SteveSandyHill

Congratulations Marcela!!!!

Sandy and I are very happy for you

Congrats Scott & Yenifer!!!!

Scott,

Sandy and I just returned from Canada (Niagra Falls). No problem re-entering the USA, Green card only required, did not even ask for passport. Only question asked was about the baby. The officer asked who's child was she? Our next trip will be back to Barranquilla in the fall. We need to investagate her daughters situation prior to going! We do not want any complications with the father, DAS ect.

Ken,

Here's a cleaned up copy of what we used. You just need to enter the correct names and document numbers, and enter them as if the father was writing the letter. He will also need to have this notarized. Your wife will need to present this letter to DAS at the airport, and she will need an updated letter each time she goes back to Colombia and then returns to the States. There is no such thing as a blanket letter that is good from now on - she will need a different one each time.

Hope this helps!

Bogotá, Junio 23 de 2008

PERMISO PARA SALIR DEL PAIS

XXXXX XXX XXXXX, mayor de edad, identificado con la cedula de ciudadanía numero 11’111.111 expedida en Bogotá, por medio del presente documento, concedo permiso a mis menores hijo XXXX XXXX XXXX identificada con Registro Civil No. 111111 de Bogotá y el Pasaporte No. RN 11111111, para que puede salir del país de American Airlines y entrar a los EE.UU. por (ciudad y estado aquí), en compañía de su madre XXXX XXX XXXX, identificada con la cedula de ciudadanía No. 11’111.111 de Bogotá. Este viaje se espera el 25 de junio de 2008, y este permiso y la autorización son efectivos de la fecha del viaje.

Cordialmente,

____________________________

XXXXX XXX XXXXX

CC 11’111.111 de Bogotá

Muchisimas Gracias, Amigo! Of course, this is a big help. I will make sure I keep this information in my file. Thanks again,

-Ken

Ken,

Be aware the "permission" document from the father is only valid for 60 days!!!! This nearly caused us a major problem in the Bogota airport. For whatever the reason, we cleared, I believe 3 checkpoints till we got to the final one at the gate area. Here the DAS person informed us that the document was no longer valid, and made Sandy go too a room and contact the father via phone! Eventually Sandy and her daughter where granted permission to travel. So play it safe, and have him notorize it closer to your expected travel date.

Also remember that depending on the circumstances, you may need a new document from the father each time you travel to Colombia.

CG,

You will do fine. I stressed tremendously over the interview as well, was over prepared. The information provided here in this forum by those who have lived the experiance is priceless. Good luck!

Parkpapa,

I apologize for not including you in the "soon" catagory! for some reason I thought you had already received your AOS! As for the EAD for the kids, yeah it is crazy, we had to get one for Sandy's 18 month old, for the same reason, SSN

We have a little good news to spread...EAD received, AP received and our case was touched on 05/15 so hopefully we will hear something soon.

That's about it...I just wanted to say HI!!!!!!!!!!! Very happy to see everyone is doing well and I'm always glad to read your posts.

Scott,

Congrats!!! I am right behind you ( some things never change! JUst like the K1 process)

Sandy received both AP & EAD Friday, as well AOP touches May 16 & 18, yeah I did a double take this morning when I checked case status this morning. The 18th was Sunday??? Looks like California is on OT, or someone is working from home! None the less, things are moving quickly.

On a seperate note, not sure if it is because I mailed Sandy & her daughters paperwork together or what, but approvals and touches have been on identical dates throughout this process.

I apologise for the duplicate post (Colombia Club AOS)!!!!

Hi all, I have a question and am hoping that perhaps someone here has been in a similar situation. Sandy and I would like to travel to her hometown of Barranquilla, later this year. We had a difficult time exiting Bogota airport with her daughter as the document from the child's father was beyond the 60 day allowance (or so we where told). Sandy and I are both very nervous about traveling back to Colombia with the child, for fear of further complications at the airport when we exit Colombia again. Assuming she and her daughter both receive there AP document, my question is this:

We are now married and all AOS documents for Sandy and her daughter have been filed. Will we need another document from the father again to leave the country? Furthermore will this be a requirement every time we travel there???

The child is only 17 months old and the father has never been part of her life. We where able to get him to sign the initial removal document based on relieving him of his financial responsibility to the child, (had to get a lawyer for this).

