Looking4Wife

APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was all so easy......

Later 2night I will write a full synopsis of everything and answer any questions you guys have.....

Congratulations!

Brad y Vicky (or others who may have input):

I am currently in Barranquilla (Wed 1/24). I will be back in the USA late Thursday night (1/25/2007).

Anyway, we went to the DAS to get my wife´s "Record of her entrances and exits out of the country". This was a form we didn´t know about until we saw Brad y Vicky´s list. Well the lady in the office told my wife that she needed to bring back copies of several other documents (passport, etc.), to pay $36,500 at a specific bank, and THEN call back in 1 month.

We told her that it didn´t make sense that the document takes 1 month to generate, since this is a requirement people don´t even know about normally until about 1 month before their visa interview.

Bradyvicky (or anyone else), how are you guys dealing with this? Were you given different info by the DAS?

Also... Bradyvicky, you mentioned you had to "track down" your wife´s package from the embassy that was sent by mail. How did you track it down? I presume the rest of us in Barranquilla may also have to track down our packages...

Thanks in advance...

Hey Looking... Sorry, but I didnt see your post until now. Thanks for the info, and yes this has been coming up in the other thread. What we have found out is that if you order this Certificado de Migratorio at DAS in a city OTHER THAN Bogota it can take a month to generate...whereas Bogota only takes 3 days. Now the key point is that this document is NOT REQUIRED for a CR-1 visa to be approved, however in certain cases the consular officer may ask for it depending on what he likes/doesnt like about your case (this information direct from the embassy). So it can be a smart investment to get this no matter what.

1. There are two documents obtained by DAS, one is a criminal clearance more-or-less and the other is the Certificado de Migratorio. On the CR-1 the first is easy and required and the second is hard/a pin and not necessarily required. We have chosen to GET this Certificado even though it is not required. We paid the fee in Barranquilla yesterday and then will visit DAS in Bogota with our receipt first thing Monday, as our tickets are for Sunday. If they need it for our interview, we will not have it but the process will be started and we should be able to return with it a day later.

2. On another note, we mentioned that the packet stated one of the required documents as "english translations" of all spanish documents. This is NOT true - all documents presented need to be either Spanish or English. The request for translations at the point of interview is only if you have documents in French, Chinese, etc....they need to be translated to Spanish or English.

3. Tracking down the packet - Vicky planned to call all the carriers/couriers in the city and started with the public mail system (name I forgot right now). She found that the Embassy is using their government controlled public mail system to send these packets, hence the reason they hardly show up. You need to contact the office, which is close to the airport, and they will research it from there. We found that the carrier would not allow her to pre-sign, schedule an appointment to pick up or to deliver and would not allow it to be left with a neighbor. Bottom line is you have to somehow be home when they are coming, or set it up that ay, even though they dont show up when they say they will. After a week of this BS, and driving out to the airport 3 FREAKIN TIMES they finally had left it there for pickup, had a key to the box it was in and gave it to her. SHEESH!

Wow, great information! VERY interesting about the translation stuff. Did you guys get your stuff translated? Not having to get the stuff translated will save time, money, and most importantly reduce the stress of having yet another hoop to jump through.

Good luck on your interview!

Well BradyVicky...

I saw that "mystery" already answered my question about the DAS form. I see its a requirement so new that you were unaware of it initially. As I indicated, the timing to get this form could be problematical.

Mystery:

I noticed that you ordered the form in Bogota on Thurs, and got it Monday. How long of a stay in Bogota do you recommend to get everything done?

What else is needed to be done in Bogota besides the Medical and getting the DAS Entry-Exit form (and the interview obviously)?

Thanks in advance...

Brad y Vicky (or others who may have input):

I am currently in Barranquilla (Wed 1/24). I will be back in the USA late Thursday night (1/25/2007).

Anyway, we went to the DAS to get my wife´s "Record of her entrances and exits out of the country". This was a form we didn´t know about until we saw Brad y Vicky´s list. Well the lady in the office told my wife that she needed to bring back copies of several other documents (passport, etc.), to pay $36,500 at a specific bank, and THEN call back in 1 month.

We told her that it didn´t make sense that the document takes 1 month to generate, since this is a requirement people don´t even know about normally until about 1 month before their visa interview.

