Craig_Karina

Hola Bill y Bella!!!

I think you are stressing out over nothing. Your current passport shows a photo of you...right? A simple explanation is fine. Next time you renew your passport, make the appropriate correction...that is all there is to it. And, I think that you are permitted to keep your former passport if you want to retain it for some reason...I have mine from 1990 to 2000.

And, I just recently LOST MY PASSPORT with ALL my trips to Colombia stamped in it!!! BUT, lucky for me...I made color photocopies of all the pages in my passport as a part of this process. So, I am not going to get worked up about it! As Forrest Gump said, "__IT HAPPENS!"

It seems that many people get stressed out with the smallest detail..."Will I get my wife here if I forgot to put the "-" between her first and last second last names, etc. EVERYONE---- RELAX!!!!

Sincere Best Wishes!!

Hi Bill & Lesly,

Quite a number of VJ'rs have been through the interview process. And, some have even posted the questions that they were asked during the interview. I recommend that you read through the postings to get an idea of what you and your fiance/wife could be asked.

But, I would not stress out about the interview. Relax and be yourselves! Common interview times range from 5 minutes to 20 - 30 minutes. Remember, there are a lot of people behind you in line. Go up for the interview with confidence and honesty and you will be fine.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Hi Jenny19 and welcome to VisaJourney,

1) The first thing you can do is fill out your timeline. It helps us to help YOU .... and it helps US in the process. Start with the date you got married.

2) At the top of the VJ home page is a section called "Guides." Click on it and you will see all the categories...click on K3 and it will give you a complete rundown of the flow of paperwork.

3) Read the I-130 Instructions VERY CAREFULLY and begin to assemble the necessary items as required.

A lot of help is available here....downloadable forms, knowledgeable people and others in your situation. We are here to help you. But, this biggest thing is to keep focused and positive. And...prepare to WAIT!

Sincere Regards,

Hi and congratulations on your marriage!!

1) It would be helpful to everyone if you would fill out your timeline. It helps everyone to help YOU...and you are helping US in the process. Start with the date you were married. Keep it accurate...every time something happens, log it!!!

2) We are going the I-130 way and I sent a copy of our a) Marriage Certificate B) Four (4) affidavits from friends/family at the wedding with a photo of all of us at the wedding reception. (Be sure to read the requirements for the affidavits, name, date of birth, etc.) c) an extra wedding invitation that I had lying around.

3) Save all that other stuff...phone records, e-mails, long, intimate IM conversations, etc. for your interview at the Embassy. They MAY want to see some of that stuff...but, remember the average interview lasts about 10 minutes!!

Best Wishes!!!!!!!

Hi and Good Luck!!

1) Go to the top of the VJ.com page and "click" on Guides. Find your appropriate Visa category and it will give you the exact order of filing

everything. I suggest you print it...and check everything off as you complete it.

2) Fill in your timeline ACCURATELY...it helps everyone know where you are in the process. And, it provides better data for us in the future.

3) Ask questions and read posts every day. You will gather a lot of good important information by reading!!!!

Best Wishes,

Hi and best wishes!!

1) Your answer is in the filing instructions: Yes, submit an additional page with reference to the question you are answering.

2) Do everything 3 times...check it 5 times before sending to USCIS, etc.

3) Follow instructions EXPLICITLY!

Good Luck.

Hi and best wishes!!

1) It is pretty important to have your Receipt# and the I-797C to attach to the I-129f. Had you used a CHECK instead of a Money Order, you could have gotten this number from the back of the cancelled check.

2) We filed our I-130 and got our I-797C back in about 3 weeks from CSC. I did not feel that was a long time to wait. Be patient and wait for your I-797C and when it comes...make 10 copies of it for your records (a little overkill never hurts) in case anything else ever comes up. Besides you want many souvenirs of this process, don't you???

3) Yes, you could and can do just about anything you want with your papers. BUT, why risk them getting lost or misplaced without the proper I-797C attached? I recommend you wait a week or 10 days and something should happen.

Good Luck!!!

Hi...and welcome to the VJ's!!!

You will get a lot of opinions on this board...worth exactly what you are paying for them. BUT...there is a lot of GOOD ADVICE and help from everyone. (Read: Advice...not legal advice.) If you have a question, post it and you will get multiple responses. So...that said, here are my opinions/advice:

1) My opinion is that you do NOT need a lawyer to file these things for you. They are designed so an average person of average intelligence can fill them out and accomplish the task. An attorney is going to file these papers on THEIR time...and YOUR MONEY!

