Heads up on Colombia Embassy Website

[AdmiralAaron 12]

Just had the worst 2 hour experience.

I have been trying to figure out how to pay the MRV (sp?) fee for my K1.  BTW it is $265 per person, meaning that finance and child is $530.  

Anyway I called the embassy phone line. (703-249-4652) to figure out how to pay the fee.  After giving them the information, they tell me the reason I can't pay the fee online is that I registered them as "immigrant" and not as "non-immigrant".  The idiot on the phone (her name was Tina btw),  said I had to start all over again and reschedule all of my appointments (uh-oh).  THEN she deleted the accounts for my fiance and son and hung up on me.  Sure enough, I tried to log back into the system and my fiance's account is gone.  So I am frantically trying to create the account as a "non-immigrant".

 

As the rude person on the phone instructed, I went to the webiste and choose the "non-immigrant" option.  Once it gets to the part where it want to know what type of "non-immigrant" visa I need, I select the K1 (see the attached file non-immgant.jpg)  When I hit "continue" it then takes me to the "Immigant Visa" website and instructs you to log in.....  (see attached K1selected.jpg). This is exactly what happened originally,  So I try to outsmart it.  Since I already have the DS-160 confirmations, I tried the option on the non-immigrant website that shows I have the DS160 but need to apply for the VISA.  Then it asks me for what category of non-immigrant VISA do I need to apply for.  Guess what..  THE K1 is NOT listed as a non-immigrant visa.  Here is further proof.  https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-co/niv/information/visa_categories  You will not find the K1 listed here, because their website classifies the K1 as an immigrant VISA (wrongly I might add), so when you go through the process on the website, it takes you into the immigrant Visa website and go through the process.

 

The problem here is that for immigrant Visas, there is no fee to pay.  See the problem....  So my appointments just got canceled 5 days before them and I am now thinking I have to cancel flights already scheduled for my fiance to go to the interview.  Luckily I was able to call back in and get someone else on the phone that was able to rebuild new accounts for them and reschedule the interview and bio metrics for the original days.  This could have been a massive disaster if I had not pursued this payment.  I was not even sure I had to pay it, as the website let me go through the whole process and schedule the appointments without paying any fees.  I have a feeling it is only Colombia's embassy that is screwed up, so if you are going for the colombia Visa be careful.

 

My advice is once you have the DS-160 completed with confirmation, do everything else via telephone (703-249-4652) (pay the fee, scheduled the appt, etc.).  Their website is screwed up AND they don't care.

Edited May 4, 2017 by AdmiralAaron

[SkruDe 311]

Thank you for this information.  My petition is at the NVC right now and soon will be traveling to the Bogota consulate.

 

I have a couple questions for your if you don't mind....

 

You mentioned to schedule everything over the phone once you have the DS-160 filled out.  When can you fill out the DS-160?  Do you HAVE to wait for the packet to arrive from the consulate to your fiance?  Or can you do it once your petition says "Ready" at the CEAC?

 

Will that phone call be able to schedule fingerprinting and medical in addition to the interview?

 

What comes in that packet from the consulate?  Any action items?  What can she expect?

 

I'm just trying to find ways to save as much time as possible.  Luckily my fiance does live in Bogota.  So travel isn't an issue.

 

 

[AdmiralAaron 12]

Hi, Just got VISA approval today!!!!

 

So, follow the K1 guide on the site.  Wait 2 weeks after you got your NOA2 then call the NVC and ask for the "Case Number" (BGTXXXXXXX) and the "Invoice Number".  You will need these later in the process.  Then I went off script from the K1 guide.  Each Embassy is a bit different in their operations so this worked with Colombia Embassy but may not work at a different one.  I sent an email to the embassy IV, Bogota <IVBogota@state.gov>.  My fiance had moved since I had done the original i-129 so I wanted to give them the new address, because everything talked about them mailing you the packages, etc.  Well they replied back in a couple of days asking me for her email address and they would send EVERYTHING to her via email....  SCORE!  So they sent all of the information, including scan copies of my approved i129 (you need it for the interview.).  I have attached the instruction packet they sent for you.  This gives you all the info you need.

