K-2 Colombia questions

[Nooch33 0]

Please forgive me for not slogging through the entire website for the off chance I will find the answer to my questions. I have found that too many posts are old or not specific to our situation or consist of more congratulations than actual info.

Here is our situation in a nutshell.

Today my fiancee was denied her visa due to not having the paperwork for a medical exam for her son (13 years old). OK, I'll take the hit on missing that info and the extra cost of flying back and forth from Medellin AGAIN!

Here is my question: They told her today at the embassy that she has to make an appointment for her son's medical exam IN BOGOTA! Is it absolutely necessary that he needs to fly to Bogota for a medical exam?

I have read nothing about anyone under the age of 14 needing to go to Bogota for a medical exam or to the embassy. It is bad enough that I have to pay for another trip for my fiancee without also needing to take her son out of school and paying for his flight too.

(For anyone who also may have missed the info, you must pay for a K-2 visa and meet all of the same qualifications as for a K-1).

Also, I have read what appears to be conflicting information on the travel.state.gov site stating the the K-2 visa follows the same criteria as a K-1 (which would be good for 6 months) then in the next sentence it says the K-2 has 1 year to join the K-1. So if he gets his K-2 in September can he join us in the USA in June of the following year?

I appreciate any insight that can be provided.

Nooch

Edited September 11, 2010 by Nooch33

[Anh map 2,098]

Page 6 of the K Visa Appointment Package sent to the beneficiary by the Consular Section at the Bogata Embassy does list the panel physicians (doctors)that are to be used for the general physical. It does appear that both are located in Bogata.

Take a look here >>>> http://bogota.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/consular/2010/kappointmentpackagefeb2010.pdf

There are lots of discussions regarding the K2 follow to join here on VJ. Just try the search function.

Best of luck.

[Davecsfl 1]

The only clinics that are authorized to give the medical exams are in Bogota. A child has one year to follow the parent. You must have permission from the child's father, notarized, for the child to leave Colombia. I believe children under 14 years of age are not required to have the interview. They do need to comply with all the other paperwork- Migratory certificate from DAS, vaccination records, x-ray, medical exam, birth certificate, etc. If they are under 16 they are not required to have the police certificate.

If you want your finacee and her son to join you in the U.S.A., then you must follow the rules. I did with my fiancee and her daughter and we had no problems.

I answered you- BUT, all this information is written in the instruction packages on the embassy (Bogota) website.

Please forgive me for not slogging through the entire website for the off chance I will find the answer to my questions. I have found that too many posts are old or not specific to our situation or consist of more congratulations than actual info.

Here is our situation in a nutshell.

Today my fiancee was denied her visa due to not having the paperwork for a medical exam for her son (13 years old). OK, I'll take the hit on missing that info and the extra cost of flying back and forth from Medellin AGAIN!

Here is my question: They told her today at the embassy that she has to make an appointment for her son's medical exam IN BOGOTA! Is it absolutely necessary that he needs to fly to Bogota for a medical exam?

I have read nothing about anyone under the age of 14 needing to go to Bogota for a medical exam or to the embassy. It is bad enough that I have to pay for another trip for my fiancee without also needing to take her son out of school and paying for his flight too.

(For anyone who also may have missed the info, you must pay for a K-2 visa and meet all of the same qualifications as for a K-1).

Also, I have read what appears to be conflicting information on the travel.state.gov site stating the the K-2 visa follows the same criteria as a K-1 (which would be good for 6 months) then in the next sentence it says the K-2 has 1 year to join the K-1. So if he gets his K-2 in September can he join us in the USA in June of the following year?

I appreciate any insight that can be provided.

Nooch

[payxibka 10,048]

Please forgive me for not slogging through the entire website for the off chance I will find the answer to my questions. I have found that too many posts are old or not specific to our situation or consist of more congratulations than actual info.

Here is our situation in a nutshell.

Today my fiancee was denied her visa due to not having the paperwork for a medical exam for her son (13 years old). OK, I'll take the hit on missing that info and the extra cost of flying back and forth from Medellin AGAIN!

Here is my question: They told her today at the embassy that she has to make an appointment for her son's medical exam IN BOGOTA! Is it absolutely necessary that he needs to fly to Bogota for a medical exam?

I have read nothing about anyone under the age of 14 needing to go to Bogota for a medical exam or to the embassy. It is bad enough that I have to pay for another trip for my fiancee without also needing to take her son out of school and paying for his flight too.