2) Our NOA1 came three weeks after my first mailing...went to Texas first...then to California. I thought 3 weeks was pretty good service!

3) Please fill out your timeline...it helps everyone see where you are in the process. You will be getting better advice if you do this.

Regards,

Craig

Hi....welcome aboard!!

I "self-certified" my documents...nothing in there says you cannot do it. I am competent in both languages and attached a statement to that effect.

Good Luck,

Craig (& Karina)

HI and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

We hope the very best for you...both of you!!! I wish that we were in the same position...my wife and daughter would be on the next plane out of Colombia!! The end of the journey for you is not over...but, at least you can be together for the rest of it!!

Regards,

Craig (& Karina)

Hi Steve and welcome to the site. You will find a lot of good information here...but, remember that you are getting opinions and experiences...not legal advice. But...that said, here are my opinions:

1) You do NOT need an attorney to file these papers for you. IF you are intelligent and can follow directions precisesly, you can do this on your own and save yourself a ton of money. And, the attorney/s do not always know the correct answers either. I think your attorney is WRONG!

2) IF the father's name is shown on the birth certificate, he has acknowledged that he fathered the child. AND, he has a say in what happens in that child's future. (My situation is similar...except my daughter is almost 14. But, the father is very cooperative. And, he has not provided much/any support over the years and has seen her only twice. But, we still must have a written legal document from him which allows the daugher to live in the USA with us!!!!! Thank God he is a good and reasonable man!)

3) There is a service in Colombia called "Child Services" or something like that...they provide legal advice and aid for single/unmarried mothers who are in this situation. Maybe they have some contacts in Barranquilla. I am not sure of the name of the service!! Check it out...it may be helpful to you.

Good luck on your journey!!!

Craig (& Karina)

OK...I will try to give you another response...in a different manner.

IF you get married in Colombia, you are married. And, you CANNOT enter on a K-1 visa because she is not your fiance'...she is your wife. Your only option is the K-3 visa. Once she is here in the USA, you can marry her again ...if you want to go through the expenses of another ceremony for your family and friends. Having the daughter here...that is the $60,000 question!

Other than the reason of loving your wife, WHY would you want to live and work in Colombia where an average worker earns less than $1,000 per month? True, the cost of living is less there but...look at the conditions that these people have to live in. UNLESS your GF/wife is of SUBSTANTIAL means and has substantial ties to Colombia, she is NOT getting out on a Visitors Visa. She must own property, have assets, bank accounts with money in them, own a business, have a great job and then MAYBE the Colombian Government will give her a visitor's visa. But, UNLESS this is the case, do NOT count on her getting a Visitors Visa...ever!!!! You are not dealing with the United States of America...you are dealing with Colombia where the government does not issue visas UNLESS they are certain the person will return to Colombia. There are thousands of people who would leave Colombia IF given the opportunity. For that reason, their government denies visas routinely. There is NO TRUST in their government and for that reason, there are many Colombian nationals...and other nationalities...living illegally in the United States. Once they get here...they do not want to leave...can you blame them?

Your parents are Americans, I presume...and if you want her to meet them, why not fly them down to Colombia to meet her? We, Americans, do not realize the great freedoms that we have been given. We can work, travel and enjoy the highest standard of living in the world!! And, we are (basically) free to come and go as we please!! US Passport in your hand...you can buy a plane ticket to almost anywhere (except Cuba) and just GO!!!

It seems that you are hinging everything on the father of the daughter?

Depending on his relationship with your GF/future wife and his child, the guy can be two things: 1) A big jerk and keep his daughter in a repressive country with little future for her. OR 2) He can be a nice guy and realize that there is a great opportunity looking his daughter in the face...an opportunity to grow up in a country where life is good!!! For your sake, your gf/wife's sake and most importantly for your daughter's sake, I hope Option #2 is chosen. A good man and responsible father would make the correct choice. But, remember...you are dealing with a Colombian man...a "macho mentality" is in place. So, my thoughts to you is: Appeal to his good sense to do what is best for his daughter. Tell him that he is welcome to visit his daughter any time in the USA...HE IS WELCOME!!! (The Colombian government may not let him leave for a visit...But, YOU welcome him!!!!! Get the idea?) Maybe he will do it...likely not. But, I wish you the very best of luck in this situation. We are all here to help each other...and remember, you are getting OPINIONS...not legal advice. What I say may not be in agreement with others on this site. And...opinions are worth exactly what you are paying for them.....

