ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaCOLOMBIANOS CON VISA K1 (CONTINUACION 6)
Mi visa esta aprobadaaaa!!!!! Luego les contare mi relato
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-11-13 09:12:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV

Just wanted to wish everybody a Happy New Year and wish good luck to those still waiting for an interview.

Also, I wanted to share my food blog with you which has several Colombian recipes in both, English and Spanish, along with the videos for you to follow. Enjoy!

Blog: http://www.sweetysalado.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sweetysalado
YouTube: http://www.youtube.c...do?feature=mhee


Diana


OMG I have been wanting to learn how to make good Colombian food!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
aws&nddMaleColombia2013-01-04 02:15:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV
I just wore something nice, a little less casual than business casual I guess. I wore nice jeans and a nice shirt. My fiancee wore something a little nicer than me but still about business casual. Definitely not formal. It's funny because as we were both walking to the embassy she yelled at me for not wearing something a little more formal haha. In the end what matters the most is the content of the interview.

And you should dress accordingly. The entire waiting area, even the interview, is outside. I was under the impression at first that you had to wait outside, and THEN you went inside the embassy building, but it's not the case. The entire area is outside, when you get called to the interview it's like going up to a drive thru window, and your fiancee will have to pick up the phone to talk to the officer. Hope this helps!
aws&nddMaleColombia2013-01-01 21:27:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV
You dont need to send anything back to the embassy. Bring all the documents to the interview.
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-12-06 14:56:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV

What is the best answer for question 11 on the I-134, regarding the 'intend to' support question.
'


For K-1 visa, leave it blank. It does not apply. In the space below you can write N/A, visa process for K-1 (or something similar).
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-11-27 23:57:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV
Nothing needs to be translated to English for the interview. Not sure if the birth certificate would be too old or not. My fiancee got her birth certificate the beginning of October and our interview was a month later and we had no problems. Also I wouldn't count on her interview date being in December, but if she is lucky to get an interview date that would be great! The interview dates are usually 2 to 3 weeks out once you pay the visa fee and can schedule. Good luck!
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-11-26 03:37:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV
Is it normal that they never asked for the DS230 form? Or will it cause problems later on? They approved her visa without even asking for it. I'm not even sure at what point in the process will she need it.
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-11-16 16:52:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV
Hi, we just had our interview Tuesday and everything went so smoothly!! I was with her during the interview, but I think me being there helped even though the consulate never asked me anything. He asked her a ton of questions, which she knew all the answers...and after taking her fingerprints, he told her that her visa was approved!! We brought so much proof of relationship which they never even asked for. Also they never asked for the form DS230.

I think because we were so organized with all of our documents, from the I-129f petition which was sitting in front of the consulate to all the documents we needed to bring to the interview, that it was a simple approval for us. We are so happy and now just waiting for her to come here.

I added an embassy review to my timeline, also she wrote about her experience here: COLOMBIANOS CON VISA K1 (CONTINUACION 6)

Edited by aws&ndd, 15 November 2012 - 12:48 PM.

aws&nddMaleColombia2012-11-15 12:45:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV
Is it necessary to have the baptismal certificate for the interview?
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-11-03 23:24:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV
I have a question about the form DS-230. My fiancee gave me all her dates of employment history the last 10 years, but there is a gap. Do I need to explain the gap in employment (she was unemployed), or will it be OK like it is? Should I just attach another sheet (I've already used up all the lines on the form) to explain it?
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-10-30 04:01:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV

She definitely needs to put down the name(s) of anyone listed on that form that is living in the US, especially if the embassy brings it up during the interview. As for her sister's status, she can put "Adjusting immigration status" or something along those lines.


Diana


Thanks so much that is what I thought.
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-10-16 15:54:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV
I am preparing the form DS-156 question 37 asks if any of the following people are in the US, and their status. My fiancee's sister has been living in the US for a long time (for more than 10 years) but to my knowledge hasn't been legal and is just now adjusting her status. I am assuming I have to check the box that her sister is here, but what should I put for status? She isn't a citizen, nor is she an LPR. Can I write ADJ. STATUS ? I don't want to screw up her sister's process, but at the same time I don't want to screw up the process with my fiancee either.
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-10-16 10:26:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV

I just booked my appointment :dance: !!
I received the email from the embassy yesterday afternoon with the Packet 3/4 info. I created my fiancee's account on the visa portal, paid the fee and was able to book the appointment for October 22, which is just 3 weeks away!!!!!


