Wow...a lot of things have happened for everyone since I have last visited...I had a great trip last week to see Yenifer and to be honest I have just been a little burned out from this ridiculously SLOW process...but we have all of our documents ready and we haven't lost faith nor will we ever lose faith.

Over 5 weeks now since my approval and it has not been received by NVC...they are no help either telling me I have to wait 90 days until anything more can be done with on mt inquiry.

Anyway I want to say CONGRAULATIONS to you Buck on your recent marriage to your love!!!!

Good luck Mike on your upcoming interview.

Things are getting very close for you Byron keep us posted.

God Bless

Chiqui i hope your right!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scott you bet ill keep everyone posted!!!!!!!!!!

Hello to everybody in this Great web, my husband and I, we recieve last week our BGT Number and also lastweek they told us that they sent our case at the Colombian Embassy, I heard to many people that they are in the K1 in others fourums that they sent the respective form (DS 230 part I and OF 169) wich is the same for K3 except for the form OF 169, before they recieve the package 3... I found in the Colombian Embassy website the package 3 for K3... We just recieve the BGT number last week and they sent it on Wednesday to Bogota... my Question is ... May I send the form DS 230 Part I and the OF 169 next week... Is the way to win time for to gett the enterview sooner .... but it's not too earlier to send it? There is someobody that can share a similiar experience with us??? whistling.gif any advice is very very welcome! helpsmilie.gif ... ....... Thanks to all, and God Bless to everybody that is here!!!

Brian&Yenys.

ANOTHER TOUCH TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY HEART CAN'T TAKE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS WAY TO NERVE RACKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol, hang in there, you'll get your NOA2 this week...maybe today.

I hope so Lucho.....im gonna have a nervous break down here....im an emotional mess!!!!!!

one minute ...then ...then ...then ....I think i need to get to the Vent thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[quote name='Brian and Yenys' date='Oct 30 2007, 09:00 AM' post='1291201']
Hello to everybody in this Great web, my husband and I, we recieve last week our BGT Number and also lastweek they told us that they sent our case at the Colombian Embassy, I heard to many people that they are in the K1 in others fourums that they sent the respective form (DS 230 part I and OF 169) wich is the same for K3 except for the form OF 169, before they recieve the package 3... I found in the Colombian Embassy website the package 3 for K3... We just recieve the BGT number last week and they sent it on Wednesday to Bogota... my Question is ... May I send the form DS 230 Part I and the OF 169 next week... Is the way to win time for to gett the enterview sooner .... but it's not too earlier to send it? There is someobody that can share a similiar experience with us??? whistling.gif any advice is very very welcome! helpsmilie.gif ... ....... Thanks to all, and God Bless to everybody that is here!!!

Brian&Yenys.
[/quote

Hello Brian

You can send the documents but you are past the cut off date for a November interview. You are looking at December now. Of course I don't know how the holidays will effect the interview date. If i'm wrong, i'm sure the forum experts will jump in for a correction. I would still definately send the documents next week.

Tony

And please read about the shortcuts (found all throughout this thread) to find out exactly how you can use them.

Diana

Brian&Yenys,

Shortcut info is on page 111 of this thread...good luck!!!

OMG Hey everybody...I was just on the phone with NVC and they have finally received our case!!!! HORAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! I will keep in touch with them to follow through with the shortcut and hopefully be in Bogota in December

Scott, it took 5 weeks from USCIS to NVC and the only way we found out it was sent to BGT, was by calling NVC and speaking to a supervisor, Good Luck !!!

Brian

Scott CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Byron!!!!

Congratulations!!!! You're so close, this means you will get an early December interview.

Diana

Scott, looks like your heading back to Colombia real soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats. Should be a December interview date for you!!! WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Scott! Sharing your good news gives the rest of us hope.

Vermont really wants me to have a nervous break down!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got another touch today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You'll get approved soon. Just hang in there.


Diana

I hope so Diana....i called today to inquire about my petition and they said to wait at least 30 days....but the more i asked questions the lady finally said that what i see on my screen is what she had also....I called using the RFE trick......so if they only see what i see, what is the point?????

I got touches in oct 26-27-28-29-30 and 31. My fiance sent the RFE last monday (OCT29th) We still have not received notice if that RFE requested was received. I do not understand why we got so many touches after that????????

WOW that is a lot of touches!!!!!! Not one of those touches stated that the RFE requested was received?? My first touch was on the 26th and that one said they received my RFE requested......I also got touches on the 29th, 30th and 31st.

HELLO, Gracias a todos por las informaciones, he podido adelantar mucho en mis conocimientos sobre este proceso, que me ha tenido un poco nerviosa, ahora se por ustedes, sobre el certificado de bautismo, y voy hacerlo muy pronto, con dos testigos en una notaria, por que no he sido Catolica.
Sería valido, si un Rabino Judío, hace este certificado? gracias Carina.