(For anyone who also may have missed the info, you must pay for a K-2 visa and meet all of the same qualifications as for a K-1).

Also, I have read what appears to be conflicting information on the travel.state.gov site stating the the K-2 visa follows the same criteria as a K-1 (which would be good for 6 months) then in the next sentence it says the K-2 has 1 year to join the K-1. So if he gets his K-2 in September can he join us in the USA in June of the following year?

I appreciate any insight that can be provided.

Nooch

A K-2 applicant must apply and be issued a visa within one year of the K-1's issuance... after the K-2 is issued, the visa holder has 6 mos. to travel

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Please forgive me for not slogging through the entire website for the off chance I will find the answer to my questions. I have found that too many posts are old or not specific to our situation or consist of more congratulations than actual info.

Here is our situation in a nutshell.

Today my fiancee was denied her visa due to not having the paperwork for a medical exam for her son (13 years old). OK, I'll take the hit on missing that info and the extra cost of flying back and forth from Medellin AGAIN!

Here is my question: They told her today at the embassy that she has to make an appointment for her son's medical exam IN BOGOTA! Is it absolutely necessary that he needs to fly to Bogota for a medical exam?

I have read nothing about anyone under the age of 14 needing to go to Bogota for a medical exam or to the embassy. It is bad enough that I have to pay for another trip for my fiancee without also needing to take her son out of school and paying for his flight too.

(For anyone who also may have missed the info, you must pay for a K-2 visa and meet all of the same qualifications as for a K-1).

Also, I have read what appears to be conflicting information on the travel.state.gov site stating the the K-2 visa follows the same criteria as a K-1 (which would be good for 6 months) then in the next sentence it says the K-2 has 1 year to join the K-1. So if he gets his K-2 in September can he join us in the USA in June of the following year?

I appreciate any insight that can be provided.

Nooch

I did two of the K2s so I am familiar with it and YES they need the medical even if they do not need the interview. One of our sons was not interviewed (under 14 in Kiev do not need to interview) but he still needed the medical. If the clinic for Colombia is in Medellin, then he goes to Medellin. Our sons had to go to Kiev from Donetsk just as Alla did, 12 hours by train each way. Also check to see what else he needs. A letter allowing him to leave the country permanently from the father is common, we needed it for our youngest in Ukraine.

The K2 is VALID for 6 months FROM ISSUANCE. The ISSUANCE can be delayed up to one year from the K1. One son came with Alla and his visa was issued the same day as hers. One came later and his visa was issued 10 months AFTER Alla's but was good for 6 months from when it was issued. He COULD have arrrived in the US as late as 18 months after his mother.

The lack of a medical for the son should have had NO affect on your fiancees visa issuance. It may be advantageous to wait until you are ready for the son and do both at once though, otherwise the clock is ticking on her visa.

EACH person gets a visa (and pays for a visa), each person has to have a medical, pay the fees, etc. You also have to have a separate AOS and fees for each, separate I-485 forms, etc.

[Nooch33 0]

Just to clarify:

Everything for the two visas was approved except for the medical exam for her son.

My only questions were in regard to the necessity of her son needing to go to Bogota for his exam. Quite unnecessary in my personal opinion but I know we all have to play the game. I just wanted to confirm if what she told me was in fact that only method possible.

As to the K-2 coming later here is the quote from the travel.state.gov site:

Your children may travel with (accompany) you to the United States or travel later (follow-to-join). Like you, your children must travel within the validity of their K-2 visas. Separate petitions are not required if the children accompany or follow to join you within one year from the date of issuance of your K-1 visa.

As you can see it's a bit ambiguous but the respond from payxibka helped clear that up.

I received my copy of Packet 3 in 2 weeks. It took her 1 month. Her appointment was today and she has yet to receive her Packet 4 including her appointment letter. Fortunately I did receive a Packet 4 and took that to her last week when I was in Colombia. Thus I don't depend on or believe 100% of what I hear from the Embassy in Bogota until I can confirm it.

She was informed that the only items she needs to take to the follow-up interview was the paperwork from her son's medical exam and their passports. Let's hope that doesn't change. All of this will all be taken care of in the next 2 weeks.

Thanks to each of you for your responses.

Edited September 11, 2010 by Nooch33

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Just to clarify:

Everything for the two visas was approved except for the medical exam for her son.

