Ohhh Miami is not a good representation of the US... but I do understand the point... MIA is not exactly the best airport there is...

Here in Chicago everyone has gone out of their way to make my girl's first week a pleasurable and efficient experience. ODD!!! Maybe its the love around us that is contagious...

Hey Buck!!! I do see my sweetie a lot but as you and evryone else knows...it's not enough til she's HOME!!!...I will be seeing her again in 17 days and I can't wait!!!

Keep that in mind come winter time, she'll need it.


Diana

If we had to open up the tent windows during our camping trip to Tayrona last year (raining with breeze and still pretty hot at night) I can oooooonly imagine that we won't be worrying too much about the heating bill come January.... jajaja!

I think I will be fine in Bogota as far as the weather, Paola says she has been freezing. LOL. I live in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, our weather is pretty mild. Paola lives in Buenaventura, to her it will be cold. She pretty much will be dressed like a Eskimo. Who knows what she envisions our weather to be. From what I can determine, she thinks we have snow and ice all year. LOL>LOL. Some of here freinds, (who know everything about everthing) have told her Oregon is very cold, all mountains and either rains or snows all the time. LOL>LOL. To them Florida is the only place to live in the US.
There is a free phone to the US at the apartment she is staying at in Bogota, she is calling me every 5 min. I think she misses me. LOL. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, the day is dragging by. My fight leaves @ 6am in the morning. I won't get much sleep tonight. OK, I will stop babbling now.

Buck, as far as the weather, my fiance lives in Bogota, the times that i went there it got just a little cold at night, but nothing that a light jacket cant fix...i feel bad bringing her to New York for our winters if she thinks that Bogota is cold...She has no clue what cold is..lol

Well on my first trip to Bogota I quickly became accustomed to EVERYONE being extremely polite and pleasant. Then at customs in Miami on my return trip the agent asked me a few questions, looked at me in mock disgust and said ¨Get out of here!¨ I knew that he was actually being friendly in a New York sort of way, but as I walked away I was thinking to myself--- This is going to be a shock to Bella when she gets here! Nothing she can´t handle but it is still going to require some adjustment.

As to Colombianas and cold weather, I think this tells the story. At 65 degrees they wear gloves, winter hats and scarves. Any questions?

Good luck with your interview Buck! I am certain everything will go well. Just in case you get into some sort of pickle, I am in Bogota until Saturday morning. Just send me a message in VJ and I will send the calvary.

We have pretty bad thunderstorms here in Denver in late July, early August and my husband cracked me up when he asked "You have thunder and lighting in Denver?" I said "yes, why are you surprised?" he said "I thought you only had snow". Oh boy. He also doesn't understand why it's so hot here in the summer.

Diana

I was in Bogota early this month with my novia and she was freezing. She's from Buga en la valle and I've never felt her hands so cold like in Bogota. I'm from the San Francisco area whereby I like the cold weather. We were walking around Parque 93 at night and all I had on was a polo shirt. She had a think jacket complete with a hood and still complained of being cold.

I love the weather here in SFO and the Bay Area. During winter (without snow ) it can get very cold down to the low 30's. We have nice weather all year round except during fall when we get a lot of rain and gray days.

===

My flights are reserved for September 1 in time for our September 6 interview!!!!

===

Guys, I chuckled when Lucho said it was cold in Bogota and for my trip last month I packed 4 pairs of shorts, 4 short sleeve shirts, and ONE light sweater...ohhhh and a pair of sandles. WELL WELL WELL It wasn't as cold as it can be in Atlanta in January, but few homes have air conditioning in Bogota so 24/7 cold that is HUMID as can be got into my bones and I was MISERABLE the entire time. My advice: ask if there's heat where you're staying, if not, take a small space heater...it gets cold at night. Take pleanty of clothes with you and extra towels...why, well there are very few homes wiht dryers and it takes 2 days for your towel to AIR dry, ditto for your clothes... for jeans, make that 3-4 days. Extra clothes means you don't have to wash anything till you get home. jeans. long sleaved knit shirts and a light sweater or jacket will work for most of us. And please, do bring an umbrella, it rains constantly.

Buck....good luck with your interview on Friday. I can't wait to hear the good news.

hello there!! i really like this group people are very helpful..... we just started our journey, mi fiance filled 129 on july 10th at the vermont center, we got NOA1 on july 17th.... just have to wait...

The wait is the worst but the group of people you will meet here will show you mucho comfort and also direction in your journey...stay in touch and your stress will be less!!!!