Was that the earliest interview date you could see?
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-09-27 21:01:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV
That's what I heard too, and I'm excited because we just receive our NOA2 so hopefully will be able to book an appointment soon.
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-09-27 15:30:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaColombia Club Part IV
Another question I have...first of all I am planning on attending the interview with my fiancee. However I am still in classes and it may be difficult to travel the closer it gets to Thanksgiving break--exams, presentations, etc. My question is, if I can't go, then I need to send the documents to my fiancee for her interview. I have heard bad things about the mail system in Colombia and so never wanted to mail anything there, what is the best way to send important documents to my fiancee? And how long does it usually take?
aws&nddMaleColombia2012-09-21 14:24:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaVonage
I used Vonage when my best friend moved to Mozambique (years before I met L). When we switched to Skype, I tried to cancel but it took 3 months and the BBB and my state's telecommunication board's intervention before they actually canceled my account and stopped charging me. Mysteriously, their account service was always down and would be up the next day when it came to cancellations... but was working fine until then. (Note: They had a $50 cancellation fee 4 years ago... who knows what it's grown to!)

My fiancé and I use Google Talk's VoIP service, which is about as clear as Skype (which, incidentally, was better than Vonage to Mozambique).

(The only thing worse than my Portuguese is my Spanish!)

Edited by K and L, 18 November 2009 - 02:15 AM.

K and LFemaleBrazil2009-11-18 02:14:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaSuggestions for places to visit with my fiance
IIRC, he doesn't need a visa, but you do (and it's trivial - buy your plane tickets, get a passport photo taken, mail a $131 money order with a printout of the application to the local consulate with your passport, and you'll get your passport back in about a week with a multi-entry visa... just do this 30-60 days before your trip -- you have to validate your visa within 90 days, and then it's good for 5 years).
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-01-12 03:11:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaSuggestions for places to visit with my fiance
Brazil's northeast is a beautiful place, and fairly inexpensive for him. (I don't know what it costs to get to Colombia, but it's cost between $500 and $800 for me to fly there from O'Hare.)

As I recall, when we looked at places to travel, the cheapest place for us to go that wasn't in Brazil was Europe. It was quiet odd, but the places where it was really cheap for me to fly (in South America) was very expensive for him or vice versa. We had talked about going to Buenos Aires or Chile instead of Recife, but it was going to cost almost double the airfare between our flights... but both of us flying to Italy would have cost roughly the same (but would have been a little more expensive, living-expense wise).

Edited by K and L, 10 January 2010 - 04:36 AM.

K and LFemaleBrazil2010-01-10 04:35:00
Mexico, Latin & South Americanot planning on being at interview with spouse
Unfortunately, from what I have heard, it is a very bad idea in Columbia to not be at the interview. You are much more likely to be denied for bonafide relationship issues.
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-01-17 05:24:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaBrazilian consulate in brazilia
Brasília, São Paulo, and Recife only interview for nonimmigrant visas - only Rio interviews for immigrant visas (which include the K1).

That said, it seems that people here have had fairly good success at Rio for the K1.

ETA: But if she's your fiancée, she's not realllly single. :P

Edited by K and L, 24 January 2010 - 09:45 AM.

K and LFemaleBrazil2010-01-24 09:44:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaRegistration of US Marriage W/ Brazilian Consulate
Jurisdiction is based off of where you live.
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-01-08 14:44:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaTravel to Brazil
According to the Brazilian Consulate in SF, you won't have any problems.

20. My Brazilian tourist visa stamp is valid until 2011, but my passport expired. Do I need to go through the whole visa process again?
No. You can travel to Brazil carrying your expired passport, with the Brazilian visa stamped on it, attached to your new passport. May we suggest you to staple both passports together to make sure you have them both at the moment you enter Brazil.


