Hi all!
I have received cover letter for Packet 3 & Packet 4 and noticed that my name is misspelled. Somewhere along the way an "h" was added to the end of my middle name. Should I contact the embassy to correct this before the interview (April 2)? All of Francisco's information is correct--I would think his info is most critical but the government can be soooo literal sometimes...I would hate to have this cause any problems.

Thanks!
Kathy

With a K-1 visa, after the marriage, how soon can you return to Colombia? Do you have to wait for AOS? Thanks.
BTW, we received Packet 3 last week and sent off her OF 169, etc., received at embassy on March 20th. Hoping for an April interview. Woo-hoo!

Hi Jay1234,
You can apply for AP (Advanced Parole) in order to be free to travel prior to completing AOS and receiving the green card. I have not looked too much into it yet, but check out the forums/guides for more information.

Kathy

The K-1 visa is a one time only entry to the US, you then have to file for AOS after that. If you need to go back to Colombia for whatever reason before the AOS is approved, you will also have to file for Advance Parole which currently is about $180. It's the only way you can leave the US while the AOS is pending.

FINALLY OUR INTERVIEW DATE ON APRIL 30, 2007

I have been a little concerend about this. If there is a family emergency, say a death in the family, how long does it take to get the pardon? Can you apply in advance in case something does come up? It seems unfair that my fiance could not return to colombia if it was a emergency untill the AOS is complete.

She can file for it as soon as she gets to the US along with her AOS and EAD. I'm not sure how long it takes for it to be approved but it can't be longer than the AOS. Here is the link for the form, and it's actually $170 instead of $180.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Hello,

Can some of you members help me out?
How long was it between receiving the NOA2 and the interview date in Bogota? I am trying to let my boss know around what month I will need to take my vacation time to be with my fiance for the interview.

I havent recevied the NOA2 yet, somtime between late April thru mid May is my best guess.

Thanks in advance

Hi, happy to help. You can also use the immigration timelines on this site to search for this type of information. Use the K1 visa view, and filter for Colombia. That being said, we received NOA2 on January 17 and our interview is scheduled for April 2--about 2 1/2 months. Our approved I129F seemed to take more time than the norm to make it to NVC. I couldn't tell you why.

Hey Kathy - I've heard that you can correct minor things like that at the actual interview (I haven't heard this in Colombia, but in other embassies anyways).

The key thing is trying to get packet 3 to the embassy before the 16th-20th of each month. If your fiancee gets it and mails it back in before those dates, then she'll get the interview for the next month. If not, then she'll get the interview the month after.

So let's assume you receive your NOA2 at the beginning of May, NVC will take about a week to send the case to the embassy (let's assume 2 weeks). Once you know the embassy has it, try to get packet 3 back in before the key dates. If it's before May 16th-20th, she'll have her interview in June. If not, then it'll be for July. So I would shoot for around June/July for the interview.

Thanks for the quick responses, good tip Mononoke

Oh and one other note. I noticed several responses from earlier in this thread saying to fax the necessary papers from Packet 3 (OF 169, DS-230 Pt 1, copy of passport ID page) and then follow up with the hard copy via courier. Only the faxing is necessary--the embassy does not require 2 sets of that paperwork. My brother's girlfriend works for the embassy in Bogota (in another division), but she confirmed that for me.

Kathy

Really? Everybody kept saying to send it in via courier (Servientrega).

I have a question we began the IR1 CR1 and when the I130 was approved we began the K3 process, our interview is for the K3 ….so the IR1 CR1 continue?
I can work when I arrive to US???
And about drive permission?

Yes! Francisco sent the originals to my brother's girlfriend to deliver and she told me that it wasn't necessary. So we only faxed the forms--no originals--and had no problems getting scheduled. We will bring the originals to the interview in case we have to provide. But it was not needed for us to have them generate an interview date.

Lucho:

Take a look at my timeline and you'll get an idea of my experience. Times do vary, so don't necessarily assume something will take "X" amount of time....keep checking...especially if you are running up close to the deadline. Our experience was that the NVC sent out petition to Bogota the day after it arrived (so said the person at the NVC, although I believe it was the day after it was logged). So, depending on timing, your petition may arrive in Bogota quicker than you think. Once you know it's been sent from the service center to the NVC, you can start calling the NVC. Further, once the NVC send the petition to the embassy, it only takes 3 business days by DHL.

