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Medical Exam in Bogota

As soon as the interview has been scheduled with the embassy the beneficiary can call one of the doctors to make their medical appointment. If you're going for a CR/IR visa, you will find out the date of the interview from the National Visa Center. If you're going for a K visa you will schedule the interview online. Because most people live outside of Bogotá they usually make their medical appointment no later than two days before their interview so they can get everything done in one trip. People who already live in Bogotá can have their medical done any time after the interview is scheduled.

Diana

Hi Mononoke28, I just received notice that my petition was approved. My Fiance is also from Colombia(Barranquilla). So just to confirm, is it possible to schedule the Medical exam say on a Monday and have the interview at the embassy in Bogota the following Friday? What about the other tests they require like chest xrays. Is there enough time to get all that done in the same week? We are trying to avoid two trips to Bogota if it's possible.

Thanks!!

Jon

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-01-26 14:16:00

Yes do not wait to call...call everyday. My NOA2 was the same as yours and I called today and found out they had received my case yesterday. I got the BGT number and I am ready for when the consulate received the case. Medical is already scheduled. I guess it depends on you how quick you want the process to take place. The Packet 3/4 can be downloaded form the embassy. Do so NOW and prepare.

Andrea y Arturo, when I called the NVC to check to see if I had a case number, which they gave me, they also asked for my eMail address, but I did not have the eMail of my fiance' while on the call so I had to call back. When I did call back last night, I asked if I should call back to find out when they have sent the visa to the embassy in Bogota, and they told me no need to call back, they would send me an eMail when it has left the NVC. The rep also said they would send my fiance an eMail when the embassy has received the visa since they now have that in their system as well.

I'll update this thread if they follow through with what they told me on the phone.

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-02 11:41:00

So those of you getting your NOA2, how are you finding that out? They're sending something to you or your fiancee? My 5 months since NOA received is 2/14/12, and I've been assuming I should wait to hear...Can someone clarify? Thanks in advance...

Hi Mambocowboy, you will get notice of your NOA2 or RFE in the mail just like you did for your NOA1, and if you provided USCIS an eMail address in your I-129F, they will send you an eMail that it has been either approved or, if you are getting an RFE. Your fiance' is supposed to get contacted once your visa is entered in the system at the embassy in Bogota, but, from what I read from the folks who have gone through this process, the embassy is not reliable when it comes to making contact with your fiance' so you will have to follow up with them on your own.

If your petition is being processed by the CSC, from the other posts I have read, it appears as if it's taking between 5 to 6 months between NOA1 and NOA2, but the CSC seems to be picking up speed as of late, so you should hear something hopefully very soon!!

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-01 15:38:00

Yes do not wait to call...call everyday. My NOA2 was the same as yours and I called today and found out they had received my case yesterday. I got the BGT number and I am ready for when the consulate received the case. Medical is already scheduled. I guess it depends on you how quick you want the process to take place. The Packet 3/4 can be downloaded form the embassy. Do so NOW and prepare.

Hi Andrea and Arturo, I called NVC today (2/1/12) and they said they just created my case and assigned a BGT number this morning. The rep said it would take a few days before it leaves the NVC for the embassy, so I'm thinking maybe some time next week I will check to see if the package has arrived at the embassy. I think you are a couple steps ahead of me so keep me posted on your progress and I will do the same for you. What are you doing for vaccinations? Not sure if it's easier to just get it done the week we are in Bogota or see if she can have it done in her home city(Barranquilla).

Thanks again for your help!!

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-01 13:49:00

The embassy mails the interview packet to the beneficiary but it usually gets lost in the mail as Colombia's mail system is extremely unreliable. What you need to do is not wait and start calling the NVC to find out if they received your approved petition, if they have, they will give you an NVC case number that starts with BGT and then they'll mail it to the embassy. Give them about a week for the embassy to receive it and then contact the embassy via email to find out if they have it, if they do, then you can follow the instructionsthey have posted on their website.

Diana

Thanks for the good advice Diana!!

