Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
USCIS Service Centers	Contacting the USCIS by phone from outside of the U.S.	Here is the contact info right off of the USCIS web site, and it does include a "normal" number that you should be able to pay to call. Note my red highlights,and the fact that you can't get a live operator that way, only the automated system. I'm popping down myself to Medellin myself this weekend for a quick visit with Vanessa, and am hoping to get the news of an appointment date while we are together to share the joy. Hope that my passing on this info to you will help you guys out in finding out what you need to know. Numbers to Call You can call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) toll-free for automated information and live assistance concerning immigration Services and Benefits within the U.S., including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our number is: 1 (800) 375-5283 Our TTY number is: 1 (800) 767-1833 If you are outside the United States and have filed an application or petition with a USCIS Service Center, you can call 785-330-1048 to check the status of your case. This number provides automated information only. There is no live assistance available at this number. If you are outside the United States and need more information concerning United States immigration, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Hours of Operation Customers can access automated information through a menu of automated options 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During regular business hours, customers who need more information or assistance can be transferred to a customer service representative. Live assistance is available Monday through Friday as follows: Customers calling from Alaska: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time; Customers calling from Hawaii: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM local time; Customers calling from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time; Customers calling from anywhere else in the United States: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time. In Guam, live assistance is available Tuesday through Saturday, 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM local time. The best times to call the NCSC for personal assistance are Tuesday through Friday.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-06-28 14:15:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Anyone heard this?	They have determined the law was passed to give the Ukrainian police a raise! LOLOLOLOL!!! Probably not too far off from the truth...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-06-12 11:13:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	Visa Approved	Congratulations! We are currently awaiting our interview date being set and we soooooo hope to be having our own celebration within the next month or two...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-06-09 09:07:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	Colombian Tourist Visa for USC	And, congrats on receiving your NOA2! Well, I see you filed only about 5 weeks after me, so hopefully your wait for one won't be too much longer...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-06-09 15:36:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	Colombian Tourist Visa for USC	Thanks! I didn't think so but this whole experience has been quite different for this (formerly) domestic-only traveler and I was sure that someone here had made that trip numerous times. I just got to thinking about it after my last return to the US when the emigration agent in Bogotá seemed a bit confused by all the recent stamps and asked me under which visa stamp (date) had I entered before she put the exit stamp in my passport. I just want to be sure that I don't wear out my welcome there especially given that my fiancée can't travel here yet. Thanks again... Don't worry about that at all. I'm very lucky to have a LOT of banked vacation time built up and I've been down to Colombia to visit with Vanessa about a dozen times in the last year and a half. I could swear sometimes that the customs & DAS officers & the ladies at the window who clear you for exit tax exemption at Medellin airport are starting to recognize me, but so far not the slightest hassle from anyone either coming or going.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-06-08 18:33:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	Who is in Charge of the US Embassy in Bogota?	Vanessa & I spent the better part of a week in Cartagena at the beginning of August last year and while quite hot, it was not at all unpleasant. The beach is lovely and the weather was windy enough then to help cool things down just a bit. And you can rent a shaded canopy & chairs on the beach for very little for the whole day if you need it. If you are hopelessly white like me, use a lot of high factor sunblock, and you'll be OK. And if you are at all into history, do not miss the opportunity to visit the old Spanish fort, and to explore all around the Old City. All in all a great place to visit. Only did a few hours in Santa Marta off of a cruise ship, but it looked to be a fun place too. Most importantly, you will have each other, which should make any place seem like Heaven to you.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-06-28 21:25:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	Thank You All!	Congratulations to both of you! Especially glad to hear that POE at Fort Lauderdale was a good experience, as Vanessa will be coming in through there too, hopefully in just about another 10 weeks from now, if all goes well at our interview. Ironically, I flew south out of Fort Lauderdale myself on the 1st, if your Fiancee came in from Medellin we might even have passed each other coming & going, LOL.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-07-06 18:53:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	Rejoicing over another Tico's Approval!!	So happy for your good news, and wanting my own chance to celebrate too in just over 2 more weeks...