Welcome M&J. The wait takes forever and yet it goes by fast. I am sitting in the airport waiting for my flight to Bogota for Paola's interview. It seems like yesterday we started this, at the same time it feels like it was a long time. Good luck and speedy journey to you!!!

M&J,
Welcome. You will find good people here. There is a lot of info in this thread. If you read the whole thread starting from posts around December you will understand the process a whole lot better. Feel free to post any questions you have here. No question is too dumb.

BUCK!!!!
Lucky you!!! Have a fun and safe trip. Do not be a stranger. Keep us updated on how things are going down there.

Welcome all and good luck Buck!

I'm so confused right now.

We've been calling 315-1566 at the embassy to find out how to get a damn copy of the Packet 4 letter. The person that answers keeps sending us to the automated system saying they no longer answer public inquiries. I spoke English and still no luck. I also told them atleast direct me to another number if I'm reaching the wrong one. All I need is some instructions on how to get Packet 4 appointment letter.



According to recording, it has been April 9 since they stopped answering public inquiries.

Help! How do I proceed in getting a copy of the appointment letter.

hello!! thank you all for the welcome!!!!
I read the whole thread and i'm still confused about the shortcut.... i do understand the tracking process, what is not clear is what documents should i send (fax and servientrega) once the approved petition gets to the embassy in bogota. all packet #3?? i know is a silly question but i want to be sure

thanks!!!!

Marcela

Hi here,

First sorry if i have make some mistake i haven't a fluently english.

My boyfriend and me started this process the las may 18th in California service, just now we are ansious wating our aproval notice or the famous NOA2, this forum is very interesting and I only want introduce we to the forum,

Thanks to all people here for help and for solve all the doubts.

Bye, Mabel

buck501!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!

Hi Chester...I don't know if this will help your problem but maybe you could try to contact USCIS and get past the customer service people to speak to an agent...the agent may be able to pull some strings at the embassy to get the info you need.

good luck and keep me posted, Scott

Chester, I don´t know how to get your appointment letter if they refuse to talk to you. Didn´t Buck or Paola call recently to make arrangements to pick up their package 4? It was well after April 9.

Buck will be in the embassy tomorrow for their interview. Could he possibly help you while he is there? I don´t mean to volunteer someone else´s assistance but if he is checking VJ while he is in Bogota I am sure he would be willing to help out if he can while he is in the embassy.

I am also in Bogota today and tomorrow. If there is something I can do while I am here, let me know.

Bill

Chester,

Packet 4 will be delivered to the beneficiary, she can also go to Bogotá and pick it up at the embassy or send a family or friend to pick it up. I'm sure Buck can tell you how his fiancée did this last week because I think she will need to make an appointment to do so.

Diana

Chester,

This is the post Buck left here regarding packet 4.

Diana

Good luck to Buck and Chester!!!!

I'm trying to keep up with posts here, though we are still without internet service at the house. Two weeks, YIKES!

Welcome to the new members! You will find lots of good advice here. Always keep in mind which process you are in (K-1, K-3, or CR-1), as the requirements do vary between the three. Some key things to focus on: the process will seem incredibly slow and cumbersome, but it will go quickly at times, so be patient, but also, always be prepared to act. The best way to do that is to have all your information ready well ahead of time, and have it well organized. None of this is rocket science, but it can be tedious and tiresome. Simply remember the great prize that awaits you at the end of the process and you'll have no problems. Finally, it's always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. In other words, have more information, photos, and documentation than is "required". That way, you will not be unpleasantly surprised.

Good luck to all!
Charles and Lorena

the same thing happened to my husband and i . we never recieved packet 3 or 4. and we also called and got no answer. so, we sent a fax and miraculously received packet 4 2 days later.

Maybe the fax is the answer because Chester says that he is not having any luck trying to talk to them on the phone.

Chester if you fax them, it might be best to tell them when someone will be in Bogota so they give you a pickup appointment that will not require a special trip.

Marcela,

Are you sure you read the whole thing? This is what Lucho said you should include in packet #3 (más claro no canta un gallo)


Shortcut - Fax packet 3 to the embassy. This will save you at
least 2 weeks if not more by doing so. I would advise to send the
packet 3 via courier as well (i.e. Servientrega)

Packet 3 Contents:
1. Cover letter
2. Copy of fiancée's passport (biographical data page)
3. DS-230 Part 1 (pages 1 & 2)
4. OF-169

The cover letter should be simple and brief. Include the BGT case #
on the cover letter.


Diana

Scott,

Just to guide you a little bit more, the USCIS has nothing to do with the embassy. Once they approve the petition, they send it to the NVC and they're done.