Jon and Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-01-31 19:21:00

Hi everyone, I have received my NOA2 on 1/24/12 for my fiance in Colombia. I have decided to just wait until about 2/17/12 to call NVC or the embassy if my fiance or myself have not heard anything about her visa by that point. One poster said the Embassy sent an eMail to his fiance, but when I looked at my petition paperwork, I see no place on the forms for the beneficiary eMail address, but my eMail(petitioner) is on the I-129F. So my question is how has the embassy been notifying either the beneficiary or petitioner that we are clear to take the next steps in the journey.

Thanks!!

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-01-31 14:29:00

Colombia Embassy Receives petition - what are the next steps?

My girl just got approved at her interview on the 25th of January. For the interview you will need 2 copies of the DS156 and one of the DS156 K along with 6 passort photos of the applicant. Also needed at the interview will be passport, birth certificate, medical exam results, and DAS certificado judicial. Dont know if I left something out or not but look at the list on the embassy website.

Hi RJQuilla, congratulations on her getting her visa!!! Must be relief that this is almost over. Just a couple questions, what did you do for vaccinations, and what did they want for the I-134?

Thanks and best wishes to you both!!

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-03 22:17:00

Colombia Embassy Receives petition - what are the next steps?

Jon & Clau & Andrea & Arturo: The Bogota just sent us our Packet 3 & 4 electronically. You will be happy to know that as soon as they receive it, they send the email the exact same day. GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Hi Stefan y Karen, that's great news!!! Did they send it to your eMail or the eMail of your fiance'? I provided the NVC the eMail of my fiance' so I hope they send it to her. She has already seen the instructions from their web site, but I just wanted to know when it was clear to schedule the interview.

Thanks for keeping me posted and congratulations!!

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-03 22:14:00

Colombia Embassy Receives petition - what are the next steps?

Hi thanks for the reply and I wanted to bring something up... the Visa Journey embassy info needs to be updated. The DS 230 and 2100 forms are no longer used. Double check by going to the embassy website. The procedures changed back in October. I was confused by this but the directions are clear as day and another VJ'er confirmed this. Once NVC forward your case to the US embassy you can 1) schedule your medical and 2) pay the $350 fee online and schedule your interview with the embassy. I have already scheduled the medical and as soon as I hear from the embassy then I will schedule the interview. Thanks for the info on the place to stay will definitely look into into it.

Andrea y Arturo, my understanding is you do NOT have to send anything to the embassy prior to your interview. You are correct that the instructions on this site for Colombia are a bit out of date. I think Bogota changed their process in the fall like you stated above. Ithink you were safe to schedule your medical, but, in my case, I'm holding off on that because I want to have my fiance do her medical and interview during the same week to save an additional trip to Bogota, and since I can't schedule the interview until it's on their system, I don't want to schedule the medical until I find an open slot for a medical on a Monday, with an interview scheduled for the following Friday.

Hope this helps!!

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-02 11:52:00

Labs and Medicals in Bogota

Jon and Clau,

You're welcome. And yes your fiancee will receive all of the paperwork at the end of the exam on the same day (assuming that the lab work gets there on time and that her X-rays are ok) . I was writing our experience at the time we were at the Dr's office that's why I said that we were waiting on the paperwork. I will add some extra info about that. Thy do an excellent job in doing the paperwork and they let you know if there are any discrepancies. The medical exam is not very invasive the greatest part of the time is spent waiting on paperwork and vaccines if you need any. At the end you are give an envelope that is stamped and sealed for the embassy (to take on the day on the interview). A Department of State form with all vaccines that the beneficiary has (to be used for record keeping and to show a US document record of vaccines) a rolled up and sealed chest X-ray hat must be brought by the beneficiary and have on hand if immigration requests it.

Our return trip to Cali from Bogota on Avianca took longer than expected. The air traffic controllers are having a controlled strike called "Operation Turtle" They take their time dealing with air traffic so as a result there are multiple delays and some cancellations our 9:10 pm flight was delayed until 11:44 and then we spent an extra 45 minutes on the Tarmac. Avianca employees were extremely polite and gracious despite the fact that they have to put in extra hours.

