Hi Dre:

If Oskar wants to do it now, I see no reason why he can't. On the other hand, if he wants to wait until the last minute, I see no reason why he can't do that either. Paying the fee was very simple. Be sure he brings his passport, cedula, and DS-156. The bank clerk reviewed the DS-156 very thoroughly and even asked for a few more pieces of information to be added to the form. Once you pay the fee, they will stamp the DS-156 and then put a 3-part sticker on the front of the passport. As long as Oskar is a responsible guy (and I assume he is) who won't lose his passport or damage the stickers on the front, there's no reason why he can't go now and get it over. I am always in favor of doing things now...as opposed to later.

Mike

Thanks Mike....I'll let him know. I think he wants to get it out of the way since there are so many expenses associated with this entire process. Do you know what specifically they'll ask him for on the DS-156 at the bank?

The bank wanted the passport, the cedula, the money, and the DS-156. The questions related to information they did not feel was complete enough. For example, one question asks when my wife will travel to the U.S. Our response was "as soon as the visa is approved." The guy at the bank wanted a specific date. Also, he had a question about my wife's occupation. She had written "independiente." He wanted a further explanation. On my step-daughter's DS-156, we listed her occupation as "estudiante." He asked her grade in school. The questions are no big deal. Don't worry. I think part of the bank's deal with the embassy is that they ensure everyone has completely filled out the form. I saw many people at the bank filling out the DS-156 or making changes. No big deal.

Mike

Wow..Finally..
Our case was just recieved by the NVC today, January 3, 2007.
Now what is the next step???
Thanks for any response

Hi,

We would like to recieved these packetts too.
Thanks...
Happy New Year to you all too..

I wonder what the hold-up was? That's a long time for the petition to be transferred. OK, anyway....

I assume that you have the case number. If not, call the NVC again and get it. In addition, ask them when they intend to send the documents to the embassy in Bogota.

Once you know when the documents have been shipped, you can track them by DHL (instructions have been posted elsewhere on the site).

Once you know the petition has been delivered to the embassy, you have two options: 1) wait until the embassy sends packet 3 to the beneficiary. If he/she is in Bogota, you'll probably get it rather quickly. If he/she lives outside of Bogota, it may take several weeks, if it ever reaches you at all. 2) use the short-cuts that Peter has recommended earlier in this post. Fax (and mail) a cover letter, a copy of the beneficiary's passport, the DS-230, part I, and the OF-169. Be sure to note your case number on the cover letter.

Receipt of this information by the embassy will then trigger mailing of packet 4, which will include the embassy interview date.

Assuming you are in a hurry, you will want to make sure your "packet 3" paperwork is in to the embassy by January 15 in order to ensure a February interview. If you miss the cut-off (somehwere between the 15th and 20th, we have been told), the interview date will slip to March.

Any questions, just ask.

Mike

Yadira's Man.... My wife is from Barranquilla and I live in Tamarac.... Kinda funny, we got a lot in common! Drop me a note sometime!

WARNING TO ALL - Prices and Requirements Continue to Change.

First...Packet 4 contained information about a price increase in the lab tests and medical exam. If I recall right, the price for the lab tests had jumped from 120,000 COP to 125,000 COP and the price of the exam had jumped from 135,000 COP to 140,000 COP. I spoke with my wife last night and she said that when she went for her lab tests yesterday, they had increased the price yet again to 130,000 COP. She said the medical exam also went up another 5,000 COP. So, be sure to bring a little extra money to cover unexpected price increases.

Second....and I need to talk to my wife about this some more...it appears that you now need extra passport photos for the medical exam. Packet 4 says you need a total of 4 photos - 2 for the DS-156, 1 for the lab tests, and 1 for the medical exam. When my wife called for her mexical exam appointment, she was told she would need 3 photos - new requirement, they said. So, that's now a total of six passport photos, instead of 4 (if I am understanding her correctly). Add the 4 photos required for the AOS/EAD packets when she arrives...and I am sending her to get six more photos.

Finally...and this is especially important for those of you with beneficiaries who live outside of Bogota....the DAS report on entries to and exits from Bogota is now required and it does take time. My wife went to DAS on Tuesday morning, I believe....and I think the report will be ready on Friday.

Mike

Yadira'sMan...send me your personal email and I'll forward package 3 & 4 to you. And my advice is...don't wait to get them, once you track DSL and confirm reciept of your case in Bogota, fax and courier the documents immediately!

