snoopy

Felicitaciones !!!!! I'm happy for all of you guys, It's nice to read everyone it getting approved.

Ana

APPROVED!!!

Bundy

Congratulations Bundy, I just hope that everyone gets to have the same experience as your fiance did. NO PAIN. B)

Ana

This question is a little late since Fernanda has already had her interview, but when you are approved for a K-3 visa are you supposed to get this sealed envelope I hear so much about? Fernanda did not receive any envelope at her interview. I'm concerned, because I do not want her to arrive in Miami and then be asked where this envelope is. They told her the visa would be delivered in about a week. That was all.

Hi Matt, when Fernanda receives her visa, she'll be receiving this SO Famous envelope. I read somewhere in this forum that the beneficiary will be asked for this envelope when he/she leaves and when he/she enters at the POE (obviously) make sure she carries it with her in the carry on.

"CONRATULATIONS MATT & FERNANDA...AND...ANA & JUAN"

"GOOD LUCK TO STEVE & SANDY"

No worries bud...you will do just fine!!!

Say hi to Bob & Luz Eleina...and don't forget Johanna.

Thank you! I also wanted to thank the both of you personally, because I closely followed your process and posts. Thank you for all of your help.

I couldn't agree more, Scott & Yenifer, Brian & Yenis and Diana, their help and support throughout this process, and those who just by sharing their different experiences will help others that just come by, read and take the knowledgement to go on with each personal case.

Good luck!!! to the new appointments, just follow your heart, if you guys know that what you're doing is honest, there is no need to feel nervous, just leave it to God's hands.

Ana

Congratulations to everyone who had their visa approved today. That is great news.

We are still waiting for our interview appointment. The embassy has had our package 3 response since Dec 28. I am beginning to worry a little bit.

Hi Bill and Bella,

I remember that the embassy hold our appointment for about the same time you guys had been waiting too, they took them around 3 weeks to set up the appointment, they received our package from NVC Nov. 26 or 27, just after Thanksgiving, and not until around the 16 or 18 of December that I called the DOS we were able to find out about the appointment, it's hard for me to tell you not to worry, I'd been in your shoes, I would worry if passing the 20th you wouldn't hear anything. in the main time, fax package 3, it'll save you a couple of weeks, my husband faxed twice, one at the beginning when we estimated the arrival and 2 days after we found out the exact date.

Good luck...... Ana

Congrats on your approvals!

The way that I read it, does that mean that you (snoopy or Matt y Fernanda) didn't go to the interview?

Could your spouse say how many people were there that where not with a husband/wife?

For the past year I have been thinking that I would meet my wife in Bogota and go to the interview together. Afterwards we would return to California. Now with the recent Visa/Domesa delivery change I am not sure what to do. I want to go to the interview and I want to enter the US with her, but it is sooo possible that I can not do both because of time restraints.

Right now, I am thinking that maybe it might be better to let her go to Bogota and then if she is approved I would fly to her city and come back with her when she receives the visa.

If I had one choice I would prefer to enter the US with her, but I am not sure if it would be wiser to choose the interview. I know for a K1 it helps to have the spouse at the interview, but does anyone think it would make a difference for a K3?

Thanks!

I understand your point in wanting to go, I couldn't sleep last night, I got up at 1:30 am and stayed up for 3 hours doing things in the computer, I forced myself back to sleep.

I had to choose between Interview and POE OR time off here while he adjusts and vacations, we'll flying away for a couple of weeks to visit my brother in NY, a friend in Boston and my niece in Pennsylvania. (I live in L.A.)

Plus, I'm planning to send the package for AOS right away and that'll be extra $$$$$.

He's a grown up, he'll do just fine at the POE.

WOW 3 years? Congratulations, it sounds like this has been a long time in waiting. I can not believe it has taken this long for you. Fernanda and I have been married for 9 months.

I was born in Colombia and just last year became a U.S citizen, that's why I had to wait to have the right time for the petition, and yes, I had been a long wait, but I managed to visit him every year, he tried to get a tourist visa 6 times and got denied, we just wanted to share trips and find a way to see each other twice a year but it was impossible.

