CONGRATULATIONS GUYS!!!!! I HOPE TO BE CELEBRATING IN FIFTEEN DAYS AS WELL!! .

My interview is on January 31st, 2008...

I got my blood test on December 27, 2007 before knowing the day of interview, no problem, I never received nor packet 3 nor packet 4, I went to the embassy on January 3, 2008 at 12:30 pm ( Embassy told me that I was able to ask for a copy all Thursdays at 12:30 pm) and I got my packet 4, I had my medical appointment the same day at 3:00pm, no problem, I just needed tetanus vaccine ($15000), it is a little bit uncomfortable the medical revision (completely naked, just with a robe) though very quick and professional, I went to Dr. Roa's... afterwards I went to the bank to pay 131 dollars ( no exceptions) and I did not have any problem with the DS 156 (filled out in Spanish according to previous experiences), just I added two things: "Quién pagará los gastos del viaje? (question 28) the response: " Yo misma" and I added ""recursos propios", and "Viajo sola" in the Question 34.

The Embassy received my case on December 17,2007 f, I sent the packet 3 on December 18, December 19 again by fax and mail…when we called to DOS and we did not get any news about the receipt of the fax I sent it again on December 26 and called the same day to the Embassy and they checked and reported the fax as received...two days later our interview was scheduled for January 31,2008...

Congratulations on this new stage of your life guys!!!!


Yazz

"CONGRATULATIONS STEVE & SANDY...M+J"

IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS STEVE AND SANDY ........M&J!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Felicitaciones !!!!! [size="2"][/size]I'm happy for all of you guys, It's nice to read everyone it getting approved.

Ana

Congratulations to both couples!!!!!

Diana

Hi everybody, my interview was the las 15th but i have been very busy, IT WAS APROVED, my boyfriend and me are very happy he went to the interview but he had to travel on 16th.

The consul said me:

tell me your history??? how many times your fiance have been coming?? when was the last time that he came?? when he arrived now?? when he will leave?? which was his christmass gift which was mine??; and that's all she said your visa is aproved.

The waiting between the fingerprints and the interview was the worst but finally we have our goal then it doesn't matter.

I hope the best wishes to everybody here and i'm thankfull with people of here that help us.

Bye, Mabel

I think similar questions have been asked before, but I could not find one that matched my exact situation.
Fernanda has her passport and visa with my last name. She has changed her name in Colombia, but she has not received a new Colombian ID card (cedula). Does anyone know if this will be a problem when she tries to leave? I thought she could just use her passport and that would be sufficient.

Hi Matt.
I can't really answer that question, I would suggest you ask Fernanda to go or call "EL DAS" (Immigration in Colombia), they are the ones who will determinate if she will be able to leave the country without having the "cedula" with the same last name, I assume that as longest she carries the marriage certificate she'll be fine, but the real thing is that in Colombia the wife doesn't take the husband's last name, if you want to be 100% sure, have her call "El Das" she definitely will need a "cedula" to leave Colombia, don’t play with fire.

Good luck.... Ana

DAS does seem to have their own way of doing things, but I suspect if you go to a DAS office, you will get approval. My only suggestion is that, along with the passport (with visa), you also take along the marriage certificate. I'd also carry it when at the airport. Probably not necessary, but it's like the visa application process - it's better to have too much rather than not enough.

Charles

I Matt y Fernanda!!!.. I did exactly the same, I changed my last name for my Husband's Lastname... I did not receive my Permanent Cedula, I just Receive a Temporal ID Called CONTRASENA, That was enough to leave the Country, I did not have any problem at the airport at all Thank to God. I guess she still keep her Old Cedula with her Single name on it... in the case she has a problem she can show them her Old ID Doesnt matter that the name Doesnt Match the most important is that the number ID will match.

God BLess You

Brian and Yenys

DS-230? When sending this form in with packet 3, is it signed or not signed. The instructions say signed and the OS-169 says unsigned! Appreciate your reply.

Congratulations! You must be extremely excited. I have been away for a few days so sorry for the delay in congratulating you. I have followed some of your conversations and I have learned much from you. Thank you for blazing the trail!
Cameron

Thank you to everyone for your help. I will find out exactly what type of ID she has, and ask her to call DAS.

Thank you everyone for your help here. I look forward to seeing many of you in the Colombia Club AOS forum!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR APPROVALS! GOOD LUCK!

I am so confunfused about the bank and paying the visa, the interview is wednesday. Do I pay the embassy 380 dollars for an immigrant visa and the bank 150 dollars for the nonimmigrant visa. Why do I have to pay both for a K1 visa. Some one please reply.

