falburq

She never HAD an I-693. That's a form completed here in the US.

Do you have a copy of her immunisation record?

Sorry meant to say the DS-3025, which is the immunization records given by the panel physician in Colombia. I guess I just answered my own question...need to see another doctor and get the new I-693...damn, more delay....grrrrr

VJers,

My wife came from Colombia last December (we had the K1/K2 interview in late October), we got married in February and now I'm in the process of filing for her and her son's AOS. While looking through all the paperwork, it seems the I-693 she was given in Bogota was left behind or kept by the CBP Officer at the PoE, bottom line we don't have it. Will those pose a major problem? Do I even need to include that with our AOS package since it has been less than 6 months?

In looking at the AOS guide posted here it says: "If you are a K-1, K-2, K-3 or K-4 visa holder the I-693 instructions state that you are not required to have another medical examination as long as your Form I-485 is filed within one year of your overseas medical examination." ...but what happens if I don't have it? Do I need yet another medical exam now?

Help!

First, the K1 is for a fiance(e) visa, so there's no spouse yet. Second, why get married as soon as fiance(e) arrives? The K1 visa gives the couple 90 days to get married, so this notion that you have to marry as soon as the fiance(e) enters the US is nonsense. Also, if you want to have some type of ceremony and have it done the right way, you'll need that 90 days.

One last thing, if you are going to post using all caps (shouting) and using demeaning language at least try to use proper spelling and grammar. Why is THAT so hard for some people to understand!

GET MARRIED AS SOON AS SPOUSE ARRIVES IN USA!!!! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO HARD FOR PEOPLE TO COMPREHEND!

Age and education made no difference in my case. My future wife (28 days before our wedding!!!) is 12 years younger and never finished HS. She has been in the US now since November and will start her English classes tomorrow and will GED during the summer. Neither CIS, Embassy in Colombia nor CBP Officer at the airport didn't question any of it.

Hi all,

Me and my fiance are patiently waiting for our NOA2 hoping all will go well. However I am a huge worrier and keep reading up on stuff that could potentially go wrong so I don't pass out at the interview if something does (I am joking but you get the idea).

So...our situation is as follows - he is 8 years younger than me (people can't tell though so I am hoping our pictures will be helpful) so gap 1 and also he never finished high school while I got my Masters degree. Is this really a huge deal ? I mean we love each other, I never cared about his educational level - he is the smartest person I have ever met but having read stuff on here ...it seems that this could potentially be a problem ? I am going crazy - it is not like there is much we can do about age gap or educational gap - not like he can quickly get a university degree just to satisfy the requirements. Would us providing affidavits from his parents and my parents to the effect that they approve of our relationship and know about it would make any difference ?

I know we did not even get our NOA2 and I was fine until I started reading about potential issues ....again. So now I am worried ...again !

thanks for any input

Even though a K1 visa is not an immigrant visa like a CR or IR, it is still processed the same way as an immigrant visa since it's used for immigration purposes, that's why the embassy used to ask for the DS-230. They did stop asking for it since the beginning of this year but I've read stories of some people who said the CO still asked for it during the interview.

Diana

It's luck of the draw for DS230. The Embassy instruction packet 3/4 for K1 still says to bring two copies of the form, but depending on the person reviewing the forms and the consul you may or may not get asked to provide them. Bottom line, have the forms ready just in case.

The marriage license is issue the same day, but that only allows you to get married in Las Vegas it is not proof of marriage. What you'll need to show proof of marriage is a certified copy of the marriage certificate, which you must obtain from the county clerk's office and it does take a few weeks..not sure if it actually takes six week.

See this link for more info:

http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/clerk/Services/Pages/MarriageLicenseRecords.aspx

My VJ Peeps,

I'm packing my bags to head down to Bogota for my fiancee interview next Monday (YAYYY!!!) and while putting together all the documentation (killing a few trees in the process) I noticed the embassy asks for "certified photocopies of final divorce decrees". What does that mean?

I have my original divorce decree signed by a judge and stamped by the courts. I have a photocopy of that. Is that enough? Or do I need to get that copy notarized?

Thank you all!

Was that the earliest interview date you could see?

That was the earliest. 2 1/2 to 3 weeks is about what you should expect to see available.