Diana

Thanks folks for all the suggestions. We have been waiting until yesterday to find out if someone over the phone at the Consular Seccion was going to help us. I was hoping that at least they would direct me to someone that could arrange an appointment to get it picked up, but no such luck. I do remember what Buck and Paola did to get their letter. I just don't want to send my novia on a 9 hour bus trip (one way) to get a letter than can be sent via Servientrega paid upon delivery by the receiver. The other option we have was to have a friend pick it up at the embassy. This is all possible IF we had a window and appointment to pick it up. I know they just won't let anyone walking in without any official business.


Update : 11:51 AM PST -- Faxed sent to the embassy requesting A) Sent to receiver via Servientrega and we will pay upon delivery Call her on home number and arrange details C) Someone authorized can pick it up.

What if you make the appointment to pick up the letter a couple of days before the lab tests and medical? That way you can both go pick it up and run the other errands before the interview. All you really need the letter is for those three things, lab, medical and interview.

Another thing is if someone like Lucho for example, can send you a copy of the letter and you can make your own.

Just a thought.

Diana

Diana -
Since I am flying down to Cali on September 1, it's too tight of a schedule. It's also a US holiday on Sep 3, Labor Day which means the embajada will be closed. We've allocated Sep 4, Tuesday for the LAB and medical. Wednesday is for a "just in case" day for anything that might come up.

What do you mean by the letter? The request to get another Packet 4 copy?

Chester,

You DO NOT need an appointment to pick up PK4 at the embassy. They are available from 2-4pm every THURSDAY only. Have your wife send a notarized letter authorizing her friend to pick it up and he/she can take that to the embassy on any THURSDAY 2-4pm.

Good luck,

Andrea

Thanks Dre!


So this means that to get the letter to Bogota would take a day or two, then our next opportunity is next week. How I missed this information on previous posts, I don't know.

Hello everyone,

My name is Rafael and my fiance lives in Colombia. (Wow, I feel like in an A.A. meeting.)

Well I have been doing my homework and reading the post from Pete, Mike, Oskaryandrea,Lucho etc.. and I have to tell you guys I hope I can cross the finish line like you guys have. For me personally, it has been really rough since I have been back from Cali in late March and I wanting to go back everyday since. sometime I feel like I'm alone on this well I have a friend that went through the process (fiance is from Central America) and help me a great deal but seems to very busy with family a current obligations. I feel that this thread has taught me few things the last couple of days, patience, patience, and more patience. I went through the previous posts and I have my a question about vaccinations. Does my fiance have to get them now or can she wait? I want to be ahead of the game hear. So any tips are appreciated. Right now she working on purchasing the passport. Currently the passport is $ 131.080 COP. Also I told her to get started on the DAS paperwork and birth cert.

Guys, am I jumping the gun on getting all these things this early on or should we wait?

Guys, thanx. Hope I can be as helpful as you guys have been to me on shedding light on this whole Visa Journey thing. (was not paid to write that) LOL

Welcome Rafael! Yeah, you'll feel like you're in AA after a while (just kidding). ;-)

My suggestion is that you guys go ahead and get done whatever you can do now, rather than wait. That said, however, ONLY do those things if you and/or your girlfriend are very well organized and can put your hands on any give document at any given time. I suggest buying a couple of expandable folders where all documents can be sorted and stored. Another important thing to do is MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING!!! And keep the copies in the same order or sequence as what you send in to USCIS. For example, when you submit the I-130 or I-129, make a second complete copy of everything in exactly the same order. Keep these things in a safe place. It's always better to have too many copies of something than not enough, when you need them.

Charles

Side note to everyone about vaccinations: We are finding that the vaccination schedules and records in Colombia do not always match what is the norm in the US. Be prepared to get more shots when you get here.

I was referring to the actual interview letter. Jediknight posted a sample of his wife's for me to copy and make my own just in case we don't get the letter on time. I know it probably sounded like a far fetched idea but hell, I was just brainstorming.


Diana



Welcome Rafael!

I'm with Charles on this one, it's never too late to get started. One thing to consider is trying to get her birth certificate translated while she's in Colombia since she'll need it when she files for AOS once she gets here. It's a lot cheaper down there and it doesn't have to be apostilled.

Diana

Bienvenido Rafa! We're here to help. If your fiance can get a hold of her vacuans, than great, same for all of the documents. You'll find that once you get started assembeling things, it takes longer than you imagined and it helps to close the gaps in the process as you wait for subsequent steps. I think the longest wait is between NOA1 and NOA2, after NOA2, the next month or two FLYS by. There are great questions in this thread, tips, short cuts and even a fabulous list of interview questions in English and Spanish that the two of you can use to get to know each other even better! Never be embarassed to ask anything, remember, we've been through it already and most of us have asked the same question at some point. So...hold on for the ride...your JOURNEY has begun!!!

ps...I miss my husband too, so I know how you feel.

