PachucoBro

We picked up my fiancee's passports today at the DOMESA office in Barranquilla today. It was a very 'cold' experience. The DOMESA office here is merely a blue steel reinforced door with an intercom and a nasty looking metal slot in the wall that is actually used to pass papers back and forth.

For my finacee, looking to pickup the passports, she was invited past the door, but specifically was told only her and not me. They have a camera outside protected by a huge metal enclosure where they could see me with her. Once inside she was searched and her purse was looked through.

The reason for all the high security is because DOMESA, atleast here in Barranquilla, delivers money deposits for businesses and the government offices.

They also mentioned to her that it sometimes takes 3-6 days for them to receive the passport from the Embassy and then it takes about 1-2 days for it to arrive at the DOMESA office in Barranquilla.

The person helping her said it was good to pick up the passports at their office because they have a difficult time in delivering to many addresses in Barranquilla. It would have taken them an additional 1-2 days to deliver it to her residence door.

Did they by chance say how long it would take to pick up at the local office in Bogota?

Based on what other miscellaneous posts have mentioned... It should take 3-5 days to pick up at a Bogota office.

I will be sure to ask tomorrow when we go to pick up her passports at the DOMESA Office. We called yesterday and they said the Bogota office had the passports and would have it delivered to BArranquilla by Thursday.

Here are some dates to look at:

12 SEP 2011 - VISA Interview: Approved.

20 SEP 2011 - Phone Call to DOMESA: Passports are in Bogota and will be in route to Barranquilla 21 SEP.

22 SEP 2011 - Expected date of pickup.

So it would seem it takes about 5 business days (M-F) for DOMESA to receive the passports from the Embassy.

It also looks like it takes about 2 business days to deliver from Bogota to Barranquilla.

Well we got our VISA approved and paid for a DOMESA delivery to the DOMESA Office in Barranquilla.

The person lady at the DOMESA window inside the Embassy said it would be available at the DOMESA office for pickup in 8 days. Our interview was on Monday, September 12th. Pickup available on Thursday, September 22.

I had already bought our plane tickets to return to the USA on Saturday, September 24th. Let's cross our fingers!

It would seem that alot of people have questions as to finding out what the REAL delivery times that can be expected from DOMESA, but not many posts of actual experiences.

If you have had your approved VISA and passport delivered to you or delivered to a DOMESA office for you to pick up, please post the following information when you can.

• Where you had your passport delivered to (residence or DOMESA office)?
  
• What city did you pick up your passport in?
  
• How many "Calendar Days" from the date of your interview to the date the passport was delivered or ready for pick up?
  

Granted, these kinds of delivery times greatly vary due to "Colombia Time" being a bit different than "American Time" and in no way should be taken as absolutely accurate. Follow the information VJ and VJers offer about not purchasing tickets with expectations that might not follow through.

Please direct people to this post if you know they have received their approved passport and VISA. Thanks!

I looked at the new requirements and it seems that they are asking for it. Not sure when or if it is being enforced at the embassy in Bogota.

Do you have a link to the requirements that you read?

I noticed as well that there seems to be an unusual lag of time from NOA2 to the time that NVC receives some petitions.

Our NOA2 was dated JUN 8th, but NVC did not receive it until 20 days later... Just harsh.

From NVC receive date of JUN 28th the Embassy had not received the petition when I called on JUL 6th.

Now it would seem that we will not have an interview in the month of August. Guess with the current workload, sending in a packet 3 response prior to the 15th of the month will not necessarily mean you will get an interview date the following month.

I know that you can give the DOMESA 'office' that is located inside the Embassy any delivery address you wish as long as the person named on the delivery is there with identification to receive it, whether that is in a hotel in Bogota or some other city.

The problem here would be that you are depending on the Embassy getting it to DOMESA in 3-4 days. besides the delivery I don't know how many days the Embassy itself takes to put the VISA in the passport. It used to take till the next afternoon about 5 years ago.

Anyone else use their house to prove financial stability? If so how did you go about getting it appraised?

I personally would not consider someone owning a house as a mark of financial stability, but am not sure how USCIS looks at it.

The one thing I will say is that if you own a house you probably are above the level at which Immigration considers you not fit, financially, to be a petitioner of a VISA.

If you have a job or have income your IRS tax returns should be adequate enough. If your tax returns don't show enough income then I wouldn't count on the house as being a sign of stability because with no income you may have no house in a few months. If its paid for, you would have to sell it to realize any money from it.

