intimidation at us embassy

utopiacowboy says on Jan 14, 2007, 07:51:

Yes, you can be there and in view of her two previous denials for tourist visas, I would DEFINITELY be there. They may see her as a visa hunter if you're not there to dispel this.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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jerryblancasept8@hotmail.com says on Jan 14, 2007, 08:14:

hi cowboy thanks for info and advice

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lampltr says on Jan 14, 2007, 09:23:

U.S. Denials for Visas Hi, not knowing about Bogota directly, I would try as utopiacowboy stated, however from direct experience with other embassy's & from a recent experience 2 wks ago of a friend. The Embassy did not allow him in on the interview and his wife was denied a visa into the U.S for a period of 3 years due to past denials. However I will say she messed up by allowing her status to run out in the U.S. prior to a renewal.
Officially I would try 1 more time if denied again, make sure she reports her passport as stolen & upon reissuance destroy the old one. After some time try again. I had to do this with my wife in another country and all worked out fine, good luck!

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lampltr says on Jan 14, 2007, 09:25:

U.S. Denials for Visas Sorry forgot to add "report passport as lost or stolen" whichever is desired.

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 14, 2007, 11:07:

The personal experience of myself and many other posters here with the embassy in Bogota is that you can be at the interview. If some flunky at the gate gives you trouble wave the blue passport at him and go on in.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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jerryblancasept8@hotmail.com says on Jan 14, 2007, 11:09:

passport stolen or lost im sorry but i dont get the connection between tourist visa denials and lost or stolen passports,i would assume the denials and reason for would be in the embassy database.how could a new passport be helpful with a k/3 visa.

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englishsettler says on Jan 14, 2007, 11:13:

typical americans....always think the world revolves around them....

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 14, 2007, 11:21:

The world revolves around them? US citizens who pay the frigging salaries of everyone who works at the US embassy should be entitled to enter. Maybe everyone else in the world lives subservient to their own countries bureaucrats but we don't. Personally I think there should be a couple of days a year when any US citizen is allowed to kill the bureaucrat of his or her choice. I know I would put the old S&W to good use.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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aztec says on Jan 14, 2007, 11:33:

englishsettler, do you have any difficulty... ...getting into your Embassy in Bogotá?

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lpdiver says on Jan 14, 2007, 16:24:

My wife had... Multiple visa denials before our marriage. We were treated with courtesy and they even gave us same day visa as we indicated a desire to fly the next day.

In your second post you indicate a three year ban for an overstay of between six months and one year. I would suggest this is the reason for denial...NOT "due to past denials".

I suggest you start investigating a waiver.

t

"cook some rice!"

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jerryblancasept8@hotmail.com says on Jan 15, 2007, 05:43:

reference to 1st post of forum does anyone know if the conoffs can stop your interview just by looking at you and decide to not let you provide evedience of the marriage.i have just heard of this tybe of disdain ,disrespect and am wondering if it actuallys occurs.

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lampltr says on Jan 15, 2007, 06:10:

Multiple Visa denials Most data bases will track the passport number associated with the individual. If a passport is reissued due to a loss or if stolen 9 times out of 10 a person will not be issued the same number twice. USA?
As far as access to our own embassy, welcome to the State Department...many different countries have their own policies. Personally I was in SW Asia/Military & needed immediate access to the main front entrance to the Embassy (where Marine guards are posted) as my wife did not have her visa (slow leaking INS), for the U.S. & we had 2 days before departure. Had telephone appointment with the ambassador but for some reason he had no record of this & many hours of travel. I was in turn denied access & was told to enter in same area as locals, needless to say a very happy camper here! Have had various other experiences with other embassies as not all are the same...good luck!

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lpdiver says on Jan 15, 2007, 06:27:

Yes..they can deny you just on the basis of a gut feeling. BUT sooner or later they do have to give a valid reason for the denial. I have not heard of it recently nor do I personally know of any valid marriages where this has been a problem.

I wouldn't worry about it. Do you have reasons to be concerned?

t

"cook some rice!"

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jerryblancasept8@hotmail.com says on Jan 15, 2007, 07:00:

valid for sure only issues i have are that she was denied twice for tourist visa which is almost always in bogota.im tranquil that all else will be in order except the attitude of the con off that day.it seems that a k/3 visa will be considered and looked at with more respect than a tourist visa i would think they would have to have pretty compelling evidence for a k/3 visa denial,but as you can see ,what do i know.just an opinion.

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lpdiver says on Jan 15, 2007, 07:51:

It is not published anywhere... But a spouse IS given preferential treatment...from my casual observations. That played a role in my decision between K1 and K3.

tony

"cook some rice!"

