CR-1/IR-1 Colombia Club

[Looking4Wife 0]

I noticed there was a "Colombia Club" thread that had tips for going thru the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá. Great idea!

However, upon further inspection, I noticed all the tips were for K-1 or K-3 Visa applicants. As most folks here know, the K-3 paperwork is different than the CR-1/IR-1 (hereinafter referred to simply as "CR-1") paperwork. Hence, different tips since the K-3 track to the embassy progressess faster (usually) than the CR-1 track.

So I thought it would be helpful for the "hard core" CR-1 Colombia folks to have a place where we can talk about our tips and experiences from leaving NVC and progressing thru the visa process in Bogotá.

PLEASE, at least post a response if this thread is of interest to you so that we can start to see how many of us there are out there!

Gracias, Buena Suerte y Dios te Bendiga

[florida-photo 0]

I'd be interested in seeing other members' CR1 experiences in Bogota. It looks like you (Looking4Wife) and I have very similar timelines and we have the possibility of interviews in the late March - April timeframe if all goes well. Any feedback from people who have recently gone through Bogota on a CR1 would be much appreciated. I know that BradyVicky will have their interview soon and I am sure they would be interested in other's experiences also.

[bradyvicky 0]

Although this thread will be of minimal help to those of us now, if kept up as the months progress and we all post our experiences, it could provide some valuable information to future ColombiAmerican couples that find this website! I will be happy to post my Embassy experience once we HAVE one!!! grrr....

Edited December 27, 2006 by bradyvicky

[bradyvicky 0]

In fact, here is one experience ALREADY:

DO NOT expect to rely on the Immigrant Visa Interview Schedule which is posted to the Embassy website at:

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwsivap.shtml#English

Remember that they even state the list can be incomplete, and to add to the confusion and purpose, today is 12/27/06 and they JUST NOW posted the interview schedule for December, 2006. Huh? Just in time for everyone to remember that they missed their interview. LOL The only good thing is that it seems to include all the January interviews also! Since they are in random order, I will spend the next two hours looking for ours in there!

Edited December 27, 2006 by bradyvicky

[dougyceci 0]

Greetings all from Bogota. Count me in on the thread and yes Brad, you are right. We are all in about the same position, you in the lead for the interview. You can help us all but the rest of us can provide some valuable experience for the rest of the VJer´s. Hope you all had a great Christmas, I was lucky enough to spend it en la finca con mi esposa y familia. Damn if the moscatel and nector don´t give you a helluva Christmas morning hangover. What a great time and now are preparing for New Year´s Eve. Should be fun but have a 9 am flight back to the states. Any way hope you find your interview date and Mark don´t think the asteriks should matter. Talk to you soon.

Doug

[bradyvicky 0]

Awesome Doug...glad you are having fun down there! I want to be there NOW...and COULD...but we are waiting for the end of January/Beginnning of February to combine her Birthday and an interview...we hope!

At any rate, regarding the phone calls to the Embassy, expect to have to call MANY times...unless your lucky and get right through. They respond in Spanish, then will transfer you to another person who handles Visa questons. They were able to look up the information immediately and answer my questions. No date yet, but good to know it is there and being processed/prepared!

[RabbitNYC 0]

Hey everyone... I've been a memeber for a while but never posted cuz I hadn't found a thread that would relate to my situation... BUT NOW THERE IS ONE!! Well my case was sent to the embassy on the 19th and I was checking the Embassy website (just like you bradyvicky) and through this thread i found out they posted the Dec/Jan interviews today... well my wife's isn't there so I'm hpinh and praying it will be in Feb. I will be posting any new info. on my situation... u guys are great.. errthing I've read on the process thru Bogota has been through here and it has been very helpful!!

To all who are in my position and situation... hope errything goes well and we'll be with our loved one soon!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

RabbitNYC

[RabbitNYC 0]

I also have a question... what number do I call to get info. at the embassy??? That would be great if I can keep updated on how the papers are doing at the embassy... i would really appreciate it!!!

[bradyvicky 0]

I also have a question... what number do I call to get info. at the embassy??? That would be great if I can keep updated on how the papers are doing at the embassy... i would really appreciate it!!!