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-07-27 11:03:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	Best Rates on International Calls to Colombia?	Vanessa has suggested that I look into using Magic Jack. Anyone have experience with that from the USA side of it for calls to & from Colombia, as well as using it for regular USA calls? Seems much cheaper overall than Vonage, but also seems like the equipment is more dependent on it's software using your computer than just plugging into your net connection on it's own like I believe Vonage does.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-08-28 13:23:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	Colombia Club Part IV	Miami International Airport just opened a brand new customs hall last week at the North terminal, twice the size of the old one in the Central terminal, so hopefully things will move a lot faster now. For now it seems like they will have both halls operating, although the new one apparently will not be fully staffed for a while yet. Vanessa is coming home from Medellin this Saturday and I don't know yet which one she'll be going through on American, will have to call ahead and ask the airline before I leave to go pick her up. You should probably give Avianca a call too, just to be sure ;-)	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2012-08-08 23:39:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	Colombia Club Part IV	Hola Amigos - It's been a while since I posted anything here, Vanessa and I are doing well. She's actually down south visiting with the family in Medellin for a few weeks now while I'm back home in Florida watching the kittycats and working. I actually ran into a fellow VJ couple recently at a local club night (Dave & Magda from Coconut Creek - Hola!) Anyway, I have an interesting situation that I may be able to share with someone here on the Colombia Club to both of our advantage. I'm currently sitting on a sizable pile of airline points with Spirit Airlines that I can also redeem at a better than normal rate as a Spirit credit card holder. Probably going to let the card go next month when the free first year offer expires, and then I'll lose the preferred redemption status, and soon after the points themselves will expire too. Right now we can't use any more of the points for any particular dates that we or friends or family can travel in the foreseeable future. If anyone here on the forum needs a trip to Colombia in the next few weeks or months that falls within the airline's award seat availability, I'd be happy to strike a private deal to redeem some of my miles for your flights, and let you have them for something well under what the going rates would be, rather than let them go to waste, so that way everybody wins (well, everybody but the airline, LOL.) Spirit flys nonstop from Fort Lauderdale Florida to Cartegena, Bogota, Medellin & Armenia (but the Cartegena flights actually need way fewer points to redeem than the other cities.) Points needed also vary widely by available date ranges. They go lots of other places too, but because of the special deals I have, my points could be worth as much as 8 round trips between Ft Lauderdale & Cartegena (or 4 trips to the other Colombian cities), so it seemed that this was the best place to ask if anyone else was interested. Anyone who'd like to give this a go with me, just send me a private message here on the forum and we'll exchange closer contact info (cell phone is best for me) and see if I can get tickets on dates that will work for you. Not sure exactly how much longer I'll have the full access to preferred point redemption, but I believe I'll lose that advantage at some time in mid August. I look forward to hearing from some of you on this soon, for now I'll be busy for a while scrolling back a few months through the postings to see what's been going on here in Colombia Club, LOL Adios - Dan Harris	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2012-07-27 14:59:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Embassy requesting more pictures after K1 interview	CONGRATULATIONS! You got the news that we all want so much to hear. May you have a long & happy life together.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-06-17 18:24:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	INTERVIEW~~	The best of luck to you both. Everyone else here on this site either has been or will be in the same situation and we are all there for you in spirit.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-06-21 19:19:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Conflicting K-1 instructions/DS-230 Part 1 from Bogota	So lesson to be learned, Scan the Documents, save as a pdf file and ask them to verify in a response e-mail that they have received them. That's what I did and it worked out well - I had an answer in less than a half hour.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-07-22 18:16:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Approoved	Fantastic! Hope you'll be together very soon, and forever...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-07-24 09:55:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombian Appointment dates	The Embassy site states that dates will be up 15th of previous month with updates coming the 20th and the 30th, well it's 27th and they still only list June and July's dates. UNBELIEVABLE! You don't necessarily have to wait for the list to be postedto find out your date. If your appointment has been entered into their system, even if the list itself has not yet been posted, you should be able to obtain the appointment date by phoning up the DOS in Washington DC at 202-663-1225, then press 1, then press 0, and give the agent who answers your call your embassy case number (the one beginning with BGT) and they can check your most current status. They told me my 12 August appointment date a couple of weeks ago that way.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-07-27 11:21:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Visa Approved at Bogota!!	