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lpdiver says on Jan 15, 2007, 08:05:

K3 vs CR1 The K-3 visa was created because the I-130s were taking so long to process. The K-3 was a temporary visa to allow family reunification while waiting for the I-130 (CR1) to be processed.

Currently they are running close to the same processing times in many cases.

t

"cook some rice!"

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lpdiver says on Jan 15, 2007, 09:26:

they are one and the same as I understand.
t

"cook some rice!"

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lpdiver says on Jan 15, 2007, 10:21:

From what I see the... K-1 and K-3 are virtually identical in times...

t

"cook some rice!"

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jerryblancasept8@hotmail.com says on Jan 16, 2007, 08:20:

add to topic if a k/3 were denied for some ridiculous reason would that automatically kill the 1-130 cr-i process too????????

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lpdiver says on Jan 16, 2007, 08:36:

The rules are the same... I doubt it would "kill" it; but, the issue will still surface down the line and have to be addressed.

t

"cook some rice!"

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Crazy4Cali says on Jan 18, 2007, 19:42:

RE: intimidation I went with my (then) fiance to the embassy in Bogota for her K1 interview. I think she would have done fine without me there, but I'm glad I went for both her benefit as well as mine.

The embassy people OUTSIDE the gate were rather confused (i.e. stupid) and a bit impatient. This might have intidmidated my (then) fiance, but I just kept ignoring them and going where I thought we should go (which was where we were supposed to go, in spite of all the "help" we got but the staff outside the gate.

The Embassy people INSIDE weren't the friendliest in the world, but they were very polite in that official, "hurry up, there's 400 more behind you in line" sort of way.

At the windows, the woman who reviewed our documents barely looked at us, while the one who did the second interview (the thumbs up or down, one) was very polite.

But that's just our experience, there are lots of people working there so I would imagine that they run the spectrum. I sure wouldn't want their job.

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jerryblancasept8@hotmail.com says on Jan 19, 2007, 14:09:

embassy hey,crazy4cali,thanks for your reply.it was the kind of info i was hoping for.encouraging at least and appreciate it.

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eduardombustamante says on Jan 20, 2007, 15:53:

Embassy Access and Travel Plans I am SO GLAD to have found this posting!

I am planning to travel to Bogota to accompany my fiancé and sit through the interview with her. I want to ensure that communication is clear and to lend support. I was hoping to remain there with her until the VISA is issued and bring her back to the USA with me. Of course, this takes planning (time off work, travel flight schedules, etc.).

We have gotten the application package and called the PIN number and it I cannot find information that allows me to predict timelines to make plans. Is my plan reasonable? Or does it take two trips, even if things go well?

HERE ARE MY SEPCIFIC QUESTIONS:

1) Do I have the right to witness or participate in my fiancée's interview?

2) Does anyone know where I can find the law that grants US Citizens full access to US embassies with the passport?

2) Assuming everything is in order, How long after the interview to get the K1 VISA?

3) Is there a way to shorten the wait for the VISA, or pick it up at the embassy, or does my fiancé have to travel back home to wait for the paperwork?

I would be most grateful for any advice I could get. Thank you

PS: You all should hear the information my fiance was given by the embassy when she called with a PIN number, costing about $1 USD per minute for the misinformation? Has anyone tried this? You get a call center in Mexico ...

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lpdiver says on Jan 21, 2007, 00:47:

Briefly... You will be allowed to enter and "witness" the interview.

There is a US citizen gate about a hundred yards before the main gates. It will have no lines. Present your passport and they will let you and your wife enter there.

As you approach the entrance to the embasssy you will see a long Disney style line. Before you get to that line there is a US citizens entry there will be little or no line there. They will take your cell phone from you there.

After you enter there will be lots of lines in front of windows with numbers over them. Window one is the cashier then windows two through about eight are for citizen related issues.

You will be checked in and asked to wait until you are called. Our wait was about three hours. Then you will approach the bullet proof glass with a telephone receiver. (think movie ticket window on steroids) The interview takes place over the telephone.

When we were called, I took charge and strode up to the phone. The consular officer asked sourly, "Is that her?" To which I replied, "Yes." I need to talk to her.

Two or three minutes later the interview was over. I asked if it was possible to get the visa the same day as I wanted to travel the next day. I was told to check back later at about four in the afternoon. The visa was ready. The vast majority of the time you will have to return the next day.

t

"cook some rice!"

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honey says on Jan 24, 2007, 19:17:

lpdiver - Re: K3 vs. CR1 I just wanted to thank you for your definition. No matter how many times I saW explanations, I never seemed to "get it." Yours was the one that finally clicked. THANKS!

Life is what happens when you're busy making plans - John Lennon.

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