HELLO, Thank you all for the information, I was able to advance much on my knowledge of this process, I had a bit nervous, it is now for you on the certificate of baptism, and I do so very soon, with two witnesses in a notary, that I was not Catholic.
It would be valid if a Jewish Rabbi, makes this certificate? Thanks Carina

Great News, we were approved today at our interview. Go back on Tuesday to pick up the visa. We arrive at 5:30 and they let us approach the lines at 6 am. at 6:40 we were then allowed inside to wait in line 40 for the k-1 visas. We organized our papers and went through the process of the first window, then on to wait to be finger printed, then the wait for the interview. That was the longest wait maybe 2 hours. We were called up at about 11:00 and
Meibel spoke for a few minutes, he asked for photos, then asked her how and when we met. He then asked to speak to me asked me the same question then asked to speak to Meibel again. He asked if we had more proof and I pulled out a stack of papers that wer about 8 inches thick. He did not look at any of it. We were given our approval and out of there by 11:15.

Thank you to all of you for you help and postings on here.

Mike and Meibel

Hello everyone! I am soooo happy to see things moving again!

-Mike, Meibel, congratulations on your visa!!!! So... that was it? No more trouble during the interview? No tricky questions?

- Scott... congratulations on NVC!! I am writing down all your steps for when it's my turn

- Byron... any news on NOA2? I am about a month behind you. Please! give us good news!

Now, let me share with you what happened to me with the IRS: I filled and faxed the form requesting my tax transcripts early October... one week... two... three, nothing happened. Last Saturday I called and through their automated system, I requested my tax transcripts again. I received them in three days. So, it seems phone works better than fax. (actually on my transcript it says: Request date 10-27; Response date 10-27. Wow! I wish USCIS was as fast!!)

Congratulations mikenmeibel!

Hello Colombia Club !!!!


We are one of the few K-3 here fromwhat i can see. e received the NVC case letter sending to BGT on 10.23/07 and immediately faxed all the packet 3
forms as described in the shortcuts here in the threads by Mike. DO we still need to send originals by courier, my wife seems to think faxing them is sufficient and to bring originals to interview.


If I (The petioner) have already given all my originals of birth certiifcate and divorce, do i need to bring more originals to my wife at her interview ??

we called the embassy and they verified they recieved the packet 3 faxes, but she forgot to ask the above and we can only call the embassy on weds.


anyone with advice or help will be greatly appreciated

THANKS

BRIAN & YENYS

Brian and Yenys,

If they embassy confirmed the receipt of packet 3 there is no need to mail it...they will schedule your apointment with that.

As for the originals for birth and divorce, they have them in the original petition but if you have more bring them. (it can't hurt to have a stack of papers a mile high!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I called the State Dept Visa section on Friday to see if the embassy in Bogota had us in the system yet but the woman said not yet and to check back Monday...We are planning on faxing then.

Hope to see you in Bogota...

GOOD LUCK!!!

It never hurts to have originals or certified (or notarized) copies of all your current documents, photos, e-mails, etc. It's better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them. Certified or notarized copies are adequate, especially when you might not want to risk loss of an original document.

As for going with the K-3 process, my wife and I did that and she and her boys arrived here in June. If you feel you have the option to wait a little while, I strongly suggest that you consider the CR-1 route (I think Monoke and some others did that). You wait a little longer for your loved-one to get here, but you will have fewer headaches (work permit and such) after they arrive.

If you stay with the K-3 process, we found that the visa part of things went fairly smoothly - as long as you are well prepared and plan well. This means being careful and thorough in your documentation, being patient after you submit things, and then ready to act quickly when things start moving. If your read the information on this thread and focus on the K-3 information, you will be fine.

Just remember to be utterly honest and very thorough in all of your documentation and responses to questions. Chances are that, whether you or your spouse have anything embarrassing in your past, the immigration folks will either know or find out. Even if they don't, I frankly think you get points for being open and honest. My two-cents' worth, anyway.

Charles

Juan Carlos unfortunately i nothing new ......i got the RFE,sent it back, they received it, got touches three days in a row and then it stopped again....so the wait continues...day 166 today..

Hang in there, Byron!!

- Charles... I hear what you say. Wait a little longer and go for Residency instead of merely a K3 visa. I've been thinking about it, but it is so hard to even think I'll have to wait even more, when it's already been 5 months and nothing. So let me ask you: in your experience, what's been the single worst thing about the K3? Work permit? Social security? Interview for AOS?

Juan Carlos,

We applied for the work permit separately from the AOS. That was back in July also, and the ONLY thing I've heard is that it was sent to California. Lorena had her biometrics for the work permit in August and they told her she should have approval in 3 weeks. When I check online, the USCIS site says the normal time now (after the fee increases) is 11 weeks. When I called the USCIS they tell me I can't check any sooner than six months!! The AOS process has been a separate nightmare for us, but basically our problem has been with the drastic slowdown that seems to have hit at the same time as the fee rate hikes. I guess we're learning patience from all of this, but it is very frustrating. Lorena really wants to work and help her family - both here and back home - but that can't happen until she gets the work permit.

