Paco415

I have learned via the WhatsApp group that the one lab being used for visa applicants in Colombia was basically falsifying results due to inadequate resources to process specimens 😨 … the embassy doctors alerted the embassy to this and canceled their relationship with the lab. This has caused many many IVs to go into administrative processing. The attachment indicates it involves gonorrhea results but another applicant received a letter stating tuberculosis results, so I suppose all results are suspect. The attachment is a screenshot in Spanish but I will cut and paste below what someone shared from the embassy in both English and Spanish:
 
“Greetings from the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. You are receiving this email because we have been advised by the panel physicians serving the Embassy that they have reason to believe your IGRA (tuberculosis) test result, performed at Instituto y Laboratorio Clinico, Calle 38 No. 8-28, Local No. 1, Bogota, Colombia, is not reliable.  They advised the Embassy that the laboratory  did not have the required supplies to perform the test and falsified the report for that test.  We understand the laboratory did draw your blood but did not test it.  The laboratory then reported a “negative” test result for tuberculosis to the panel physician without performing the test.  The panel physicians (Dr. Roa, Dr. Dennis, and Dr. Piñeros) immediately terminated their relationship with the laboratory upon discovering the laboratory’s actions.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has determined, for your specific case, you do not need to have a new test performed.  If your visa has already been issued, your visa is valid and you may travel to the United States before the expiration date printed on the visa.  If your visa has not yet been issued, we will process your case to conclusion using the medical examination in its current state.  However, the CDC advises that it may be beneficial for your own health and safety to seek repeat testing to confirm that you are negative for tuberculosis.  At this time, we have no evidence that any other components of your medical exam were compromised.   
As soon as the Embassy was informed of the situation, we banned Instituto y Laboratorio Clinico from participation in any further medical examinations.  The lab administrator has offered to provide a refund of the cost of the test that was not performed.  The panel physicians are discussing with the lab how to request a refund and you will receive more information once those details are finalized.
We are deeply troubled by the laboratory’s actions, and we are sorry that it has caused you inconvenience.
Sincerely,
Immigrant Visa Unit
U.S. Embassy Bogotá
jvb
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Estimado solicitante o acudiente:
Saludos desde la Embajada de Estados Unidos en Bogotá, Colombia. Usted recibe este correo electrónico porque los médicos del panel que atienden a la Embajada nos han informado que tienen motivos para creer el resultado de su prueba IGRA, realizada en el Instituto y Laboratorio Clínico, Calle 38 No. 8-28, Local No. 1, Bogotá, Colombia, no es confiable. Avisaron a la Embajada que el laboratorio no contaba con los suministros necesarios para realizar la prueba y falsificaron el informe de dicha prueba. Entendemos que el laboratorio le extrajo sangre pero no lo analizó. Luego, el laboratorio informó un resultado de prueba "negativo" para tuberculosis al médico del panel sin realizar la prueba. Los médicos del panel (Dr. Roa, Dr. Dennis y Dr. Piñeros) inmediatamente terminaron su relación con el laboratorio al descubrir las acciones del laboratorio.
Los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) han determinado que, para su caso específico, no es necesario que se realice una nueva prueba. Si su visa ya ha sido emitida, su visa es válida y puede viajar a los Estados Unidos antes de la fecha de vencimiento impresa en la visa. Si su visa aún no ha sido emitida, procesaremos su caso hasta su conclusión utilizando el examen médico en su estado actual. Sin embargo, el CDC advierte que puede ser beneficioso para su propia salud y seguridad buscar repetir las pruebas para confirmar que es negativo para tuberculosis. En este momento, no tenemos evidencia de que otros componentes de su examen médico se hayan visto comprometidos.
Tan pronto como se informó a la Embajada de la situación, prohibimos al Instituto y Laboratorio Clínico participar en cualquier examen médico en el futuro. El administrador del laboratorio se ha ofrecido a reembolsar el costo de la prueba que no se realizó. Los médicos del panel están discutiendo con el laboratorio cómo solicitar un reembolso y usted recibirá más información una vez se finalicen los detalles.  
Estamos profundamente preocupados por las acciones del laboratorio y lamentamos que les haya causado molestias.
Cordialmente,
Unidad de visas de inmigrante
Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Bogotá
jvb ”

I have learned via the WhatsApp group that the one lab being used for visa applicants in Colombia was basically falsifying results due to inadequate resources to process specimens 😨 … the embassy doctors alerted the embassy to this and canceled their relationship with the lab. This has caused many many IVs to go into administrative processing. The attachment indicates it involves gonorrhea results but another applicant received a letter stating tuberculosis results, so I suppose all results are suspect. The attachment is a screenshot in Spanish but I will cut and paste below what someone shared from the embassy in both English and Spanish:
 