Any clarification here would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Steve and Sandy

Yes, you will need a document from her dad every time the baby will leave Colombia, she's Colombian and will always have to deal with this, I got divorced when my daughter was just 3, my daughter was born here, we went back to Colombia after my divorce for 8 yrs, she has dual citizenship, her dad NEVER paid child support, I fell your frustration, it's very disappointing having to ask someone who had never care for your baby to sign a permit, BUT..... I learned that carrying an American passport you don't need this document from the parents at all, so what I did when I came back to live here in the US is that every time my daughter went to Colombia I sent her just with the American passport, and never again I had to deal with this issue again, unless she would stay for more than 3 months (that's another issue) when your wife becomes an US citizen, the baby will have an US passport at the same time and if things don't change, you guys won't have to deal with this anymore.

Good luck.... Ana

Ana,

Thanks for this information. We have applied for AOS, so hopefully we are on our way! We may be waiting a couple of years to travel back to Barranquilla till Sandy and her daughter can recieve there citizenship & USA passports.

Steve,

When Lorena got the permission letter from her ex for the boys to leave Colombia, her attorney told her that there were basically two options: First was the permission letter which would be a one-time-only thing, and each time they return and want to leave again another letter will be required; or, go through a three to four month process in Colombia to have parental rights removed from the ex. The thing with the second option is that your spouse will need to "prove" abuse, abandonment, or some other extenuating situation which the Colombian courts would go along with.

The issue of 60 days didn't come up for Lorena because her letter was within that timeframe, so we have no experience with that aspect of it. If you had a lawyer handle things, I'd sure be back in contact with him/her to get things straightened out. Just my two-cents worth.

Charles

Thanks Charles! This is really crazy, as Sandy's Mom really misses the baby! But I am sure that Sandy and I would miss her more if we returned to Colombia, and where unable to bring her home with us!!!!

[Diana,

Thanks, the document said "permenent" yet here is the catch, the DAS person said it was only valid for 60 days??? And they kept the document! Guess we will not be traveling to Colombia anytime soon!

It does not seem fair that the girl cannot return to Colombia until she is an adult or becomes a US citizen.

I am not a lawyer and I have had no personal experience with this situation but here are my thoughts for what they are worth. If your lawyer traded a total release from all paternal financial responsibilities in exchange for one single permission letter good for 60 days he made a bad deal. I would suggest telling the lawyer that you need the father to legally relinquish all his paternal rights if such a thing is possible. If you have already permanently released the father from financial liability (is that even possible?) you do not have much to bargain with and you may need to pay something to get him to do what you want.

Assuming that it is possible for a father to relinquish his paternal rights, there will be an official document to substantiate this and if you keep the original you will have a document (make notarized copies for DAS) that you can show DAS each time the girl tries to leave Colombia.

Before spending any money you would want to make sure that such an agreement is possible in Colombia and also make sure that DAS will accept it. I would start by talking to DAS and asking them what you need to do in order for your daughter to be able to enter and exit Colombia without securing a letter from the father each time. My guess is that DAS has dealt with this situation many times before and they will be able to give you some suggestions. In any case, it is DAS that controls who can leave the country so you might as well start with them and find out what they need.

Best of luck.

Bill,

Thanks for your input. and talking with DAS seems to be the correct thing to do. It is not an issue at this moment yet one that is worth looking into in the near future. I would hope that once she becomes a US citizen (US passport) this becomes a non issue!

Hi all, I have a question and am hoping that perhaps someone here has been in a similar situation. Sandy and I would like to travel to her hometown of Barranquilla, later this year. We had a difficult time exiting Bogota airport with her daughter as the document from the child's father was beyond the 60 day allowance (or so we where told). Sandy and I are both very nervous about traveling back to Colombia with the child, for fear of further complications at the airport when we exit Colombia again. Assuming she and her daughter both receive there AP document, my question is this:

We are now married and all AOS documents for Sandy and her daughter have been filed. Will we need another document from the father again to leave the country? Furthermore will this be a requirement every time we travel there???

The child is only 17 months old and the father has never been part of her life. We where able to get him to sign the initial removal document based on relieving him of his financial responsibility to the child, (had to get a lawyer for this).

Any clarification here would be greatly appreciated!

Was the DAS document valid indefinitely? Or did it have an expiration date on it? If the child is still a Colombian citizen whenever you go back to Colombia, you will need this document signed by the father every time you leave to come back. That is one of the reasons why my sister won't pursue my niece's Colombian citizenship, because it would be a hassle to take her out of Colombia without this permission slip signed by the father every time she goes there, even though she would also be a US citizen.