Arturo y Andrea

Arturo, thanks for the response....I was hoping you were going to say you were waiting in the Doctors office for the paperwork, not waiting until the next day for the paperwork. I did not really want my fiance's exam to be back to back like I scheduled it, but had no choice, as Dr Dennis only had Wednesday available and the embassy only had Thursday available for an interview, otherwise, the next open time for an exam and interview in the same week was going to be end of April. Thanks for the heads up on the airline situation in Colombia. Hopefully it will be resolved by the time I get to Colombia week of March 19th.

Let me know how you interview turns out and best wishes to both of you!!

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-18 12:30:00

Labs and Medicals in Bogota

Today was the day for the lab work (serology and chest x-ray). My fiancee and I had stayed at the Hotel Casa Embajada the night before (160,000 pesos). Doña Flor Hotel was booked. The hotel is right across from the back entrance to the embassy and it is simply but comfortable. The price includes breakfast and transportation to and from the airport.

We took a cab to the lab place and we were the first to get there. Another lady arrived at 6:10 and another at 6:15. One lady said that the day before had been quite busy. But that morning there were only 3 in line when they promptly opened at 7 am. My fiancee was asked for her "cedula" in addition to her passport and one photo. The lady said it was to verify her identity.

The process took about 40 minutes.

We ate breakfast and went back to the hotel to rest before the medical appointment at 4 pm. I had called the day before to confirm the appointment with Dr. Dennis but due to miscommunication they did not have it on the list. Claudia (the doctor's secretary) was very helpful and said she would work it in.

We are here right now and it has been a busy afternoon for Dr. Dennis so we had a longer than expected wait (one hour). However after Claudia took my fiancees passport, vaccine record, photo and $150,000 peso fee my fiancee was weighed, measured and her eyesight was checked. Andrea had been anxious that there was not a female doctor but after I shared the comments on VJ about Dr. Dennis she felt reassured. The exam was quick and very professional. Now she is off to get one vaccine she was told she needed $110,000 (a little steep if you ask me) but whatever it takes to get the paperwork. Andrea just came back the vaccine that she needed was a triple viral vaccine the MMR, it was free! Doctor Dennis said everything is good.

The cab ride fro the embassy to Fundacion Cardioinfantil (where Dr. Dennis is) was $14,000 pesos
Now we are just waiting for the final paperwork. Ready for the interview on the 13th!

Arturo, thanks for sharing this info. My fiance' also has her appointment with Dr Dennis next month. One question, you said at the end you are just waiting for the final paperwork. Are you getting that paperwork the same day as her exam? My fiance' told me the secretary they would give her all the paperwork she needed at the conclusion of the exam on the same day, so just want to make sure that was your experience.

Thanks again for sharing these events with the community!!

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-17 18:54:00

Jon & Clau
Have you figured out an answer to this question? Is there an extra fee or not?

Arturo y Andrea

Arturo, at this point, as Diana has said in a reply to this thread, the information they gave me appears to be incorrect. The funny part is when I called them, I was not asking about visa fees, only about how to complete the on-line info. This topic caught me totally off guard. If I hear anything more on this, I will let you know.

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-22 17:59:00

Can you share the link to the website where you can schedule your interview? I received my NAO2 2/3/12 but haven't heard anything since....Thanks

Hi Mambocowboy, here is the embassy web site: http://bogota.usemba...rant_visas.html

Look to the right where it says "Schedule Interviews"

Before you do this, you probably should call the NVC to see if you have been issued a BGT (case number) as you will need this number to open an account with the embassy and set up an interview. The NVC phone number is 603-334-0700, then press option #1, and I think option #5 to speak with an operator as the automated system will not work for K-1 visas. The NVC usually does not sit on petitions more than a few days so I would think by now, your visa should be at the embassy by this point, but call NVC and they will tell you if it was already sent to the embassy.