“Greetings from the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. You are receiving this email because we have been advised by the panel physicians serving the Embassy that they have reason to believe your IGRA (tuberculosis) test result, performed at Instituto y Laboratorio Clinico, Calle 38 No. 8-28, Local No. 1, Bogota, Colombia, is not reliable.  They advised the Embassy that the laboratory  did not have the required supplies to perform the test and falsified the report for that test.  We understand the laboratory did draw your blood but did not test it.  The laboratory then reported a “negative” test result for tuberculosis to the panel physician without performing the test.  The panel physicians (Dr. Roa, Dr. Dennis, and Dr. Piñeros) immediately terminated their relationship with the laboratory upon discovering the laboratory’s actions.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has determined, for your specific case, you do not need to have a new test performed.  If your visa has already been issued, your visa is valid and you may travel to the United States before the expiration date printed on the visa.  If your visa has not yet been issued, we will process your case to conclusion using the medical examination in its current state.  However, the CDC advises that it may be beneficial for your own health and safety to seek repeat testing to confirm that you are negative for tuberculosis.  At this time, we have no evidence that any other components of your medical exam were compromised.   
As soon as the Embassy was informed of the situation, we banned Instituto y Laboratorio Clinico from participation in any further medical examinations.  The lab administrator has offered to provide a refund of the cost of the test that was not performed.  The panel physicians are discussing with the lab how to request a refund and you will receive more information once those details are finalized.
We are deeply troubled by the laboratory’s actions, and we are sorry that it has caused you inconvenience.
Sincerely,
Immigrant Visa Unit
U.S. Embassy Bogotá
jvb
-------
Estimado solicitante o acudiente:
Saludos desde la Embajada de Estados Unidos en Bogotá, Colombia. Usted recibe este correo electrónico porque los médicos del panel que atienden a la Embajada nos han informado que tienen motivos para creer el resultado de su prueba IGRA, realizada en el Instituto y Laboratorio Clínico, Calle 38 No. 8-28, Local No. 1, Bogotá, Colombia, no es confiable. Avisaron a la Embajada que el laboratorio no contaba con los suministros necesarios para realizar la prueba y falsificaron el informe de dicha prueba. Entendemos que el laboratorio le extrajo sangre pero no lo analizó. Luego, el laboratorio informó un resultado de prueba "negativo" para tuberculosis al médico del panel sin realizar la prueba. Los médicos del panel (Dr. Roa, Dr. Dennis y Dr. Piñeros) inmediatamente terminaron su relación con el laboratorio al descubrir las acciones del laboratorio.
Los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) han determinado que, para su caso específico, no es necesario que se realice una nueva prueba. Si su visa ya ha sido emitida, su visa es válida y puede viajar a los Estados Unidos antes de la fecha de vencimiento impresa en la visa. Si su visa aún no ha sido emitida, procesaremos su caso hasta su conclusión utilizando el examen médico en su estado actual. Sin embargo, el CDC advierte que puede ser beneficioso para su propia salud y seguridad buscar repetir las pruebas para confirmar que es negativo para tuberculosis. En este momento, no tenemos evidencia de que otros componentes de su examen médico se hayan visto comprometidos.
Tan pronto como se informó a la Embajada de la situación, prohibimos al Instituto y Laboratorio Clínico participar en cualquier examen médico en el futuro. El administrador del laboratorio se ha ofrecido a reembolsar el costo de la prueba que no se realizó. Los médicos del panel están discutiendo con el laboratorio cómo solicitar un reembolso y usted recibirá más información una vez se finalicen los detalles.  
Estamos profundamente preocupados por las acciones del laboratorio y lamentamos que les haya causado molestias.
Cordialmente,
Unidad de visas de inmigrante
Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Bogotá
jvb ”

I have learned via the WhatsApp group that the one lab being used for visa applicants in Colombia was basically falsifying results due to inadequate resources to process specimens 😨 … the embassy doctors alerted the embassy to this and canceled their relationship with the lab. This has caused many many IVs to go into administrative processing. The attachment indicates it involves gonorrhea results but another applicant received a letter stating tuberculosis results, so I suppose all results are suspect. The attachment is a screenshot in Spanish but I will cut and paste below what someone shared from the embassy in both English and Spanish:
 
