Mike, Scott, Lucho, and Buck...

I agree with all of you - to some point or another. The thread is getting awfully long for anyone to read through, even if "just" from last November. On the other hand, that is the best way to get a real understanding of the complexity of the process. Also, it can be rather tiresome to read what appear to be the same questions over and over. However, what I gather from reading everyone's concerns is that there are no two cases exactly alike, and sometimes, after having your eyes glaze over after reading a month's worth of posts, it is really easy to miss a key word or phrase that might have answered the specific problem you are having.

I tend to think of this forum as a school where many of the new students will quickly graduate to become professors to more new students. Lucho, for example, has gone from being a exuberant freshman to graduate level professor in rather short order. Others will follow.

Knowing the history of the journey through Bogota to the US is very important. ("Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.") But things change - so history tends to change as it grows. Comparing the visa process to computer science, if I were starting on this journey now, would I want to learn only from a tenured professor who learned using FORTRAN, or from a relatively new prof who is familiar with FORTRAN but really learned his/her stuff recently on the front-lines of technology? Sure, I'm sure Bill Gates has forgotten more about computers than we'll ever know, but I'd rather learn from one of his hot shots creating and using the latest and greatest.

Enough with metaphors. There IS a lot to learn here and none of the history should be ignored because YOUR answer may be there. But with all the changes in the visa process, fees, etc., and with more undoubtedly to come, it's good to ask the same old questions because the answers may well have changed.

My opinion plus 4 or 5 dollars might get you a latte at Starbucks.

Charles

NEVER EVER send anything inside Colombia using regular mail, (even regular mail from the U.S. is very risky) Servientrega is the best your going to find in Colombia, it's inexpensive and reliable. In 12 years of sending documents around the country and back to Bogota we have never had a problem. BUT, as a precaution, anything your sending to the Embassy, make sure you keep photo copies.

I have a few minutes, I will give account of our POE in Houston. When we got there, late of course, there must have been well over 300 people in the visitors line and close to 100 in the US line. We went to the US line. I got pulled out and sent to an area for bad peole. LOL. Paola went to another area. I was in there for a little over an hour. When I came out, no Poala. I asked one of the Border Patrol people where she was. He said he did not know and did not have time to find out. I waited another hour and asked another guy, same response. I got the attention of another person and explained that I had no idea where my fiancee was and what was going on. He told me they had a bunch of people to process and the wait could be as much as 4 hours. GREAT!!!!!!!!!! We missed our flight. She was in there for a little over 3 hours. That was the bad part.
She was interviewed by the same gal that had talked to me about crimes I have never commited, turns out I am white, not black, never been in prison, do not have tattoo's all over my body and am basicly a good guy. When she asked Paola what my name was the lady said, oh yes, I know him, I just spoke with him about 2 hours ago. She then did the fingerprinting and said welcome to the US. That was it. Very easy and no problems. The problem was the airport was full of people, flights were being delayed and the Border Patrol employee's were a little on the grouchy side. We missed our flight, which created more problems. From the time we went to the airport to arrivasl at my house, with the time difference was exactly 24 hours. I am beat, Paola is sleeping LOL>LOL In the end we are home. I would not reccomend traveling on the weekeends if at all possible.

Saludos lunita1327

Al parecer esto definitivamente es un tema mas complicado por cada una de sus situaciones pertinentes...

1. Se le nego la visa de turista en base a que previamente estuvo en EEUU y no estuvo el tiempo necesario para adquirir su residencia. Esto levanta banderas con el gobierno pues demuestra que el matrimonio anterior pudo haberse llevado acabo por motivos opuestos al que la inmensa mayoria de los foristas en estos foros reclaman tener. No obstante, le toca justificar y justificar al momento de su entrevista adecuada para convencer a quien le toque. Asi de sujetivo puede ser. Toca ser lo mas honesto posible.

