A recent clients experience with the Visa

[Jamie]

This is some info from a client regarding the final stage of the visa process.

Engage the Exotic- Latin Women
http://International-Introductions.com

“Latina” had her interview at the embassy in Bogota, Colombia on Nov 26 2004,
They only asked her for the documents in the K1 packet they send.
They did not ask her any questions about our relationship.
However, I did have a problem with a staff member who was very rude to me because my birth certificate did not have the same name as my passport.
My birth name is -----; however, I have been known as ------ all my life. The embassy staff member told me that she would not issue the visa until I had a passport that had the same name as my birth certificate. I informed her that this interview was for my fiance and not my passport and that the National Visa Center and my the State Department were aware that I used the name ----- and they had no problem and that there is no legal requirement for me to have my name changed.
She left and after several minutes another woman appeared and informed me that the K1 visa was approved.

FYI; there were about 50 people waiting at the embassy for visa. Of that number approximately half were seeking a K1 visa. Of the twenty-five people waiting for the K1 visa; twenty were eliminated for not having the proper documentation; that was required. If you did not have it you were told to leave----immediately.
Of the remaining five people they carefully went through the documentation a second time. This time eliminating another individual for a questionable document.
The remaining four people were approved for the K1 visa.

We received the visa by courier ten days later.
“Latina” and I returned to the United States on Dec 9th.
We stopped by the office several days before leaving but I was told you were in the US.

“Latina” spent two hours going through customs at Miami International. (She had to attend a class)

FYI,  “Another Latina member”,( I forgot her number) married her fiance in Colombia on Nov 13. She had her K1 interview on Dec 6. and arrived in the US (Las Vegas) on the 18th of December.
They were apparently able to marry and still use the fiance visa because of a legal "loophole".
In Colombia, because of the need to have a marriage sanctioned by the Church and to be certified by the government, the marriage is not recorded and noted as such for approximately two months after the wedding ceremony. Unlike the United States, the marriage date is not the day the marriage ceremony is performed. This apparently permits one to be "married" in Colombia and still have access to the K1 visa.
“Latina” and I had planned initially to do this; however; the Catholic Church requires numerous documents and you would have to planned this at least 3 to 4 months in advance.

[OkieMan]

... in response to A recent clients experience with the Vis..., posted by Jamie on Feb 24, 2005

Jamie,
 Thanks for the info. It is very helpful.  But, I have another question.  What if the lady and I are not Catholic (we are not).  If at some point in the future, I should get engaged to a non-Catholic latina, then will the same rules apply, or will it be different for say a civil ceremony?  I am only projecting into the future at this point, but I am trying to understand the rules better. Many posters on this board have told me that the K-1 is faster and easier due to the many stipulations of the Colombian government to get married, and the U. S. government takes longer on processing the K-3's.  In your experience, how does that play out?

                                  OkieMan

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: A recent clients experience with the..., posted by OkieMan on Feb 24, 2005

Let's get a few things straight.

Yes, the K-1 is faster because the four service centers which handle K-1s are processing them much faster than the one service center which handles K-3s. Right now, it is almost pointless to apply for a K-3 because the I-130 for the immigrant visa is being approved while the K-3 sits unapproved in Missouri. Many spouses are simply bypassing the K-3 and coming to the US on immigrant visas (CR-1).

I got married in Colombia - both civil and in the Catholic Church - and the Catholic Church's requirements were worse than those for the civil marriage. The requirement that you must have a marriage visa to get married in Colombia has been abolished. Now you can get married on a normal tourist visa.

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Re: A recent clients experience with..., posted by utopiacowboy on Feb 24, 2005

Does that mean that a guy like me does not have to go through all the hassle of showing old divorce papers, etc?  I mean, to me that is ridiculous.  However, I did read the post that mentioned that the old policy for that marriage visa is being abolished.  I am just not sure what that changes. I am still trying to "learn the ropes".  Even though I am not facing these decisions now, I am the type of guy who does not like "last minute" surprises, so I am trying to educate myself about all of these legal hoops we have to jump through.  Thanks for your insight.

                                 OkieMan

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: A recent clients experience ..., posted by OkieMan on Feb 24, 2005

Regardless of whether you apply for a K-1 or marry her in Colombia and bring her here on a CR-1, you are still going to have to show the USCIS that all your prior marriages have been terminated. The Colombian marriage visa has been eliminated - that used to be one more hoop you had to jump through to get married in Colombia. Now you just have to satisfy the notaria's requirements which are similar to those you would have to go through in the United States to get married.

[Fuzzyone]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: A recent clients experie..., posted by utopiacowboy on Feb 25, 2005

I went thru it in June and it is not easy. Every  notaria seems to have different
requirements just to make life hard for you. I got real lucky my wife kept talking
to one woman until she finally gave up and agreed to marry us. If I would have
to do it all over again I would still do it the same way just to see the expression
on my wife's face. No matter what happened that day she was one of the
happiest woman I ever saw. I gave her the money to buy the rings and she found
very beautiful rings for us.

