Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	Rafael, If Avianca flys from your area go directly to their site to check prices. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-20 17:06:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (parkpapa @ Sep 19 2007, 06:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Great news today, everyone!!!! I received a call from my US Senator's office this morning. The lady said she talked to the USCIS and that, with respect to the fee change of July 30, all applications were to be accepted or rejected based on the POSTMARK, and NOT on the date received. All items had to be postmarked BEFORE July 30 to qualify for the older, lower fees. Therefore, I am waiting for a letter from the Senator's office that I will send with my original AOS packet (and check....hehehe) directly to a specific person at the Chicago office. If any of you are in this same boat or know someone who is, I strongly recommend a direct contact with your Senator or Rep. This bit of good news has saved us $2,300 and perhaps months more of waiting while we saved the extra money. Now, I only need to hope that I didn't screw anything up on the orginal paperwork!! haha Wish us luck once again. And special thanks to you guys who've been so supportive with your words and advice. Charles Great news Charles I'm so happy to see that this mistake went your way!!!!	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-19 18:04:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	Charles, WOW...very, very well said!...Will you marry me ...just kidding!	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-19 17:24:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (buck501 @ Sep 19 2007, 04:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You folks that read, write and speak Spanish!!!! I am trying not to be to envious. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Are you talking about me? Did I say something stupid? Do I need to apologize? LOL>LOL. I wish I knew Buck... "no entiendo"	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-19 16:41:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Entonces... @ Sep 19 2007, 01:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks Scott! It work like magic. I got to a lady over at CSC, i think it was an officer, but she told STILL PENDING. Rafael Rafael, Now that you have the in...call once a week or so to check on the status. The lady that I spoke to happened to be very nice and told me first of all that a lawyer wasn't necessary and also what series of events to expect next such as where the petition goes from here...to the NVC then to the embassy in Bogotá ect...all of the things that she spoke of I already learned from the experiences of our people here in VJ...my point is that she was very happy to answer any questions and even offer advice that she thought I might need...I must have spent at least a half hour or more with her. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-19 12:44:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	THANKS TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-19 12:07:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Entonces... @ Sep 19 2007, 09:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Lucho, Do you have the CSC number? There not listed in the book. I found one # but it's disconnected. Rafael Rafael...this info and prompt list from Byron will save you phone time since you may have to call several times before you are connected to the service center...if at the end of the prompts a message tells you there are no officers available to take your call you will be transferred to the national call center (this is a waste of time) just hang up and keep trying to get an officer...it took me about 20 tries. Scott Call 1-800-3755283 Listen for the choices and follow these steps ...i other words for the first choice press 1, second choice press 2, then 2, then 4, then 2, then 1, then put in your case number ( EAC AND THE NUMBER OR WAC AND THE NUMBER) then 1, and last 1....the last one will connect you with a live operator...then you say you are calling to inquire about the RFE ( request for evidence ) you got, baically you want to know what they are looking for. They will probably say that they havent issued one and thats when you ask what is the status of your case...say some dumb things like..." someone told me that after a certain amount of time waiting it meant that i have an RFE" or " My lawyer told me i had an RFE" say anything to make them think that you are not playing a trick on them. Bueno suerte!!!!	