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-16 21:35:00

I am repeatedly amazed at the amount of chaos involved in the immigration process. After I got my NOA2, I called the NVC and was told that my application was being sent to the Embassy in Bogota. I called back a day later and told that everything goes through the NVC and that they just didn't have it yet. I kept calling back every day, and had another person tell me it was sent directly to the embassy. The correct answer was that it did go through the NVC it just took awhile for them to book it into their system. Chaos!

NOW, In trying to book the interview I went on the automated system and the soonest appointment I could find was April 25--almost 90 days from when I was booking the interview. I have VJ friends who booked their appointments AFTER I did, but got interviews in March--a month BEFORE me. When I called the embassy and my congressional liason to complain and ask for an earlier interview date, I got the "every case is unique" speech and "you should stay off that website because it is just making you crazy." NEWSFLASH: VisaJourmey isn't the one making me crazy...

Chaos is thriving in this immigration process!

Stefan y Karen, I just booked my interview in Bogota and was able to get March 22nd at 7:30am. I remember on the calendar I saw openings for the following week. I don't know why you could only get April dates. Could you cancel your current inerview and try to schedule it again? If you are doing a K-1, I don't know why you could not get the end of March.

Let me know what you decide to do.

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-16 17:11:00

I am repeatedly amazed at the amount of chaos involved in the immigration process. After I got my NOA2, I called the NVC and was told that my application was being sent to the Embassy in Bogota. I called back a day later and told that everything goes through the NVC and that they just didn't have it yet. I kept calling back every day, and had another person tell me it was sent directly to the embassy. The correct answer was that it did go through the NVC it just took awhile for them to book it into their system. Chaos!

NOW, In trying to book the interview I went on the automated system and the soonest appointment I could find was April 25--almost 90 days from when I was booking the interview. I have VJ friends who booked their appointments AFTER I did, but got interviews in March--a month BEFORE me. When I called the embassy and my congressional liason to complain and ask for an earlier interview date, I got the "every case is unique" speech and "you should stay off that website because it is just making you crazy." NEWSFLASH: VisaJourmey isn't the one making me crazy...

Chaos is thriving in this immigration process!

Stefan y Karen,I agree with your assessment about the lack of consistency with this process. It appears as if the rules change day to day without much notice. I did not have any issues with the NVC, and in fact, they even sent me a letter saying when they sent the visa to the embassy. My finace' also received an eMail with the packet instructions when it arrived at the embassy. I am going to book my interview date today (2/16), so will let you know what date I get.

Thanks,

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-16 11:11:00

I presume that the additional $404.00 is for the adjustment of status application once the marriage has taken place...

Andrea y Arturo, this was not for the adjustment of statis(AOS). I still have not heard back from anyone who has recently had an approved visa in Bogota confirm or deny this additional fee exists. For the AOS which you will pay after you get married, that fee is the last I checked, $1040.00. I don't recall which form this fee is associated with.

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-16 08:27:00

Jon,

I just received our NOA 2 application approval today. How long does it take to go from CSC to the embassy in Bogota? I am thinking about 4 weeks.

Thanks!

Hi there, congrats in getting your NOA2. Mine took just under 3 weeks to get to the embassy, but your petition is going to go to the NVC first before your visa is created and it heads off to the embassy. I would wait about a week from the day your NOA2 was approved, then start calling the NVC to verify if they have received your petition. You will also get a letter from the NVC stating when your visa was sent to the embassy.

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-15 23:56:00

$404.00 for what? State Department says VISA fee is $350.00

She kept calling it a fee for the visa. I asked if this was separate from the $350 required prior to scheduling the interview and she said yes. I'm hoping someone who has been approved recently will confirm this additional fee really exists.

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-15 21:39:00

I will take the liberty to say that most employees at the US Embassy in Bogotá seem to be high on crack because they give out false, wrong and inaccurate information to people who contact them ALL THE TIME.

Diana

Hi Diana, did not know that...the person I talked to seemed to be sure of herself with this information. I hope your assessment of their staff is true and they are sober the day of my interview!!

Thanks,

Jon & Clau

Jon&Clau

Male

Colombia

2012-02-15 21:37:00