Almost 6 weeks

[Hiker]

Well it has been almost 6 weeks since our first trip to the embassy in Bogota and still nothing.  My congressman should have received a letter from me in the mail today.  

The really frustrating part is after all the research and preparation it comes down to this.  On our first trip to the embassy I met guys who were there with their new wife they had known all of three weeks.  They did not have one form completed.  They did not have a clue what they needed to do but yet they now have the visa.  I had known my wife almost two years.  Had every document they needed all typed up and neat.  Crossed all the t's and dotted all the i's but we don't have a clue what the story is.

[Celt]

... in response to Almost 6 weeks, posted by Hiker on May 7, 2003

Do follow up with a phone call to your Congressman.
The first time I called them they had not assigned
my complaint to a case worker. By the end of the call,
my case had been assigned, and they brought me news
four days later.

[Big Wally]

... in response to Almost 6 weeks, posted by Hiker on May 7, 2003

1. Back in 2000 my fiancee waited patiently for a letter telling her when she could go to Bogota for her interview. After about 6 weeks I called the Embassy myself from here in the states. The lady told me that my fiancee had an 'open date' to come to Bogota as soon as she had all her paperwork in order. My fiancee didn't understand the term 'open date' even though the paperwork was in Spanish. Personally I don't think she really read it all. Good thing I called.

Once she got there she started her interview and everything was in order until he askes about her police report. The paperwork she had received in December 1999 said applicants for a K-1 visa from Colombia and Venezuela did not require them. The embassy officer informed her that the law changed on January 1, 2000 and there was nothing he could do about it.

Nobody bothered to tell her. There were 8 other girls in the same situation that day. There were a lot of tear and phone calls to fiances in the states.

They all had to go to the Bogota police department and get their reports that afternoon. By the time they all got back the immigration office wouldn't take any more interviews. The next day was Friday and they didn't do any interviews on Friday. Monday was a holiday so she had to fly back to Cali and return on Tuesday. That also cost me since her ticket to Miami and my flight to meet her had to all be changed to the following week. Just an idea of the many little hassles and hurdles they put in front of you.

Using your congressman really won't help. The people in the Embassy deal with visas everyday. It's the same old routine to them. They've heard it all and seen it all so unless they are guilty of some serious negligence nothing much will happen until they are ready for it to happen. Trust me, I considered it, too but knew it was futile.

2. As for getting a visa for someone who is already married to a Gringo. I know a guy who I hooked up with the same agency I went through. He first went to Cali in September 2000. Met a girl on the first trip. Returned in October and got married and she was in the US by the end of November. The key was he paid some lawyer who was connected with the agencey $1000 to push the paperwork through. Money does talk in Colombia.

There are 1000 stories. The two main keys when dealing with this whole process is:
A. Make sure all of the paperwork (both yours and her's) is accurate and complete.
B. PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE.

Good luck.

[Hiker]

... in response to Two notes on this., posted by Big Wally on May 8, 2003

We went to the embassy March 31 and filed.  She was told to return to the embassy April 21.  She returned and was told everything was in order and ready but they had to receive her security clearance from Washington and it had not arrived.  She was told she would just have to return whenever they called her. The other girls who had filed March 31 and returned April 21 received their visa.  

I have a hard time understanding how all these people were processed in three weeks and now almost 6 weeks later we are still waiting.  

You are right, I need to find a little more patience somewhere, but I think I have used all that was given me.  :-)