The Great State of California

[littlebhuddha]

Well, I've managed to get most of my paperwork together for my wedding in Colombia in April. Most of it still needs to be translated. I've got my birth certificate from the state of Michigan, divorce papers from the County of San Diego, tax returns from the IRS. I've got my letters for the Colombian embassy in Los Angeles typed up in Spanish. I've got everything I need except my visa clearance from the state of California. Now they tell me that it will take 6-10 weeks for one of their overpayed, underworked, "lost my welfare so I gotta work" troglodytes to spend 5 minutes at a computer typing in my name and SSN. Even the Colombian government can move faster than that. Gray Davis can't even get California to run with the efficiency of a third world country. Good news for California, though. He's thinking about running for President.

[John O]

... in response to The Great State of California, posted by littlebhuddha on Jan 16, 2003

What are they looking for here? What if a guy had, let's say, one felony arrest (charges dropped) 20 years ago?

[moam]

... in response to Criminal Records Question, posted by John O on Jan 19, 2003

Hey John O,
Michael B had a good point, in the state of CA. you can have the record explunged, what ever the cost it is far cheaper than the cost of a surprise in the middle of the visa process. Just check around with several law firms until you get a handle on the cost of this, don't start with some place located on the 12th floor, corner suite, Wilshire Blvd with a view of Santa Monica and Catalina.

This is merely a petition that needs to be filed to the court, and a simple one at that, so the guy who does probate, criminal, personal injury, etc, etc,will be able to do this, as a matter of fact, some paralegal will end up with the task of handling this petition.

Good luck...
moam

[Michael B]

... in response to Criminal Records Question, posted by John O on Jan 19, 2003

I don't know about California, but in Texas if the charges were dropped you can have the record expunged. If I were this guy, I would retain a lawyer and get this done BEFORE proceeding with my application. I think the local shysters charge about $300 dollars to get the job done.

[Pete E]

... in response to The Great State of California, posted by littlebhuddha on Jan 16, 2003

I think even he has forgot that with his troubles and bad PR of the last year.If not he belives his own bullsh!t more than Saddam Hussien.
We had another former governer,Pete Wilson ,A republican but first class jerk who thought he was presidential material.Maybe its something in the water in California that makes these p!ss ants think they are presidential material.

Pete

[moam]

... in response to Davis for president ?, posted by Pete E on Jan 17, 2003

Hey Pete,
I do agree with you on this one, what a bonehead and a  jack@ss this Gov is proving to be, how do you take a 9bil surplus and turn it into a 35bil sea of red ink?? Why should we be surprised, this is the same guy that negotiated with pwr producers to buy energy @ $175 per megawatt, then sell the same as excess due to low demand for $1. Let's see if he still has those hallucinations about living in the whitehouse after the smoke and debris is cleared following the financial Train wreck that this great state is about to experience. The people of this nation had better be suspect of any would be presidential candidate who has mastered the concept of buy high and sell low.

[littlebhuddha]

... in response to The Great State of California, posted by littlebhuddha on Jan 16, 2003

The visa clearance is a criminal records check. It is a requirement for the Colombian marriage visa by the Colombian embassy in Los Angeles. I called the embassy and had them fax me a list of requirements for a Special Visa for marriage. The requirements now seem to be different than they were for everyone else that has gone through this recently in California. My fiance is going to call the embassy and see if there is some alternative. If not we will have to reschedule the wedding to accommodate the state of California.

[Cali James]

... in response to Re: The Great State of California, posted by littlebhuddha on Jan 17, 2003


I live in California also but used the San Fransisco embassy.  A criminal records check was required in order for the Colombian embassy to issue a marriage VISA to enter Colombia for matrimony.  I went to the county sherrif's office and they did a background check and then wrote a letter with the results.  I asked them to write the letter in Spanish and at the time they signed the letter, I contracted a public notary to go to the sherrifs office and notorize the document.  I then took the notarized document to the county clerk's office where they confirmed that the notary was valid.  Finally I had the document authenticated (apostille) by the Secretary of State's office of California.  I did not send it to Sacramento but hand delivered it to the branch office in San Francisco.  I'm certain that there's a branch office in L. A. also.

I'm still a bit confused, are you going to the correct public agency to get your criminal record clearance?

[littlebhuddha]

... in response to The Great State of California, posted by Cali James on Jan 17, 2003

The instructions that the Colombian Embassy faxed me specify the Attorney Generals office in Sacramento. I am going to see if the LA embassy will let me do it the way you did. I am going to have my fiance call them on Monday and see what they say. It sure would simplify the process. I am told that it only takes the sheriff a few days to do what the state takes a few months to do. Thanks for your info. It just might help.

[lswote]

... in response to The Great State of California, posted by littlebhuddha on Jan 16, 2003

I live in Florida and am getting married in Colombia February 7.  Monday I had to go to the Colombian Consulate in Miami and get a marriage visa in my passport.  I was told this is necessary for the notary marrying us in Colombia.  I am not aware of any visa issued by any American entity that is necessary for getting married in Colombia.

[wizard]

... in response to The Great State of California, posted by littlebhuddha on Jan 16, 2003

Ok, now I'm confused...

I have done some research on the process of marrying in Colombia... I know about the tax returns, W2's, birth certificates, employer letter, I-130, I-134, the marriage Visa stamped in your passport from the nearest Colombian Embassy, photos, physical exams, police certificate and translations w/apostilles...

Why do you need visa clearance from the California State Department???

Are you doing spousal visa or DCF???

The whole process is kinda like a Chinese fire drill... They sure don't make it easy...

wizard

[Cali James]

... in response to Confused..., posted by wizard on Jan 16, 2003

I live in California, went through the Colombian marriage VISA hell and now just about to finish the DCF process,  I've never heard of the California VISA clearance either?

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Confused..., posted by Cali James on Jan 16, 2003

I just re-read the Embassy website... Under the heading of Apostille, they state:

"Documents originating in the United States require for recognition in Colombia an Apostille issued by competent U.S. authorities."

There is a link to "competent U.S. authorities" which lists agencies in each state that can perform this task... In California it's the Secretary of State... I guess that's what LB is referring to...

wizard

[Celt]

... in response to The Great State of California, posted by littlebhuddha on Jan 16, 2003

LB,

The Chief of the Notary's office (#4 or #5) is a poet.
He actually sells his stuff out of the office. If you
buy some of his books (P5000 a pop), and barge into
his office for an autograph, your lines at the office
will disappear before you!

Celt