Bradyvicky (or anyone else), how are you guys dealing with this? Were you given different info by the DAS?

Also... Bradyvicky, you mentioned you had to "track down" your wife´s package from the embassy that was sent by mail. How did you track it down? I presume the rest of us in Barranquilla may also have to track down our packages...

Thanks in advance...

Congratulations!

I just got off the phone with "AJ" at the NVC.

Same exact scenario. The automated message said my letter was sent out 1/16, which was yesterday. He told me to ignore the letter because it is just a "reminder" to send in the DS-230, which he acknowledges they've already received on 1/8/2007...

He said "they must have crossed in the mail", which of course is impossible, since they mailed out their letter 8 days after they acknowledge entering the receipt of my DS-230 in their system. They actually received my DS-230 on 1/4 because I mailed in via overnight mail on 1/3.

So let's get this straight... the NVC systematically mails out an automatic letter, approximately 20 days after they mail you the DS-230, to remind you to send in the DS-230, irrespective of whether they have received your DS-230 or not?

Worse than that, they update your personal voicemail message telling you that you AUTOMATICALLY have missing information in your file, which will delay your case...

How inefficient is that?

Can someone say... "Immigration Reform"?

This isn't a matter of throwing more money at the problem to hire more people, this is just a matter of applying an ounce of common sense to the process...

In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us all, everyone"...

Brad:

Thanks SO MUCH for the update on the embassy package. However, surely you knew that would generate more questions

1. How did you "track down" the package in BAQ? Any tips on how to do that?

2. You said a "Cinic", but did you mean "Clínico"?

3. Certificate of Marriage of Beneficiary's Mother and Father (never figured this one?!?!?)

WOW... My wife's parents are divorced, and her mom lives in another country. I don't think its likely this document will be easy to find... I guess if we have to get it from "public records", then we may as well start the process now... I wonder how important this really is? I don't think its mentioned on the US Embassy site...

Thanks again, Brad! You da man!

Good luck to you guys with your Interview Prep!

Pam&Mbaye:

I asked this same exact question recently (on 1/3/2007).

That is the NVC message which really means that they have generated and mailed the DS-230 to the Choice of Agent they have on file.

It is a confusing message because, as you correctly stated, they are REALLY waiting on the Biographic Information OF the BENEFICIARY.

The message is so confusing that the live operator I spoke with at NVC was confused when I told her what the message said. She told me to ignore the message, but verified for me that the DS-230 had been mailed out to me.

Also... I just received my DS-230 in the mail today (1/15/2007), but I have already sent it in using James' Shortcuts (I sent it in the same day I got clarification of the NVC message). Of course I got my wife's signature far in advance so I would be ready to send it in as soon as possible.

Suggestions:

1. Second job?

2. VALID, PROVABLE self-employed work on the side?

3. Co-sponsor

hope they dont want proof of consumation as sending a video of that through the mail might invoke 'moral turpitude' on the visa application...

alan

Absolutely hilarious!

I have no regrets about meeting my wife and falling in love with her, but I would approach the relationship differently:

I would definitely delay the wedding/marriage until I was in a better financial position to spend more time in her country. By more time, I mean at least 1 or more months at a time (and not being apart from her for more than 30 days). Preferably, I would remain in her country most of the time throughout the visa process.

Looking4Wife,

Take another look at DS-230 Part I, and notice the name given to that part.

Yodrak

The last interaction I had with NVC was to send in the payment for the IV Fee bill, which NVC received on 12/21/2006.

Therefore, I expected to call NVC and get a message saying that the DS-230 had been generated/sent to the Agent (i.e. me).

However, I am thoroughly confused by NVC's latest automated message to me:

"The NVC is awaiting the return of biographic forms from the Petitioner (me). Once this packet is received, allow 6-8 weeks for the reviewing of all your documentation, and you will be notified of the outcome of the review"

What in the world are they talking about?

What happened to the DS-230 being sent/generated? (which is info about the Applicant, my wife, not me!)

Dazed and confused...

Yodrak:

I did notice that, but I guess what through me for a loop was that they said awaiting info from the "Petitioner". If they had said awaiting Biographic Information from the "Applicant", then it would have made more sense.