Sincere Best Wishes,

Craig (& Karina)

PS I am in the same situation BUT, my wife has already discussed and taken care of this situation with the father. He has NO problem with it. Thank God he is a good and reasonable man.

Hello CG

The "Step-by-Step" guide to filing your K3 visa specifically gives you the EXACT process for filing your I130 and then filing the I129f after you receive your I197 (NOA1). Click on the "GUIDE" tab at the top of the page. Here is what it says:

Once you receive the NOA1 for the I-130:

Assembling the I-129F Package: Checklist

Forms and Documents (follow these assembly instructions. All supporting documents must be in English or be translated as noted here.)

1. Payment as required by USCIS. Use a check so you can track the payment.

2. Cover Letter. Should include a description of what your are petitioning for (K-3 Visa), a table of contents (list everything in the packet). If you need additional room to explain your case, attach a separate sheet (list the attachment on the cover sheet). Make sure to sign and date the cover sheet.

3. Form I-129F: Petition for Alien Fiance(e). This form may be used to obtain a K-3/K-4 visa for your alien spouse and her or his child. Fill out the form as directed, except assume that "fiancé" or "fiancé(e)" means "spouse." answer Questions B.17 and B.18 by stating "N/A." Note that filing this form is only necessary to facilitate the entry of your spouse and her or his child as a nonimmigrant.

4. G-325A (all four pages) filled out by the US Citizen signed and dated

5. One passport-type photo (see specification) of the US Citizen. Write the full name of the US citizen on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <US Citizens Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a.

6. G-325A (all four pages) filled out by the foreign spouse/fiance(e) signed and dated

7. One passport-type photo (see specification) of the foreign Spouse. Write the full name of the foreign Spouse on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <Foreign Spouses Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a.

8. Copy of the Birth certificate for the US Citizen (front and back) or a copy of ALL pages of the US Citizen's passport or a copy of the US Citizen's naturalization certificate (front and back). This is used to establish citizenship.

9. Copy of the NOA1 from the I-130

10. A copy of your marriage certificate (If not in English then again get a translation)

11. In regards to Section C Question 2, if applicable provide certified copies of all court and police records showing the charges and dispositions for any specified conviction(s) (in accordance with the IMBRA). See section 9 of the I-129f instructions for more information.

We hope this helps!!!

I forgot to mention....July is "high tourist season" in Colombia. Prepare for higher rates on airfare & accommodations.

Regards,

I tried to get my number from USCIS using the "1-800" Customer Service line. But, you cannot get any Customer Service unless you know your receipt number!!!

Good Luck,

Congratulations on the Interview Date!!! Be sure to post your experiences and results.

Good Hotel: Boheme Royale or Andino Royale....both good hotels in Zona Rosa. I've stayed at both and

had good experiences. Short cab ride to the Embassy.

Boheme Royale Calle 82 No. 12 - 35 : Phone Number: 57-1-618-0168 www.hotelesroyale.com

Best wishes!!!!

Hello,

For that question, I simply put: "We have never lived together. Married 5/18/07" I suggest that you do not make this any more difficult than it is...keep it simple and honest.

Regards,

Hi to all VJ'ers!!

Please add us to the timeline. Thanks. I sent our form I-130 (K-3) to Texas Service Center on May 31, 2007 by USPS Priority Mail. Texas Service Center received it on June 1, 2007. Since then....nothing. The check has not been cashed nor have we received NOA1.

However, I did sign up for an account with USCIS to track our progress. BUT, you need that all important number on the back of your check or the NOA1 to track it!!!! So, it is a waiting game...now 15 days into it!

Regards,

Hi Colombiangringo...

San Andres is beautiful...my wife and I had our honeymoon there last month. Since San Andres is a part of Colombia, the "Registro Civil de Matrimonio" should be the same one that we received in Bucaramanga. My opinion...San Andres is Colombia...your marriage is valid in ALL of Colombia and the rest of the world!