Let me re-state this important document that Diana spoke about - For one parent to travel outside Colombia with a child YOU MUST have the expressed written notarized APPROVAL of the bio dad! Anything short of this and the child WILL NOT be leaving Colombia.

Not entirely accurate. If the bio dad is in the picture then yes you are correct, but in those cases where the father is not in the picture - was never registered in the birth certificate or the mother doesn't know the whereabouts - Bienestar Familiar will intervene and grant the permission after they confirmed that there is no objection or legal reasons to deny.

Here's a link for more info (in spanish): http://www.gobiernoenlinea.gov.co//tramite.aspx?traID=2310

A minor question that I've been wondering: how far out is the earliest available interviews generally when you get online to schedule? Is it usually booked up for a month? 2 weeks? 2 months? We have a lot of flexibility and should be able to schedule an appointment as soon as possible once we are to that point, I'm just curious how long to expect for there to be open interview slots.

I just booked my appointment !!

I received the email from the embassy yesterday afternoon with the Packet 3/4 info. I created my fiancee's account on the visa portal, paid the fee and was able to book the appointment for October 22, which is just 3 weeks away!!!!!

Diana Please Help,

After years of waiting, my 19 year old sister and 3year old nephew are coming to the US this Saturday. They are going from Cali to Bogota via LAN (Friday night), then Delta from Bogota to JFK, then to Chicago, QUESTION: Is there a tax that they will have to pay to leave bogota??? anything else I should anticipate.FYI, the father was not ever in the Picture, embassy just asked why he wasnt on the birth certificate, she explained. She got all her papers/passport. Ready to Fly. So excited, want to make sure all goes ok.

Thanks,

Karen

Not really sure if this applies to your case since the father was not listed in the birth certificate, but just in case take a look at this information from Bienestar Familiar: Permiso de salida del país para niños, niñas o adolescentes

Thanks. Good luck to you too! Looks like you are waiting for NOA2. I'll recap my process so this might help you:

Took us 4 months to get the NOA2, then 5-7 days more to get a case number (BGTXXXXXXXXXX). After we got our case number, I sent the embassy an e-mail. They replied with packet 3/4 instructions. The instructions contain a website where you register and schedule your interview date -- the closest appointment was 2 weeks from the date we registered. This is also where you pay the $240, and you will immediately be able to schedule your appointment. ***When you register, remember that PASSPORT NUMBER is the number in red dots (my fiancee's number started with 2 letters, AJ), not that number under "passport number". Yes, this sounds confusing, but I made this mistake and had to call in to change it.***

Wow! What did you say on your email to the embassy? Just asking because I got my BGT number over a week ago and was told by the NVC that they sent the petition to the Embassy on 9/13 (I even received a letter in the mail today from NVC confirming that) and when I sent an email to ivbogota@state.gov this morning they came back with - "There is no record of the Immigrant Visa Unit having received a petition on behalf of your fiancée. As soon as we receive the approved Form I-129F, we will send you the packet of instructions"

Congratulation on your approval! That's great news!!!

Thank you all.....I think I'm just a bit frustrated with the process. Why do we have to engineer such a convoluted way of doing things in the first place!!!!

And to top it off; I emailed ivbogota this morning with my BGT# and wrote that NVC had already sent the visa to them last week.

The response: " There is no record of the Immigrant Visa Unit having received a petition on behalf of your fiancée. As soon as we receive the approved Form I-129F, we will send you the packet of instructions. "

Thanks IV Unit!

I'm filling all the forms for my fiancee (K1)and my soon to be step-son (K2).

On the biographical data questions 19-23 asks for the father's name and info. Her mother and I obviously know the name of the sperm donor , but his name doesn't appear anywhere and the birth certificate doesn't have a father listed. My fiancee's son calls me dad since I'm the only one he's known since I met her mother when he was 2 and is now 5.

My question:

Do I just leave that section blank? Do I enter N/A?, Do I enter "NONE RECORDED IN BIRTH CERTIFICATE"? or Do I enter his name?

Thanks kindly....BTW THANKS for all the help!!!

VJers,

The NVC informed me that they sent the approved package to the embassy in Bogota on September 12, but my fiance and I haven't received anything yet and it's been over a week. What should I do? Start bugging someone at the embassy (who, how) or what?

Please advise, I need my fiancee here! I want my interview already!!