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-19 11:00:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	Hey Colombia Club...I spoke to an officer today and my case was assingned on th 14th and it should be done this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy...I don't know what to do with myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-19 10:44:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (buck501 @ Sep 19 2007, 12:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Off topic, some what. For those that have their sweetie in the US.......................How is it? What hurdels have you had to overcome? Are they homesick? The Colombian seems to be very close to freinds and family, what happens here in the US? What have you done to overcome the expected homesickness? I travel alot, Paola will be home alone when I am gone, not speaking the language, not knowing the culture, a small town, no other Colombians. This has been and is a big concern of mine. I am thinking about moving to a new location, for her, not for me. I could live out my life here in a quiet, boring exsistence. That is NOT Colombia. I have been over and over this with her. I know she does not understand what it means to sit alone day after day with no outside influence. I close to thinking it would be cruel to bring her here, you know, like I am a selfish person. I want to involve her in our culture. Get her involved in some university classes, become a part of my community. Truth is, I am a typical american, work hard and long, sleep, not real open to people showing up at my door whenever, without calling ahead. The freinds I have are busy and do not have time for daily contact. Pretty boring compared to the Colombian culture If I could manage it now, I would live in Colombia. As it is that is most likley about 5 to 7 years out. Sooooooooooooooo, What has been your experience? How have you overcome? Hey Buck, I understand your concerns...fortunately Yenifer speaks fluent English but if she didn't...her transition here would be easier because of the area that we will live (South Florida)...it is a huge mix of cultures including mucho South Americans. I am a transplant from a somewhat quiet area in Massachusetts and live now in the Fort Lauderdale area (I wouldn't recomend Miami...not as clean and way too much latin influence) and I just love it! This would probably be a huge change for you and there would be a big adjustment and sacrifice on your part because it is very busy down here but let me just say that you and Paola will NEVER run out of things to do and she will have no problem communicating in Espanol... Also everything is within walking distance...shopping...movies...dining...don't forget the beaches and most libraries have free Engish classes for the Spanish speakers. Anyway...it's something to consider and if you want to scope it out I will be glad to be your tour guide. Scott Edited by Scott n Yenifer, 19 September 2007 - 06:29 AM.	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-19 06:25:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (lucho562 @ Sep 18 2007, 10:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You will want to call NVC for the following reasons 1. Find out if you have been approved (NOA2) 2. Find out if you have been RFE'd 3. Find out if your case is still sitting there waiting to be reviewed. Lucho, #2: NVC will know if your service center...in my case CSC...has an outstanding RFE? #3: NVC will also if your case hasn't been reviewed yet buy the service center? My thought was that NVC didn't even know we existed until the petition was out of the service centers hands and into theirs...please correct me if I'm wrong. Scott Edited by Scott n Yenifer, 18 September 2007 - 09:31 PM.	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-18 21:29:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (BYRON-LEIDY @ Sep 18 2007, 08:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> But Lucho, is the same reason used...do i still ask about he request for evidence...the reason i ask is because wouldn the petition be approved already? Byron...I think Lucho means that if you call the NVC and your case # is already there it is just CSC being slow on the uptake to notify you that your case has already been approved.	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-18 19:55:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (lucho562 @ Sep 18 2007, 06:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Scott n Yenifer @ Sep 18 2007, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Byron, Please...please...please give me the pipeline to the RFE trick? I'm Goin nuts over here!!! Scott RFE Trick 1. Call the USCIS center that applies to you.....CSC or VSC. 2. Tell them that you want to know the status of your RFE. By doing this you will be tricking the agent to telling you the status of your case. They will look up your case #, and will tell you wether it's still in a pile waiting to be reviewed, or if your case has been approved, or if you really do have an RFE. This trick is essential because we all know that the service centers are slow at mailing out approvals/rfe's. Sometimes even their website doesnt seem to update when your status has change. And their email notifications....same deal. This RFE trick should give you some kind of peace of mind. Another thing you can do is call NVC (National Visa Center). You will have to skip and bypass all their prompts and reach a live operator. Give that operator your case # and voila, the operator will let lou know the status of your case. USCIS notifies NVC before they do you when you receive your NOA2. Thanks Lucho and Byron...you guys are the best...I will try that trick tomorrow and post the outcome. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-18 19:45:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (BYRON-LEIDY @ Sep 18 2007, 03:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> DIOS MIO!!!!!!!!!! I tried the RFE trick 3 weeks ago and was told that the case was not being reviewed yet and to wait...well i tried again today and they said that the case was with an officer and i should be hearing something soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...I dont know what to do with myself right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Byron, Please...please...please give me the pipeline to the RFE trick? I'm Goin nuts over here!!! Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-18 17:22:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (BYRON-LEIDY @ Sep 17 2007, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oh Great!!!! The beautiful DMV people is the last comparison i wanted.. .....Tanks Buck, i am going to keep that out now...but one question, i didnt know that having a wedding ceremony in Colombia is not in compliance with the K1 visa...why is that? Byron, I assume that your civil wedding first in the U.S. when Leidy gets here and "THE" beautiful wedding ceremony later in Colombia. Yenifer and I plan on doing the same probably 6-10 months after she gets here so that all of the other paperwork is in place for her to travel. All of that is fine as long as it takes place after the U.S. marriage but no need to confuse USCIS...their attention span is limited to say the least! We will and I suggest for you to do the same is speak to the Priest who will marry you in Colombia to see about the churchs place on a marriage to a couple who is already married in the U.S....let me know what you find out and I will do the same. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-17 16:17:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (BYRON-LEIDY @ Sep 17 2007, 01:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Congraulations Chester!!!!! Rafael, I'm pretty confident that i have most things ready for the interview...i have a couple little things i need like the letter from my employer and copies of my emails...I actually stayed home all weekend putting these things together 1. some receipts of restaurants i took Leidy to when in Colombia glued to a paper with an explanation and a date next to them. 2. 75 pictures put on pages with dates and explanation to each. Will have some more once i meet Leidy in Panama next month. 3. At least 100 page of phone records with the numbers of the calling cards hilighted. On the bottom glued 6 phone cards per page. 4. 3 years of tax transcripts and 3 years of W2 forms. 5. About 4 months of paystubbs. 6. Package with an estimate of a wedding in a wedding place we went to see in Bogota. 7. 3 months of cell phone bills. Any suggestions from anybody...am i missing anything or is there something suggested i add to the stuff?? Byron, Here is a list of documents necessary for your interview, put together by Lucho on pg. 111 of this thread...I suggest you check it out, copy his whole post and keep it in a safe place...(THANKS LUCHO!!!) Packet 4 Contents: 1. Passport 2. Baptism Certificate (Partida de Bautismo) 3. Birth Certificate (Registro Civil) 4. Police Certificate (Certificado Judicial del DAS) 5. Migratory Certificate (Carta del DAS, entradas/salidas) 6. I-134 Affidavit of Support and evidence. 7. DS-156 (2 copies) 8. DS-156K (1 copy) 9. Laboratory/Medical exams/Vaccinations 10. Evidence of your relationship (photos, e-mails, boarding passes, etc.) 11. Four passport style photos, 5cm x 5cm. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-17 14:04:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	Hey Buck...Hey Diana!!! You guys have your interviews in 10 days...Is everything ready to go for you guys? I know it seems repetitive but it's always helpful for both you and us to give a list of the necessary documents that you will be bringing to the interview. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-17 11:46:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	Hi Chester...that's great news...now you and Monica can begin your lives together here in the U S . What a great feeling that must be!!! I'm very happy for you guys and I wish you the very best of luck!!! Scott PS. Please don't go away cuz I'm sure some of us will need you to lean on...thanks for all of your help and support.	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-17 11:38:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Yazz @ Sep 17 2007, 10:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Scott, Sorry for my mistake!, I did not realize that the post was sent by other person, oh I was so happy for you... but hopefully this week all may filers are going to receive great news!! Yazz Yo Yazz, It's all good...It's was my mistake thinking you guys had the same timeline but the sooner USCIS can get through the May filers (us) the sooner they will get to the July filers (you). We'll just keep plugin along and hope for some quick results frow our very very good friends at USCIS. Think I'll get any brownie points for that last one? HA!HA!HA! Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-17 10:18:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	Buenos Dias Colombia Club...I'm just enjoying a cup of cafe con leche to help open my eyes this fine morning and I hope you are all well!!! I wish everyone the best of luck in their journey this week as I think we all need some good news. God Bless, Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-17 06:40:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (parkpapa @ Sep 15 2007, 11:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Scott, I'd sure like to know what magic combination of keystrokes you used to reach a live person. I finally gave up after five or six calls and getting cut off each time. Charles Hey Charles...to answer this one when you call the 800# don't press any keys when prompted...just wait on the line and you will be connectedwith a rep. I wish you good luck and I will also pray for you! Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-16 08:43:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (parkpapa @ Sep 15 2007, 11:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Bill y Bella @ Sep 13 2007, 11:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> parkpapa, what is the current status with your returned AOS package? Any help from your representatives? I have seen where some other people have had the same thing happen to them but it does not seem to be universal. My guess is that there are some contract employees who do not undertand the submittal deadline correctly. Nothing new, Bill. I have the original AOS in my hands. I made copies of all the 'rejection' notifications and sent those along with a one page letter explaining the situation to each of my US Senators (I haven't contacted my Congressman yet), but have not received anything back from them. One thing that's interesting about getting the packet back is how I received it. I'm submitting for three people - Lorena and her two sons. There was a I-485 for each of them, an I-130 for each of the boys, the 864 (?) for finances, and other supporting documentation. Each of those groups of papers was separated and stapled together. Where there were photos included, those were placed in a zip-lock bag and that was stapled with the respective packet. Even the original envelope that I mailed the stuff in was included in a zip-lock bag. The question is, if the whole thing was wrong, why did they go to the trouble to separate it out, staple it together, and do all that work? One look at the check should have been sufficient. As a side note, has anyone seen a thread on VJ that is specifically dedicated to this issue? I'm sure there have to be tons of people in the same boat. Charles Charles, I hope your senators will resolve this for you PRONTO!!...you know...1 phone call from them probably could have resolved all of this paper shuffling for them and for you. I've learned a lot being involved as a VJer and continue to learn and I know 1 thing for sure...there is nothing easy about this process. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-16 08:37:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (parkpapa @ Sep 15 2007, 11:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Scott n Yenifer @ Sep 14 2007, 07:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not to change the subject guys but I will...what is going on with USCIS? NO approval today and very few over the last couple of weeks? This is just pure craziness...and no definite answer as to what the problem is...? I've given up calling the "help" line because they have less answers that we do and some of them are cold, rude ect... ect... ect... I'm just so discouraged...tired...mad at our govt's slow...crappy...inefficient system and the horrible people that seem not to care at all about us that "work" there!!! OK I feel a little better now that I've vented but I think I am pretty accurate in saying that I'm probably not the only one that feels this way. Thanks for the ears, Scott Scott, I'd sure like to know what magic combination of keystrokes you used to reach a live person. I finally gave up after five or six calls and getting cut off each time. Charles Charles, Your way ahead of the game if you don't speak to anyone when you call because all you will get is "frustrated". In fact you would make more productive your time by watching grass grow!!! ha!ha!ha! It seems like the problem you are facing right now will go your way. It's again another example of the system we are faced with. A little time and a little trouble I'm sure your problem will be resolved. I have to keep reminding myself that we are all here for one common reason...LOVE...and everything that we are going through is well worth it and the problems will eventually work themselves out. When you reflect on each leg of this journey you will probably say " that wasn't so bad" but right now it's not so easy to say that. This reminder helps to keep me sane. Thanks again to everyone in this forum ...it's nice to have so many people to lean on with mucho experience and knowledge about this process. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-15 11:29:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Mike and Adriana @ Sep 14 2007, 04:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The other thing I appreciate in Colombia is the idea of personal responsibility for everyday things. For example, there are lots of cracks and holes in the sidewalks in parts of Bogota. If you step in a hole and break your ankle, too bad for you (according to my wife)....you should have been looking. Here in the U.S. there'd be multi-million dollar lawsuit against the city! Mike Hey Mike, I have a story a little more on the lighter side of my last post. Yenifer and I were on our way to the airport in Colombia I think it was in March. I was running a little late for my return trip to the states...OK I was running a lot late...anyway...the cab driver was aware of the time crunch and was cruising at a pretty good clip to get me there on time. Cruising along a very busy 2 lane street (each way) turned into 3...if any of you have been to Barranquilla you know what I mean and up ahead a few hundred yards or so I see and older guy (65 ish) begin to cross this busy roadway. I said to myself "no he isn't". It was like being in a busy firing range trying to dodge bullits and we were the lucky bullit...he bounced off the hood and up and over the car ha ha ha...oops sorry "at the time" that wasn't funny, but now looking back it makes me chuckle. The guy ended up ok THANK GOD...we changed cabs and carried on to the airport. The original cab driver was a friend of Yenifer and we found out later that day that the man needed some hospital care (nothing major) but as he was on the ground waiting for the ambulance he was apologizing for being in the street! You know that would be a huge lawsuit here. Scott Edited by Scott n Yenifer, 14 September 2007 - 09:51 PM.	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-14 21:48:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	Not to change the subject guys but I will...what is going on with USCIS? NO approval today and very few over the last couple of weeks? This is just pure craziness...and no definite answer as to what the problem is...? I've given up calling the "help" line because they have less answers that we do and some of them are cold, rude ect... ect... ect... I'm just so discouraged...tired...mad at our govt's slow...crappy...inefficient system and the horrible people that seem not to care at all about us that "work" there!!! OK I feel a little better now that I've vented but I think I am pretty accurate in saying that I'm probably not the only one that feels this way. Thanks for the ears, Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-14 19:26:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	Bill, Yes free...can you beleive it? Like Buck said the only thing that is consistant in Colombia is being able to grab a cab!!! Thanks for the input Diana. Edited by Scott n Yenifer, 13 September 2007 - 06:27 PM.	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-13 18:23:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Mononoke28 @ Sep 13 2007, 12:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That is so weird, 1 Registro Civil per day? I guess it depends on the Notaría she was registered at. I know that at the one I was registered when I was born and the one we got married at we could ask for as many certified copies as we wanted but paid like $500 pesos for each, which is not even $.25US cents. Also, Colombians are very touchy about older documents, no matter what they are. It's best to have fresh ones out of the press just in case, you know? Diana Their rules are definately strange and they seem to change daily. Diana...I have another concern that maybe you can answer...the birth certs that Yenifer has just aquired do not have a raised seal type stamp on them. Is that going to be in any way a problem? There are lots of the other official looking seals and stamps on the certs but nothing raised. Thanks, Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-13 11:59:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	Baptism cert 2 copies @: 10 mil each Police cert: 30 mil Migratory cert: 37 mil (takes 2 -4 weeks to receive unless you travel to Bogota personally) 8 - 5cm x 5cm photos: 6 mil Birth cert 3 copies: free (1 per day ) These are the costs for these docs in Barranquilla. Edited by Scott n Yenifer, 12 September 2007 - 08:00 PM.	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-12 19:59:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (LUISH @ Sep 12 2007, 10:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> INTERVIEW DATE: We got there at 5:30am, "Congrats" Luish and thanks for the play by play!	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-12 18:14:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	I have a question to throw out at you guys...Yenifer did a lot of preparation today gathering documents nessesary for our interview ( whenever that is )which I will list them all later with costs when I speak to her tonight. She got to the office to obtain 3 copies (recommended for future use for AOS and EAD later in the states) of her birth cert and the guy there told her he could only give her 1 copy per day...sounds pretty stupid but that's the way it is. So she has to go 3 seperate days to get the 3 certs...My question is that she already has a copy dated Dec. 2005, will this be valid since the birth certs say right on them that they do not expire. This will save her one trip to that office. Thanks, Scott 132 days since NOA1	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-12 18:09:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (LUISH @ Sep 11 2007, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi to everyone , just camer back from bogota and the cold, but with good news, VIVIANA AND I WEREW APPROVED FOR THE VISA.... Details tomorrow, since I got work tonight, bye and thanks to everyone that were always very supportive... CONGRATULATIONS LUISH & VIVIANA!!!	