Im going to get married in Bucaramanga any advice?

bob777 says on Mar 22, 2006, 07:57:

I hope you plan to be in Bucaramanga for a couple of months... I hope you plan on being in Bucaramanga for a least a couple of months, leading up to the wedding. I know you have probably talk and email much with her, but you have not met her family and you have not experienced the cultural differences. Even with the emails and phone calls, there is so much that you two need to experience with one another, to actually have a good knowledge of each other. Sure, you could luck-out, but I would say stay with her and her family for a month or two, minimum, and experience her culture, how she interacts with her family, and see how she is, doing her day to day tasks. Living life in her shoes, so to speak, will give you a better understanding of her and what she does.

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FredGarvin says on Mar 22, 2006, 08:11:

Not going to get into the relationship side of your post (but I tend to agree with bob)...

Either way -- you start the visa process in the country you are from. For example, in the U.S. you have a couple of choices -- the easiest is to:

1. File the I-130
2. File the I-129F for a K-3 visa
3. Prepare all required docs for the interview in Bog

All in all, the process time can vary depending on how long it takes you to prepare the necessary applications and supporting documentation. I think a good average number for the above method is around 6 months or so.

Check out Visajourney.com and look for the "guides" section to get a very good breakdown/outline of the process.

Hope this helps,

FG

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jickster2255 says on Mar 25, 2006, 08:56:

what about the travel? I have a layer in Bogota and one here in the states for the marriage end of things----are there international travel taxes for travel there. I do not want to be surprised with a 4 or 5 hubdred dollar tax when I get there or when I leave. And is Bucaramanga safe? And by the way thanks to all for the information!!!!!!!!!

jra

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viewpoint says on Mar 25, 2006, 10:05:

jickster2255 Your first mistake was asking for advice or information regarding the subject of marriage on PBH. Having said that I can only say DON'T DO IT !!! Trying to bridge the cultural differences between a Colombian woman and yourself is about as difficult a challenge as Evil Knivel failed attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon with his rocket powered motorcycle.

I have tried for seven years (to understand the complicated Colombian woman)and failed but good luck to you. In the end we resolved our differences by me living my dream in Colombia and her living her dream in the USA. Luckly I have more than one house. jaja

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caulfield2 says on Mar 25, 2006, 10:36:

Viewpoint, I had a similar experience with a Russian woman.

However, I think there is one positive that differentiates Colombian and Russian-Ukrainian women...or just Eastern Europe in general.

More women in that area of the world are already fluent (or close to it) in English, and many have PhDs and Master's degrees...OTOH, religious belief has basically been totally eviscerated in that area of the world.

When you have a relationship with someone and they don't know what they believe or they are an atheist, it can make it difficult. I am one of those that went to Mass every Sunday of my lifetime while growing up...have experimented with different churches (not finding the perfect one, just as there is no Utopia in Colombia or any country, lol)...and would probably call myself non-denominational Christian, although I do attend the Catholic church here in Armenia once every couple of months.

Romantic love, while not dead in that area of the world, is more about practicality, like a business merger, often being the trade of beauty, youth and intelligence (the woman, of course) for an established older man who can provide. Many of the elite in Russia are married and have multiple mistresses...I can tell you that many women in Russia sleep with gringo's just to see if they can STAND it, knowing that the tradeoff is a better life in the US and more opportunities, especially for women. Women with children almost always put their children ahead of their own happiness...I have witnessed a large amount of these 28-42 year old women with children getting married to men they don't love...and the gringo gets the trophy wife, the second chance (or third, or fourth) at marriage with a younger, exotic hottie that he would never have a prayer with in the United States.

Overall, I think the women in Colombia are a little more romantic (less pragmatic) and they are more family oriented. In Russia, they suffered through two terrible currency devaluations, so the people simply do not believe in saving anymore. If you have tangible assets like gold, silver, diamonds...well, then you are a prize catch...and these mafia that have the plastic surgery Barbie wifes are the obvious equivalent of the narcotraficante crowd here in Colombia. I actually am much more afraid of the Ukrainians than the police, military, FARC, AUC and whatever they can throw at you here in Colombia.

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bobita922 says on Mar 26, 2006, 18:26:

Your lawyer should know about a fiancee visa I want to know what kind of a lawyer would not tell you that your best investment is in a fiancee visa. How well do you know this woman? If you are going to Colombia for the first time this is either a cyber or telephone romance. How do just marry someone you dont know. Please take baby steps. You are rushing into something that may turn out to cost you more than a heartache. If you import her on a fiancee visa and decide that the relationship does not work in three months she will have to go back to her country. If you marry her and the marriage does not work you will have lost money. And she would have gained a green card. Good luck buddy!!!!!!!!!! There are many stories.

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caulfield2 says on Mar 27, 2006, 07:36:

You need to spend AT LEAST two months living together in ¨normal¨ day to day circumstances...no vacation or fun time...before you even consider making this commitment. Meet the family, see her in her natural environment or surroundings, spend time with her friends, etc. You owe it not only to yourself, but to her as well...

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