Bogota Spouse IR1 Interview

[Landofvanilla 1]

Hi all, hope you are well. I'd be so grateful if anyone who has done an IR1 Spouse Interview in Bogota. My Colombian wife has her visa interview (as my spouse) coming up in Bogota. 

 

As her petitioner and spouse (US citizen), will I be able to accompany her to the interview?

 

I see conflicting info. On state.travel.gov it doesn't list petitioner as someone that can accompany (only interpreter and special needs). On co.usembassy.gov it says petitioner can accompany, as well as on this site visa journey. 

 

Can anyone confirm? Thanks in advance!

[SteveInBostonI130 3,491]

Generally the embassy site has more up to date information for that country/embassy.  If you see conflicting information, go with what the embassy site states.  You can also email the embassy and ask the question directly.

 

[JeanneAdil 6,899]

 

Security

Due to security procedures and space limitations, U.S. consular sections do not permit interested parties such as friends, relatives, attorneys, or business contacts to attend the visa interview with the applicant.  Only the applicant and the petitioner (and a guardian, if the applicant is unable to care for him- or herself) may attend a visa interview.   

 

So,  not unless the person can not care for themselves such as a child

[juninho10 42]

From what I understand, the petitioner (you) will have to wait outside of the embassy. I don't know that for certain but I've read that it's the case reading up old posts on this forum.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what was the time between NVC accepting your documents, the interview being arranged and the date of the interview for Bogota?

 

NVC approved all my documents 10-days ago and I'm waiting to hear from the US embassy in Bogota. I've heard some estimations of about a month, which would is reasonable, but have also seen some horror stories from other embassies around the world where people have been waiting 6+ months to get an interview.

[Landofvanilla 1]

We submitted the DS260 packet in November 2019, DQ'd by the NVC in June 2020, and got our interview date on May 14 for an interview date of June 18th. We got caught completely in the COVID situation.

[JKLSemicolon 443]

1 hour ago, Landofvanilla said:

We submitted the DS260 packet in November 2019, DQ'd by the NVC in June 2020, and got our interview date on May 14 for an interview date of June 18th. We got caught completely in the COVID situation.

If you fill out your Visajourney timeline with that information, it will be helpful for other members, especially those waiting for interviews in Bogotá.

 

In Ecuador, typically only the visa applicant is allowed in, but pre-covid I heard of cases where an assertive petitioner also managed to accompany the applicant. Very few reports of interviews on this site since the start of Covid but I would imagine that things have only become more restrictive. Not sure if it is similar in Colombia.

Edited June 15, 2021 by JKLSemicolon
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