You can call the US Embassy in Bogota for FREE at 011-571-315-1566. You can ONLY get questions answered via this number on Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm EST (or current Bogota time).

As for your situation, I dont mean to be a downer, but you probably wont see an interview March (maybe February). There is a good change they havent even received it yet because fo the holidays and the fact that it takes about 2 weeks to be received and processed...THEN assigned the next available slot. I am about 2 weeks ahead of you and they stated maybe by mid February...MAYBE.

[Looking4Wife 0]

The following lines were copied from the Signature Timeline of "Mike and Adriana" from the "Other" Colombia Club thread:

12/11/06 - Received letter from

NVC

indicating petition sent to embassy.

12/13/06 - Adriana faxes "packet 3" information to embassy.

12/15/06 - We send "packet 3" information to embassy via courier.

12/22/06 - Return from honeymoon to find both packet 3 and 4 at my wife´s home in Bogota.

Does this mean that as soon as NVC sends our (CR-1 folks') paperwork to the embassy, that we (CR-1 folks) can have a "packet 3" already prepared, and simply send it to the embassy immediately?

Sounds like a potential shortcut / tip to me if it works...

[bradyvicky 0]

Maybe I'm wrong, but that sounds like a K1 or K3 process? I believed that for the CR1 the beneficiary will simply receive a packet with the interview date and instructions on evidence, medical appointment, etc. and that there is nothing to "send back". Simply do all the package says and be there for the interview. Am I wrong?

Edited December 29, 2006 by bradyvicky

[Looking4Wife 0]

Ok, I'm trying to get a grip on what happens when the case transfers from NVC to the Embassy. Specifically I would like the following info:

1. What is the process (highlights, bullet list, whatever I can find out)

2. What is all the documentation that is specifically needed?

(I keep reading about the

Mysterious

"Packet 3" and "Packet 4", but is there anything else?)

3. Where can I get the forms/documentation (Packet 3, 4, etc.) to prepare in advance?

4. Is there somewhere I can find more details/info about the medical exam stuff (other than the embassy website), and is there preliminary documentation for that also that should be reviewed?

Obviously, I do know about the DS-230 which we have Part 2 ready to go.

I did look at Captain Ewok's Pinned Link at the top of the "Embassy/Consular" forum, but it just took me to an embassy website (Poland) that had a link to a DS-230... did I miss something? I didn't see any other "Packets" under the link advertised as containing "packets".

[RabbitNYC 0]

Hey everyone... well i just wanted to post this number i got Online where I can check the status of the paperwork sent to the embassy from HERE!! I dunno if u guys have it already.. but here goes da numba: (202) 663-1541.. you'll here sum guy saying a bunch of info... but just cut him off by pressing 0 and they'll transfer you to the next available operater... I got the news today that the package was recieved and entered in BGT on Dec. 23 and she told me to call next week to check the interview date... HOPE THIS HELPS!!!

[bradyvicky 0]

Hey everyone... well i just wanted to post this number i got Online where I can check the status of the paperwork sent to the embassy from HERE!! I dunno if u guys have it already.. but here goes da numba: (202) 663-1541.. you'll here sum guy saying a bunch of info... but just cut him off by pressing 0 and they'll transfer you to the next available operater... I got the news today that the package was recieved and entered in BGT on Dec. 23 and she told me to call next week to check the interview date... HOPE THIS HELPS!!!

That # is to the Visa Office at the Dept of State. I didnt realize they could get you the local Bogota info, but maybe its true? Yuo can also call the Embassy directly on Wednesdays from 2p-4p at 011-571-315-1566.

[dougyceci 0]

Packets 3 and 4 come from the k-3 process not the CR-1. My understanding, from a previous response to one of my posts is that our spouse will receive a packet from the embassy with instructions for the medical exam and date of the interview as well as what needs to be brought to the interview. That is the only packet in the CR-1 process to my knowledge. I was confused about this earlier and have received a packet 3 and 4 from a fellow VJer earlier but these are not for the CR-1. Hope this helps a little. Any word yet Brad?

Doug