Mike

Depends on how much you trust the embassy. Yes, there is no requirement that it be sent by courier....you can fax it, mail it, or drop it off in person. In our case, we were leaving for a belated honeymoon and did not want to risk it. Some of us discussed it on the board at the time and decided we would both fax and mail the documents.....that way if one got lost or misplaced, the embassy would hopefull still get and process the other one. I faxed the documents then followed up with the mailing a few days later....guess we were paranoid.....but we were up against the mid-December deadline for January interviews and didn't want "misplaced" or "lost" paperwork from the fax machine to delay interview.

I am a little unclear about your first question. You waited until you receive the NOA2 for your I-130 BEFORE you filed your I-129F? Why? If you are that far along with the I-130, why bother with the I-129F? I'm not quite sure I understand.

Let's assume you have gotten your NOA2 for the I-129F. NORMALLY, the NOA2 for the I-130 will follow...the the I-130 petition will be held up in the U.S. (because the government assumes you will be adjusting status after getting your K-3 visa). On the other hand, if your I-130 was approved before you K-3, it is POSSIBLE that your I-130 is still being actively processed. If so, you should have gotten/will be getting paperwork from the NVC asking for a processing fee. If you don't pay the fee, then your I-130 will go no further. So, unless you want to pay the money to continue with both petitions (again, this is assuming that the I-130 is still actively being processed), you'll have to pick one. From what you've said below....it sounds like you have picked or plan to pick the K-3 route.

Now for the questions. If you arrive in the U.S. on a K-3 visa, you can work, but only after you have filed for and received EAD (employment authorization). The EAD process is very simple. If I recall the current fee is $180 plus the fingerprinting fee. My wife got her fingerprinting appointment about a month or so after she filed and then was told that she'd receive her EAD in less than 90 days. Once we get that, we can file for a social security card. This board is full of information about the EAD process and the process for then getting a social security card.

The driver's license is dictated by state law. You can check the web site for the state in which you intend to live and probably get the info you need.

Good luck.

We filed the I-130 and was approved ….

Application Type: I130 , IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On December 6, 2006, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, callcustomer service.

After we send the I-129F –why????? ,because a guy in Bogota that have an agency is “helping us” now I think we are loose in all of this, he said that we were going to have the both and follow the first, but seem like the CR1 have more benefits.

What we can do??? how many days the I130 will be actively???

And we follow the K3 because is the packet that arrives at the United States consulate in Colombia.

Thank you very much for your help.

If the I-130 was approved BEFORE you sent out the I-129F you should've left it alone. There was no need for sending it after the approval because it has now taken longer. Since the I-130 was approved on 12/06/06 I think you would've probably had gotten your visa by now, if not earlier. It seems that since you file the second petition it's going to take a lot longer and on top of that, more expensive.

I could be wrong but I don't think I am. Thoughts anybody?

Dear Peter ( Miami)
Can you please forward any documents that should be faxed to Bogota if you should have them or links to the documents. Any help would be appreciated. My email address is Prez3364@aol.com
My K-1 visa has been electronically sent to bogota at this time. I would like to complete the forms and send them as you stated to speed the process up. Thanks in advance!
Corey (Prez3364@aol.com)

Corey:

If you are waiting for a reply from Pete, you'll be waiting for a LONG time. Peter hasn't showed up on the board in many months. Go back to the November postings to this thread and start reading forward. You will get a lot of good information. I've posted this many times before, but I'll do it one more time....here is what you need to fax to the embassy to get a K-1 or K-3 appointment:

Cover letter (that includes your case number and states exactly what you are requesting - an interview)
OF-169 (from packet 3) or DS-2001 (you can find one on the U.S. embassy - El Salvador web site)
DS-230, part I (can print from embassy web site or just search by Google)
Copy of biographical page of the beneficiary's passport.

If the beneficiary is in Bogota, you could always wait to get packet 3. Since it is only March 26 and the cut-off for a May interview is not until at least April 15, you have time. Up to you.

Mike listed that the vaccinations are required for ages 18-64, which my wife will get, but what about her two boys (ages 4 and 11)??? By the way, I'm glad to see things moving along for so many people.

According to my handy packet 4.....