A side issue we're facing is that, without the work permit, she can't get her Social Security Number. Without that, of course, she can't work, but more than that I can't get her name on my bank account, credit cards, life insurance, etc., etc. THAT is the real bite in the backside. If something happened to me, as things are now, she would have to depend on the kindness of my own children (I know they'd help, but....) and on her sister in Florida. It's NOT a good situation.

These are the reasons I recommend the CR-1 route, as some of the work-related issues will be out of the way.

Charles

You won't believe the weather they had in Bogota today! I thought Bella was exaggerating until I checked out the El Tiempo website. Click here for El Tiempo. Then click "vea mas" to see all the fotos.

Leidy told me it was unbelieveable!!! That there were a lot of accidents all over!!!

Juan Carlos,

If you have the chance to wait for the CR1/IR1 visa, I highly recommend it. The wait may be a bit longer than the K3 but not by much. Just a suggestion.

Diana

Rock al Parque was cancelled, too bad... a nice, free rockfest.

On the lighter side of things, my wife's cousin got to sled around her backyard, pulled by her "reindeer" dog (a retriever).

Diana, Charles,

Thanks a lot for your reply. I promise I'll give it some serious thought before taking the decission. It's just that this looooong wait is killing me.

BTW... you all know it's Halloween. In the case you want to read a real horror story, please take a look at this post:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=86538&st=0

This guy has been waiting over a year for NOA2. I guess that would be my worst nightmare come true.

hi there guys,

my name is torre. i've only posted a few questions here and there, but have really been enlightened by the info on this forum. i appreciate your posts. my NOA1 has july 5 as a notice date. when i check the uscis website i see no new updates. i've noticed that most of you have recieved "touches", but i haven't seen anything of the sort. should i be concerned? are process times in a bit of a lul? anything you can give mie would be appreciated. thanks

Torre, I never recieved any touches, many have not. I would not hang my hat on that too much. You are still fairly early in the process. I would wait a while and then if you feel the need call NVC. I hate to say this, but, have patience. I know how hard it is. The process is slow and can be a little painful at times. Good luck to you.

thanks buck,

that sure is reassuring. i guess thats the reason this forum exists in the end. not too much about it is easy.

Hi everyone, I'm kind of new with all these, and very happy I found this web site, from now on I'm hoping there will be more $$$ on my saving account, I had been paying a lawyer up to this day, never again, that's for sure. I was scared to screw up, but all you have to do is read the forms carefully.

I have a question, Does anyone have the fax for NVC? thanks

HELP ME!! SE PUEDE COMPRAR EL PÀSAJE SOLO UN TRAYECTO. ES DECIR SOLO DE IDA..MI NOVIO PREGUNTO EN USA Y LE DIJERON QUE SI.. PERO NO SE SI TENGA ALGUN PROBLEMA POR ESTO.. M GUSTARIA SABER SI ALGUIEN LO HA COMPRADO ASI. GRACIAS

Welcome Snoopy...here is the website for NVC

I didn't see a fax but the phone numer is 603-334-0700 and when connected press 1 then 2 to get to a rep

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...types_1309.html

HI EVERYONE!!!

Good news for us today...the Embassy has us in the system and Yenifer is on her way to fax packet 3 shortcut right now...

I will call the embassy between 2-4 today since that is the only day and time that you can speak to anyone there just to be sure they received the fax.

We're soooooooooo excited!!!!!!

HOORAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!! I'm very happy for you guys.

Scott....CONGRATULATIONS....YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

torre ..

Just wanted to extend the empathy .. as we are in the same boat that seems to be driftin in motionless waters. Just waiting for the sails ta' catch some wind. As the cliche goes; "a watched pot never boils", we are trying to focus on being in the present. Instead of another day passing that we are not together, it's another day closer to being together.

This is the longest part of the process =[

Hang tuff .. peace be on ya'

Congratulations Scott, glad to see the fast part of this process is here for you!!!!

Hello again everyone, I hope everyone is making progress in your process. Sounds like a few are getting very close, congrats. The whole process seems to speed up the closer you get to being done. Our interview date is actually on the 19th of this month and we seem to be rushing trying to make sure everything is in order. Anyway, to the point, does anyone have any info on the Adjustment of Status paperwork and supporting documents? What exactly does EAD stand for? Did I read that the fees add up to around $1100? Any info would help, I am trying to stay ahead of the game as much as possible. Thanks again and good luck to everyone.

Jmarsh,

You can find the steps you need to take for AOS here on VJ, they're in the GUIDES section but the form you need is I-485.

EAD stands for Employment Authorization Document and you need to file form I-765 to get it.

For Advanced Parole (so your SO can travel outside the US after she has used her K1 visa to enter) is form I-131.

The $1,010 ($930 filing fee plus $80 for biometrics). covers AOS, EAD and AP but you have to file separately for each one.


Diana

Just to update...Yenifer faxed packet 3 to the embassy at 12:00 and I just got off the phone with them at 2:30 and they confirmed the receipt and will schedule our appointment.

WOW what a difference fron USCIS...the embassy seems to have everything very well in order!!!

I want to thank everyone for all of the support and well wishes...will keep you posted...