“Greetings from the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. You are receiving this email because we have been advised by the panel physicians serving the Embassy that they have reason to believe your IGRA (tuberculosis) test result, performed at Instituto y Laboratorio Clinico, Calle 38 No. 8-28, Local No. 1, Bogota, Colombia, is not reliable.  They advised the Embassy that the laboratory  did not have the required supplies to perform the test and falsified the report for that test.  We understand the laboratory did draw your blood but did not test it.  The laboratory then reported a “negative” test result for tuberculosis to the panel physician without performing the test.  The panel physicians (Dr. Roa, Dr. Dennis, and Dr. Piñeros) immediately terminated their relationship with the laboratory upon discovering the laboratory’s actions.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has determined, for your specific case, you do not need to have a new test performed.  If your visa has already been issued, your visa is valid and you may travel to the United States before the expiration date printed on the visa.  If your visa has not yet been issued, we will process your case to conclusion using the medical examination in its current state.  However, the CDC advises that it may be beneficial for your own health and safety to seek repeat testing to confirm that you are negative for tuberculosis.  At this time, we have no evidence that any other components of your medical exam were compromised.   
As soon as the Embassy was informed of the situation, we banned Instituto y Laboratorio Clinico from participation in any further medical examinations.  The lab administrator has offered to provide a refund of the cost of the test that was not performed.  The panel physicians are discussing with the lab how to request a refund and you will receive more information once those details are finalized.
We are deeply troubled by the laboratory’s actions, and we are sorry that it has caused you inconvenience.
Sincerely,
Immigrant Visa Unit
U.S. Embassy Bogotá
jvb
-------
Estimado solicitante o acudiente:
Saludos desde la Embajada de Estados Unidos en Bogotá, Colombia. Usted recibe este correo electrónico porque los médicos del panel que atienden a la Embajada nos han informado que tienen motivos para creer el resultado de su prueba IGRA, realizada en el Instituto y Laboratorio Clínico, Calle 38 No. 8-28, Local No. 1, Bogotá, Colombia, no es confiable. Avisaron a la Embajada que el laboratorio no contaba con los suministros necesarios para realizar la prueba y falsificaron el informe de dicha prueba. Entendemos que el laboratorio le extrajo sangre pero no lo analizó. Luego, el laboratorio informó un resultado de prueba "negativo" para tuberculosis al médico del panel sin realizar la prueba. Los médicos del panel (Dr. Roa, Dr. Dennis y Dr. Piñeros) inmediatamente terminaron su relación con el laboratorio al descubrir las acciones del laboratorio.
Los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) han determinado que, para su caso específico, no es necesario que se realice una nueva prueba. Si su visa ya ha sido emitida, su visa es válida y puede viajar a los Estados Unidos antes de la fecha de vencimiento impresa en la visa. Si su visa aún no ha sido emitida, procesaremos su caso hasta su conclusión utilizando el examen médico en su estado actual. Sin embargo, el CDC advierte que puede ser beneficioso para su propia salud y seguridad buscar repetir las pruebas para confirmar que es negativo para tuberculosis. En este momento, no tenemos evidencia de que otros componentes de su examen médico se hayan visto comprometidos.
Tan pronto como se informó a la Embajada de la situación, prohibimos al Instituto y Laboratorio Clínico participar en cualquier examen médico en el futuro. El administrador del laboratorio se ha ofrecido a reembolsar el costo de la prueba que no se realizó. Los médicos del panel están discutiendo con el laboratorio cómo solicitar un reembolso y usted recibirá más información una vez se finalicen los detalles.  
Estamos profundamente preocupados por las acciones del laboratorio y lamentamos que les haya causado molestias.
Cordialmente,
Unidad de visas de inmigrante
Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Bogotá
jvb ”

@Jorgedig The laboratory (they do an x-ray of the chest and blood work) is part of the doctor visit (physical) that the embassy requires prior to the consular interview. So the ONLY ONE (lab in Bogota that meets "requirements") has system failure. So that's how they're involved in the whole visa process...

So sorry for another question, but was wondering what your priority date was?  I know our DQ is very close, but I had forgotten that priority dates play a significant role in when your interview would be.  Many thanks for sharing and best of luck on the 23rd! 

I heard about this, I’m on a WhatsApp discussion group for my embassy and people are livid! Especially the people that had interviews tomorrow and had to make travel arrangements to get to the capital or even the country from elsewhere. It’s really inconvenient!

I heard about this, I’m on a WhatsApp discussion group for my embassy and people are livid! Especially the people that had interviews tomorrow and had to make travel arrangements to get to the capital or even the country from elsewhere. It’s really inconvenient!

I heard about this, I’m on a WhatsApp discussion group for my embassy and people are livid! Especially the people that had interviews tomorrow and had to make travel arrangements to get to the capital or even the country from elsewhere. It’s really inconvenient!

Our IR-1 case was DQ on 11/18/20 and we just last week received an interview date in Bogotá for late June. This kind of caught us by surprise since we’ve been waiting so long and we really didn’t expect anything to happen until the fall. Now we are scrambling to get flights and final paperwork together. My beneficiary is from Venezuela so we’ll have to plan out housing too! It’s crunch but we are excited this is finally moving!

Many thanks!  Best of luck!