Now, I wouldn't staple the two passports together, but definitely bring them both.


How much time is left on your old visa? If it's less than a year or two and you're planning to go back in the next few years, I'd just pony up for a new visa for the convenience, unless you think Clinton's talking about making travel for Brazilians easier meaning that she's going to try to get a VWP set up for Brazil.

Edited by K and L, 04 March 2010 - 12:57 AM.

K and LFemaleBrazil2010-03-04 00:56:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaRegistering Marriage with the Brazilian Consulate
ImWaiting, that may be how it is in NY, but Miami very specifically claims same-day service for marriage registration for morning drop offs, and next-day for afternoon drop offs. NY makes no such claim.


Registro de Casamento
Documentos solicitados até às 11:00hs podem ser retirados no mesmo dia entre 14:00 e 16:00hs.
Documentos solicitados entre 11:00 e 16:00hs serão entregues no próximo dia útil entre 14:00 e 16:00hs.


Marriage Registration
Documents requested by 11:00 am may be picked up the same day between 2:00p and 4:00p.
Documents requested between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm will be available the next working day between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.


Edited by K and L, 08 March 2010 - 08:28 PM.

K and LFemaleBrazil2010-03-08 20:24:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaRegistering Marriage with the Brazilian Consulate
On the bright side, Miami's consulate at least actually has content! It's been about 18mo since I first visited the Chicago consulate's site, and half of the pages are "we're in progress of building this site!" - psssssh. I hope we're not living in the Chicago district when we move to Brazil in a decade or so -- they don't even have the page about family-based visas online yet.



Oh, and L is getting his birth certificate this week & is gonna ask his cartório about mailing/parents bringing the certificate from the consulate (vs us bringing it) :) He thinks they're gonna say we have to bring it, but since it was already legalized by the consulate, they may accept it by mail.

Edited by K and L, 07 March 2010 - 11:49 PM.

K and LFemaleBrazil2010-03-07 23:48:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaRegistering Marriage with the Brazilian Consulate
According to the consulate's website, if it's dropped off before 11, it can be picked up later that day. But as far as I can tell, you still need to bring it to a cartório in Brazil.

Edited by K and L, 06 March 2010 - 12:46 AM.

K and LFemaleBrazil2010-03-06 00:44:00
Mexico, Latin & South Americaenviar encomendas ao BRASIL dos EUA
There may be a way cheaper than USPS, but it it's weighty, they're probably the cheapest. A 10 kg box with USPS is around $50-60. That same box is $500 with DHL.
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-02-18 22:56:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaBrazil
I know, IBLP, I was just letting you know we also have a fairly long existing topic with K1 interview stuff and everything :) It's a good resource to have
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-03-23 09:07:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaBrazil
If you haven't seen the Brazil K1 topic over in the US Emabssies & Consulates forum, it's a great resource for dealing with the consulate in Rio for the K1. :)
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-03-22 21:12:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaX-ray envelope opened, is this okay?
Since you're DCF and won't be filing an AOS once you're state-side, probably not. If you were filing an AOS, I'd say keep it for the American civil surgeon, in case they wanted to see it.
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-04-21 11:38:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaBrazil filers
Well, keep in mind, you're getting a different visa than we are -- you're already married and doing the I130 DCF for a IR1/CR1 and will have a green card and that visa fee can be paid at the consulate directly, and we're doing the K1, getting married in a few months, and then filing the I485/AOS for his green card. For the K1, we have to pay at Citibank rather than at the consulate, and Citibank only takes cash (or at least this is what they told him in Salvador - you can pay at any Citibank location).

In any case, I'm glad your instructions say you can pay using credit at the consulate, as it sounds as though that will be much easier for you :)

(Citibank is a bank. They're in the US, and they're in Brazil.)
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-04-05 19:03:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaBrazil filers
If it's like the K1 visa fee, you pay at CitiBank, not at the consulate itself. CitiBank only accepts cash (or so says L). He's paying our visa fee tomorrow and will double check, though!

Edited by K and L, 05 April 2010 - 02:42 AM.