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-11 18:45:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Bill y Bella @ Sep 11 2007, 10:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Bill y Bella @ Sep 10 2007, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi everyone. I will be in Bogota the last week of September to celebrate the baby's first birthday. On the off chance I can help anyone while I am there, please let me know. I would be glad to pick up a document or something if it will get someone out of a jam or avoid a 12 hour bus ride. I realize this is not very likely, but I thought I would make the offer just in case. Bella goes back to her home town Cucuta again this week. The trip is necessary because despite them telling her a month ago that her sister could pick up the baptism certificates, they are now saying she has to pick them up in person. I love Colombia but I am beginning to hate how the rules seem to change on a daily basis! In any case, I am trying to absolutely positively make sure that she has every document that we could possibly need before she leaves Cucuta. This is what we have or will have after this trip: Brand new passports for everyone 3 certified and very recent copies of the birth certificates. 2 certified and very recent copies of the baptism certificates for 2 of the 3. The baby has not been baptised yet but will be soon. school records immunization records Is there anything else anyone can think of that we might need for either the interview or after she arrives in the US? Thanks! I am feeling ignored. I don't qualify to have my questions answered? Maviwaro, I will make a request for the Cocosette coconut chocolate wafers for you. And to make it easy for you, I will eat them for you also. Hey Bill !!! You are certainly not being ignored...I appreciate your offer of picking up docs at the embassy because I know how people have had trouble receiving packet 4 on time. The problem we have is that we haven't even received our NOA2 yet!!! 131 DAYS AND COUNTING SINCE NOA1 Scott PS Have a great trip!	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-11 10:23:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	Hey Luish!!! TODAY IS YOUR DAY BUD...BRING US BACK SOME GOOD NEWS!!! Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-10 09:34:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Entonces... @ Sep 8 2007, 11:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Chester when they asked you how many times did you go to Colombia..and you went seven times ... will my one time be a problem... Rafael Rafael, That is just a bonus that some of us are able to visit several times...focus on other means of evidence of relationship such as e-mails...phone records ect... and keep all documentation organized to present at time of interview. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-08 22:53:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Chester y Monica @ Sep 8 2007, 09:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Scott n Yenifer @ Sep 8 2007, 12:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Also...what was the 220 mil pesos for? 220 mil pesos is for the VISA fee. Claro...gracias. I'm so happy for you guys...I just read your whole account of events to Yenifer tonight because I really need her to help share some of the stress that I have when I read some of the experiences that some VJers go through when it comes time for the interview. Ours will be coming hopefully soon and I really want to be prepared for our interview to go flawlessly. Thanks for taking the time to tell your experience in Bogota. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-08 22:45:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Chester y Monica @ Sep 8 2007, 12:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> September 3 - Went to the bank across the street to pay for the visa. They did not accept our printed copies from the US. The forms were complete, nothing was blank and nothing was wrong. The printed copies from the US embassy website were in English. The lady would not take them and gave the only reason that the barcode is only for the US embassy. Monica had to fill the forms right there at the bank. While doing so she made a mistake on my home address, this caused us to do another round of forms. This time I watched her intently. Finally, 220 mil pesos later we were done. A sticker is placed on the passport and they stamped the DS-156 with some numbers. Chester & Monica...1st of all CONGRATULATIONS!!! I see that the bank did not accept the ds-156 with the bar code...Mike suggested (the "old" ds-156 in spanish). I've already brought Yennifer 2 copies each of packet 3 + 4 with the newest forms in them but if the ds-156 can't be used does anyone know where the old ones can be found? Also...what was the 220 mil pesos for?	