

....ds157 not mentioned in packet 4 (i believe it is only for males between 18 and 45)

....in anexo b, it does mention that a "carta de das" is required...with information on all entries to and exits from colombia by the beneficiary.

....ds156 still being used in paper form. the instructions make no mention of the electronic form.


mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the update with the Packet 3 & 4 info. Like you and Dre we sent out info by fax and courier prior to getting the packets in the mail. I called and got our interview for January 22, so that is cool. The one thing you said is that they are asking for a Carta de DAS. This is relatively new from what I can tell, based on reading through all the threads and posts here. I did see where there were a couple of posts talking about this and depending on where you decide to get it, it can take any where from 3-5 days to 30 days. This is what I have read else where here. I read that if you apply for it in Bogota, it can be picked up like in 3-5 days, if you apply for it in some other city with in Colombia in can take up to 30 days!

Do you have any additional knowledge/experience with this? This could present problems for those who have not planned ahead for this document. I will have to discuss this with my wife who is in Cali!

Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Tony

Yes, the "papel del DAS" IS necessary and has always been from my understanding...

My fiance finally got it but it took her a good 3 weeks to get it in Cartagena. I knew this coming in, so I made sure she got it with sufficient time.

So for those of you awaiting an interview and do not have the "papel del DAS", GET MOVING!!!!!

Is this DAS report different then the standard police report that everyone is required to get? I was under the impression that this Carta de DAS was specifically for documenting the numbe of times and countries that the Colombian national had traveled to. The other that I was aware of was a ploce report that listed any incidents, arrest, etc., in the places they had lived since they were 18 years old!

Can anyone confirm this?

You only need the little green police report from the DAS. Nothing else, at least for the K-1 interview, that is. ...Greg

Mike,
Will you be scanning packets 3 and 4? It would be greatly appreciated!
Fernando

Any CR-1 Folks out there?

Scanning thru the responses, all I see are K-1 and K-3 folks...

My case is now with NVC (waiting on them to generate the DS-230) so I am interested in tips on the next phase after my case gets sent from NVC to Bogota.

Also, I noticed some members I know for a fact are Colombian CR-1 did not show up on the "Immigration Timelines" page when I did a search for "Colombia"... can anyone shed light on this?

Looking4Wife, as far as I can tell, most of us have opted for the K3 route and will continue with AOS once our spouses arrive in the country. As far as my timeline goes, I've been updating the information as it changes, so it may base your search on activity on K3 or CR-1...But I'm not sure.... Good luck with the process, though.

Thanks for the response, Andrea. That was my observation also. I guess I missed the memo that it would have been a good idea to file for K-3 also, since I married a Colombiana!

The shortcut tips provided are pretty simple and straightforward. I must admit however that I am not familiar with the OF-169 and DS-2001 forms. I have not be able to locate where to download these forms. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


Tony S

TonyS-

You can down load the DS 2001 from the El Savador US Embassy Web Site. This is where I got it from. The OF-169 are the instructions sent out in Packet 3, that tell you what documents you need to prepare for the interview. It is not necessary to have this form or to send it in with the DS 2001, DS 230 Part 1 and the Bio page of the passport of the immigrant. If you just want to see one you can do a Web search and find one from another country like Mexico or El Savador, but you should not use these as they have that particular Country's address at the top on them. Just use it for reference.

Gracias!!!!

Hello boys and girls:

Back from two weeks in Aruba and Bogota. Always nice to travel, but even nicer to be at home.

My wife and I got a few things accomplished while I was in Bogota, including paying our $200 for the visa appointment at the Banco Credito. Tip - the instructions are serious - they only accept pesos. I brought dollars left over from our honeymoon in Aruba (thinking foolishly that the bank would take either or at least could do an exchange)....but, oh no, forget it. Such is life in Colombia. Anyway, the bank next store had an ATM machine and we were back in business.

The bank knew what it was doing and we got our DS-156 handled quickly and the passports affixed with the appropriate stickers.

For some reason, the folks at the bank gave us a DS-157 to complete and bring to the embassy. Funny, because it says nothing about the DS-157 in the packet four instructions....and I had been told by others on this board that it was only required for MALES between the ages of 18 and 45. Luckily, I had already completed the form for my wife...so we will take it to the embassy just in case.

To answer a few questions posted previously....

1) From what I can tell, the "carta de DAS" requirement is relatively recent. I reviewed the packet 4 instructions provided by Peter and it made not mention of it. However, the packet 4 my wife received mentions it in a separate line. So, now there are two DAS-related requirements - the police report (previously required) and the report on entries to and exits from Colombia. I know nothing about how long this new report takes.

2) I do not plan to scan packet 3. The packet three we received is identical to the one that Peter in Miami has distributed to many of us. Remember what I said....they are still using the OF-169, NOT the DS-2001. Further, they are also using the paper version of the DS-156, not the computer-generated (with barcode) version.

3) I will try to scan packet 4 when I can. My office does not open again until next week and then I'll try to find a scanner. If anyone wants information on how the current packet 4 differs from the one that Peter in Miami provided, let me know. Keep in mind that his packet 4 was for a K-1 and my wife's is for a K-3.

In related news, my wife and I decided that she and my step-daughter will fly to the U.S. on January 26, assuming all goes well with the interview on the 19th.

Mike

Now that we have PK4, how soon should my husband go to then bank and pay the visa fee? He wants to do it as soon as possible. I appreciate your feedback.

FYI...my husband scanned and emailed me the contents of PK3 and PK4 he recieved from Bogota last week. If anyone needs them or is curious, send me a PM and I'll email them.

I wish all of you the very best for 2007 and most importantly as you enter into your new life next to your spouses. God Bless You and thank you for the ongoing support.