Did you husband say how long the interview lasted? They seemed to have asked Fernanda fairly basic questions. How we met, where we met, how many times we saw one another prior to being married, etic.

He told me it lasted no more than 5 minutes, the agent asked him for how long we had been married, if he was married before, if I was married before, if he has any kids, if he has family here in the U.S besides me, The agent was a very nice and polite lady.

FERNANDA'S VISA WAS APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She said her interview only lasted about 5 minutes. The only thing they asked to see as evidence of our marrige were our wedding photos. She said it was very easy. Arrive early to get at the front of the line. Fernanda was there at 5:30 and was done by 10:30.

Congratulations Matt,

I fell your happiness, my husband went today and got approved too, he got there very early but he told me that it took forever for him to be called, and they did ask lots of questions, we had been married for almost 3 years already, so I think it all depends on the agent who does the interview, they didn't ask him for any proofs or anything else, just questions.

I'm almost ready for the new journey with the AOS, I just hope it goes smoth and painless.

We are still waiting for an interview appointment. Our package 3 response was received by the embassy on Dec 28. Did anyone who sent in their response at about the same time or later receive an appointment yet?

Thanks!

I sent my pack 3 in dec 27th. I have my appointment in feb 4. My fiance called to DOS. But I have not got my pack 4.

Chiqui78

What city are you from? My husband is from Medellin and he never received package 4, he called the embassy and they told him to send a notified letter and have someone to pick it up for him in Bogota, this person then went to the embassy on a Thursday (only day the embassy allows the package to be pick up) and sent it to my husband by Servientrega, he received it the next day, my husband is in Bogota already, his appointment is on Monday Jan. 14 and he never received the package, so just be careful and don't leave it for the last minute, also, on Wednesday when he went to the laboratory to have her blood text and X-ray done, he was talking to a couple of people that had received the package on Monday andt their appointment was set for today.

Thanks to this website, and all the posts, we were able to make it to have everything ready, 'cause the lawyer just charged his money and didn't care for anything else.

Good luck ..... Ana

We are still waiting for an interview appointment. Our package 3 response was received by the embassy on Dec 28. Did anyone who sent in their response at about the same time or later receive an appointment yet?

Thanks!

Bill and Bella,

I don't know what kind of resource you're using to check the appointment, the only way I know and for a fact is the fastest is for you to call everyday the NVC, they will know the same day the embassy assigns the appointment, after the 15 you can also check this link, it's hard to be patient when you see the day closer, just call everyday and when you least know it they'll give you the good news.

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/iv-appointments.html

Good luck........ Ana

It might be c (9)

Adjustment Applicant--©(9).

File your EAD application with a copy of the receipt notice or other

evidence that your Form I-485, Application for

Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is pending.

You may file Form I-765 together with your Form

I-485.

I'm not too familiar with the K process, so hopefully somone else will chime in

That's correct. It is!

I have the same question, I had been looking around to see if someone had posted the same question, just that my case is in a K-3 visa, since I downloaded the sample forms for K-1, I have to be very careful that the answers apply to our case, I have (a) (9), but every time I pass the page have doubts about it. Someone can please confirm?

Thank you (F)

One thing that has me a little worried is that i made absolutely no copies to any of my paperwork and they keep everything...my worry is that i dont know what is needed for the AOS process... Anybody have info for me???

Byron, I forgot to tell you about this link, just be careful that everything applies to your case. Escrow down until you find AOS.

Good Luck ..... Ana

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=examples

Thanks for the info Diana! I'll give them a call today.

If you used a lawyer, check with him, they get a copy as well, in my case there was a notification I never received, I had to get a copy from my lawyer.

Good Luck ..... Ana

Hello Ana,

We didn't stay where Scott stayed but we stayed at this apartment which is located about 5 minutes from the Embassy in the barrio of Quinta Paredes. The link is www.welovebogota.com and my husband and I highly recommend it.

Diana

Thank you Diana, I'll send this info. to my husband, if there is any other place that I should know I'll apreciate it, he's shopping around since he'll be there for a week.

