Colombia Club

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Ithought i was seeing things when i saw that!!!! This is just a little something to make the relationship stronger i guess..Its just that with her pregnant now, and this being my first child i wish i could be by her side!!!

[Mononoke28 134]

Lorena was very concerned about English for the boys and we tried for weeks to find classes in the Kansas City area. There are none for children. About three weeks ago we were at a Mexican restaurant we like and the manager came by to visit with us. I asked him about English help for the boys. He said they will learn fastest and best by total immersion (without the crutch of someone or something translating everything). For an adult it's different. Lorena is now enrolled in a FREE English as a Second Language class sponsored through a local community college.

One other thing to think about in this regard.... Last spring I changed my satellite TV package to include a full slate of Spanish language channels. I thought this would be a good thing. As it turns out, Lorena and the boys spend the whole day - since school hasn't started yet - watching everything in Spanish and only occasional cartoons in English. They are learning nothing! A Colombiana friend that Lorena has made here told her today that this was a BIG mistake and that she needs to start watching nothing but English language programs and movies. If your lady is smart like Lorena is, she'll learn quickly.

Somewhat to my shame for not really helping my new family, I have learned more Spanish in the past 6 weeks than they have learned English - all three put together!!

Charles

This is true. I came to the States when I was still a child, started school in late September and by December I was already fluent with no accent. It has nothing to do with your surroundings but children are sponges when it comes to everything, not just learning a language. Adults block a lot of stuff and are pretty set in their ways, so it's harder.

As far as Spanish television goes, don't feel bad. It's good that she is watching English speaking channels every now and then, but it's not really realistic and she will eventually turn it off. Just because she's watching CBS or FOX for hours on end won't mean she'll be fluent. I'm also paying extra for the Spanish package (but it sucks 'cause it's Comcast, DirecTV is the way to go), and I would much rather have my husband watch TV in Spanish than be bored watching something in English he can't understand.

I think the best way to learn English, and I speak from experience, not just my own but my family's as well, is to have them in school full time in ESL classes. Their full time jobs should be to be in school for 6-8 hours a day and learn it like it's a new career. A few classes a week for a couple of hours won't help that much, trust me.

Diana

[Mononoke28 134]

As for why I am waitng to bring her son up. You guys amaze me, bringing your wife and kids up at the same time. I want Paola to get used to the way of life here so she can help communicate that to her son. I live in a small town. 2 taxis......a bus system that might as well be non exsistant. No Colombians. This is not the same as Miami, New York or any other large city. Here? if you don't drive, you don't eat. I will, and can relocate if this becomes to much for her. A good friend of ours is getting married to a guy from Miami. If need be I will fly her to see her friend for company. We could go there togeather a couple times a year, or they can come here to Oregon. Man, life is changing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We lived in a small town like that when we first got here. It is called Ellenville and it's about a 2 hour drive north of NYC. It sucked. No, that's putting it mildly. It sucked a$$. We lived there for about 5 years and we now refer to them as the dark ages. It was hard man, very hard on us. But, in Colombia we had lived in Medellín, Bogotá, Cali and Palmira which were bigger cities than the one main street, one post office, one gas station, one elementary/middle/high school, one main store, no hospital, no movie theater, no grocery store small town we lived in.

Diana

[Mononoke28 134]

I'm the IAH right now on my way back to SFO after spending time with my novia. We've just sent Packet 3 and hopefully get the interview date in the next two weeks.

While down there we looked at rings and stuff related to getting married. I was trying to find out whether diamonds are cheaper in Colombia versus the US. Wow, was I wrong, they're a lot more expensive.

Anyway, IF I were to plan a church wedding AFTER the K1 visa has been issued, are there any complications to that? Getting married at the iglesia before we leave for the states has become a daily conversation topic now. What do you guys think?

Diamond wedding rings in Colombia are just as expensive as the ones I've seen here. The most affordable place I found here was BlueNile.com and the stuff we saw in Cali and Medellín was not even close to what we wanted (and by WE I mean I, ) and way too pricey.

And Chester... NO, NO, NO... do not get married in Colombia before your fiancée gets here. The whole point of the K1 visa is for the two people to be together faster and get married in US soil. Your other option is to have a "symbolic" ceremony with no legal validity. Ask around to see if a church wedding in Colombia is legal or not, in some places they are, but in others they're not.