I self translated my documents. I can read, write and converse in Spanish too. So, I put a statement that I certified that my translation was correct. You can read my other post for the exact wording. As a side note...I have heard that Spanish documents do NOT need to be translated!!!! This makes some sense because we are becoming a more multi-cultural society and Spanish is a dominant language. BUT, I went ahead and translated the documents anyway. I saw nothing that said it had to be Notarized or Apostilled in anything that I read. So, ours went in without!!!!

Regards and Good Luck,

Hello Colombianogringo!

CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES!!! I think we should get to know each other because our timelines will be similar. I married Karina on May 18, 2007 and sent in my I-130 papers on May 31st...received by Texas Service Center on June 1st. We used Karina's maiden name on our documents because everything is in that name. (Don't do anything that will confuse these people at USCIS. Hahaha) My wife intends to use my last name here in the United States too. We sent 4 affidavits...two from her side of the family and two from my side. I am hearing "confusing talk" about the translations. Some say it must be translated...others say it is not necessary. Personally, I "self translated" our documents in Spanish because I am conversational in Spanish. (And...a person would have to be an idiot not to know that "Fecha de Naciemento" means Date of Birth!!!) I included a statement with my self certified documents. . . read my postings for exact wording.

Don't worry about the forms being out of date...they are still accepting older forms. Don't worry about your documentation...you have the same things that I do...airline tickets, passport stamps, travel brochures, AND LOTS OF PHOTOS! Take photos of every time you are with your wife and family. Your wedding photo album will be GREAT! Try NOT to make this process too involved and scary for yourself and your wife. Give the people at USCIS/Visa/Embassy whatever they request and do it promptly. If they ask for a COPY...give them a COPY...and mark it as such with a stamp that is available at Office Depot. They will ask for originals ONLY when they need them. Also, I think the Affidavit of Support is the same for all...they just want to know that you will be able to support your new wife when she comes to the USA.

Again....CONGRATULATUONS...let's enjoy the journey together!!!

Hello to all VJer's!!!

We are getting our "ducks in a row" in preparation for a lot of mailing of documents back and forth between Colombia (Bucaramanga) and Ft. Lauderdale. If any of you VJer's can relate your experiences with services like USPS, UPS, DHL and the like, I am sure it would be appreciated. We are not concerned (much) about the costs....more interested in service and getting the items to the destination quickly and efficiently. I have heard horror stories of things being "lost" for weeks or months! So....fill us in with your recommendations!!

GRACIAS MIS AMIGOS!!!!

Hi...again!!!

Personally, I think photos speak a thousand words!! I will use them wherever they seem appropriate.

Also, We will be sending an actual Wedding Invitation!!!!! Ours clearly shows us with BIG smiles on our faces

and was taken on our "Noche de Compromiso." ( A really cool tradition...it was sensational!!! )

Regards,

Hi!!

Yes, we used affidavits signed by third parties. My son (my best man), my sister, Karina's mother and her uncle all signed affidavits to testify to the fact that our marriage was "bona fide." And, on the back side of the affidavits, I copied a photo of all of us at the wedding reception with plenty of other people in the background, flowers, cake...whatever. The affidavit reads:

" I (state the name), do hereby swear and affirm that I was in attendance at the marriage ceremony of my (daughter, niece, father, brother, friend...whatever) to (state your name) on May 18, 2007 in (City & Country). Proof of my attendance is on the reverse of this affidavit...a photo of my (daughter, niece, father, brother, friend...whatever), her new husband Craig and myself taken at the wedding reception.

Sincerely,

Signature of person signing affidavit

Printed Name of person signing affidavit

Address:

City/Country:

Date of Birth:

Place of Birth:

I think you can wait...but why? Once I get my wife and daughter approved...we are on the next plane to Ft. Lauderdale!!

Congratulations on your approval.

My wife and I are in the CR-1 process. Waiting for approval of I-130. A visitors visa is a slim chance. We know this. Has anyone ever gotten one while in the process. Or does anyone know of a different visa that she might be able to get?

If your wife is from Colombia and has no significant ties...eg. Own property, own a business, steady job, etc...it is impossible to get a visitors visa. Once she is here...what reasons does she have to return to her country? Answer: None

Suggestion: Why don't you fill in your timeline and some personal information on your profile? It will help others to respond to your questions.

Best Wishes,