Ana

We had it delivered to the place that we were staying in Bogota...it arrived in the morning on the 4th business day. (buisiness days = Monday thru Friday...not including holidays)

Hi Scott and anyone who may provide any link.

Can you please give me the information of the place you staid in Bogota? I always hear about Bob, but somehow don't recall reading any specific information in how to contact him.

Thank you .... Ana

One thing that has me a little worried is that i made absolutely no copies to any of my paperwork and they keep everything...my worry is that i dont know what is needed for the AOS process... Anybody have info for me???

Hi Byron, first of all CONGRATULATIONS !!! to you and all the VJs who got approved on the 31st.

Read this link, it will help you understand the whole process about the AOS, you can start getting the documents ready and maybe have your fiancé bring the ones you will need for the AOS as well.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=307

I have most of my AOS ready, all I need is my honey here and a couple of questions I'll be posting on the AOS forum later.

Good luck, most of us will meet in the Colombia AOS forum soon.

Ana

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.

You will need the I-134 for the embassy interview and get it notarized. You will need the I-864 for AOS filing.

I know this to be true for a fact, because I brought both of the affadavits with me to the Embassy and they only wanted the I-134 and returned the I-864 to me. These affadavits should be notarized and include 3 years tax returns, although your only required to have one year. the other two are optional, but give more evidence for them to approve faster....Good Luck !!!

BRIAN AND YENYS

Maviwaro and Brian, thank you so much, I'm currently working on the I-864 for the AOS, I want to have everything ready by the time he gets here.

Thank you guys....... Ana

Good Luck to all 31st. appointments, I know you guys will do just fine; we want to hear how things went.

I have a question regarding a K-3 visa documents, they're almost the same as for the K-1 but I need to be sure on what to do.

My husband’s interview will be on January 14, 2008, I paid a lawyer to do all the documents, BUT, my husband called me this morning and he’s kind of worry because the putting all the documents together, and in the same order the Embassy is requesting them the "Affidavit of Support" I sent is not the one the Embassy is asking for, the lawyer gave me I-134 and the Embassy is asking for the I-864 which is a longer form, he’ll be traveling to Bogota next Tuesday and if I need to send him I-864 it’ll have to be done by Wednesday.

PLEASE, any of you guys who already went can suggest on what to do?

Thank you ……. Ana

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.

First I want to thank everyone for their help.

Ana,

It is basically just my wife that wants the kids to have the dual citizenship. I have no objections to it, but I really do not see the need for it. She thinks it will make travel easier, but after reviewing the Dept of State site it said individuals holding dual citizenship in both the U.S. and Colombia need a Colombian passport to enter/exit Colombia and a U.S. passport to enter/exit the U.S.. Is this the trouble you ran into? So you would only recommend the dual citizenship if the children planned on spending more than 3 months in Colombia? I just want to do what is best, and I guess if them having dual citizenship makes her happy that is the right thing to do.

Hi Matt

Everything I had read in this forum regaling your question is true, the trouble I went through with my daughter had more to do with the follow, as I said before, she had to have a Colombian passport because we lived in Colombia for a few yrs. this was like her legal document to have certain benefits such to be able to attend a private school, travel outside the country and have medical insurance.

The real issue is as follow, if your kid travels to Colombia with his/her mom and at the airport the "DAS" registers your kid with the Colombian passport, when your wife and kid leave Colombia your wife will have to have a valid notarized permit from you "the father" that you were ok your kid is leaving Colombia with her mom, so the kid can actually leave the country (he’s using a Colombian passport, DAS uses the Colombian law and protects the kid from being away from one of the parents against anyone’s will), otherwise they will get stuck there until you get one from the Colombian embassy here in the US and send it to her, just to change the flight until you get the document will be $100 for each person, with an US passport DAS won't ask you for this document, So what will be the point?

One time my daughter went alone carrying both of the passports, I paid extra to have assistance from the airline, I didn’t know then that if you carry a Colombian passport you HAVE to enter with the Colombian one, the DAS saw her Col. Passport. She entered as Colombia and when she was supposed to fly back she wasn’t allow to do it ‘cause didn’t have her father and mother’s permit to leave the country, I went through hell that time.