2. En el casu suyo, el tema de haber obtenido mas de un tipo de visado es POSIBLE que haya levantado alguna bandera en la embajada donde algunas veces y por razones desconocidad, algunos representantes del gobierno estadounidense deciden hacerse lo maximo de vigilantes ante individuos que obtengan mas de un visado- por sencillo que fuese como lo seria en su caso personal. Mi recomendacion es acudir a tal entrevista con mente clara, relajada, y si le dicen que debio haber tomado ajustes de estatus a otro tipo de visado pues que le conteste claramente que no debio haber representado inconveniente legal la obtencion de a) un visado pre-existente turistico B y un visado estudiantil cuya aprobacion conllevaria ciertos requisitos que se debieron haber cumplido. Por lo tanto, la cancelacion o anulacion de dichas visas estaran pendientes su apelacion por escrito con la embajada tanto como los resultados de su entrevista. Importantemente debe mantener la calma cuando habla con los representantes de la embajada para no demostrar irrespetuosidad porque tales individuos en sus momentos mas debiles son capaces de "cerrarle el libro" en cuanto a sus viajes a EEUU.

Suerte!

Is using Servientrega from within Colombia still an option? Maybe I am being too literal, but when they say "you must use the Colombian mail system" I assumed that to mean that they would not accept packages from other carriers. I know that sounds ridiculous, but isn't that what it says?

No tatoos? No prison record? No violent mean streak lurking just below the surface? Soooooooo boring. Why does Paola want to marry you?

Gosh Buck, what an ordeal. You really have had some bad luck in your journey but you never gave up. And now you have your reward.... You are working while Paola is home sleeping. Glad to see that she did not hesitate in letting you know how things are going to be from now on.

In all seriousness, I admire your perserverance and congratulate you both.

Did the child come with you? I was curious to know if DAS required the certificate of abandonment at the airport.

Byron, Rafael.... come on!! I need good news from you!! I am anxiously waiting for that day when you finally post a message saying "received NOA2!" See, you filed in May, I filed in June. Which means when your approval comes, mine will be next.

A quick question for everyone: reading previous posts, it seems like each case gets touched 3 times before receiving NOA2: The first time very close to when it was received; the other two a couple of days before NOA2 is sent. In your opinion, is this true, or is this as random as everything else with USCIS?

Byron, Rafael.... come on!! I need good news from you!! I am anxiously waiting for that day when you finally post a message saying "received NOA2!" See, you filed in May, I filed in June. Which means when your approval comes, mine will be next.

A quick question for everyone: reading previous posts, it seems like each case gets touched 3 times before receiving NOA2: The first time very close to when it was received; the other two a couple of days before NOA2 is sent. In your opinion, is this true, or is this as random as everything else with USCIS?

I got Poala back here with me. Immigration in Houston wa a nightmare!!! We got home at 3:30am, I got up and off to work at 5:30am. I will post details later.

Welcome HOME Buck and Paola!

How is she adjusting to the Northwest life so far? I'll be in Tigard next week.

I have a few minutes, I will give account of our POE in Houston. When we got there, late of course, there must have been well over 300 people in the visitors line and close to 100 in the US line. We went to the US line. I got pulled out and sent to an area for bad peole. LOL. Paola went to another area. I was in there for a little over an hour. When I came out, no Poala. I asked one of the Border Patrol people where she was. He said he did not know and did not have time to find out. I waited another hour and asked another guy, same response. I got the attention of another person and explained that I had no idea where my fiancee was and what was going on. He told me they had a bunch of people to process and the wait could be as much as 4 hours. GREAT!!!!!!!!!! We missed our flight. She was in there for a little over 3 hours. That was the bad part.
She was interviewed by the same gal that had talked to me about crimes I have never commited, turns out I am white, not black, never been in prison, do not have tattoo's all over my body and am basicly a good guy. When she asked Paola what my name was the lady said, oh yes, I know him, I just spoke with him about 2 hours ago. She then did the fingerprinting and said welcome to the US. That was it. Very easy and no problems. The problem was the airport was full of people, flights were being delayed and the Border Patrol employee's were a little on the grouchy side. We missed our flight, which created more problems. From the time we went to the airport to arrivasl at my house, with the time difference was exactly 24 hours. I am beat, Paola is sleeping LOL>LOL In the end we are home. I would not reccomend traveling on the weekeends if at all possible.