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't mail the DS-230 form. Your wife brings it to the embassy and a consular officer (at the interview) will ask her to sign it in his/her presence. The consular officer will then sign and date the form as proof that it was done at the embassy.

VJers,

I'm putting together the forms/evidence my Colombian fiancee will need for the interview (received NOA2 last week), but now I have a question. I know she will need DS-156, DS-156K and DS230 in duplicate for all of these, but what about her son? He's 5 years old and is coming with us...what forms do I need to fill out for him?

All your help is always appreciated

Briefly; a year long relationship, several trips, 'unconditional love', both single parents, tremendous amount of money spent, happy arrival, more money spent, application for I-485, change, arguments over nothing, tension, frustration, confusion, hopelessness, perhaps divorce and return?, last argument, police called, report, but no arrest, disappears, VAWA suspected, new boyfriends! court filings for OP and RO, dismissed but RO stands, Annulment?, Divorce, temp. spousal support! stress and sadness, settlement offer, divorce.....

Sorry about your predicament, but that can happen even if not a foreign relationship.

My ex-wife and I were together for 12 years (4 actually married) and it wasn't until we had a son together that she decided to show true colors and file for divorce after she was guaranteed a steady sizable income by seating on her *** as part of child support. And she wasn't a foreigner, born and raised good ole southern girl <right>.

Marriage is a gamble no matter what/where/how/whom. Just be ready for whatever life throws your way. Only way to sort of prevent similar situation: GET A PRENUP!!!

Finally got my NOA2 from VSC today. I was about to call the NCSC to ask for an update (my 3rd in two weeks) and at that moment got the text...it's like they new I was about to call and they didn't want to hear me again

196 days since submission

191 days since NOA1

NOA2 arrived 8/31/2012 11:45am!!!!!!!!!

I don't think VSC is moving at all. It's just a mirage - you've been waiting for sooooo long that you just think is moving.

Take a look at this link: http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/LayoutScripts/Swzl_SelectCategory.aspx and select the job category that must closely match you. You can then select the job, the location in the US, the industry, the size of the organization, the years of experience etc...and you get a comprehensive salary overview.

Hello everyone,

Like so many of you stuck with VSC we are filing K-1 and waiting for our NOA2. I recently contacted the NVC and only got automated system ( NEVER GOT TO A REAL PERSON). It told me nothing that we already didn't know. I also notice that Vermont posted its monthly update and it is still boasting 5 months. We are currently at 163 day and counting I realize there are a lot of people ahead of us that have not been approved also.

If you want to talk to a real person call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283 M-F 8am - 8pm or Sat 9am - 5pm. Go through the prompts until you get to the option to check on status, then don't enter your receipt number (otherwise all you get is the automated notification) and an agent will get on the line with you. They will check the status of your case and then will verify what date is the VSC working on. If the VSC date is past your filling date they will enter a service request for you.

As of last Friday, VSC was working on cases with NOA1 of February 6.

Does anybody know the cost of getting a Colombian Passport (from a Colombian citizen) and the how long does it take? I've been looking everywhere for this information and finding nothing.

Thanks

It will take 2-3 days to get the passport assuming she has all the paperwork to get the passport in the first place (birth certificates, etc). If she gets the passport in Bogota it costs around COP$130,000 (USD$75). If she gets it outside of Bogota they charge other taxes, but it will not be more than USD$100. My fiancee just got her son's passport two weeks ago and it took 2 days after she paid for it and she paid COP$145,000 (USD$80) in Manizales.

See this site: http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/services/colombia/passports/ordinary (Spanish)

Hi VJers,

Not sure if this has been asked before, so apologies if already answered somewhere else.

I'm waiting on VSC for NOA2 (188 days and counting), but I want to be as ready as possible for the next phase of the process. My fiancee and I have had a relationship for the past 2 years, I travel to Colombia every 4-5 months (so 3 times at year) and I have all the passport stamps and travel itineraries (don't have the actual tickets nor hotel receipts since we stayed in our own apartment).

I can't prove ongoing (daily) communications since I installed a US-based phone at her home in Colombia (something like Magic Jack), so all the communications will show a US phone number. Will that and not having the actual ticket stubs be a problem?

Thanks for all the help.

VISA APPROVED!

Congratulation!!!!!