Diana

[Chester y Monica 0]

One other thing to think about in this regard.... Last spring I changed my satellite TV package to include a full slate of Spanish language channels. I thought this would be a good thing. As it turns out, Lorena and the boys spend the whole day - since school hasn't started yet - watching everything in Spanish and only occasional cartoons in English. They are learning nothing! A Colombiana friend that Lorena has made here told her today that this was a BIG mistake and that she needs to start watching nothing but English language programs and movies. If your lady is smart like Lorena is, she'll learn quickly.

Somewhat to my shame for not really helping my new family, I have learned more Spanish in the past 6 weeks than they have learned English - all three put together!!

Charles

I did the opposite I ordered HER cable with English channels back in Buga.

Where I live , San Franciso Bay Area, almost 30% speak Spanish. It worries me a little that she might not make the effort since someone is always around speaking Spanish.

[Mononoke28 134]

thank lucho562, my case was approved already, the last information that i received was the packet with ds-230 and i mailed already, i got married in colombia in december of 2005 but we coudn´t send the petition at tha moment because my icome wasn't enougth but now everything is going on, i assume that the packet that i received is #3 but i would like to know when probably i am going to received #4 and the interview for my wife, also somepeople told me that i have to sent the copy of my wife's passport and i didn´t because in the packet thta i received it didn't say so.

please i am very confused, my wife got copy of everything already, affidavits, photos of our marriage, photos together having fun, letters, notes e-mail.

do I need more?

Laureano,

Let me see if I can help you out. Did you file for a K3 visa (I-130 AND I-129F) or did you file for a CR1 visa (I-130 only)?

If it was the CR1 visa, I can help you out with the next step of the visa process. If it was a K3, it will be similar to the K1 visa and Lucho and the others can help you out more with that.

Let us know. I'll be checking in to see what more information you can give us.

También, si se siente más cómodo hablando en español... bien pueda que aquí estamos para ayudarle.

Diana

[TonyS 0]

I also ordered the spanish channels on DirecTV. I did it as much for me as I did for my wife. I must admit I enjoyed laughing at the folks on "Laura" ( A Peruvian female version of "Jerry Springer"). My 3 year old stepdaughter is a sponge and is already spanglish. She can count to ten in english or spanish! Connecticut also has a large latino population. Also because of the Casinos, there is a very large influx of immigrants, Polish, Russian, Armenian and especially Chinese. ESL classes are easy to find and my wife will be starting later this month. Oh yeah, thanks Dan for the info on Telephono Rojo, I'm liking the service!

[TonyS 0]

I also ordered the spanish channels on DirecTV. I did it as much for me as I did for my wife. I must admit I enjoyed laughing at the folks on "Laura" ( A Peruvian female version of "Jerry Springer"). My 3 year old stepdaughter is a sponge and is already spanglish. She can count to ten in english or spanish! Connecticut also has a large latino population. Also because of the Casinos, there is a very large influx of immigrants, Polish, Russian, Armenian and especially Chinese. ESL classes are easy to find and my wife will be starting later this month. Oh yeah, thanks Dan for the info on Telephono Rojo, I'm liking the service!

I also ordered the spanish channels on DirecTV. I did it as much for me as I did for my wife. I must admit I enjoyed laughing at the folks on "Laura" ( A Peruvian female version of "Jerry Springer"). My 3 year old stepdaughter is a sponge and is already spanglish. She can count to ten in english or spanish and Buck, she adjusted to life here...no problem! Mom was a different story. She arrived from Barranquilla to a cold and gray Connecticut. CT is just plain ugly in the winter! I could see tears forming in here eyes. Her second day here, there was a snow storm! I swear I thought I may have to get her return ticket to Colombia! She told me she would be strong and she quickly got over the culture shock. Now she likes it here. Her english has greatly improved and she has learned to drive. Connecticut also has a large latino population. Also because of the Casinos, there is a very large influx of immigrants, Polish, Russian, Armenian and especially Chinese. ESL classes are easy to find and my wife will be starting later this month. Oh yeah, thanks Dan for the info on Telephono Rojo, I'm liking the service!

[HAL 9000 96]

Oh and for the ring... also shopped for diamonds there and the prices were great!!!!!! My fiance's father has a restaurant in a jewelry exchnge in the center of Bogota and they showed me some 1ct diamonds , clear , almost flawless and they were about 6 to 7 grand

Remember that any receipt of any sort of ring purchase is most definitely valuable for the Embassy as evidence.

