Embassy questions

[lswote]

I am getting married Thursday February 6th in Bogota and the following Monday going to the embassy to apply for spousal visa.  I have a couple questions.

1. I was told I can apply starting at 1:00.  How early should we arrive?  Do we need to get there hours early or is it not necessary?

2. Is the place Americans go versus where Colombians go pretty easy to find?

3. We want to leave for our honeymoon Tuesday.  Will that work or will we have to come back to the embassy more than one once (I am talking about the first visit only, not the second visit several weeks later).

[Celt]

... in response to Embassy questions, posted by lswote on Jan 27, 2003

When I arrived, at 1:15, there were about 30 couples with
little red numbered pieces of plastic in their hands. One
man told me he had arrived at 11:00. But, this was after
the embassy was closed for a week at Christmas. There was
built up demand for spousal visas.
I think 12:00-12:30 is a safe margin.

The windows for spousal visa applications is not immediately
visible, but there are any number of blue-coated security
people to answer questions.

You do not have to go to the embassy beyond your first
visit. Your wife can go to the 2nd one by herself, and
to the medical appointments as well. You can go back home,
or elsewhere, immediately following your first visit.

Just remember to give her enough money for the 2nd appt.
fees.

[lswote]

... in response to Embassy questions, posted by lswote on Jan 27, 2003

How soon after the first appointment is the second one.  My fiancee heard it could be as soon as 10 days and since she has to get a lot of tests and documents together for the appointment she is afraid we wouldn't have any time for a honeymoon.  Nelson told me 5 weeks but I don't know if that is 5 weeks until the second appointment or 5 weeks until approval.  What times did other people see?

[Celt]

... in response to Another embassy question, posted by lswote on Jan 28, 2003

My first visit was Dec. 30. Our 2nd appt. is Feb. 11. There
is no difference between 2nd appt. and approval.
The successful completion of the former implies the latter.

[Calipro]

... in response to Embassy questions, posted by lswote on Jan 27, 2003


There isn't any benefit to arriving at the embassy before 12:00pm. They let us in the gates at about 12:30pm and the windows open for business at 1:00pm. The line against the fence was the one for americans filing 1-130's and others seeking imigration visas. Anyway you should be in the first line that enters. If you have all your paper work in order go directly to windows 4,5 or 6 then go to window 1 to pay for the I-130 filing fee ($130 US). After that wait until they call your name and they will give you the appointment time and date for your wife's second interview. It only took us about an hour.