Colombia Club Part III

[Mononoke28 134]

All,

It's great to see Colombia Club III Going.. I was wondering if it was going to get started..

I need help again..

As some of you know me, My wife arrived last year, we married and AOS'd and she now has her GC, but we are starting the Process for her daughter who was listed as "Will Follow" on the DS-156...

As you may remember, Valentina is 8 years old.. Her father has given us his permission..

So the question is, since my wife is now here and we're married, do we still need to submit any additional proof of the relationship?

I completed the DS156 Visa Application and am sending the Original DS 156K which we submitted for my wife.. Also the DS230, and so forth as well as the I-134, taxes, pay stub, job letters, Birth Certificate, Registrar Civil.. What else is needed?

What proof, of the relationship will the want for an 8 year old...

PLEASE HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Thanks everyone...

Kenny

Kenny,

She will also need her DAS certificate (certificado del DAS) as well as her medical exam results. As for evidence, I seriously doubt they'll want to see any since her mother's K1 visa has already been approved.

Diana

[kennym 275]

Kenny,

She will also need her DAS certificate (certificado del DAS) as well as her medical exam results. As for evidence, I seriously doubt they'll want to see any since her mother's K1 visa has already been approved.

Diana

Thanks Diana...

You're the greatest. Just what I was thinking..

I simply dont want to mess this one up.. We've been soo fortunate so far with this entire process. Getting Valentina to the US is sooo important to us... To take anything for granted and get denied or have to return to the embassy for anything would seemingly be soo ironic at this stage...

Thanks

Kenny

[USColombia 6]

Just wanted to let everyone know our Visa was approved, quite easily. I still need to write a review, but I'm happy to answer any questions someone might have!

A couple quick questions for those already through this:

- What insurance did you get for your fiancee? I don't want to risk anything.

- What do you recommend for phone service? I don't want to rely on Skype as her mom's ability with a computer are limited and I don't want things to be frustrating for her.

- What did you do to help your fiancee get acclimated to the US? Lina has been here before as an au pair, but of course this time it's with a different mindset. What did your fiancee find useful when she/he first got here?

Thanks all and for everyone who helped!!

[felo391971 4]

Hello to all my friends

I have a question that i sure i know the answer howevr im looking for somobody w. more experience

I apply for 2 visas CR1 wife and CR2 stephdaugter

Both Aprrove

However today my wife got the baby an not hers Im sure hers is coming soon however should i contact the embassy or wait

any advice

Thanks in advance

F

[kali1229 6]

USColombia, Have you tried skype? It's pretty easy and only $25 a month for unlimited calling to "fijos" and about $.10/min for cells.

[Frank y Janeth 1]

Just wanted to let everyone know our Visa was approved, quite easily. I still need to write a review, but I'm happy to answer any questions someone might have!

A couple quick questions for those already through this:

- What insurance did you get for your fiancee? I don't want to risk anything.

- What do you recommend for phone service? I don't want to rely on Skype as her mom's ability with a computer are limited and I don't want things to be frustrating for her.

- What did you do to help your fiancee get acclimated to the US? Lina has been here before as an au pair, but of course this time it's with a different mindset. What did your fiancee find useful when she/he first got here?

Thanks all and for everyone who helped!!

Vonage World. $25 a month for calling to landlines, 5 cents a minute to cell phones. This you can set up on a landline phone, PLUS they have a thing called Vonage Extensions where you can assign a phone that can call via that same service, in other words you can call landlines in Colombia for free from a cell phone or from any one other phone.

[kali1229 6]

I totally meant to type Vonage not Skype. Sorry for my mistake. I did read your post and did notice it did say NO skype. I must've been hung up on that one...

[Mononoke28 134]

Yeah, we also have Vonage and it's alright, at times the service is not that great but it's the best thing out there. Also, they say it's $25/month but with taxes and everything else, we pay $34.99 or something like that.

