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| Bogota, Colombia |  Review on December 1, 2014: |
Abby&Mario
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Our appointment was for 9:30 a.m., so we arrived at 8:45. There were two lines-- one for non-immigrant visas and one for immigrant visas. The immigrant visa line was actually pretty long, so I had to go to the front and yell at a security guard to get his attention so I could make sure we were in the correct line. Then some staff came out in turquoise-colored coats helping people. Why they don't just put signs above each line specifying who needs to be where is beyond me. We checked in, got green stickers and went through security. All I had to say to get through was that I was the petitioner. My husband's name was on a list, and they crossed it off. At no point in the day did anyone so much as look at my passport to make sure I was who I said I was. This first step took about a half an hour. Oh, in case you were wondering, you get to keep your cell phone on you, but don't expect wifi of course.
After the security check, we walked past one more checkpoint right to the outside waiting area, where there are numbered windows, a small café and airport-style rows of metal seats. The girl at the checkpoint directed us to a woman in front of the windows who was handing out numbers. We got 38 and they were only on 22, if I remember correctly. Finally, at around 10:30, they called 38 and we went to one of the windows where a Colombian embassy worker took my husband's papers, asked him a few questions in Spanish (he answered using a black telephone), gave us some unnecessary papers back and told him to sit back down and wait to be called again. I could tell she was nice, because my husband was laughing and joking with her a bit. This took less than 10 minutes.
Then came the long wait. I would suggest wearing more layers than you think you need to, since you'll be sitting still outside. I lived in Bogotá and know how crazy the weather is, so I was prepared. In the few hours we waited it went from sunny to overcast, then windy, then rainy and cold, then sunny again, just to give you an idea. Finally, at about 12:15, my husband was called by name and we went up together. He was asked a few basic questions in Spanish by an American: What is your name, when did you get married, when did you meet your wife and where will you live. (My husband started to give her the address, but she said just the city was fine.) The woman was very nice and smiley. Then she just said congratulations, your visa is approved and gave him the info on the green card fee and the domestic violence handout. She said his passport should be delivered in 15 days and confirmed the DHL location we had selected online.
All in all, we were very pleased by the experience. Everyone was very nice and not at all intimidating. I took off one star only because of the ridiculous wait. I honestly don't think the appointment time matters. What appears to actually matter is the number you're handed when you first walk in. My theory is that they only hand out appointment times to stagger arrivals, but of course I don't know that for sure.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #15696