Mike: that last part is alarming...are you SURE the DAS letter has to document ENTERENCE and EXITS FROM BOGOTA and not Colombia? My husband has his DAS letter already and it doesn't document movement within the country???? Maybe we need to call the embassy next Wednesday and ask them? Time is running short and getting a DAS letter is not a quick process in Colombia. If anyone else can chime in on this it will be appreciated.

Very sorry...my bad. For me right now....Bogota and Colombia are synonymous. The DAS letter details entries to and exit from COLOMBIA. Not sure how they would track within country travel.

Mike

PS - Dre, don't know if this happened to your husband...but the bank gave my wife a DS-157 to complete for the interview...even though packets 3 and 4 say nothing about completing the form.

Mike: that last part is alarming...are you SURE the DAS letter has to document ENTERENCE and EXITS FROM BOGOTA and not Colombia? My husband has his DAS letter already and it doesn't document movement within the country???? Maybe we need to call the embassy next Wednesday and ask them? Time is running short and getting a DAS letter is not a quick process in Colombia. If anyone else can chime in on this it will be appreciated.
[/quote]

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH......big breather! Thank you for the clarification. I was headed for panic mode. You have no idea how difficult DAS can make it for folks who want to exit the motherland..they take it personal! Well at least we have that taken care of.

My husband is going to the bank today, so I'll aske him how it goes. Now, what we did, was fill out the 157 ahead of time just in case, so I'll have him to take it with him to the bank. Thanks for the heads up.

-Dre

Sorry again. Didn't mean to cause a problem.

The bank gave us the DS-157 and said to fill it out and take it to the embassy. The bank did nothing with the form. Like I said, the instructions say nothing about it...but I have heard that men between the ages of 18 and 45 are required to fill out the form. So, it's good that you've already prepared it. We've completed the form as well, even though my wife is, of course, a female.

Mike

NVC told me my approved petition was sent to Bogota on December 27, 2006. How do I track this with DHL??? Please let me know ASAP...thanks...Stinger

Stringer

Here are PeterMiami's instructions:

GO to DHL Worldwide Express website http://www.dhl.com
Select USA
A new page will open
At the top highlight tracking and click on TRACK BY REFERENCE
In the Reference field type CORRESPONDENCE
For the Shipment date you should select a day before and after the date NVC said they sent your file.
Customer number leave blank
Origin Postal code should be 03801
Then Click Track


Mine took 3 business days to get there, so they should have yours already. You need to start moving so you don't miss this month's cut-off (between the 16th and the 20th) for February interviews. Let me know if you need anything else.

Dre

[quote name='OskaryAndrea' date='Jan 4 2007, 10:34 AM' post='646330']
Yadira'sMan...send me your personal email and I'll forward package 3 & 4 to you. And my advice is...don't wait to get them, once you track DSL and confirm reciept of your case in Bogota, fax and courier the documents immediately!

Thanks...

My e-mail is Joel527@Hotmail.Com Please send me packet# 3 and packet# 4

Yadira's Man

Hi..

Where do we get the form OF-169 at??

Thanks

The OF-169 comes in packet 3. You can either use the OF-169 from packet 3 that Peter in Miami has scanned...or contact Dre (OskaryAndrea) and see if she has her scanned packet 3 available yet. An alternative would be to use the DS-2001, which you can find on the U.S. Embassy - El Salvador web site (Google it).

Mike

The DAS letter: what does it have to say??? My fiance has hers but it mentions nothing about exiting or entering Colombia!!!! Is there something special she needs from them..??? Please let me know asap...thanks...Stinger

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EMAIL TO ME PACKET 4????? PlZZZZ. Email is Ranalli2003@yahoo.com

I'm a bit unclear about what the DAS letter/card has to say...thanks...any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Stinger

I PM'd you about the DAS letter. I believe Dre (OskaryAndrea) has packet 4 scanned. You might PM her and see if she can send it to you.

Hola... Fellow members of the club..

I just talk to NVC and told me the they sent the our case to Bogota, Colombia but they said that they do not provide tracking info.
Where do you all get the DHL tracking info from????
Also what is the estimate time of the average arrival???

Thanks...


It is getting exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All you have to do is read Dre's post a few up from yours. The instructions for tracking DHL are all over this thread and others. I assume you asked them the date that the petition was sent (or you at least have an idea). If so, you can track the packages that left the NVC that day. Our package took three business days.