Good luck!

Hey sorry for late reply. they will send it to her house in Cartagena in 8 business days, and unlike USA, saturday doesnt count as a business day, good luck.

In USA, Saturday is not a business day. Congrats on your approval

Heh and in Colombia most people work 6 days a week. LOL

My mom is a college professor and last night she happened to be at a work party where she met a colleague who immigrated from Colombia. Her response was: "no no, tell her not to do the fiance visa...do the tourist visa, I have an attorney...we'll do lunch this week". Also, a few weeks ago my fiance talked to an attorney in Bogota who also recommended a tourist visa.

(DISCLAIMER: My tongue in cheek style of writing sometimes comes off as being an A-hole. LOL)

1. Yeah... love it when really smart people are sometimes very dumb. Advice thrown off the cuff without knowing all the circumstances should make you very cautious. A tourist VISA is not easy to get when you are coming to the US from a less developed country. Lots of requirements from the foreign tourist and as you mentioned she really isn't a tourist she actually is your girlfriend/fiancee and you guys want to get married already so...

2. Wedding ceremony in Colombia... agree with all those that say don't do it regardless of whether it is ok or not. I'm not a gambler and doubt you are if I tell you the stakes are have your fiancee here in 5-6 months vs 12-14 months. That is what you might go through if you mess up your K1 petition and have to start over again with a K3 because somebody felt your ceremony was legit and you are now spouses not fiancees.

ALSO

3. Good luck in trying to get any kind of official wedding person perform a wannabe wedding in a latin american country ESPECIALLY in a church. If you do somehow find a way to make this happen let everyone know on VJ because it is a common desire and most times it ends with the foreign fiancee and family learning the crazy rules us Gringos have in the US. You have to wait to be 'married married' in the US... THEN come back and it is much easier to have a 'renewing of your vows' ceremony AKA your wedding once you are already husband and wife.

4. Photos... lots of great responses on that one. Ummm send your finacee a PDF, a link to an official website, write it in a book or sing it in a song, but just tell her the required dimensions and if necessary let Google help ya with the metric conversions. Usually in most metropolitan areas photo studios and other paper sales shops that can do the passport photos just need to be told that these photos are for a US VISA. Those who do these kinds of services know the bigger size needed compared to the Colombian Passport Photo Requirements.

5. As others have said... READ VJ GUIDES! They are awesome... and so are all the posters on these forums. They have helped me successfully complete TWO 129F petitions. If you are totally confused and seem very lost in this whole immigration process then maybe an attorney assisted route is the way you should go. For me, I like to say that if you file your own taxes or have done some accounting for you own business, you probably can read these forums, VJ guides and form instructions and do it yourself.

Good luck to you guys and glad you found the VJ website!

Well I have been hearing that the new process for receiving your VISA after the interview is....

Go to the DOMESA booth/desk, pay for the delivery and then they tell you it will be 8-10 business days before you receive it at your home address.

I have heard others say you can ask them to deliver it to any address you like or leave it at a DOMESA office and you go to pick it up yourself, but it still takes a couple of days for the Embassy to process it before even DOMESA gets ahold of it.

This is all what I have 'heard' so...

Perdonas mi espanol pero pienso este thread es bueno por presentar mi prometida a miembros Colombianos en este websitio. Ruby's perfil es aqui: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/user/108764-ruby-l/ y quiero ella conocer Colombianos y Americanos que saben el processo de immigracion y vida aqui en EEUU.

Espero ella crear nuevos buenos amigos por ayudarnos en nuestra adventura que llamamos matrimonio. Gracias!

Wow Darren... Understand I am a part of the whole VISA process like you... and I have traveled to other countries and seen how others less fortunate live... and have been in love with someone from another country...

All that being said... I have to wonder if you are truly prepared for what it is going to be like when your love arrives in the USA. B&Q said it right... You have to understand that is the way she has lived all her life and to here that is 'normal'. Understand that when she comes to live in your suburban house with fast food places and highways and concrete etc. She may not like it at all and feel sorry that YOU have to live this way.

I look at your timeline for your relationship and WOW it has moved very quickly. Do you speak her language or does she speak English? I know you mentioned you chat or message each other daily.

I wish you luck in your relationship, but keep in mind that what you think she should be grateful for and is normal living may not be something she feels is important. Be sure to accept the fact that she may not know many things we take for granted.