As for what to do when your fiancée gets here. Just be patient and teach her as much as you can, and as much as she's willing to take. The adjustment to a new life relies mainly on her shoulders and the attitude she has towards a new place and culture.

Diana

[USColombia 6]

USColombia, Have you tried skype? It's pretty easy and only $25 a month for unlimited calling to "fijos" and about $.10/min for cells.

Saw in your other message that you meant Vonage, I think we'll try that first.

Vonage World. $25 a month for calling to landlines, 5 cents a minute to cell phones. This you can set up on a landline phone, PLUS they have a thing called Vonage Extensions where you can assign a phone that can call via that same service, in other words you can call landlines in Colombia for free from a cell phone or from any one other phone.

Thanks for affirming that Vonage works for you. I've heard differing takes, but it seems worth a try at least at first.

Yeah, we also have Vonage and it's alright, at times the service is not that great but it's the best thing out there. Also, they say it's $25/month but with taxes and everything else, we pay $34.99 or something like that.

As for what to do when your fiancée gets here. Just be patient and teach her as much as you can, and as much as she's willing to take. The adjustment to a new life relies mainly on her shoulders and the attitude she has towards a new place and culture.

Diana

Thanks for your advice on Vonage. I saw in another thread you mentioned calling cards too - I think we'll go with that combination.

And thanks for the advice for when she gets here. It's tough to know it all comes down to her, but I've done all I can with preparing. She comes next Friday so I'm wishing for time to go faster! I'm sure everything will be fine, but like the interview, you still fret over every possible outcome. Thanks again!! (Great movie by the way - based on your name).

[Mononoke28 134]

And thanks for the advice for when she gets here. It's tough to know it all comes down to her, but I've done all I can with preparing. She comes next Friday so I'm wishing for time to go faster! I'm sure everything will be fine, but like the interview, you still fret over every possible outcome. Thanks again!! (Great movie by the way - based on your name).

I was talking to my husband about this yesterday and I asked him what advice he had for anyone coming to this country as a new immigrant and he said the same thing, that is up to the person coming to the US to adapt. No one else can do it for them. They have to start thinking and believing that this is their new country, that this is their new culture and their new way of life. The moment they start criticizing this country and "Americans", or start alienating themsselves from others, that's when it all goes downhill.

Diana

[Frank y Janeth 1]

I'm looking for flights, because Janeth's coming in December and I have a feeling the sooner we book, the better. I'd like to get something a month in advance at least. But I've noticed something and I wanted to ask about it.

Most of the flights pass through Miami, Atlanta, or Houston before getting to Memphis, TN. That's fine. But I've noticed that there's a flight that's 200 dollars cheaper than all the rest that goes from Bogota to Toronto, Canada, and then to Memphis. Seems a bit convoluted but what do I know?

Anyway, my question is, with the nature of this flight, would there be any problem with her going through Canada on her way to the US? I know the rules are slightly different as long as she doesn't leave the airport, but I just want to make completely sure. Anyone have any experience here?

[kennym 275]

I'm looking for flights, because Janeth's coming in December and I have a feeling the sooner we book, the better. I'd like to get something a month in advance at least. But I've noticed something and I wanted to ask about it.

Most of the flights pass through Miami, Atlanta, or Houston before getting to Memphis, TN. That's fine. But I've noticed that there's a flight that's 200 dollars cheaper than all the rest that goes from Bogota to Toronto, Canada, and then to Memphis. Seems a bit convoluted but what do I know?

Anyway, my question is, with the nature of this flight, would there be any problem with her going through Canada on her way to the US? I know the rules are slightly different as long as she doesn't leave the airport, but I just want to make completely sure. Anyone have any experience here?

Hello...

I am not certain, but it seems like that's a lot of connections, and you're bound to encounter some problems especially with her VIsa Type..