Dual citizenship is good when you can get the benefits in both ways. My daughter only uses her Colombian passport when she wants to stay more than 3 months, (summer vacations) for other than that, can be a tramp.

You have no idea how much I had appreciated to know all this back then, the good thing is that we always learn from our mistakes.

Good luck........ Ana

This question arose during a conversation between my wife and I, and I was just wondering if anyone had an answer. If my wife and I have a child in the United States, can we apply for Colombian citizenship for the child, so that the child can have both U.S. and Colombian citizenship? Or would the child have to be born in Colombia in order to do that?

Hi Matt

Your kid will be able to have dual citizenship, because of your wife, if you want to do it here in the US you call the closest Colombian Embassy and find out what you need to bring, It won't be necessary (my opinion) unless you're planning in having the baby or later in life "the kid" to spend more than 3 months in Colombia.

I was born in Colombia and had my daughter here in the US, I went back to Colombia after my divorce and lived there for 8 yrs, I didn't know at the time I needed her to have a Colombian passport to travel out of Colombia, she was then "Illegal", I had to go and take a passport for her, but I went through a lot during the yrs. she was flying back and fort, make your life simple and save money.

Once again, it's just my opinion, because what I went through, I’ll not do it again unless it’s necessary.

Ana

READ BACK ON THIS THREAD AND YOU WILL FIND LINKS TO SEE THE DOCS REQUIRED FOR PACKAGE 3 THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR THE INTERVIEW.

BRIAN AND YENYS

Hi Brian and Yenys this goes to Scott and Yenifer too.

I'm very happy for you guys, you're finally together, especially in this time of the year when everything goes around God and family.

I know it's too soon for me to be asking this since our appointment won't be until January the 14, but since I paid a lawyer who "work" in our petition, and I was the one who ended up doing all the follow up, I decided I won't make the same mistake, I want to get ready and this time I want to work on the AOS by myself and hopefully with the VJ help, which by the way had been "the best friend" through all this process.

Also I can save an extra $1,500, which is what they want to charge me plus the $1.050 fee

Anyway, I was wondering if you started filling out the forms for the AOS, and all of us who are getting appointments these days, where we'll be meeting for the AOS support, since it won't be a Colombian issue anymore? I won't be able to do it without you guys.

"WE DID IT...WE'RE APPROVED !!!"

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is how it all went down:

· On Friday we arrived in Bogota and met the driver we hired to pick us up at the airport. The drive to the apartment was about 10 minutes and is located 15 minutes by car to Embassy.

· On Monday we took a cab to the Laboratorio Clinico which opens at 7:00am until 10:00am. They do not make appointments so I suggest that you get there early, we arrived at 6:50am and there was about 20 people before us. Unfortunately the petitioner must wait outside and at that time it will be cold so dress warm. Being 20th in line she was finished at about 8:20am. (150 mil pesos)

· From the lab we took a 15-20 minute cab ride to the bank. I had the DS-156 filled out but that ended up a total waste of time because the bank required the form to be completed in Spanish and they also wanted all blanks on the form to have N/A. We finished at the bank at about 9:30am. (220 mil pesos poorer)

· The next step for Monday was a 5:30pm appointment with Dr. Roa. The cab ride was a little longer than expected (30 minutes) so we arrived just on time. It didn’t matter much because they saw her at about 6:30pm and the she was finished at 6:50pm. We waited for the documents to be completed left the office at about 7:30pm with the documents in hand. The Dr. saw her for a total of about 5 minutes, a quick exam and a bunch of questions (it was very painless and very professional). The vaccines MMR and TD were the only ones Yenifer needed which came up to a total of 37 mil pesos. Varicela would have been another 95 mil pesos but was determined not necessary because she had chickenpox as a child. (this was amazing to me that they waived this vaccine…this has got to be a first!!!) The total for Dr. visit: 135 mil + 37 mil= (172 mil pesos)

· Wednesday “interview day” 5:30am we took a cab to the Embassy to arrive outside at 5:45am. We were let in to form lines at the entrance at 6:30am where there are 3 marked lines, K visas line up in line 3.

