Colombia Club Part II

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Hi Colombia Club i am so excited my love arrives today at the ft lauderdale airport. i will let everyone know how it goes for him!

Congratulations on Juan Esteban's arrival into Miami today!

[Ken y Leidys 20]

My wife used to think Bogota was cold, until I took her to Chicago last January...

Leidys learned that the mountains of Southern California are much colder than Bogota as well.

[kennym 275]

Leidys learned that the mountains of Southern California are much colder than Bogota as well.

Ohh man, that looks like fun ! ! !

[Mononoke28 134]

Diana,

Thanks, that part of the instructions was'nt very clear, I thought it applied to all visas. Anyway I submitted according to the instructions (2009 tax transcript) and new i-864 for son (stepson). So do you think I will probably get another invoice to pay another $70 to process my sons i-864?

KL

KL,

You should be getting separate invoices for both of them because each should have their own BGT case number.

Diana

[Nystu 2]

KL,

You should be getting separate invoices for both of them because each should have their own BGT case number.

Diana

Hey Diana, I read somewhere here in VJ that if you have applications being processed at the same time you should only pay the AOS fee once and can link them all together. Is that info wrong or outdated?

Thanks

[ryna 132]

Hi all,

We don't have our interview date yet but we are between NVC and the consulate so it's time to start collecting some docs. I'm trying to put together as much as possible for our interview before I head down to Bogotá for a visit in a couple of days and have a few questions:

1) The recently dated letter of intent - Is it just needed from me or should she have a new one, too?

2) I-134 says "in duplicate" for bank statements and other supporting docs. Do they want two sets of originals or will an original and a photocopy duplicate be OK?

3) I am preparing the docs to use a I-134 co-sponsor because I do contract engineering work and even though I easily clear the 125% level every year and have assets valued at the 3X 125% level, I will never get a letter stating that I have a "permanent" position and/or income, (especially since I am not on any assignment at the moment) and I'm thinking "better safe than sorry."

I have seen elsewhere that the CO-sponsor should check for Question 11, "I intend" and put "I intend to provide whatever sums necessary to ensure the beneficiary does not become a public burden." for the nature of the support but that was for a different consulate. Any Bogotá specific tips?

4) I know these all need to be signed using the full, legal name, but should they be dated beforehand? How long are they good for? They shouldn't be outdated at interview time given that we already have our NOA2, right?

5) She already has my original, certified long form birth certificate that we used for the I-129F, but should I make a full copy of my passport for her or is that pointless since I'll be with her at the interview and she'll have access to the original?

Anyhow, thanks for any tips and if there's anything I'm forgetting, feel free to mention it. So much to do, so little time before leaving. I want to print out, copy, sign, etc. as much as possible here instead of in an internet cafe down there.

[Mononoke28 134]

Hey Diana, I read somewhere here in VJ that if you have applications being processed at the same time you should only pay the AOS fee once and can link them all together. Is that info wrong or outdated?

Thanks

That is incorrect information. For CR1/IR1 and/or CR2/IR2 visas, a separate I-130 petition per beneficiary needs to be sent to the USCIS to start the process. Once the petitions are approved, they are sent to the NVC for processing, there they will get an individual BGT number. After that, you need to pay separate AOS fee and IV bills, as well as send individual form packets (I-864 & DS-230). The NVC probably won't notice that you have separate petitions for different family members, so if you want to have the interview scheduled for the same day, then you need to call them after each case has been completed.

Diana

[Mononoke28 134]

Hi all,

We don't have our interview date yet but we are between NVC and the consulate so it's time to start collecting some docs. I'm trying to put together as much as possible for our interview before I head down to Bogotá for a visit in a couple of days and have a few questions:

1) The recently dated letter of intent - Is it just needed from me or should she have a new one, too?

2) I-134 says "in duplicate" for bank statements and other supporting docs. Do they want two sets of originals or will an original and a photocopy duplicate be OK?

3) I am preparing the docs to use a I-134 co-sponsor because I do contract engineering work and even though I easily clear the 125% level every year and have assets valued at the 3X 125% level, I will never get a letter stating that I have a "permanent" position and/or income, (especially since I am not on any assignment at the moment) and I'm thinking "better safe than sorry."

I have seen elsewhere that the CO-sponsor should check for Question 11, "I intend" and put "I intend to provide whatever sums necessary to ensure the beneficiary does not become a public burden." for the nature of the support but that was for a different consulate. Any Bogotá specific tips?

4) I know these all need to be signed using the full, legal name, but should they be dated beforehand? How long are they good for? They shouldn't be outdated at interview time given that we already have our NOA2, right?

5) She already has my original, certified long form birth certificate that we used for the I-129F, but should I make a full copy of my passport for her or is that pointless since I'll be with her at the interview and she'll have access to the original?

Anyhow, thanks for any tips and if there's anything I'm forgetting, feel free to mention it. So much to do, so little time before leaving. I want to print out, copy, sign, etc. as much as possible here instead of in an internet cafe down there.

ryna,

1) The only documents that your fiancée needs to take to the interview are found in the interview packet from the embassy. http://bogota.usembassy.gov/appt-package.html

2) Try to give her only copies of your documents, especially your tax information and pay stubs since they contain important info and you may not get them back.