Do you remember that case that was on T.V. for a while about a 10 year-old boy, I think he was 10, who grew up in the States but as soon as he was ready to come back the DAS didn't let him leave the country because they didn't have this permission slip signed by the father. The family came back to the States and the poor boy was stuck in Colombia for a while, I think he's still there actually.

Gotta be careful.

Diana

Diana,

Thanks, the document said "permenent" yet here is the catch, the DAS person said it was only valid for 60 days??? And they kept the document! Guess we will not be traveling to Colombia anytime soon!

Greetings to all !!!

It took 4 weeks to receive our NOA1 for the AOS and EAD process and than another week for the biometrics appointment.

Yenys and I have been so busy traveling and vacations, we have not posted here since being in the Colombian Club thread.

We see Scott and Yenniifer are about two weeks ahead of us with the AOS process, although they are k-1 and we are K-3.

But if you want to see our travels.... go to our website http://www.Brianandyennys.blogspot.com and check it out.

We live in Miami so everything is so close, The Keys, Tampa, Orlando and we travel often !!!! B)

Yenys is in Advanced English classes and scored very high on her tests for the Advanced placement classes, I am so proud of her.

In a couple months she will start her Paralegal courses in college as even though she is a Attorney in Colombia, You must be a US Citizen here to be a attorney !!!

GOD BLESS ALL AND HAPPY HEALTH AND HAPPINESS TO ALL !!!!

BRIAN AND YENYS

'Brian and Yenys'

Your photo's are absolutely beautiful, Sandy and I looked them together. Thank you for sharing them with all of us!

I apologise for the duplicate post (Colombia Club AOS)!!!!

Hi all, I have a question and am hoping that perhaps someone here has been in a similar situation. Sandy and I would like to travel to her hometown of Barranquilla, later this year. We had a difficult time exiting Bogota airport with her daughter as the document from the child's father was beyond the 60 day allowance (or so we where told). Sandy and I are both very nervous about traveling back to Colombia with the child, for fear of further complications at the airport when we exit Colombia again. Assuming she and her daughter both receive there AP document, my question is this:

We are now married and all AOS documents for Sandy and her daughter have been filed. Will we need another document from the father again to leave the country? Furthermore will this be a requirement every time we travel there???

The child is only 17 months old and the father has never been part of her life. We where able to get him to sign the initial removal document based on relieving him of his financial responsibility to the child, (had to get a lawyer for this).

Any clarification here would be greatly appreciated!

Hi all, I have a question and am hoping that perhaps someone here has been in a similar situation. Sandy and I would like to travel to her hometown of Barranquilla, later this year. We had a difficult time exiting Bogota airport with her daughter as the document from the child's father was beyond the 60 day allowance (or so we where told). Sandy and I are both very nervous about traveling back to Colombia with the child, for fear of further complications at the airport when we exit Colombia again. Assuming she and her daughter both receive there AP document, my question is this:

We are now married and all AOS documents for Sandy and her daughter have been filed. Will we need another document from the father again to leave the country? Furthermore will this be a requirement every time we travel there???

The child is only 17 months old and the father has never been part of her life. We where able to get him to sign the initial removal document based on relieving him of his financial responsibility to the child, (had to get a lawyer for this).

Any clarification here would be greatly appreciated!

Hey Charles,

I am far from an expert on this, as I have learned so much here on VJ!

If you are in the process of resubmitting your AOS package and paying $1010.00 The AP & EAD are included, you would not be required to pay additional $300.00. That being said I thought that with the K3 visa, multiple entries are acceptable? I know on Sandy's K1 it shows on the bottom of the visa page where it says entry - 1. I would check the visa page in the passport, and worse case submit the AP doc. as I said it is included, providing it is submitted with the I-485.

Hello!!

I'm not sure what kind of evidence we should send with the AOS package, can somebody give an idea, im kind of lost on this process.

Thanks

Marcela

Any evidence that you may have sent to the K1 and more such as pictures, apartment lease, mortgage, health insurance, car insurance, joint bank accounts, affidavits from people, marriage certificate, etc.

Diana

Hello Diana,

Now I am somewhat confused, I just sent in Sandy and her daughters AOS packages, and followed the steps listed here in VJ.