· We were allowed to enter thru security/x-ray at 6:45am (cell phones are ok to bring in as long as they are turned off…yeah right…we saw a bunch of people using them) and then to area 40 where there was a person to help you to organize all of your documents in order in a folder that they supply.

· The next step is to wait for your name to be called. Yenifer was the first one called at 7:30 am to window 31 and we were the only K1 that I could see. (the woman at the window was a witch) She asked for her passport, then asked several questions: Where does she live? What does she do? What is her phone number? What is my phone number? How long have you been together? How many visits have I had? Do I speak Spanish? Does she speak English? Does she speak English very well???????(what???) After the questions she asked for the organized documents, stamped everything and asked us to go sit and wait near windows 1, 2, and 3 until her name is called.

· At 7:45am we found seats and the wait began.

· Yenifer’s name was called at 8:50am but only for finger printing…false alarm…the torturous wait continues. It at least seemed like we were making progress!!!

· Finally at 11:00 am her name was called again, this time to speak to the CO. He was about mid 40s, a little thin on top and she said he was very pleasant to speak to. He first greeted Yenifer and then asked her several questions: How did you meet? (online) How long have you been together? (9 months) Where does she (Yenifer) live? How old is he? Does either of us have kids? (no) Does he speak Spanish? (no) Do you speak English? (yes) What does he do? When was his first visit? Where does he stay when he comes to visit? Where will you live in the U.S.? Do you have pictures? (yes about 60 with us) He looked through all of the pictures and asked if that was me (I stood about 10 feet behind her). He gave me the thumbs up and said to her “ WELCOME YOUR VISA IS APPROVED”.

· We were then directed to the DOMESA booth which is inside the Embassy to pay for delivery. (32 mil pesos inside Bogota) They told us it could take 8 days but we are hoping it will be much less. We designated the office of the apartment place that we are staying to be the location of the delivery and specifically the secretary will sign for it since she is there during normal business hours and she was nice enough to do this for us so that we don’t have to hibernate in our apartment. If you designate someone, DOMESA needs full name, address, and national I.D. of that person.

Well done Scott, Congratulations !!!!

Ana

GREAT NEWS !!!!!

YENYS AND I HAVE RETURNED TO MIAMI, The Immigrations process upon arrival was 30 minutes where they took us to a office and processed her k-3

and advised me, its now time to start the I-485 and EAD process, which we are told is another $1010.00 USD. But at least YENYS is here with me after waiting 9 months or 259 days since we first filed our paper work. This is gonna be a GREAT Christmas for us, Thanks to GOD !!! AMEN

We wish everyone else the best of luck and happiness and we MOVE ON TO THE NEXT JOURNEY....COLOMBIA CLUB AOS !!!

BRIAN AND YENYS

Scott and Yenifer, we say our prayers for you, for a easy process at the interview in the Bogota USA Embassy !!!!

Congratularion !!!!! I'm very happy for you guys, lets hope everyone have the same experience as you guys.

I found this link regarding vaccination, I’m not sure if it actually apply to the situation before the interview but it looks like it has a lot of helpful information.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/dsforms/3025.htm

Good luck Scott !!!!

You need to double check this information because my husband had to have 1 of the shots there and it was close to $90 dollars, just for the one they said he needed. The lady I spoke to that day had 2 of her sons with her as well and she ended up paying close to $500 dollars for the 3 of them. Check and triple check these prices with the office.

Diana

Now I'm a little confused. I think you may have a point. They charge COP$135,000 for the appointment/medical exam, but I'm assuming the vaccines that my wife is missing will cost extra?

My wife says she has to take her vaccination records, and that they will only apply what is not on there. I'm going to tell her to call Dr. Roa's office again and ask that question, and if she has to take them there. It may be cheaper to do through her EPS (Sanitas) although I'm not sure since maybe vaccines are not covered.

Hi Neophi

The EPS won't cover for vaccination, well, at least SUSALUD doesn't, my husband went for a regular check up 2 weeks ago and he asked.