Hi to everybody

My english isn't the best but i'm doing the best that i can, ok i want tell yours that our case was aproved yesterday and today we know the good news, we are very happy for this, we have been reading throught the forum and here is a very interesting information thanks for bye i will continue tell about we when we know something more.

Mabel

I want to welcome you back BUCK and congratulations. but I am a little confused by your comments "Not Black" this sounds like you are implying something. Can you please clarify for me. What do you mean???????

Hi Lucho,

1. Do we have to fax the complete DS230 (part 1 and 2) or just part 1? signed or not signed?? the Embassy says: complete and sign...

2.Do we have to submit the complete DS230 (part1 and 2) the day of our interview again? or just part 2

Please confirm if this is the right DS 230 we have to fax (taken from Us Embassy web page, part 1 and 2):

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/wwwfcds230en.pdf

As soon as you have obtained ALL the documents that are required to process your
case, you must complete and sign Forms OF-169 and DS-230, as attached. Send these
forms to the Embassy to the following address:

This letter will be sent to you by the Colombian national mail
system within 4 to 6 weeks after the Embassy has received the signed forms OF-169 and DS-
230.

Fill out two (2) Forms DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application), one (1) Form DS-156K
(Nonimmigrant Fiancé(e) Visa Application) and one (1) Form DS-230 Part I (Application for
Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration – Biographic Data). You must answer all questions. If
your children are applying for a visa with you, each must completely fill out two (2) Forms DS-
156 and one (1) Form DS-230 Part I.
You must complete all the information requested in the above forms. Presenting
incomplete documentation will cause delays in your visa processing. Do not sign the
above forms until you are told to do so.

HELP COLOMBIA CLUB!!!!!

OK…I just got off the phone with Yenifer and she had some very important things to tell me. Four weeks ago she took a day off from school to gather the necessary documents for our interview…police cert, migratory cert, baptism cert and birth cert. We hope that our interview will come before the end of the year, which will make these documents at worst 3 months old. She was a little concerned that the document for baptism that she got needed to be notarized. Packet 3 asked for (fe de bautismo: Expedida recientemente y con Notas Marginales).

She went back to the office that she got the baptism cert from and the woman told her to come back when she has an interview date so that she can take out a new one and also bring it somewhere??? for the Notas Marginales and back to her office for something else…maybe another stamp or something??? . This is to supposedly satisfy the embassy’s criteria for this doc and anything else would not be acceptable

I didn’t think that any of these docs required a notorization (but I could be wrong) and I told Yenifer that I thought this might just be a ploy to get more money. She is all concerned about this and so am I because every day we get closer to our interview and we want to be prepared. We will do whatever is necessary…”PLEASE HELP”

Hi Yazz,

The DS230 is broken up in 2 parts, each part consists of 2 pages.
Part 1 = pages 1 and 2
Part 2 = pages 3 and 4

1. Fax only part 1 of the DS230 signed(pg 1 and 2)
2. The CO never asked us for our DS230 and I have never heard of a case where someone else was asked for it. However the wording in the packet 3 is tricky and I like to play it safe, so we took an unsigned DS230 part 1 to the interview but did not turn it in. We brought it along just incase the CO asked for it. (Notice that packet 4 makes no mention of it)

Just play it safe, take it with you but dont give it to them unless they ask for it. The following contradicting quotes from packet 3 creates a bit of confusion on wether to take the DS230 to the interview and wether to sign it. The first 2 quotes contradict the last 2 quotes.

Packet 3 quote


Packet 3 quote


Packet 3 quote


Packet 3 quote

Why the huge red type? It is not exactly a good way to begin a calm conversation.