Mike

Fellow VJers...I'm not going to be able to travel to Bogota for Oscar's interview after all. We've got reorganization in my company and our vacations were frozen until the end of January. I'm trying to not worry. I think we're in good shape as far as documents go. We have everything that is required, my income is well above the poverty line and we've got good documentation for proof of our relationship, not to mention the small fact that we're married already.

I wanted to get some input from those who have interviews for their spouses or fiances this month to see how many of you plan to be at the interview. Does anyone think it might be a problem if I don't attend?

I'm hoping for my fiancee to get a interview next month. I plan to attend. I don't feel it is neccassary but I am doing if for her......well i haven't seen her since Sept so i'm doing it for me too . Personally I think your situation is in excellent shape.

Dre:

From what I know about you and Oskar, I think you'll be fine. First, you ARE already married. Second, you have all of your documents in order. I am going to be there for my wife's interview. Part of it is for her....and part of it is for my piece of mind. I plan to review all of the documents the day before...just to make sure.

Now if you were seeking a K-1 for Oskar....then I would be much more concerned. Don't worry......

Mike

Mike and Tony,

Thank you both for replying. I've spent the night reading all the consular reviews and it seems that the sponsers who've attended weren't asked anything, so I'm feeling more reassured about the situation. Oscar and I are going over all of the docs together and organizing them very meticulously. I've printed out 1-2 emails per month for the past 12 months, about 100 pages of IMs, screen shots of 6months of IMS and emails, and of course pictures. It seems, thought, that very few people were asked for anything more than pictures. But of course, all of the reviews posted so far have been from K1 folks. Lets be sure to post our consular reviews for the K3s that follow us. Thanks again for the support.

Dre

Hi folks. Here's my update.
After getting off to a great start (noa2 in 14 days). I thought my fiancee would have a February appointment I called NVC friday to find out if they had forwarded our case to Bogota. Most cases are forwarded to the consulate within 1 week.They had had our petition for 2 weeks now. Fortunately the lady on the phone was a sweetheart otherwise I would have blown a fuse when I was told that the reason for the delay is that we have been singled out for "Administrative Proccessing". She didn't explain what that meant other than to say that since 9/11 INS, ICE, FBI or DOS... (WHATEVER!!!) have been screening applicants more thoroughly due to security issues. blah blah blah!!!! AARGGGGHHHHH!!!
After doing some reading on VISAJOURNEY and other related websites I think I know what the problem is... For the last 7 or 8 years I have travelled to Colombia, every time I am departing Colombia I have a hard time. I am singled out by the DAS emmigration officials. I am told to get off line, wait for a supervisor, they look at me suspiciously, ask dozens of questions, scrutinize my passport. Sometimes I am told I will not be able to board the plane to NYC. Turns out my name is the same as someone or someoneS on a 'security checklist'. From what I have read this can be a delay as short as 4 weeks or as long as a year until they are satisfied I am not said "desperado".
I found this out friday night.
NOW CHECK THIS OUT!!! Saturday morning I'm driving my son to work. He recently started working for an airline. On the way to the airport a pigeon craps on my windshield. I've heard somewhere that it is good luck to be crapped on by a pigeon (as opposed to ICE, INS, FBI or DOS). I smile. Saturday night I pick my son up at work and he tells me his boss had just promoted him AND approved his benefits package which includes FLIGHT BENEFITS FOR HIS FATHER, mother , siblings and girlfriend. YAHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm on travelocity.com now planning my bi-monthly weekend travel dates for the next year JUST IN CASE. HAHAHA. Looks like nothing is gonna' keep me away from my Carolina.
Anyone here been "Administratively Processed"

Hey everyone, count me in for the Colombia Club. Cool to know that there are enough of us who've found love in Colombia that we can help each other out in the visa process.

I've been planning to use James' shortcuts for the CR-1 and PeterMiami's shortcuts for the K-3. While I don't have a lot to contribute now, I'd be more than happy to contribute as our visa process continues.

Welcome CoffeeGuy. We're here to help each other, like you said. Don't break your head over James' shortcuts, unless you plan to wait the CR1 process out (means a much longer wait for your spouse), you won't need them if you go the K3 route. I read over James shortcuts thoroghly and it turns out I won't need them since I chose the K3 route.

My best advise is to read over this thread very well and it should answer many of your questions about the process. And feel free to ask anything, chances are one of us has had a similar question in the past and can help.

Best of Luck.


FMORE...I'm sorry to hear about your Administrative Processing situation. I hope someone can chime in with some advice.