I travel to Canada a lot, in fact, I'm in Canada now.. And their immigation is much tougher than US, beleive it or not, especially if they're on a K1.. I am not absolutely positive, but I beleive Colombians cant fly thru Canada without a Transit Visa, and they can be very hard to get for Colombians... Also, Very few US immigration officers understand our own K1 processes, so you cant expect Canadian immigration to understand it, and I wouldn't count on it.. I simply wouldn't risk it.. It could be a very bad day for your Fiancee, and if you're strapped for cash, you could end up loosing the the fare if she ends up returning to Colombia due to the confusion..

My suggestion is go for the higher fare, and save yourself a lot of headaches.. Continental goes through Houston, and American Goes through Miami.. If you can afford it, I would fly down there and return with her to the US..It may be worth it for her to have you with her on her big day..

Kenny

[Frank y Janeth 1]

Hello...

I am not certain, but it seems like that's a lot of connections, and you're bound to encounter some problems especially with her VIsa Type..

I travel to Canada a lot, in fact, I'm in Canada now.. And their immigation is much tougher than US, beleive it or not, especially if they're on a K1.. I am not absolutely positive, but I beleive Colombians cant fly thru Canada without a Transit Visa, and they can be very hard to get for Colombians... Also, Very few US immigration officers understand our own K1 processes, so you cant expect Canadian immigration to understand it, and I wouldn't count on it.. I simply wouldn't risk it.. It could be a very bad day for your Fiancee, and if you're strapped for cash, you could end up loosing the the fare if she ends up returning to Colombia due to the confusion..

My suggestion is go for the higher fare, and save yourself a lot of headaches.. Continental goes through Houston, and American Goes through Miami.. If you can afford it, I would fly down there and return with her to the US..It may be worth it for her to have you with her on her big day..

Kenny

Thanks for the advice. We talked about it last night, and we decided that any money saved doing it that way wasn't worth it for two reasons. #1 being what you talked about, and #2 being that I'm going to be meeting her halfway, and so if I'm flying to Toronto as well, that's going to cancel out any savings to be had by her going there.

Anyway, we figured out an option that saves us roughly the same amount of money anyway, and it allows us to meet in Miami and spend an evening there before coming back to Memphis. So I think that's what we're going to do. Thanks for the help, the info about the transit visa is interesting, I had no idea.

[kali1229 6]

Hello...

I am not certain, but it seems like that's a lot of connections, and you're bound to encounter some problems especially with her VIsa Type..

I travel to Canada a lot, in fact, I'm in Canada now.. And their immigation is much tougher than US, beleive it or not, especially if they're on a K1.. I am not absolutely positive, but I beleive Colombians cant fly thru Canada without a Transit Visa, and they can be very hard to get for Colombians... Also, Very few US immigration officers understand our own K1 processes, so you cant expect Canadian immigration to understand it, and I wouldn't count on it.. I simply wouldn't risk it.. It could be a very bad day for your Fiancee, and if you're strapped for cash, you could end up loosing the the fare if she ends up returning to Colombia due to the confusion..

My suggestion is go for the higher fare, and save yourself a lot of headaches.. Continental goes through Houston, and American Goes through Miami.. If you can afford it, I would fly down there and return with her to the US..It may be worth it for her to have you with her on her big day..

Kenny

I had a question for you Kenny

My husband will be coming with his IR-2 visa in October. He has some family in Canada that he would love to visit. Would he need a visa to go sometime down the road? I read online that his green card was enough to go to Canada but I have read other articles that completely contradict that. Do you know?

Edited August 23, 2011 by kali1229

[kennym 275]

I had a question for you Kenny

My husband will be coming with his IR-2 visa in October. He has some family in Canada that he would love to visit. Would he need a visa to go sometime down the road? I read online that his green card was enough to go to Canada but I have read other articles that completely contradict that. Do you know?

Hello Kali,

Great to hear about your husband... I asked a Canadian Immigration officer once about having my wife travel with me sometime.. I was told she could with her Green Card.. That's the extent of what I know..

I will say, that they're tough on everyone, they often pull you back into secondary and run your background..

A little more research into the matter may be worthwhile.. I will try to see what more I can find and let you know..

Kenny