 

You can go to the Embassy website and complete the DS160 for her and any of her children then you will get an email with the confirmation of the and the actual DS160#  AAXXXXX.  Side note, DS260 is for the I1VISA, NOT the K1 VISA.  Make sure you are filling out the DS160.  When you call the embassy, you will need to give them the case number and the DS160 confirmation number for each of them (if she has kids).  Then they will send you to the automated payment system to make your payment via credit card.  You will get an email with the payment receipt.  Then call back in and talk to the scheduler.  You will schedule 2 appointments.  The first one is for the Bio metrics (fingerprinting) and the second is for the interview itself at the Embassy.  These can be done within a week to a day of each other.  

 

The medical examines you have to be setup directly with the doctors.  Find the doctors listed at the bottom of the instructions packet I attached.  After the doctors appointment itself, she will have to return to the doctor 3-4 days later to get the results and the paperwork to take to the interview.  If she has children, they will need to undergo a TB test as well.  In all I spent around $600 USD just in the medical tests.  Have these done 1-2 weeks before the interview.

 

The appoint went very smooth today, because we had all of the paperwork done and organized.  For us as the petitioner, we have to sign the affidavid of support and include our last year tax returns, w-2 and 12 months of paystubs.  That was a hassle to put together, but once I had it, it was no problem.

 

Hope this helps!

-Aaron

Espanol_K Paquete MAR 2017.pdf

[Cory&Laura 8]

Congratulations, and thank you for all of that information, too!  I know there's a few people on here who recently received their NOA2 or will shortly, who have Colombian fiancés, so it's nice reading all of this updated information on the next steps for us.  Really appreciate it, and congratulations again!

[SkruDe 311]

Congratulations Aaron!  Great news on your approval!

 

Also, thank you so much for all the information!  It will help us so much to be ready and expedite this process to as fast as we can.

 

I have another question for you   When your fiance called for the medical, how long was the waiting period before she could get in?  We plan on going to Dr. Dennis.

[AdmiralAaron 12]

When she called to schedule the medical, they asked her for the date of her interview, then they set her appointment 1 week before that.  She saw Dr. Dennis.  I think this is part of the doctors process for VISA medical exams and can be different for other doctors.  Dr. Dennis's office required us to give them the interview date and then set the appointment 1 week prior.  In addition to the doctor himself, you need to schedule the exams at the Laboratory for blood work and X-rays.  She was able to do the Lab work first thing in the morning then met with the doctor that afternoon.  The Doctor's office is across town from the Lab so be sure to give your self appropriate drive times.  She also said she really liked Dr. Dennis and that his office knew exactly what she needed for the VISA process medically.  It went very smoothly for her.

[AdmiralAaron 12]

Another note of interest.  When you do all of your scheduling on the phone, they will create you an initial account for the embassy website https://ais.usvisa-info.com/.  The account that they create is an "Immigrant VISA" account (which again makes no sense).  You can then do a password reset using the email address that you gave them over the phone and have access to everything on the website (interview dates, printing instructions, etc).

[AndyLina2016 1]

Congratulations!

Thank you for the info. It is very helpful.

I have a few questions. I hope you can help me.

Medical: Was there a flat fee? How much? Did you have to get vaccinations there? Is it part of the fee or extra? Why did it cost $600? I have my wife and two stepdaughters (12 and 14). Did your fiancee's child have to go to the doctor too?

Bogota: Any suggestions on where to stay for a week in Bogota?

Thank you!

AQ

 

[SkruDe 311]

8 hours ago, AndyLina2016 said:

Congratulations!

Thank you for the info. It is very helpful.

I have a few questions. I hope you can help me.

Medical: Was there a flat fee? How much? Did you have to get vaccinations there? Is it part of the fee or extra? Why did it cost $600? I have my wife and two stepdaughters (12 and 14). Did your fiancee's child have to go to the doctor too?

Bogota: Any suggestions on where to stay for a week in Bogota?

Thank you!

AQ

 

The Medical has a flat fee of 240,000 Pesos.  The Lab Work has a flat fee of 420,000 pesos.  This is assuming NO children are attending.  How children work into the equation, I don't know

Vaccinations will be given at Medical after the doctor reviews the vaccination record, if any.  Luckily, my fiance has her vaccination record from when she lived in the United States.  So I'm hoping for a smooth process there.  Our medical is coming up, June 27th.