Even if they had said that they were awaiting information from the "Agent" (more accurately), that would have made more sense. Technically they mailed it to the Choice of Agent, which just so happens to be me (the Petitioner).

Even sweet little Nora at the NVC was confused by the verbiage. The immigration process is hairsplitting enough as it is, without having to second guess everything.

A much clearer message would be to say, "The NVC has generated and sent form DS-230, to the Agent of file, requesting Biographic Information from the Applicant. After this form is returned to NVC, please allow 6-8 weeks..."

My Colombian wife is a fashion designer, and has (at least) one machine that is her own. She also uses other machines in her office that belong to someone else.

My question today is related to the one I asked the other day, in reference to whether we should ship her current machine or buy a new one when she comes to the USA on the CR-1 to stay.

She said her current machine is 11 years old, and is very heavy (I know it has a table incorporated with it if that means anything to anyone), and that she prefers to buy a new machine when she comes to the USA.

I also remember her telling me back in 2005 that she had several more state-of-the-art machines stolen from her office. The reason the more modern machines were stolen, was because they were smaller and could be easily carried out.

Knowing nothing about the features, sizes, etc. of these machines, I am now getting the impression that do to upgrades in technology, we can probably get her a better, more technologically advanced, lightweight machine for less than or similar to the cost of shipping the old "dinosaur"... in which case we're better off just investing that money in a new machine?

Anybody with experience in this issue want to chime in?

Thanks in advance...

I'm currently selling my sewing machine on Ebay because it will cost more to ship than to buy a new one!

Thanks for the response! Any further insight...

Do you think my conclusion about the technology allowing for smaller, better, more portable machines is accurate?

Is your machine an older floor model, or a more portable one?

My Colombian wife is a fashion designer, and has (at least) one machine that is her own. She also uses other machines in her office that belong to someone else.

My question today is related to the one I asked the other day, in reference to whether we should ship her current machine or buy a new one when she comes to the USA on the CR-1 to stay.

She said her current machine is 11 years old, and is very heavy (I know it has a table incorporated with it if that means anything to anyone), and that she prefers to buy a new machine when she comes to the USA.

I also remember her telling me back in 2005 that she had several more state-of-the-art machines stolen from her office. The reason the more modern machines were stolen, was because they were smaller and could be easily carried out.

Knowing nothing about the features, sizes, etc. of these machines, I am now getting the impression that do to upgrades in technology, we can probably get her a better, more technologically advanced, lightweight machine for less than or similar to the cost of shipping the old "dinosaur"... in which case we're better off just investing that money in a new machine?

Anybody with experience in this issue want to chime in?

Thanks in advance...

Wow, I hadn't thought about this before...

My wife is a fashion designer. She has several sewing machines. I am now wondering if it will be cheaper to ship these items or replace them, for her to use when she relocates to the USA.

I have no idea what these machines would cost to replace. I'd thought I'd see what any women (or men) experienced with sewing machines out there would do in this situation?

Thanks in advance.

Congratulations on passing your interview!

(NOTE: I still haven't got the hang of editing my posts, so I apologize this got broken up into two parts.)

Our interview is scheduled for about the same time as her due date.

What better proof of your ongoing relationship?

I'm afraid there's far too little input on your wife to make a stab at your question. Is she a 'girlie girl' with six thousand pairs of shoes and a supply of make-up that weighs a metric ton? If so, pay for shipping. Is she the sort that has 3 pairs of shoes and thinks cosmetics are dumb? If so, she may be alright with the baggage allowances. Is she somewhere in between the 2 extremes? She'll probably want to ship out of season gear, and bring what she's going need for the first 4-6 weeks on the plane.

I am pretty sure she falls into the 1st category, or is somewhere in the middle. I don't believe I've ever personally known a woman in my life in the 2nd category. Even guys have a lot of "stuff" that they accumulate in their lives that is important to them, although it may not be clothing.

When you say "shipping", are you talking like FedEx, DHL, etc., and it sounds like you are implying that it is much cheaper than the airline luggage charges?

Why don't you ask hyour wife how much luggage she plans to bring?

Of course I will ask my wife what she intends to bring.

However, I am not the stereotypical male who doesn't ask for directions. If I'm lost, I pull over and ask someone how to get to my destination.