FMore


Sorry to hear about the unfortunate turn of events. I remember that you were running a couple of weeks ahead of me and I thought your fiancee would be interviewing in Febuary. I hope things change soon for you.

Tony

How many of you guys fiance actually have recieved Packet 4???

My fiance had the original interview date on 12/22, but we could not make it on that date. Funny thing is that my fiance got the packet for that interview on 12/27!!!

We rescheduled and our interview is on 1/24 and she still has not recieved packet 4.

I know we're most likely going to have to pick it up at the embassy but just curious who here has gotten it mailed and who has not and are having to also go and pick it up.....

mystery

My wife received received both packets 3 and 4 in a very timely fashion at her home in Bogota. I have read horror stories on this board about folks in other cities in Colombia that receive their packets weeks later...if at all.

So, if she does not live in Bogota...perhaps you need to find another way. If you ask her, Dre (OskaryAndrea) may e-mail you a copy of her packet 4. The interview schedule for January has been posted on the embassy web site....if you need to know you new interview date (assuming it is in January).

Mike

Thanx Mike.I already know my interview date to be 1/24 because I called the embassy in Bogota. I also have packet 4.

Thing is that everyone needs to recieve their own packet 4 because in it is the letter stating the persons names and interview date. You need to take that sheet that is in packet 4 to the Dr's appt, labs and finally to the embassy on the interview date!!

So we're scrambling to see if anyone can do us the favor of picking it up for us, if not having to send my fiance all the way to Bogota from Cartagena.....

Thanx for your response.

Hello all...

Just wanted to send out our greetings and wish everyone luck in their journey! All our time on the website has been devoted to the K3 then the CR1 forums. Now that we are less than a month from the Interview and have backed off from the forums a little bit, only offering advice or experiences where helpful. We recently found this thread and wanted to introduce ourselves! Long live the Colombian experience, and best wishes to all of you in love out there!

Have a great week! Brad and Vicky

Mystery:

Yes, I am aware of the need for the appointment sheet (cita), which is part of packet 4. I ready on another post a while back about someone's experience in Cartagena. I believe the packet had been sitting in the Cartagena post office for 3 weeks before the guy and his fiance finally went to the post office and helped them search for it....and they actually found it.

So, you might want to go to the post office. If it's not there and you find someone to go to the embassy for you, you'll probably need to send them with a letter of permission and a copy of the beneficiary's passport and/or cedula. I can't imagine the embassy handing a copy of the cita to just anyone.

Good luck,
Mike

Hello all!

I hope everyone had great holidays as I am still enjoying mine here in Cali with my wife! An update on a couple of things. One we finally received our packet 4 this past Monday in the mail here at my wifes address in Cali. Talk about snail mail, sheesh! I was starting to get worried since we were told our interview date was January 22 via the phone when I called the Embassy back on the 13 of December.
Secondly, the Carta de DAS is required. at least for the K3 VISA people. This is a letter from DAS that states the travel dates and places the colombian national has traveled outside of Colombia. We have all our paper work now, accept this. I am told if you get it in Bogota it takes 3 days, if you order it in any other city it can take 3 weeks or more. So be aware of this! We used the short cut tips found here and improvised is some areas, so we did not have to wait for the packet 3 and we never did receive it!
M wife and I have traveled to Pasto, Bogota and are now back in Cali. I have another 4 days here with her until I have to return to work, but with a little luck she will join me in Orlando within a few weeks. I will update the post with more information when I return!

Bueno Suerte,
Tony

Will the Embassy accept phone calls on days other than Monday and Wednesday????? I'm trying to find out my fiance's interview date. We faxed and sent via courier the Ds2001, DS230 part 1 and bio page of passport. So, now we're trying to obtain the interview date.

Thanks...Stinger!!!

Mystery....Mike is right about that previous VJrs experience. I read that post too. I also made friends with another VJer from Cali and her interview is the 29th and she hasn't recieved PK4 either. She called the embassy and they told her she could have someone pick it up for her on THURSDAYS AT 12:30PM ONLY. Send your fiance's passport and cedula (copies) with a friend or relative, if you have someone there. Otherwise, you may have to schedule your trip for an earlier date so you can pick it up yourself. Or try the Postoffice suggestion. Best of Luck.

Brad and Vickie, Thanks for signing on. We wish you the best at your interview on the 30th. Let us know how things go.

Stinger:

I THINK the embassy is pretty strict on only taking calls on the designated times. HOWEVER, I did read a post one time when the petitioner (the American) called the embassy and indicated that he was an American....and he got an immediate answer to his question about the interview date. Maybe worth a try. Worst they can do is tell you to call back.