3) For question 11, many people check the I DO NOT INTEND box. The question is asking if you or your sponsor want to list in detail how you plan to financially support the beneficiary. It does not ask if you intend to support her, it only asks if you intend to make specific contributions or not.

4) Don't worry about the date. I dated all of my paperwork 5 months before my husband's interview, so you should be fine.

5) Your birth certificate is not needed. Again, she only needs to take with her the documents that are listed in the appointment package.

Diana

[Nystu 2]

That is incorrect information. For CR1/IR1 and/or CR2/IR2 visas, a separate I-130 petition per beneficiary needs to be sent to the USCIS to start the process. Once the petitions are approved, they are sent to the NVC for processing, there they will get an individual BGT number. After that, you need to pay separate AOS fee and IV bills, as well as send individual form packets (I-864 & DS-230). The NVC probably won't notice that you have separate petitions for different family members, so if you want to have the interview scheduled for the same day, then you need to call them after each case has been completed.

Diana

I am extemely confused now...

I paid the AOS fee for one case; do I have to pay the same fee for my other cases?

If you are a U.S. citizen with petitions for your spouse and/or child(ren) processing at the National Visa Center concurrently, you only need to submit one Affidavit of Support fee payment. (Note: if you are paying by cashier's check or money order, please mail all fee bills in one return envelope with one check on top.)

Source: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3904.html#fee_per_case

[Mononoke28 134]

I am extemely confused now...

I paid the AOS fee for one case; do I have to pay the same fee for my other cases?

If you are a U.S. citizen with petitions for your spouse and/or child(ren) processing at the National Visa Center concurrently, you only need to submit one Affidavit of Support fee payment. (Note: if you are paying by cashier's check or money order, please mail all fee bills in one return envelope with one check on top.)

Source: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3904.html#fee_per_case

Oooh I see, I hadn't seen that before. After I read it I checked other forums to see what other people did in your case and only found a whole bunch of people confused as well. I would say, do as they indicate and maybe print those instructions so they see why you sent all AOS fee bills with only one check, you never know.

You do have to pay separate IV bills for each however.

Diana

[Nystu 2]

Oooh I see, I hadn't seen that before. After I read it I checked other forums to see what other people did in your case and only found a whole bunch of people confused as well. I would say, do as they indicate and maybe print those instructions so they see why you sent all AOS fee bills with only one check, you never know.

You do have to pay separate IV bills for each however.

Diana

As always, thanks a lot for your comments. I was sure sure I had to pay separate fees for each application until I read that somebody couldn't pay the fee for one of their applications after they paid the first one, that's when I was all confused and started doing some research. As far as the IV fee, yes, that I know has to be paid for each applicant (sure, the cheapest one is the one you only have to pay once...lol).

[ryna 132]

ryna,

1) The only documents that your fiancée needs to take to the interview are found in the interview packet from the embassy. http://bogota.usemba...pt-package.html

2) Try to give her only copies of your documents, especially your tax information and pay stubs since they contain important info and you may not get them back.

3) For question 11, many people check the I DO NOT INTEND box. The question is asking if you or your sponsor want to list in detail how you plan to financially support the beneficiary. It does not ask if you intend to support her, it only asks if you intend to make specific contributions or not.

4) Don't worry about the date. I dated all of my paperwork 5 months before my husband's interview, so you should be fine.

5) Your birth certificate is not needed. Again, she only needs to take with her the documents that are listed in the appointment package.

Diana

Thanks so much. So, that means that she will not need the originals of everything submitted with the I-129F available at the interview, i.e. my birth cert.? I know it's not on the list but I've seen elsewhere here on VJ that they are needed; however, I feel more comfortable listening to someone who has experience going through Bogotá.

[dakay ♥ 10]

Thanks so much. So, that means that she will not need the originals of everything submitted with the I-129F available at the interview, i.e. my birth cert.? I know it's not on the list but I've seen elsewhere here on VJ that they are needed; however, I feel more comfortable listening to someone who has experience going through Bogotá.

you don't need originals, IMO, if you have a copy of the documents submitted with your I-129F take it with you to the interview, just in case they request something that you already submitted but they for any reason don't have it.(I have heard some cases)

The only originals documents that she needs is your employment letter and the I-134 form

[KL77 0]

As always, thanks a lot for your comments. I was sure sure I had to pay separate fees for each application until I read that somebody couldn't pay the fee for one of their applications after they paid the first one, that's when I was all confused and started doing some research. As far as the IV fee, yes, that I know has to be paid for each applicant (sure, the cheapest one is the one you only have to pay once...lol).

I currently have two cases at NVC. In July, I sent the I-864 packet and the IV packet, prior to that, I only payed one affidavit of support processing fee and of course two separate IV fee for wife and son. Unfortunately, I received a RFE last week, to send in 2009 tax and a separate I-864 for my son. I submitted what was requested. After reading Diana’s' post about having to pay another affidavit of support processing fee, I then quickly logged on to the NVC online payment site to see if another invoice had come in and there was no new invoice. Out of curiosity I logged onto my wife’s case and found a sign-in failed...this got me nervous so I called NVC and they told me wife's case was complete and it is on hold until her son's case is completed then sent to the embassy together . The agent also told me I will not have to pay another affidavit of support processing fee. I just wanted to clear this up.

[Robert de Bonda 3]

Good luck to Barry & Maribel as they go for their interview tomorrow (9/2).