Even if it means you saved up.

[CHRIS AND JUNNELL 0]

Whats up MPLS...welcome....im going to tell you what i was told by all the people on this thread that are now experts...If you want to learn ways to maybe make things go faster and also to be prepared go all the way back to about Oct or Nov posts on here and READ!!! I actually went all the way to page one and read it all...You will learn so much!!!!!!!!!!!!

'BYRON-LEIDY' ... thnx for the 'brazos !! .. yup .. I've been plugging my way through every last word on this thread .. knowledge is power ... chevre ..paz, chao

[lucho562 0]

Diana,

I have great news you. You are no long alone in the CR1 forum. It turns out that Laureano filed for CR1. He just told me that he sent out the DS230 last week, which should put him near your timeline.

See if you can help him out. I know next to nothing about CR1. I'll stick to K1, K3, something i'm familiar with.

[Chester y Monica 0]

And Chester... NO, NO, NO... do not get married in Colombia before your fiancée gets here. The whole point of the K1 visa is for the two people to be together faster and get married in US soil. Your other option is to have a "symbolic" ceremony with no legal validity. Ask around to see if a church wedding in Colombia is legal or not, in some places they are, but in others they're not.

Diana

I think I found the answer that I needed. Marriage at a church in Colombia is a legal binding marriage via the church and the government of Colombia. As I interpret that phrase, it invalidates the "approved" K1 if marriage happens prior to US entry.

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwscpreguntas...shtml#exclusion

¿Qué sucede si yo contraigo matrimonio después de recibir mi visa de residencia pero antes de ser admitido en los Estados Unidos como residente legal permanente?

Si usted recibe una visa de residencia bajo una categoría que requiera que usted se encuentre soltero(a), y contrae matrimonio después de recibir su visa pero antes de ser admitido(a) en los Estados Unidos, usted no podrá ingresar a dicho país. Si usted tiene preguntas sobre una situación en particular, por favor comuníquese con nosotros .

Por favor leer el Formulario OF-237 (Declaración del Solicitante en Edad de Contraer Matrimonio)..

[LASPENCE 0]

thank lucho562, my case was approved already, the last information that i received was the packet with ds-230 and i mailed already, i got married in colombia in december of 2005 but we coudn´t send the petition at tha moment because my icome wasn't enougth but now everything is going on, i assume that the packet that i received is #3 but i would like to know when probably i am going to received #4 and the interview for my wife, also somepeople told me that i have to sent the copy of my wife's passport and i didn´t because in the packet thta i received it didn't say so.

please i am very confused, my wife got copy of everything already, affidavits, photos of our marriage, photos together having fun, letters, notes e-mail.

do I need more?

that good to here your case was approved, my friend im preparing my affidavits for my wife in colombia to just want to make sure i have everything, could tell me what documents i need to for this affidavits ,good lucky to youuu laspence

[Chester y Monica 0]

that good to here your case was approved, my friend im preparing my affidavits for my wife in colombia to just want to make sure i have everything, could tell me what documents i need to for this affidavits ,good lucky to youuu laspence

If you're referring to the I-134 Affidavit of Support, then here is what you will need.

1. Letter from your bank indicating accounts that you have. The information must contained when it was opened, the current balance and the names it is associated with. For my case, Bank of America, the agent called it the "Immigration Leter". My letter contained my accounts, balances and had a statement saying this letter was requested because I was petitioning my fiancee over to the US.

2. Letter from your HR Rep at work (if employed) on a company letterhead, salary, job title, when you joined and if the position is permanent or temporary.

3. Copies of your W-2s or 1040s for the previous year. It is advisable to have more but not neccessary.

Hope this helps.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Question....If i submit 3 years of tax transcripts and w2 forms and a letter from my employer, is that enough...i just got a little worried because i make about 55k to 60k a year, varies with or without OT and bonuses...my problem is that after paying mortgage, car and all the regular bills, after taking all the trips to Colombia this year and sending my fiance money i blew a lot of my savings...around December i get like a 15k bonus and tax time i get a good refund and in March i get another bonus ...this one is only 3-5k....I live rent free and am really close to renting my property...my issue is that, the way things are moving, i might have an interview sometime before December and i will not have much savings in the bank...Is the bank letter a must , or are the tax transcripts and property values enough...Im a little worried now with this bank statement thing!!!!!!