If you want to stay in Bogota for a week, I suggest something near the 93 Park.  Look up "Estelar Parque de la 93".  Great hotel, been there 3 times, and in USD conversion is quite fair for the upclass hotel that it is.

 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, Kumar01 said:

To the original poster, thanks for the info. I've known some folks who had the same issue and had to restart the ais-info account and procedure because they chose the "wrong" immigrant category. You're right, the K-1 is technically a non-immigrant visa and it should be in that category. It's kind of confusing on the ais-info site. 

But the question I wanted to ask was, is there a way to "switch" your immigrant type while you're doing the application? I see a button on the bottom that you can click to switch from IV to NIV. Does that work? or is it not applicable?

Wish it was that easy, but no.  If you messed up the account, you'll need to start over.

I personally had success with the website and paying the fee and setting up all the appointments.  But it's tricky.

[SkruDe 311]

Correction:  Medical fee is 245,000 Pesos.

[Lz&Jn 23]

On ‎6‎/‎24‎/‎2017 at 2:08 PM, SkruDe said:

The Medical has a flat fee of 240,000 Pesos.  The Lab Work has a flat fee of 420,000 pesos.  This is assuming NO children are attending.  How children work into the equation, I don't know

Vaccinations will be given at Medical after the doctor reviews the vaccination record, if any.  Luckily, my fiance has her vaccination record from when she lived in the United States.  So I'm hoping for a smooth process there.  Our medical is coming up, June 27th.

If you want to stay in Bogota for a week, I suggest something near the 93 Park.  Look up "Estelar Parque de la 93".  Great hotel, been there 3 times, and in USD conversion is quite fair for the upclass hotel that it is.

 

 

 

 

Vaccinations are extra. My fiancé was told that at most it would be an additional 340,000 cop. He ended up only needing 3 and I think he was charged around 200,000cop.

 

So far, in USD, what you can expect to spend on just the interview prep is $485 - ~$600

        $265.00 for the interview

        $80.00 for the medical

        $140.00 for labs

        $80-112.00 in vaccinations.

[SkruDe 311]

57 minutes ago, Lz&Jn said:

Vaccinations are extra. My fiancé was told that at most it would be an additional 340,000 cop. He ended up only needing 3 and I think he was charged around 200,000cop.

 

So far, in USD, what you can expect to spend on just the interview prep is $485 - ~$600

        $265.00 for the interview

        $80.00 for the medical

        $140.00 for labs

        $80-112.00 in vaccinations.

Good point!  I forgot to mention vaccines are extra!!!  My fiances doctor's office told her to bring 350,000.  She end up spending 300,000.

 

So medical = 245,000

Lab Exams = 420,000

Vaccines = 350,000 (Max)

 

Total:  1,015,000 COP just to get done with the medical portion of the process (not including transportation costs).

[Adry2017 163]

On 29/6/2017 at 11:49 AM, SkruDe said:

¡Buen punto! Me olvidé de mencionar las vacunas son extra! Mi prometida del doctor le dijo que trajera 350.000. Ella termina gastando 300,000.

 

Así médicos = 245.000

Exámenes de laboratorio = 420.000

Vacunas = 350.000 (Max)

 

Total: 1.015.000 COP solo para terminar con la parte médica del proceso (sin incluir los costos de transporte).

Que vacunas exigen ?

[SkruDe 311]

1 minute ago, Adry2017 said:

Que vacunas exigen ?

There is a list of vaccines. The doctor will discuss with you which ones you need.  You don't need them all.  My fiance ended up needing 3 vaccines.  But some people get 4 vaccines.  The max price they told us to bring for just the vaccines is 350,000 pesos.  The 3 vaccines my fiance got was TDAP, Flu, and I think chicken pox.

[Adry2017 163]

Just now, SkruDe said:

Hay una lista de vacunas. El médico discutirá con usted cuáles necesita. Usted no los necesita todos. Mi prometido terminó necesitando 3 vacunas. Pero algunas personas reciben 4 vacunas. El precio máximo que nos dijeron que trajera sólo para las vacunas es 350.000 pesos. Las 3 vacunas que mi prometido obtuvo fue TDAP, gripe, y creo que la varicela.

Gracias, en mi EPS haré el proceso y así evitar el pago en el doctor