12 months to 4 years - DPT, polio, Hemophilus, MMR, Hep B, Varicela

5-6 years - DPT, polio, MMR, Hep B, varicela

7-17 years - Td, polio, varicela, Hep B, MMR

[/quote]Mike listed that the vaccinations are required for ages 18-64, which my wife will get, but what about her two boys (ages 4 and 11)??? By the way, I'm glad to see things moving along for so many people.
[/quote]

Thanks a bunch!!! Lorena will be thrilled..... NOT! hahaha ....and the boys too. The only thing I hadn't heard about was the Hep B shot. I think that is done in a series, though, so that could extend our time by a few months.

Great point Mike. Yes, I don't mean to imply not to fax and courier the docs it if it gives you peace of mind. I was just under the impression from earlier posts that it was required to do both.

Kathy

FIANCEE FAXED PACKET 3 INFO ON MARCH 18TH, SUNDAY, COLOMBIA HAD A HOLIDAY ON THE 19TH. JUST CALLED THE VISA LINE OVER HERE AT 202-663-1225 WHICH I GOT FROM AN EARLIER POST AND THEY HAD AN INTERVIEW DATE FOR ME. IT IS MAY 7TH. I MISSED THE CUT OFF I GUESS BUT AT LEAST IT IS EARLY IN THE MONTH. I'M GETTING EXCITED NOW. THANKS TO ALL THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SITE. THE INFO HERE IS WAY BETTER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

Congratulations!!!!

Interview dates!!! What gives? I checked three days ago and saw interview dates for April (none for us ). I just checked back and they only have March dates listed. Anyone know if they revise the lists?

Is your case at the embassy already? Did your fiancée faxed/mailed her packet 3 forms before the 16h-20th of the month? That should give you an idea of when she might get her interview. This will sound dumb because you probably did already, but have you called the embassy?

We faxed on the 16th and Serventriga delivered it on the 21st. I didn't call yet, but will tomorrow.

Ok, then you probably missed the deadline for next month interviews (maybe not, that's why you should call). If you did, then your interview will be scheduled for some time in May.

You have a 50/50 shot at an April interivew. If not, you'll get early May. The we posting of the interview schedule is spotty. I can remember it took forever for, I believe the December list...but the January list got posted rather promptly.

If the beneficiary lives in Bogota, you'll get packet 4 with the interview date very quickly (we faxed our packet 3 to the embassy two days before we left for our 7 day honeymoon and packet 4 was waiting for us when we got back - pretty fast). If it's going to another city...well....it COULD be a while. If outside of Bogota, I'd definitely call the embassy to get the interview date. If in Bogota and you have some patience, wait.

Hey guys, I wonder if any of you can help answering these questions.

1. If the interview is on a Friday morning, which is my fiancee case, will the visa be granted that afternoon, or the following Monday?

2. She has what is called a contrasena because her cedula was in her stolen purse, will this cause a problem.

The contraseña should be enough.

If her interview is on a Friday then she can pick up her visa on Monday at 4 p.m. If Monday is a holiday, then she will have to go on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

1. Our interview was on Friday. You cannot get the visa the same day. We had to wait until Monday at 4 p.m. As posted above, if Monday happens to be a holiday (which is common in Colombia), the beneficiary will have to wait until Tuesday.

2. The cedula is a non-issue for the interview. The embassy only requires the passport (as ID) and the cita for admission. My wife was never asked for her cedula.

Mike

Thank you so much for the replies.

OK, the bad news (not so bad, I guess) is we missed the April interview. The GOOD NEWS is that we received Packet 4 yesterday. Our interview is on May 7th!!!!

I have noticed some changes on the Embassy website. First, there are tow places you can find the interview schedules. As I posted earlier, I had some difficulty finding the April schedule. Last night, I found a second place for schedules.
http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwscappointmentlist.shtml
http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwfivad.pdf

I also found some links for generic packets 3 and 4 posted in .pdf format.

It seems like things are moving fast now (although when I found out we missed April, I had a "damn, more time," moment...sometimes it feels like not that long of a wait, other times I feel like the kid in the backseat asking Dad if we are there yet). Good Luck to everyone.

Packet 4 link: http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwfcivappointment_temp.pdf

You may have missed the cut-off, but you probably didn't cost yourself much time. You have a May 7th interview. We just made the cut-off in December and got a January 26 interview. So, by missing the cut-off, you've probably only cost yourself a week or so....don't feel too bad!

Good luck.