I cannot speak for Buck, but I can tell you how I interpreted his remarks. Buck's name matched with a known criminal who happened to be a black man with tatoos and a prison record. So Buck was questioned. During the questioning Buck pointed out (or they figured out for themselves) that he is not black, does not have tatoos and has never been in prison. So, clever people that they are, they concluded that Buck was not the bad guy.

I realize that everyone views the world through the prism of their own experience, but personally I don't think Buck meant to imply anything derogatory.

I would like to add that another reason why the embassy asks for the baptismal certificate is to also verify if the beneficiary has been married before. If the beneficiary has never been married, the baptism certificate will reflect that. Same as if the beneficiary was married, the baptism cert. will also have that noted on it.

Bill, I read my post again. I can see what you mean. I only ment that they confused me with another person. Paola is a African Colombian, I am an caucasion american. I only thought it strange that they would pull me aside when they already know almost everything about you when you come thru the immigration line at the POE. It is the same with the interview in the US Embassy in Bogata. For the most part it is BS!!! If you have a criminal background, have been registerd with a "club" in another country or any thing else outside of the norm, they already know it. That s the reason that you want to be toatly honest on all docs submitted to the embassy for the visa. They want to catch you in a lie. The same with the immigration or border patrol in the US. They know EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry if my post was not clear. I am NOT a racist or predudice!!

I found this posted by lucho a while back so just to play it safe and keep our minds at ease we will get a current birth cert and fe de bautismo: Expedida recientemente y con Notas Marginales. (inside of a month of our interview)

Thanks for the response Diana

Hey Buck...I think you started the new thread you talked about earlier by the same name as this one. The idea is awesome but the name shouldn't be the same as this one as it may confuse some of "us"

Scott... I asked my wife about your "Notas Marginales". Nope, this doesn't seem mean you need to get it notarized. Happens everytime something happens in your "Catholic life" the Catholic Church writes it in your baptism certificate. So, when you get married, the church should add a note, something like "got married, xx/xx/07". Not only marriage, but maybe the catholic confirmation and other events throughout your religious life. If there is nothing to write, they should add a note saying "nothing to add, no events, etc". I guess USCIS could potentially use this document to verify you really got married through the Catholic Church (in case you stated so) or that you were / were not married before.

I would suggest your wife to go visit her local church, a priest or even better, the local "curia". My wife says it is not hard to get them to correct (in case there is a mistake) or add a note (in case it was missing) to the baptism certificate. In her estimate, any of these changes may take from one to three days (depending on your relationship with the local priest). I find it strange that the church is asking for the interview date to take action. I suggest she finds someone else to help her of try through the local priest. Knowing how things work in Colombia, I also suggest she goes to that aunt, granma or neighbor who spends day and night at church. They have a lot of influence.... (in my case, that person is my mother in law)

Hope this helps.

I am starting a new thread on "Your new life in america" forum. I will call it "Colombia". I have, and am not reading much other then the Colombia Club thread here. All embassy's are different. We have the best thread on this site.
I do not want to clutter this thread with everyday stuff after the entry visa is complete. We have a thread on the AOS forum. Lets start one on the After your here forum. The name of it is...............................Your new life in America".
Please, post there. I want Paola to be happy here, I need advice. I want to meet others that have brought Colombians to the US. I want to know the joys and sorrows. I want to possible meet others in person. Paola has a few friends in the US. In Chicago and Florida. I am willing and able to send her to the other places if need be. I live in a very small town, not only is she the only Colombian here, but there are no other connections with Colombia then TV. Aside from that she is one of a very few black people. We are thre exacact same as you..................deeply in love and wanting a good and happy life.
People seem to participate on the visa forum and then dissapear after a time, that is totally understanable. Lets keep up the communication. We can help each other the same. I am sure that I am not the only one that wants or needs communication with others.
I hope to see many folks on the "Your new Life in America" forum, Colombia Club. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have a GREAT day!!!!!!!!!