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-08 14:27:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Chester y Monica @ Sep 6 2007, 03:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> APPPPPPROVED!!!!! Pick up on Monday Sept 10. Monica and I are very HAPPY!!!!! I'll write more later, we need to get something to eat. We got inside the embassy as the first K1 but we only got the interview at 1:00 PM. Thanks for all your support! APPPPPPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME!!! TODAY IS A HAPPY DAY!!! CONGRATS CHESTER & MONICA!!!	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-06 21:13:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (buck501 @ Sep 4 2007, 06:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Scott n Yenifer @ Sep 4 2007, 03:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (buck501 @ Sep 4 2007, 03:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Paola has recieved the Police Certificate from Panama. I called the US Embassy and scheduled another interview date. Sept. 27!!!!!!! Now it is back to stewing and fretting. Hey Buck, Glad to hear everything is all set up for another interview for you guys!!!! It sounds like it will go your way this time...the best of luck!!! We have yet to receive our NOA2...we are waiting...waiting...waiting...the waiting SUCKS!!!! You know how that goes. The good thing is that it really isn't much of a rush because Yenifer has 5 months left of school to finish her degree as a nurse. Anyway...Later for now. Scott Scott, will Yenifer's degree in nursing qualify for employment in the US? Paola has a degree as an (????) blood sucker and shot giver, what ever you call them. She wants to go to nursing school after she arrives in the US. I was wondering if any of the schooling would be viable here. Buck...just got back from Colombia today and to answer your question about the schooling its up to the college you choose to attend as to the credits they will allow to be able to finish your degree here. We decided that either way it would be best for her to finish what she started in Colombia since she has several years invested already and the only thing left for her is 5 months practical (hands on) for her to get her nursing cert. The timing is off a probably little with the visa...she may have to stay a couple extra months after we receive approval...but then again the way things seem to be going she might finish school before we get the visa!!!!! Scott PS...GOOD LUCK CHESTER & MONICA!!!	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-06 07:21:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (buck501 @ Sep 4 2007, 03:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Paola has recieved the Police Certificate from Panama. I called the US Embassy and scheduled another interview date. Sept. 27!!!!!!! Now it is back to stewing and fretting. Hey Buck, Glad to hear everything is all set up for another interview for you guys!!!! It sounds like it will go your way this time...the best of luck!!! We have yet to receive our NOA2...we are waiting...waiting...waiting...the waiting SUCKS!!!! You know how that goes. The good thing is that it really isn't much of a rush because Yenifer has 5 months left of school to finish her degree as a nurse. Anyway...Later for now. Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-04 15:41:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (BYRON-LEIDY @ Sep 4 2007, 01:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks everybody for your condolences!! ....You guys have become like a family on here while going through this process..Its incredible how much all of you have helped make this process easier for me...God bless you all and thanks again!! BYRON + LEIDY, I just got internet access...arrived in Barranquilla a couple days ago and read your unfortunate news and we are very so sorry the news...things do happen for reasons that we don't yet understand but just place your faith in God in it will eventually make sense...God bless you and Leidy! Scott + Yenifer	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-09-04 15:33:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club	QUOTE (Mononoke28 @ Aug 29 2007, 03:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Any Colombian documents that will be used here in the States for immigration purposes don't have to be apostilled. You will find a few translators down there that will tell you that you have to just to make the extra bucks, but it's not true. Get the translations without the apostilles. Now, any US document that will be used in Colombia for whatever purpose, will HAVE to be apostilled or Colombian agencies won't accept them. Diana P.S. Lucho is the man, he's helped me a ton on my stuff. Diana, Since I will need to bring my divorce cert...would this qualify as being something necessary to be apostilled? Scott	Scott n Yenifer	Male	Colombia	2007-08-31 07:21:00