K and LFemaleBrazil2010-04-05 02:38:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaLength of time from USCIS to NVC
Average to go through NVC may be 2 weeks, but the average to arrive at the NVC is one week, and it has presently been 10 days. I would call back, and then contact USCIS again. I know there was someone in Oct'09 filers that had the USCIS-NVC lose their file twice and USCIS is making them refile entirely.
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-05-10 01:37:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaHow long take to process a Green Card for parents of US Citizen? (Bogota)
I don't know about parents from Colombia, but it took my mom's best friend 15 years of processing to get a green card for her brother (from Mexico), but most of her other siblings only took 3-5 years.
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-05-15 06:18:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaWhere are you(beneficiary) from? | ¿De dónde eres?
There's more to South America than Spanish speaking countries/territories. Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Sandwich Islands, Falkland Islands, and Suriname are still generally considered as "Latin America" (as least per the most recent US Census, which defines "Hispanic or Latino" as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race") and none of them speak Spanish as their official language. Brazil's official language is Portuguese, French Guiana's is French, Guyana/ South Georgia/Sandwich Islands/Falkland Islands speak English, and Suriname is a Dutch speaking country. Granted, the English speaking ones are technically overseas territories and not sovereign countries...

Anyway, considering that Brazil is the largest country in South America -- in terms of land mass and population, Brazil by itself has as many people and as much land as the rest of the continent combined -- and is NOT Spanish speaking, it's kind of silly to lump it in as "other South America" while splitting out Venezuela.
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-05-23 14:04:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaHow strict is the Costa Rican Embassy?
Because they tend to look at the previous year's taxes rather than the current situation, it would probably be better to bring the cosponsorship documents with in case they reject the current situation (even with employment offer letters and pay stubs).

ETA: However, that said, if they hold off on filing for the AOS until they have filed for tax year 2010 (in 2011, as early as possible), they might be able to squeak by the AOS without having to get a joint sponsor. But given the amount is barely over the 125% poverty line to begin with, and not working a full year, they will quite possibly still need a joint sponsor at AOS.

Edited by K and L, 13 May 2010 - 07:53 AM.

K and LFemaleBrazil2010-05-13 07:50:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaBrasil Authorization for minor to travel. Do they expire?
If that's the same form as the LA consulate provides, it says at the bottom of the form: "Documento válido por doze (12) meses após a data de sua expedição." (Valid for one year after issuance)
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-06-17 02:57:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaBrazil Police Certificates
L got both of his online (Bahia and PF) and Rio accepted them without problems. So, I don't think NVC would care - as long as Rio accepts it, they should (though obviously, the NVC would probably require translations).
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-08-27 20:11:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaBrazil Visa - Contact info?
You know that you must use the visa the first time within 90days and they require that if you don't apply in person, you send by express right? Turn around on the vitur is only about 10-14 days, so if your plans have late Jan entry, it may be invalid by the time you want to use it. It's better to wait until you have more concrete plans.

That said, when I applied for my vitur, we didn't have hotel plans, but I'd already bought plane tix and gave my fiance's contact info.

Iirc, they needed to see the itinerary as part of the requirements. Should double check. Overall, it is safer to wait to apply until you've got plans.
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-10-21 00:24:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaBrazil: I would like to know which vaccines should I take for my age
You know, people answered you on your other topic.
K and LFemaleBrazil2010-11-25 06:57:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaBrazil: I would like to know which vaccines should I take for my age
-> 2 doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccination -- aka, Tríplice viral (according to wikipedia, anyway, my medical Portuguese is limited to asking the pharmacist for over-the-counter things!)
-> 2 doses of the Varicella ('chickenpox') vaccation if you have not had chicken pox -- aka, Varicela / catapora
-> a recent (within the last 10 years) booster of the Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (whooping cough) (TDP/TDaP) -- aka, DTP or Tríplice Bacteriana

My husband got the MMR & TDP (plus a swine flu and regular flu vaccination) at a local health clinic before his medical in Rio -- he didn't need the varicella vaccination as he had had chickenpox as a child. :)

Edited by K and L, 23 November 2010 - 09:29 PM.

K and LFemaleBrazil2010-11-23 21:28:00