Well Just saying, but If any CO would angry at you for speaking Spanish incorrectly they would have to be huge hipocrits. Some of those people sound horrible speaking spanish. Congratulations on finally finishing what seems from your timeline to be a rougher journey than most of us tend to have here. Do you mind my asking, for the possible benefit of others, if you have any ideas on why they gave you guys such grief?...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-07-28 16:35:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Map of the Grounds of the US Embassy in Bogota Colombia	Thanks Mike, anything to help get a bit more familiar with what we have ahead of us is always helpful.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-07-29 10:22:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Has anyone been approved or denied with LUPUS disorder?	We were very lucky that my own existing personal doctor for more than 20 years now just happened to be on the list of approved civil surgeons. Her office charges a standard flat fee of $160 to do the exam and fill out the 693 form.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-01-27 20:03:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombian Embassy	You REALLY should check out the "Colombia Club Part II" thread here: http://www.visajourn...a-club-part-ii/ as it probably already has most of the many answers that you will be searching for, as well as MANY helpful people to talk with who have been through it before, or are in your shoes now too.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-02-17 11:03:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Bogota CR1 Visa approved	Wonderful news! Hope all continues to go well for you...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-05-06 18:25:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Bogota Visa Interview Timetable Questions	My fiancée lives in Bogotá but I'm glad I saw the hotel recommendations. She lives on the other side of town and the more I think of it, the more I think we will stay in a hotel closer to the embassy the night before. With the appointments starting so early, the last thing we'll want are any taxi/transportation problems. After checking out all of the places recommended here on VJ and several other options as well, we've gone ahead and booked the large bedroom at Martha's for our week in Bogota. Being close to both the embassy & shopping was a big factor, as was being in a better neighborhood than most of the other viable options. Being by far the cheapest option was pretty good too.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-07-28 20:38:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	BANDEJA PAISA! Yummyyyyyy~! If you guys are hungry for goodies from home, we have discovered a wonderful little Colombian bakery & restaurant here in our local Ft Lauderdale - Sunrise - Lauderhill - Tamarac area. Check out La Antioqueña in the shopping plaza with the Petco & the Publix on University Drive just north of Commercial Blvd. Vanessa is always bringing home tasty goodies from there, I particularly love the freshly baked loafs of bread with the melted cheese inside, mmmmm.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-05-17 13:58:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Glad to see so many happy couples getting good news lately! Best of luck in all of your future endeavors...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-03-31 17:05:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	My hubby got his GREEN CARD IN THE MAIL TODAY!!!! thank god! WOO-HOO!!! Congratulations!	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-03-25 22:09:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Carol and I had our AOS interview today and I am happy to announce GREEN CARD APPROVED!!! The interview lasted 15 minutes and was very simple. The IO asked Carol all of the yes/no questions on pages 3,4,5 of form I-485...which I thought was very strange. Didn't ask for any supporting documents other than Carol's original birth cert. and photos of wedding & Colombia. What a relief to know no more paperwork for 21 months. Mark Great news! Welcome to the Green Card Club	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-03-22 20:32:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	HI Everyone! i just got a status update on our AOS case and it says Card/Document Production does that mean my hubby is getting his green card without an interview?? Yes, this is exactly what we got a few weeks ago - Congratulations!	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-03-21 21:43:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Hey guys... Last minute AOS question... What kind of evidence did you include in the AOS package to prove bona fide relationship? Or, is that something to show later at the interview stage (if there is one)? Or, would including it upfront help avoid an interview altogether? It's just that we're kind of limited in what we have available to us (from a co-mingled finances stage) on paper at this point - it's just too early to have had anything processed.. The package is already fairly thick to begin with so I don't want to overload it with unnecessary photos, statements, etc. if they aren't needed right now. Thanks Hey Ryna all we put were like 6 pictures of the wedding and our marriage certificate. that is def enough...they ask for evidence at the interview. so i wouldn't worry about sending a lot in the package. goodluck! Same here, we only included all of the forms & certificates that they asked for, and were planning to offer up the photo album and any wedding/honeymoon related expense receipts, the joint checking account, utility bills, etc at the interview. Didn't know back then that we'd end up getting to skip the interview, but we would have been fully prepared for it had things gone differently.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-03-15 11:59:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	WOO-HOO!!! I was RIGHT! Vanessa's green card came in the mail today, no AOS interview needed! LOL -I guess we're safe now for the next two years. Now we can go ahead and make plans for visits back home for her, and for the trip to Europe that I promised her as a second honeymoon someday (yeah, we still gotta be able to afford it first, but at least the government can't stop us now once we can...) Once again feeling On Top Of The World!!!	