Mike

Hi, can any of you recommend a hotel close to the embassy. My girlfriend is from Barranquilla and she is not familiar at all with Bogota, I'm looking for something decent and not that expensive, but most of all in a safe neighborhood. Appreciate your responses.

Is it me or did the actual Visa fee increase? I noticed the medical costs increased... Poor docs... starving and all...

At least the instructions look clear enough. Gathering that final heap of documents will be fine. I did notice that they require the I-864 in that packet #4. Are any of you March or April interviewees still good with the I-134???

In our case, we decided to go ahead and go through the submittal stage, independent of the financial considerations with our jobs at the moment. We have to be together and any more time apart is time too much.

Luck to those of you still waiting.

Can you give us some clarification on your post? Some of what you are saying is probably news to many of us.....

The visa fee? Do you mean the interview fee of $100? Has it gone up.

Yes, the medical exam fee and blood test fee have gone up....at least from the amount listed in the packet 4 we received in December. I think it was only $10,000 pesos more for each of them.

The Bogota embassy is now requiring the I-864? Really. If true, that definitely is something new. We provided the I-134 in January....as specified in our packet 4. The I-864 wasn't required of us until we submitted the AOS once my wife was here.

Can you or someone confirm that the Bogota embassy is now requiring the I-864 affadavit of support instead of the I-134 affadavit of support? If so, this is a big change...and one that I am sure that many would like to know about.

Mike

Yeah Mike, it is a shock to me... maybe the packet #4 link above (http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwfcivappointment_temp.pdf) only applies for CR1s... since Jay1234 did not clarify whether it is a CR1 Packet #4 or a K visa Packet #4. In previous discussions in other forums I've come across folks arguing the whole I-134 vs I-864 route.

In terms of paperwork for them to look at, it may just end up being more convenient for them to start just asking for one set of papers, given the I-864 is necessary for AOS procedures, but from the interview stage at the K level.

As for clarifying my post... I pray I am mistaken in going on the interpretation of the $380 visa fee that is stated to be brought to the K interview (THAT in itself reeks of the CR1 process...). After paying the $100 fee (actually more given the current exchange rate... I wonder if Banco de Crédito pockets the difference- its 240.000 pesos in Bucaramanga and that's well above the exchange rate for $100) it definitely seems new to me.

Reading into the pdf posted makes it seem like a CR1 procedure- most likely DCF. As far as I knew up to this point, there was no mention of paying anything else to the Embassy after the $100 for the K visa other than the "delivery" which you pick up at the embassy itself and that is not technically for the embassy. The med part, well yes, of course. This is really starting to smell like something people should be deducing off of their taxes, but lets not get into that right now.

Yes, the $380 visa fee is actually for the CR-1/IR-1, not K-1, those are still $100 a pop (but you still have to pay $395 when you adjust status after you marry here in the States and $170 for a work permit).

According to the embassy's website they still require the I-134 for K3 and K4: http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwsck3k4instructions.shtml

Immigrant Visa Unit
Package of Instructions for K-3/K-4 Visa Applicants
The package of instructions consists of:

A cover letter

Instructions for K-3/K-4 Visa Applicants (In Spanish)

Form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application)

Form DS-230 Part I (Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration – Biographic Data)

Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support)

List of Items that Cannot be Brought into the Visa Waiting Area

I am sure everyone going through the process will be happy to know that nothing has changed and the processes we've outlined on this thread are still accurate.

Since we finished everything in January, I did not want to assume that some type of change had not been made since....although it would have surprised me (after all, the embassy is still using a packet 3 that is very outdated...is still using the OF-169, and still is not using the bar-coded DS-156)...the Bogota embassy has not shown itself to be a trend-setter.

Mike

PS - while I believe the Bogota embassy website is accurate in this case, don't always rely on it 100%. There are parts of it that have not been updated and can, therefore, really confuse you. For example, the name of the Bank where you pay the interview fee (now Banco Credito) is correct in some places, but is still listed as the previous bank in other places. Be careful.

Hello, We have a interview date for May 9th at 7am and i have a few questions if anyone knoews them would be a great help.

1. I went on the medical exam website and they say to go there 5 working days before the interview.
I was going to go two days before.

2 In packet 4 they ask for DAS letter showing departures and arrivals from and to colombia. Is this the same as a Migratory letter.

3 For police certificate for all places where you have lived for six months after the age 16. If she has only lived in one place does she need a national stamp on it,

Thanks for all the help. Kyle