Dre

And before any of you ask (me tienen boracha con esta pregunta...), my husband is planning to travel in the next 2-3 weeks.

LOL

GRACIAS!

Guys...I spent some time reading some POE reviews for Miami, Atlanta and New York (JFK). It apprears that people going through JFK are issued temporary EADs from 30days to 6mos. This doesn't happen in Miami or Atlanta and folks going through those POEs even mention it in thier reviews. Has anyone from Colombia Club gone through JFK for POE??? If so, did your fiance/spouse recieve a EAD stamp?

Thanks for the clarification Diana.

Lo and behold. I just got home from a week of business trips and I get a nice manila envelope from the embassy in Bogota. It contains the appointment letter and date, Packet 4 instructions plus other related information regarding vaccinations and bank offices.

Is this the norm? The petitioner in the US getting copies/notices of the same information sent to the beneficiary. I don't recall reading this in the forums. Not that I'm complaining, but maybe the process has changed a bit.

I just looked at your timeline and your interview is on 9/5. We'll probably be bumping into each other getting the LAB and medical done.

Thanks Diana...this saves me from spinning my wheels when the time comes for us!!!!

Scott

Chester,

I,m happy to see that you received a copy of packet 4...did Monica also receive her copies of packet 4 ?

Scott

There continues to be some confusion regarding the short-cut to packet 3; not sure why. The instructions below are the original short-cut posted by the founder of this thread, Peter. I was one of Peter's early "disciples" and can attest that this short-cut works. As noted in other posts, the passport copy if not required, but helps to reduce possibility of error. Faxing should be sufficient, but if you are the nervous type or the mid-month cut-off is looming, then sending by courier is also suggested.

Mike

Yes, this is the norm. I suspect no one mentions it because usually by the time you get it, your spouse/fiancee has long received it. It's more relevant to him/her than you. As the petitioner, your responsibilities are very limited (unless, of course, you are taking charge of the process and directing your spouse/fiancee, which I did, to make sure everything gets done correctly and on a timely basis; in that case, you probably already got copies of the packets from someone on the baord).

Mike

Charles,

Thanks for the tip Charles. Yeah I made copies of everything I sent and anything that I will be sending a presenting to USCIS and BGT from now on.

Vaccinations: Charles even if my fiancé gets it from the Red Cross in Colombia.

Rafael

Welcome Rafael!

I'm with Charles on this one, it's never too late to get started. One thing to consider is trying to get her birth certificate translated while she's in Colombia since she'll need it when she files for AOS once she gets here. It's a lot cheaper down there and it doesn't have to be apostilled.

Diana
[/quote]





Diana and Dre ...thank you for the tips and suggestions.

Diana, I will tell her to get her Birth Cert translated.

Dre, I hope that I ready for that NOA2.


You guys may have a better idea of this, (or does anyone on this forum) how good is the time lime estimator. It says Oct 2. Is it usally after or before?

Andrea,

JFK is the only airport where hypothetically you can get a stamp. My uncle works at the POE MIA and confirmed they do not have any there.

All you have to do at JFK is ASK for one upon passport inspection.

Suerte!!!

Nopes, still waiting..... for ANY mail to arrive at her house.
We faxed a letter yesterday to the embassy. The embassy did call her this morning in Colombia that she can "fax" a notarized letter authorizing someone to pick it up. They also gave her an exact time 1 PM on next Tuesday, Aug 21.

And to all the new folks that joined the club, Welcome!!!



The mail system in Colombia is definitely not as reliable when it's outside the big cities. If we eventually get the letters, could you imagine the time wasted (3-4 weeks). Thank goodness for the shortcut and the tips we learned from this forum.

FYI - When I was in Curacao, I mailed a postcard addressed to my sister in California. I returned to the US, went back again to Curacao, then back to the US in a span of 2 months. She finally received the postcard after 2 1/2 months.

A postcard from Cali to California, IF you drop it at the postal nacional and certify it, will get to California in 3 weeks.
Official communication from the Bogota Embassy to a residence in the US only took 10 days.

I don't know why it takes over three weeks from Bogota to Buga, when I could have walked and delivered it myself in less time

Ok, I called the NVC this morning and we're set for 9/27/07!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


FI-NA-LLY!!!

Diana