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-03-03 18:58:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	I'm very excited!... A few weeks ago we got a notice that our case was "being transferred to the California Service Center for quicker processing" and didn't attach any special significance to it at the time, just a bit of confusion over why. Now our status on the I-485 online has gone to the "Document/Card Production" column. After reviewing the step by step guide for AOS filing once again, I now see this paragraph: "Interview Exception. In some cases a beneficiary's Adjustment of Status case may be transfered to the California Service Center (possibly another location) where the CIS will attempt to complete processing without requirinig an "in person" interview. There is no particular way to know if this will happen to your case however if this does happen then you will not be required to attend an interview in person. If the I-485 is approved the beneficiary's green card will simply be mailed to them." Am I correct in assuming that we have most likely fallen into this category and will soon have a green card arriving in the mail without having to go through the interview stage? We're prepared for an interview and are sure we would easily satisfy them with our answers & supporting materials, but if they are satisfied that we can be approved without that stressful encounter, so much the better. Anyone else had this happen recently who can comment?...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-02-28 10:44:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Hi Guys & Gals - Vanessa & I are headed out for a long holiday weekend in Los Angeles tonight, and I was wondering if anyone in the local community might know of anything special going on in the area that might particularly interest a young Colombiana during any of the no doubt boring down time she will have while I meet up with old friends at an annual fan gathering for a TV show that I'm obsessed with but she's really not that into (it's the BBC sci-fi show "Doctor Who", for those who simply must know...) We'll be based at a hotel by LAX airport, and public transportation would have to be used for anything from Friday - Sunday as Vanessa doesn't drive yet. Monday is our designated "get out and tour together" day after the fan fest is over, and I've rented us a car for that day so we can roam freely all day and into the evening, before catching a red-eye flight home. Any suggestions from our So-Cal members of the Colombia Club?...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-02-17 11:23:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	I just want everyone to know that we were approved for our visa today. I'm kind of tired right now, will post more later. GREAT NEWS!!! Another Happy Couple gets one BIG step closer to their Dream	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2011-01-20 18:52:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Hi dan and vanessa! Juan Esteban has two different birth certifcates one that our lawyer for the k-1 visa translated for us. and another birth certificate that was asked for in packet 3 that has more information than the other one, i dont know how to explain the difference. but anyways my point is i dont know which one we have to translate. i found someone here in ft lauderdale who is charging me $115 to translate a birth certificate! OUCH!!! We only paid $20. Very nice people. Ruth at HispanUSA at 1919 N St Rd 7 suite#201 in Margate, FL 954-934-7872. Even if you don't use it this time, save yourself some ca$h the next time you need a translation done locally in the greater Ft Lauderdale area...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-11-23 17:33:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Here i go again with my AOS questions. I know i have to get Juan's birth certificate translated but does it also have to be notarized?? thank you! We had Vanessa's birth certificate translated here in Florida this week, and they included a notary seal on the translation as part of their standard procedure.	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-11-19 23:15:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	I found my Visa #, but I don't want to post it on a public forum. It starts with the letters 'CO'. That should probably help you locate it...... Leidy u mean the number it's printed in Red with 7 numbers and 1 letter?...Thank you for ure replay it;s a great help for us....	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-11-07 21:39:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Hola, we are making the forms for the AOS, and we are not sure what is the A number, if they ever give us one they didn't tell us what it is or how to find it or any at other papers, and one question more im not sure wich all of the numbers i have in my visa is the real "Visa Number"....Thank You for the Help....Peace & Love	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-11-05 21:17:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Good luck for a quick, low stress, and successful day at the embassy, followed by a long happy life together in America	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-10-18 17:12:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Sandra just called and said its all approved. I am so happy now .thanks for everyones support I really appreciate it . FINALLY! Now, get her here as fast as you can before something else happens...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-10-13 15:57:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Coming up for air just long enough to say: Good Luck!	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-10-06 20:16:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Colombia Club Part II	Per the Bogota embassy website, our interview is scheduled for October 19th!!! Fan-Freakin-Tastic! You guys are really movin. Best of luck all the way through to the end...	DanVanessaSiempre	Not Telling	Colombia	2010-09-17 17:19:00