My only questions were in regard to the necessity of her son needing to go to Bogota for his exam. Quite unnecessary in my personal opinion but I know we all have to play the game. I just wanted to confirm if what she told me was in fact that only method possible.

As to the K-2 coming later here is the quote from the travel.state.gov site:

Your children may travel with (accompany) you to the United States or travel later (follow-to-join). Like you, your children must travel within the validity of their K-2 visas. Separate petitions are not required if the children accompany or follow to join you within one year from the date of issuance of your K-1 visa.

As you can see it's a bit ambiguous but the respond from payxibka helped clear that up.

I received my copy of Packet 3 in 2 weeks. It took her 1 month. Her appointment was today and she has yet to receive her Packet 4 including her appointment letter. Fortunately I did receive a Packet 4 and took that to her last week when I was in Colombia. Thus I don't depend on or believe 100% of what I hear from the Embassy in Bogota until I can confirm it.

She was informed that the only items she needs to take to the follow-up interview was the paperwork from her son's medical exam and their passports. Let's hope that doesn't change. All of this will all be taken care of in the next 2 weeks.

Thanks to each of you for your responses.

I will try to be succinct. please do not construe this as rude.

1. Your and my personal opinion do not matter. If Bogota is where the medical clinic is that does medicals for K2s...he goes to Bogota.

2. My wife's visa was issued on August 8, 2008. It had a 6 month validity from August 8, 2008. Our son's K2 was issued June 25, 2009 it had a 6 month validity from June 25, 2009. Regardless of what the brochure says or how you interpret it, them's the facts.

If all other documents were in order then you should be OK, bear in mind if the consulate makes an error it is YOUR problem. We were first told, in writing by the consulate, he did not need a police certificate from Russia where he goes to school because "he only goes to school there, he does not live there" Wrong. He needed the police certificate, we had to get it. Saying, "but you said, I have it here in this letter..." They say "oops, sorry, our mistake, get the police certificate, you need it"

Just to clarify:

Everything for the two visas was approved except for the medical exam for her son.

My only questions were in regard to the necessity of her son needing to go to Bogota for his exam. Quite unnecessary in my personal opinion but I know we all have to play the game. I just wanted to confirm if what she told me was in fact that only method possible.

As to the K-2 coming later here is the quote from the travel.state.gov site:

Your children may travel with (accompany) you to the United States or travel later (follow-to-join). Like you, your children must travel within the validity of their K-2 visas. Separate petitions are not required if the children accompany or follow to join you within one year from the date of issuance of your K-1 visa.

As you can see it's a bit ambiguous but the respond from payxibka helped clear that up.

I received my copy of Packet 3 in 2 weeks. It took her 1 month. Her appointment was today and she has yet to receive her Packet 4 including her appointment letter. Fortunately I did receive a Packet 4 and took that to her last week when I was in Colombia. Thus I don't depend on or believe 100% of what I hear from the Embassy in Bogota until I can confirm it.

She was informed that the only items she needs to take to the follow-up interview was the paperwork from her son's medical exam and their passports. Let's hope that doesn't change. All of this will all be taken care of in the next 2 weeks.

Thanks to each of you for your responses.

Alla will be here two years tomorrow and packet 3 and 4 have still not arrived at our flat in Ukraine. Go figure.

[Nooch33 0]

Gary,

I went through the K-1 visa process 10 years ago (we're still friends) so that part was a snap. The only problems have been related to the K-2 but I think we've got that covered now.

We were first told, in writing by the consulate, he did not need a police certificate from Russia where he goes to school because "he only goes to school there, he does not live there" Wrong. He needed the police certificate, we had to get it.

My ex-wife and I also went through a similar situation. Her paperwork (November 1999) said "no police report was needed". When she went for her interview (Feb. 2000) she and 8 other ladies were told, "Oh, that changed on January 1st."

They all dutifully went to the local police station to get the reports. When they arrived back at the embassy it was after 3PM. "Sorry, we don't allow entry after 3." That was a Thursday. They didn't do interviews on Friday. Monday was a Colombian holiday. Thus she had to return to Cali and fly back the following week.

Yep, I've had some experience with the US Embassy in Bogota.

Thanks for your response.

Edited September 11, 2010 by Nooch33

[mike101 8]

Unfortunately both of the doctors certified to give medical exams for the US Embassy in Bogota are based in Bogota. If you're short on time set an appointment with Dr Jairo Roa because you can get your results on the same day.