I remember that changing the channel on the car stereo was a frustrating moment till I thought about the fact that some people only ride in the back of taxis if EVER enter a car so how the heck are they supposed to know how to change the channel on the radio. LOL

Take care... and relax if you plan to go to the Embassy. You aren't any more important or special than every other couple that goes through the process.

Finally accepted on june 8th in Bogota Colombia..thanks to everyone on here who assisted me as much as you guys did~! all in all it took 9 months, but we couldve had it done in 5 or 6 if we were on top of things. we kinda took our time on some stuff and screwed 1 or 2 things up hehe. but it is ok because she couldnt fly pregnant and now the baby is 2 months old so i think its a little better he is a few months old before he flies

Congratulations! I just got my NOA2 today dated June 8th.

Just wondering... When/How did they get the VISA to your fiancee? Did she get it while in Bogota or did she need to return home and wait for it by courier in the following days?

To the OP: I feel for you... I had similar experiences with my first wife. However, count yourself lucky that you are a woman because as a man I got quite the opposite types of replies to my posts here on VJ. I am glad that you felt you should post about your bad experience because I agree that due to most VJers being on the beginning side of the relationship everyone is happy with rainbows, unicorns and lollipops and not many post about the true trials and difficulties after their partner is here.

To those who replied with "blah blah blah ... get him deported." Unfortunately our immigration system doesn't work that easily. It truly is easier just to stop your involvement with whatever step of the process you are in and try to not think about what the other person is going to do next. Just remind yourself that you have done everything to distance yourself from that person's life and done all that you can to not be responsible for their actions here in the US.

If you find yourself in one of these 'bad' situations always remember to protect yourself. Even more so if you are the 'male' in the relationship. Just do your best to follow the rules/laws and when decisions that seem costly or unnecessary... think hard about what the costs could be if you don't make swift choices to protect you and your family here in the U.S.

Good luck all...

Congrats! Keep us posted on how the rest of the process goes...

I have been reading Embassy Reviews for Bogota where people arrive at 5:30am in the morning and end up waiting for their VISA approval till 4-6pm in the evening!

Good luck!

Yes he is hard line. What of Vietnamese culture? Is Kevins wife acting like any other Vietnamese woman that comes to the states? I hardly think so.If she truly loves her husband he wouldn't be posting of this topic.. She had 4 years to learn and what to expect of her life in the States. She has family here that I'm sure could of filled her in. Regardless what country your spouse comes from there adjustment period.

Unfortunately, yes my typing can be viewed as pretty hard-nosed, but not trying to write a book or anything so I was straight and to the point. Merely my opinion and $0.02.

The adjustment period is always an issue and I think most could say that the small town environment prolly is not the most conducive to not feeling isolated or alone in a new world that is unlike someone's home country. I personally don't feel this is the whole reason for her actions because if it was... You would think she would come home and say, "Sweetie I gotta get out of this small town! Come with me."

As I was told in PM... there are alot of things I and We don't know and there are truly many reasons this situation has happened and it is not an isolated instance. Many couples don't have the fairy tale ending we all hope for...we just don't hear much about those stories.

Thanks to Kevin for sharing his experience...

Well... I come from a different angle than most who have replied. I have been through one divorce from a foreign bride and am currently in the VISA process as I write this.

My thoughts are this... Regardless of what is really going on... She decided not to even return to see you in person nor did she try to talk to you directly and then mentioned things of an abusive situation (true or false, not important).

With those things in mind my advice is... DO NOT try to work things out. This behavior that she has shown, right or wrong, means she does not want to be with you and has no intentions of trying to work with you on making it better.

File for the divorce as soon as you can as it could take 1-2 years to get a divorce if she fails to agree and sign. Protect yourself. Let her do what she wants or feels she needs to do.

My ex-wife found an organization with good intentions who helped her get her Permanent Residency without my signature based on some phone calls to 911 due to our verbal arguments (no physical violence). She is doing well here in the states, we are divorced and she is not my responsibility any more. I had to learn to move on...and it was VERY HARD.

Good luck to you and don't forget...Protect yourself at this point.

This issue is one of size, not availability of generic wrong sized passport photos.

Ahh did not read the comment as meaning there was a sizing issue... I would have thought the Government of Australia and it's postal service would provide passport photos inline with the US standards. After another 10-15 minutes of research I found that it is.