Now, obviously, if you have a January interview, it is already posted on the web site (by case number).

Mike

Thanks, Mike...they told me to call back tomorrow...which I will obviously do!!!!

I just wanted to thank everyone here for the help you all have provided...you have been very kind and made a lot of headaches go away. To those who responded via here or PM, thank you again.

Hi,

Looks like our K3 has arrived in Bogota today by DHL. For confirmation I want to call the US Embassy in Bogota tomorrow.
What is the telephone number of US Embassy for us to call??

Thanks....

Joel...here's the number to call...Call WEDNESDAY BETWEEN 2pm and 4pm... The call is free, speak only in English and tell them you're calling from the US. When I called the first two times and spoke in spanish they completely ignored me and put me into some no answer line. The 3rd call I placed, I spoke in English, said I was calling from the US and the lady was super nice to me and helped me right away

011-57-1-315-1566 (consular section - visas)....also, have your wife fax her PK3 docs in asap, as the cut off date for February is approaching.

Good luck!

DRE

I spoke with a friend today. His fiancee was approved for her visa today. She said that she waited for 5 hours but the interview only lasted a few minutes. She was only asked 3 or 4 questions and none of the documents that she had were looked at. She was a little nervous because a couple of girls before her were denied. One due to problems with the medical exam and the other due to financial documents that were needed. I am very happy for them and I hope next month I will be celebrating too!

Oh Boy!!! I have been calling that number for almost 2 hours.. This phone number is always buzzzzzzzyyyyyy.
Is there other phone number to call???

Thanks

No. That's the only one.

In all honesty, if you are reasonably certain of the day your petition left the U.S. and it has been 3 business days since then....your petition should be in Bogota. Go ahead and fax/mail the packet 3 forms! If you want, you can do like me....in the cover letter for the packet 3 info, I mentioned that the petition had been sent by DHL from the NVC and that it had been received by the embassy. That way, if for some reason our petition had not yet been entered into the computer...they would not simply discard our packet 3 materials.

FYI - we faxed our materials two days after the petition arrived in Bogota and then followed up with a hard copy by courier mailed two days later. Our packet 4 was waiting for us when we returned from our belated honeymoony.

Don't wait! Send your stuff....the mid-month deadline is approaching to secure a February interview.

Oh Boy!!! I have been calling that number for almost 2 hours.. This phone number is always buzzzzzzzyyyyyy.
Is there other phone number to call???

Thanks
[/quote]

For the medical exam for fiance visa: my fiance needs to bring two DS 156, right? Can she download the forms that are printed in Spanish or do they have to be in English? Anyone know.....????

Also, does she need to bring a DS 157K as well??? Please let me know asap...thanks..Stinger.

I am trying to get the Package 3 stuff turned into Bogota asap. I just wanted to make sure I had the correct fax number. Is the correct number, 1-315-4155? I hope so because this is the number I gave my fiancee. She will be faxing the paperwork tomorrow, 1/12/07, assuming she receives it today. I sent it via UPS from the states on Tuesday.

My wife is having her medical exam today....so I can't ask her yet.

BUT, according to packet 4, you need the following: cita (appointment letter), passport, and required photographs (packet 4 says two photos, but when my wife called for the appointment, they said she need more...a total of 3, I think).

You only need to take the DS 156 to the bank...and then to the embassy. DS156K (for K-1 only) taken to the interview. DS-157 taken to the embassy (again, I was told that the DS-157 was only for males between 18 and 45....and packet 4 makes no mention of it...but the guy at Banco Credito gave us the form and said to fill it out and bring it to the embassy interview...so we are going to do it).

As for the forms...they can be in English or Spanish. The interviewers at the embassy speak and read Spanish, so I am told. In fact, the forms in packet 3 and 4 are in Spanish.







That is the correct fax number.

OK, one last question ... for now! (Thanks for the confirmation that my fax number for the embassy was correct) Alright, I have the forms DS-156 and 156K already. (I'm the petitioner) But, I read that those forms are provided by the consulate at the interview. So, I did not bother to fill them out figuring it was unnecessary right now ... (we are at the package 3 stage). Now, that I am reading a lot more because I am getting closer to the point where the 156's are necessary, people seem to say you have to have them filled out PRIOR to the interview. I was under the impression the 156's were provided at the consulate at the time of the interview. What is the real deal? Should I have these forms filled out and ready to go?