Are they mailing the approved 129f visas now from Bogota or can the ladies still pick them up the next day?

The K-1 visa is a non immigrant visa and you only have to pay $131.00 USD at the bank. (Banco de Credito)

I highly suggest you read this thread from the beginning and you will learn all you need to know and all your questions will be answered....

BRIAN AND YENYS

It used to be that the beneficiary could personaly go to the Embassy 2 days after the visa had been granted to pick up the visa package. Now DOMESA is the Embassy chosen delivery service for visa packages and there is a kiosk in the Embassy that the CO will send you where you will make arraingements for delivery. You can have it delivered anywhere in Colombia including Bogota. We had it delivered to the place that we were staying in Bogota...it arrived in the morning on the 4th business day. (buisiness days = Monday thru Friday...not including holidays) Scott and Yenifer posted this reply

quick question guys,

i just found the thread that the ds 156 should be filled out in spanish
but i the site that produces it allows me to fill out in spanish and as i choose to print it prints in english.

i guess my question is where and how can i fill it out in spanish.
thanks for your help.

emily has her interview on the 28th by the way.

torre

Congrats on all the recent approvals!!! This club has sure grown!! Glad to see the turnout. To the few that remember, and to everyone else too....Wendy's AOS interview is on Wednesday. Send us some good vibes please.

"BEST OF LUCK LUIS & WENDY ON YOUR AOS"

I have faith that your outcome will be GREAT!!!! You've always been very well prepared....

Cameron,

The DS-156 and the OF-169 will need to be SIGNED...go back to page 188 to see the steps for the shortcut if you are not sure.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1329162

We signed Part 1 of the DS-230 when we faxed our package 3 response on Dec 27. DOS says we are eligible for an interview appointment but so far no appointment. Given that we are eligible for an appointment, I assume the signed DS-230 was acceptable, but until we have an interview date I won't swear to it.

What did other people do?

Yeah but he asked about the DS-230.

Thanx Scott,

I have the short-cut from page 188 posted to my desktop along with many other items I have found to be useful. It is only the minor details that trip me up and create concern. Because of the discrepency between the instructions on the DS-230 that says to sign, and then the OF-169 specifically says not to sign the DS-230. Sounds like Bill was fine by signing it, so we will also.

I appreciate your reply. How is Yenifer adjusting to her new surroundings?

Cameron

Thanx Bill,

I was only concerned because the instructions for the DS-230 says to sign it, but the OF-169 specifically says to not sign the DS-230. Since they accepted yours signed, we will do the same.

Thanks again and good luck on your appointment. I have been following your posts and feel your frustration. Hang tough, you are almost there!!

Cameron

My mistake...I meant DS-230

Both DS-230 + OF-169 are to be signed

Cameron,

They are very unclear with their instructions but what they meant for you not to sign is the second part of the DS-230 (pages 3+4) which you can no longer get online and you don't need because they never ask for it and you will never have to fill it out.

Yenifer is doing fantastic....we are very happy!!!...in fact, our civil marriage is on Wednesday and then off to Vegas for 4 days...can't wait!!!

When we get back home we will start the AOS paperwork and begin planning our formal wedding in Medellin for August

Thanks for asking

You know, it just blows my mind that the average people in this process know more about what is going on than the people who are in charge. This all started on Day 1 for me when the notary started giving me conflicting info and it seems to be how it is right up until the end.

We ended up sending/faxing a dated, but unsigned DS230. The night before she went to fax it, I noticed it said don't sign it. She just got done printing the form that was all filled out and dated when I called to say don't sign it. At this point she couldn't get back to the internet cafe to print a new one without a date, so we said: "Screw it, they didn't say anything about not dating it" and off it went. It's nice to be at the point that I can laugh at all the craziness. I can not wait until this is over.

Luis and Wendy ....Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. Congruatulations!

The visa process is so long that sometimes I forget the goal of this whole ordeal is to get married.

Scott, congrats on your wedding date. Have fun in Vegas!! Paola and I just got back from 4 days Vegas. She wants to live there. LOL>LOLO. In the 30 or so times I have been there, this was the first time I was ever asked to leave a casino. LOL. Paola decided to let loose on our last night there. LOL>LOL. I was the baby sitter, driver.