I thought it would be a good idea to request responses from people with more travel experience and/or pricing knowledge concerning this matter, BEFORE I talk to my wife. My wife has never travelled far before, and I would like to be able to talk to her more intelligently.

Also, being a man, I thought I might get some insight from women on this board as to what kind of things to expect from a female perspective. That way, I can be more sensitive to my wife's viewpoint if it is different than mine, because I will be concerned primarily with facts and figures... whereas she may have different thoughts altogether.

Is she coming for good or is she coming for a visit?

She is coming to stay permanently.

Is she coming for good or is she coming for a visit?

She's coming to stay permanently.

While LDR's can have certain advantages, I think it's rather odd to imply that these relationships are somehow "better".

Amen, Jenn!

I was biting my tongue (or my typing finger) until I saw your post...

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and coping mechanisms, so I certainly don't want to rain on anyone's parade or rationalizations.

But, honestly, my wife and I would DEFINITELY prefer to be together right now, bonding in person, rather than going thru this inefficient, redundancy-plagued, prolonged immigration foolishness.

Let's keep it real... wouldn't everyone reading this thread prefer to be bonding with their mate right now, rather than philosophising about it on the internet?

I travel very lightly, and have never had more than 2 bags... both being carry-on until they started making you check your bags for travelling with toothpaste, cologne, etc.

However I realize that women are wired differently, and my wife may be expecting to bring muchas maletas when she comes to the USA for the first time.

1. How much luggage should I expect her to want to bring?

2. How much does it cost to bring addtional luggage on the airplanes?

Thanks in advance...

tommyt:

1. I thought long and hard about if I should send in additonal years tax returns. I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to send them in any additional information that might confuse them. Therefore, since they only asked for one year, I only sent them one year.

2. Also, if your income is sufficient, why are you also using co-sponsors? You didn't indicate your family size. Unless I am missing something here, then based on the income requirements, your income would support up to a family of 5. I presume you are already aware of the income requirements:

48 Contiguous States and D.C.

Size of Family Unit.....100%......125%

1......................9,800....12,250

2.....................13,200....16,500

3.....................16,600....20,750

4.....................20,000....25,000

5.....................23,400....29,250

6.....................26,800....33,500

7.....................30,200....37,750

8.....................33,600....42,000

For each additional

person,add.............3,400.....4,250

Good luck!

Congratulations!

The last interaction I had with NVC was to send in the payment for the IV Fee bill, which NVC received on 12/21/2006.

Therefore, I expected to call NVC and get a message saying that the DS-230 had been generated/sent to the Agent (i.e. me).

However, I am thoroughly confused by NVC's latest automated message to me:

"The NVC is awaiting the return of biographic forms from the Petitioner (me). Once this packet is received, allow 6-8 weeks for the reviewing of all your documentation, and you will be notified of the outcome of the review"

What in the world are they talking about?

What happened to the DS-230 being sent/generated? (which is info about the Applicant, my wife, not me!)

Dazed and confused...

From other post's i've read, it seems as though the message is indeed relating to the DS230. They may be using different language, but it's the DS230.

Can someone please confirm, since I'll be getting that message in the next couple of weeks

Thanks

Well, I just got off the phone with "Nora" at NVC... thank God I finally got thru to a live person... anyway, Nora said..

"You can disregard that automated message, because we don't request biographic information from the petitioner (that's exactly what I thought, so I'm NOT crazy). We did generate your DS-230 the week of the 25th (Christmas), but it doesn't tell me the date it was sent, only the week."

Yet another obstacle/stress/confusion that we have dealt with in this adventurous Visa Journey...

At least now I know its safe to date and send in my previously prepared DS-230 !!!

Wooo Hoooooo! I called the Bogota Embassy today and they said that the notice went out to Vicky on December 28th, and that our appointment is on Jan 30th!!!! We are so freakin' excited, and thanks to all of you who have helped us on the Journey!!!! We'll keep you updated....

Brad & Vicky!

Felicidades! Congratulations!

Also, when you get some time, could you redo / update your official VJ timeline so that is shows up in the statistics and charts? Right now your timeline is showing an incomplete K-3 process, instead of a nearly completed CR-1 process... muchas gracias