US Passport photo requirements: http://travel.state.gov/visa/visaphotoreq/photocomptemplate/photocomptemplate_5330.html (official .gov website)

Australian Passport photos requirements: https://www.passports.gov.au/web/requirements/photos.aspx (official .gov.au website)

At first glance one might think these two requirements are not equal, however after reading the instructions for the US passport (which is used by the USCIS for VISA processing) you will see that the important factor is the size of the head not the photo itself. The Australian Passport photo is smaller in size, but the size of the head is within the requirements of the US Passport.

My suggestion would be not to purchase a ticket leaving the day after that 10th day. If something should delay that for a day or two you might get stuck with missing the flight.

Better to reserve a flight maybe a week after that 10th day and do it now to save on the reservation in advance 2-3 weeks and yet still give yourself time in case there is any delays in getting the visa.

Congrats and good luck!

I don't know why I wrote G-325A... I know it doesn't have instructions... weird :S Either way yeah, K1 definitely needs them. Took me ages to find a place to do them in Aus.

Just FYI... I typed in Google "Where to get Passport photos in Australia?" and found the top 2 results were from Australia's National Postal Service that has 1300 locations across Australia and they all perform passport photo services for $14.95 for 4 photos.

< DISCLAIMER: Strictly my personal opinion and $0.02 follows. >

1. If you file your own taxes to the IRS or own a business and have done your own accounting...

AND

2. You and your foreign fiancee have no extenuating circumstances (i.e. either of you have a criminal record, your are welfare poor, you have had several VISA requests, her children's father is protesting or anything out of the 'norm')

You can do the VISA process yourself by reading the various form's instructions, READ EVERYTHING in the VJ FAQs and Forums and ask alot of questions to those of us who have been though it. Using a lawyer is helpful if you have alot of extra money to burn or you do not qualify in the 2 bullet points above.

I am currently in the process of my second VISA request and the first went smooth as anyone would want (the marriage didn't goes as smooth as the process tho)... Just follow instructions and when in doubt ask several people and search the internet.

< Once again just my $0.02. >

Is there a reason why she cannot get the photos taken and then send them FedEx/DHL or whatever international postal service is available there, to you...?

Most anywhere in the world, those services can get it to you in 7-10 days.

My experience with Round Trip tickets for your foreign fiancee on their 'first time entering' trip is this:

The airlines will not allow you (atleast they didn't in 2006) to buy a round trip ticket from Any City, USA to Colombia then returning from Colombia to Any City, USA for your foreign fiancee AND THEY NOT board the plane/use the ticket leaving the USA.

So to explain a little better... It was cheaper for me to buy 2 RT tickets from San Antonio, Tx to BAQ, Colombia than to buy 1 RT ticket and 1 one way ticket for her.

When I got to the airport to check in leaving the USA... They asked where the other person on my itinerary was. I said she is in Colombia and will be using the return ticket only. They told me if she did not check in on the leaving flight the ticket would be cancelled since I bought it on an internet type ticket seller.

Ended up having to cancel the one way ticket and lose $150 and re-purchase a higher priced one way ticket once I was in Colombia.

So be sure to ask if you are planning the same type of work around trying to use a RT ticket. Ask what happens if the other person does not 'check in' on the leaving flight. Can they still check in and use the return flight.

Hope that helps....

as im sure many VJ veterans will mention,k-1 visa is not a lets get you here and see if you can adjust type of visa.it usually gets nasty when that happens.

Yes, I understand that... The adjustment wording is based on she needs to feel she know how to get around the US. Drive a car, speak some English, get a job, know how to do things around the house and around town AND also adjust to living with one another 24/7. This would all be very difficult if her and her 10 y/o son were both in the same boat. So, it is more of a let's get you adjusted to living here before bringing the lil guy here who is going to have all the same difficulties as her, but now she can help him adjust to life her because she has been through it.

k-3 is not a visa that you can request for a minor child of the beneficiary,its a marriage based visa.you can file up to one year after receiving your k-1 for your fiance's step son.

Ok, so let me get some more details here...

When can I petition for her son's K-2 visa? After she enters? After she get her AOS?

And for the K-2 the process time is the same as her K-1? (6 months)

This would be what I am trying to get in my head because obviously she will want her son to be with her as soon as possible. So, 3 months to get married, 3-6 months to get AOS, then 6 months to get K-2 visa for her son? That would be a total of 1 year from the time she entered the US on a K-1 to the time her son can arrive here in the US on a K-2....more or less?