(http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=k1k3aos).

I hope what you are telling Marcela is what is needed to bring to the interview, not mail with the package?

Matt,

Just submitting my package as well. Yes we just made up a date a few months out. Also checked the box for multiple entries, and included a brief letter describing the intent of our trip.

Domesa delivered the visas today at the apartment in Bogota. She interviewed last Friday so that is 4 business days including the day of the interview.

Can someone please describe to me what is actually delivered by Domesa? She tells me that everything is inside an envelope that cannot be opened until she enters the US. But since she will need her passport to get through the airport in Bogota I am thinking that perhaps there is some confusion somewhere.

Thanks.

Bill,

Just going through this on January 18th, here is how the package was delivered. First off it was a Domesa Employee as well as an armed security person. ID had to be shown (by whomever you have chosen to receive your visa's. Then Sandy was given two large clear envelopes, one was hers and one her daughters. Inside the clear envelope was the "brown package" with the Passport / visa stapled to the outside. The brown envelope has a paper taped to the front, advising not to be open! This envelope will be opened by Officer at your POE to USA. The visa is actually inserted in the passport book, similier to your passport page. You can see the visa in the passport, and will be needed at the airport. Just do not open the brown envelope under anu circumstances! Hope this helps you!

HEY BILL!!!!!!!!!!!

We can finally put faces to the family...well 3 of them anyway (the important ones )

Bella and the kids look soooooooo happy. Yenifer and I want to congratulate you again and wish your family a lifetime of happiness.

Thanks Bill! Beautiful family, btw.

Diana

Thanks so much!

Hi everyone,

When you have traveled to Colombia in the past, how and where do you exchange currency? I normally send money to Margara Western Union. I don't want her to travel with such a large ammount of money on her. This trip will require much more money than previous trips, what with the doctor and visas and vaccinations. I would prefer to bring it myself. On previous trips, I noticed a currency exchange at the airport in Miami. Is anyone familiar with these airport currency exchanges? I have a feeling they might charge large fees. Worst case I will just send her the money and we can pick it up together in Bogota.

Thanks

john

John

I suggest using an ATM machine in Bogota. The exchange rate is best here. The airport will not give you the current exchange rate, they make money on every transaction. The atm's are very convienent. Just be aware, your bank will most likely charge an "international transaction fee". Check with your bank ahead of time. Also it is best to inform them where you are traveling to and timeframe. Some credit / debit cards get shut off when used in other countries, as a security measure!!!!

I can comment on our situation, hopefully it will help you. My wife and daughter recieved their visa's January 18th. We had a document, from the father giving the child permission to leave the country "Permantly", key word here and required. Now that being said, we hit a snag at the El Dorodo Airport in Bogota. The final DAS checkpoint, I say final, because we had to produce the document at the ticket counter as well. We where informed that the document was in fact outdated, this document WE where told was valid for 60 days, ours was 74 days old. My fiance at the time was taken into a room and had to contact the childs father via cellphone to confirm it was still okay to remove the child! This can be a major headache, she was nearly unable to leave. So be safe, yes notorized, and within two months of your departure date. Hope this helps.

P.S. They reminded my wife during her interview, she would need the document, yet never informed us of the timeframe of validity. Good luck!

Hi all, I am nearly ready to send my AOS package's, and have a couple of questions regarding the (I-864 Affidavit of Support)

1) If I read the "checl list" with this form correctly, it appears only one year tax return needs to be submitted? The second and third years as well as pay stubs only if you do not meet the poverty guidelines?

2) If sponsoring more than one person (in my case mother and child), supporting documents only need to be submitted for the intending immigrant? As well a photo copy of this form is acceptable with the childs I-485?

3) Lastly I am slightly confused by line item 24-e, the sample form here in VJ shows the intending immigrant's name listed here? Sandy has an accompanying dependent, so do we also need to file I-864A, or only if her income (none) to to help support the dependent child? I plan to not check this box, unless someone sugest that I need to.

Hopefully someone here has been through and completed this document (I-864) for multiple people!

Thank you in advance!

Sending my AOS packages next week as well.

This is painful, $1010.00 for wife, $600.00 for daughter! Believe me I am filing ALL the documents I can together now!

I-485, I-864, I-765 I-131, G-325A

Is it alright to send both wife's and daughter's in the same envelope? One Money Order?