I thought for sure we would hear about our interview appointment by today. It has been 3 1/2 weeks since we faxed in our response to package 3. So I waited on hold with DOS for 1 1/2 hours this morning until it finally dawned on me that they are not open today. It would have been nice if they told me that instead of telling me that my expected wait time was 15 minutes and please continue holding.

Thanks again Scott and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I am about 6 hours drive from Vegas and we will actually have a civil wedding there to complete AOS and then do an official wedding later.

My novia is actually wanting to start a thread once she arrives here in the Spanish Colombia Club to relate her experiences and adjustments as a tutorial for those behind her to prepare them for the difference in culture and the changes to expect. She is a journalist, so this is in her blood.

Good luck!

Cameron

Ouch! Now that totally bites ... but thanks for the tip! I was just thinking about calling.

I'm sorry to heard that, I hope you get an answer this week, you guys had wait long enough.

Ana

Thanks for the good wishes Scott and Byron!!! I know our AOS interview will be a success, but I just need the good vibes you know.

Good luck Luis & Wendy tomorrow with AOS! There are many of us right behind you in this process, and we will all benifit from your success and feedback!!

Scott & Yenifer, Big day tomorrow for you as well!!! The best to both of you and thank you for all your help!

Sandy and I are waiting for Domesa and hoping to recieve the visa's for her and our baby by Thursday as our flight is schedulued for Friday. I am optimistic because we where approved last Friday, however Monday was holiday in USA and obseerved by the Embassy here in Bogota as well. I really do not want to reschedule ( and pay additional fee's) but will do so if we do not recieve by Thursday!

Just a quick update. Approved for visa Jan 16 and received the visa (via Domesa) at address in Cali today (Jan 22) 4 business days is pretty quick if you ask me.

Mi futura esposa will arrive Feb 3, POE Miami! I am so happy. I thought this day would never come.

Bundy

Wow...Congrats to all of you who have been approved! Lets keep good record going kids!!

Scott and Yennifer! Congrats on your guys big day!! One more day and you two will be Husband and Wife!! How exciting!

Congrats again to all!
Diana B

Scott and Yenifer congrats on your marriage I hope you the best for the following years and of course for the AOS process!!

Good luck with the interview. I am sure Wendy will do great!

Still no appointment. I called DOS this morning and the automated system said "all reps are busy, hang up." That is not out of the ordinary so I just tried again and now they say they are closed. Why?

I am sure I will have better luck this afternoon when I call the embassy.

I appreciate the good luck Steve!!! Scott and Byron too!!!

Our AOS was approved this morning without a problem. It was a real smooth and pain free interview. To everyone having fear for the AOS process, DONT! It's very easy, and much easier than the whole k1 or k3 process.

Luis and Wendy congratulations on your AOS approval!

On another note, for all those with upcoming interviews, something very important to keep in mind when booking flights back to USA after interviews. USA Embassy in Bogota observes all USA holidays, and Domesa observes all Colombian holidays! I cut it abit to close, mainly for failing to consider that this past Monday was Martin Luther King holiday and the Embassy was closed. We where approved last Friday, yet Domesa just recieved our package today at 1:00pm! They will deliver it tomorrow and we will make our flight on Friday! Thank you my God! POE Fort Lauderdale Florida!

My Good Luck does not count? Perhaps it was disqualified for being offered a little late. In any case, congratulations! Now you can relax for a while and enjoy your new life.


If your experience at Ft. Lauderale is anything like mine be prepared for a very long wait before you get to the head of the immigration line. Also, make sure you use the bathroom before you leave the plane because there are no bathrooms between the plane and the immigration waiting room. It took me about 1 1/2 hours to get to that point.

After doing it twice I swore I would never go through immigration at Ft. lauderdale again. Hopefully you will have better luck.

Congratulations Lucho!!!! You're all done (for now).

Diana

I called the embassy over and over again this afternoon. Finally got through at 3:58. That is the good news. The bad news is that their records show that they received the DS-230 on December 28 but never received the OF-169 until January 15th. Which is strange because I sent both documents via fax and courier on December 27th from Bogota and Servientrega shows that the package was delivered on December 28th. I have not sent any documents since then.

In any case, they say February is completely booked and we are on the "list" for March. Looks like we lost at least a month because someone made an error at the embassy.

Sounds like a petty excuse to me. Just like the whole "we can't give you your visa today because of a printer malfunction" which is the excuse they used last year.

Diana

Of course it does!!! Thanks Bill!!!!!!! So many new faces here in the Colombia Club, I feel like a stranger...lol Thanks to all, and congrats to everyone with recent approvals.



PEACE AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!