If you don't mind me asking, what date did you receive your letter and what date is your interview?  Just trying to perhaps estimate a time (fingers crossed) in which we would receive our interview notice.  Many thanks! 
If you don't mind me asking, what date did you receive your letter and what date is your interview?  Just trying to perhaps estimate a time (fingers crossed) in which we would receive our interview notice.  Many thanks! 

Our IR-1 case was DQ on 11/18/20 and we just last week received an interview date in Bogotá for late June. This kind of caught us by surprise since we’ve been waiting so long and we really didn’t expect anything to happen until the fall. Now we are scrambling to get flights and final paperwork together. My beneficiary is from Venezuela so we’ll have to plan out housing too! It’s crunch but we are excited this is finally moving!

Our IR-1 case was DQ on 11/18/20 and we just last week received an interview date in Bogotá for late June. This kind of caught us by surprise since we’ve been waiting so long and we really didn’t expect anything to happen until the fall. Now we are scrambling to get flights and final paperwork together. My beneficiary is from Venezuela so we’ll have to plan out housing too! It’s crunch but we are excited this is finally moving!

Our IR-1 case was DQ on 11/18/20 and we just last week received an interview date in Bogotá for late June. This kind of caught us by surprise since we’ve been waiting so long and we really didn’t expect anything to happen until the fall. Now we are scrambling to get flights and final paperwork together. My beneficiary is from Venezuela so we’ll have to plan out housing too! It’s crunch but we are excited this is finally moving!

Oh wow, we were DQ on 12/4/20 only 2 weeks after you.  Fingers crossed but that may suggest we should receive a letter very shortly.  Had you received any information prior suggesting that your interview was only a month away or was this the first correspondence giving you a date?  Many thanks for the information! -

You can check here: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx but almost certainly it will say "At NVC" still with your DQ date.

Hi all,
 
Just wanted to hop on and say that I am in the same situation as I see some of you are. My fiancé is also Venezuelan. He was living in Peru but returned to Venezuela in February to visit family and has been stuck there since. At this point we have no reason to return to Peru, so we are in the process of transferring our approved K1 petition (still at NVC) from going to Lima to Colombia. That has been a headache in itself. 
 
I check weekly for updates from Colombia on when they will begin processing K1. I saw they posted a video on their Facebook stating they ARE processing K1, but only emergency cases. At this point I suspect we have another year ahead of us. I desperately wish the embassies could find a workaround...virtual interviews? Anything. I have not seen my fiancé since September 2019 and I miss him dearly. 
 
anyways, hang in there everyone. It is comforting to see others who I am sharing a similar journey with. 

My fiance and I are also waiting for Bogota to resume interviewing. I’m checking the website of the embassy and their social media, and this site for updates. Our case has been at the NVC since June. Not sure if you read the other thread? Sounds like there’s some good news...https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/752088-another-colombia-embassy-live-stream/

I am in this situation.  We are in a weird spot, because if the embassy said okay, your interview is December 1st, she couldn't get there.  They just opened Copa to connect in Panama, and all the availability is gone until January, when it really opens up.  I am hoping for a mid January interview.
 
The land border is still closed.  It's very stressing, hoping for an interview, but hoping she can get to Bogota at the same time.  It really needs to be in January or later.

Yes, Finally they addressed a question about our visa category. 
 
I even recorded it with my phone in case that they deleted that. I don't know, I thought that I was dreaming.

Absolutely she can. Note that entry is never guaranteed for any visitor and it will be up to the CBP Officer who inspects her upon arrival whether she will be admitted or not. But having an immigrant petition or visa in progress does not bar one from visiting. 

they accept anything for that. photos are always taken at the interview. do something fun like upload them a pic of stick figures.

I married my spouse while he was visiting me in the USA on an existing tourist visa, he returned home a month later (which was still a month before his 6-month I-94 expired). He has visited me again one more time since then on his tourist visa after we had filed for the CR-1. We have not seen each other in person since due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
 
Our I-130 petition has since been recently approved and we are at the NVC stage. While we are eager to complete this step, we are not rushing too much considering we likely wont get an interview anytime soon. If we complete it by the end of the summer we are still good. In all likelihood, he will likely be entering the USA with his immigrant visa after our 2nd wedding anniversary, in which case it will be an IR-1 visa and he will get a 10-year green card (thereby avoiding $600 to remove conditions).
 
I went on a big tangent, sorry  ... to answer your question: NO, it is not illegal to do what you are planning, many of us have done it and in the long run it is cheaper that way.

Coming to the US with the intention of getting married is not fraud.  Coming to marry and stay is visa fraud.  Your plan is perfectly legal.
 
Requirements for marriage vary by State.  Have the US Citizen check with the local County Clerk.  Google marriage in (county, state name)

It's not an option, the systems asks you to provide a name of a foreign institution.
 
Im aware of it thank you.
 
Im aware of it thank you
 
I'm aware of it thank you