[OkieMan]

... in response to and it is not easy.., posted by Fuzzyone on Feb 25, 2005

Fuzzyone,
You got married in June? Was that in Colombia or Peru? You gave your fiance/wife the money and she bought the rings? Can you elaborate a little about that?  What is the deal about the notary?  I am not sure I understand, other than you are talking about a civil ceremony, right?  I really enjoy hearing about all the different stories from guys like you and Utopiacowboy, who have already been there. Best of luck.

                              OkieMan

[Fuzzyone]

... in response to Re: and it is not easy.., posted by OkieMan on Feb 25, 2005

I was married in Colombia, Barranquilla that is. Utopiacowboy actually helped
with alot of info because I was worried I was going to mess it up big time.
Anyways I think I spent about $2,000.00 to get married and throw a party. My
wife actually got the rings made by a jeweler that had made her sister's wedding
rings too. The Notary is the wild card we went to a Notary on the second trip I
made there and they told us what they wanted, but they told us after they
accepted all the paperwork we had to wait 10 days beofre we married. ON the
next trip we went to 3 or 4 different notarias they all had different requirements.
One notaria was just plain rude and treated us like crap. I think it was because a
Colombian woman was going to marry a Gringo. We almost gave up when my
wife said lets go back to the first notaria, my wife must have talked to this
woman for lie a hour. Finally we actually got to talk to someone. They first said
10 days then it was down to 4 days. When we left my wife said we had to go buy
several gifts, a perfurm and a leather hand bag for both the woman we talked to.  
We went out and brought the items and dropped off the items. We got married
and it was kinda of funny they loved us there. The last visit I had there I stopped
past there to see the ladies with my wife. They were very happy to see us and my
wife talked to them forever.

[Jamie]

... in response to Re: A recent clients experience with the..., posted by OkieMan on Feb 24, 2005

I don’t believe there is any difference for the civil ceremony regardless of your religion he was pointing out the delays for a religious/legal marriage. I believe the extra length is not measured by the extra paperwork in marrying in Colombia it is from application date to application date otherwise it would not be a fair measurement. The gist of sharing his experience is to show you a particular case and the majority of cases that are delayed because of improper paperwork. This man is a lawyer and sought competent help. I have another client in town now who only sought info from the Colombian consult in the States though he had everything for a marriage only to find out he didn’t when he arrived and couldn’t get married.
Engage the Exotic - Latin Women
http://International-Introductions.com

[Red Clay]

... in response to A recent clients experience with the Vis..., posted by Jamie on Feb 24, 2005

"Latina" had to attend a class upon entry at Miami airport???

[Jamie]

... in response to Re: A recent clients experience ---a &qu..., posted by Red Clay on Feb 24, 2005

"Latina" said the Customs officers basically told them (K1 visa holders) the limitations of the K1 visa.
That the visa had a 90 day duration and if they got married they would have to "adjust their status. They also told them what to do if they found themselves in an abusive situation, the consequences of staying past the 90 days, etc.
I waited so long in the baggage claim area for "Latina, I decided to approached one of the Customs officers to find out if there was a problem with her visa. That is when the officer told me of the "orientation" class and he informed me that depending on the number of travelers who were entering the US for the first time, I could have from a 1 to 2 hour wait.
Also I found out through the immigration lawyer that I hired, that all the rules have some flexibility. For example, the 90 days, can be extended. You can also apply for something call ed Advance Parole, which will allow "Latina" to return in to Barranquilla in 2 or 3 months after first coming to the US. In addition, it would be prudent, to apply for work authorization, when applying for residency.
For the most part, it is how much time and money do you want to spend to "bend the rules".
from what they generally tell you.
It is about knowing what papers to file and spending the requisite application fee.
All the needed forms are on the Internet(check the State Department web site)
You can do this yourself but it easier with a good immigration attorney.
And finally, I learned any denial can be appealled. And your appeal will be heard in an administrative court.
So far nothing I have requested has been denied.
If you know what they are looking for and you give to them you generally do not have any problems.

Engage the Exotic - Latin Women
http://International-Introductions.com

[Ray]

... in response to This may be new., posted by Jamie on Feb 24, 2005

Jamie,

“Also I found out through the immigration lawyer that I hired, that all the rules have some flexibility. For example, the 90 days, can be extended.”

I may be wrong and your attorney may be right, but I have never heard of an extension to the 90-days validity of the K-1 visa after arrival in the U.S.  They are pretty strict on getting married within 90 days. Perhaps he meant the visa could be extended BEFORE she used it to travel here?

Ray

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: This may be new., posted by Ray on Feb 24, 2005

I read that same statement and I thought, no, that isn't right. They are strict about that. You have 90 days and that's it, it can't be extended. Of course having said that I am sure plenty of people get married shortly thereafter for one reason or another and are able to adjust their status.

[Jamie]

... in response to Re: This may be new., posted by Ray on Feb 24, 2005

Ray I am just passing on this information from a client who is also a lawyer and used a lawyer for the visa process.
Engage the Exotic - Latin Women
http://International-Introductions.com

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Re: This may be new., posted by Jamie on Feb 25, 2005

Jamie,
Are you saying that your client is a lawyer, and he actually paid another lawyer to do his immigration paperwork?  I knew that this could be a little tricky, but I didn't think it was that tough?  Can you elaborate?

                                 OkieMan