Is the Embassy in Bogota granting student visas or denying as quickly as tourist visas?

Robert Jorge says on Feb 28, 2008, 21:03:

I don't have any more tips - but student visas are much easier to obtain than tourist visas. However, she has to have all the prerequisites. She can't just get a student visa, then come to the US and hope to find a college. She has to be accepted to a school, then the school has to more or less sponsor her - or give her documents showing she is indeed admitted and will attend. Again, I don't know the process, but if everything is done legit and correctly, she should have no problem at all studying in the US. (assuming she can support herself or somebody else will)

If the USCIS has any suspicion that she has a boyfriend waiting in the US, she will most likely NOT get a visa. When she applied for her tourist visa and was denied, did she tell the interviewer she had a boyfriend in the US? If she did, that is why (or part of the reason why) she was denied, and that will also show up at student visa time.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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rocinante says on Feb 28, 2008, 21:26:

Havng been to Costa Rica doesn't help either.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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muchacho_escondido says on Feb 28, 2008, 21:41:

Just something to keep in mind. If marriage is on your mind (and I'm not saying it is or should be!), don't try to do it via a student visa, a tourist visa or any other non-immigrant visa. USCIS can later conclude that the student visa was to cover her immigration intent (which marriage to an American establishes) and accuse her of visa fraud. That would be bad-- she can get barred from the States for 10 years. So, if marriage is on your mind, go for K-1 visa. Also, if the consulate officer asks her if she has a boyfriend in the US, it's better to tell the truth-- lying in no matter how small a respect is punished severely :(

Few Americans know about the workings of their own immigration system and I kind of feel it's my duty to educate them to prevent some real tragedies. USCIS is extremely disapproving of shortcuts. Sorry if this information is irrelevant to your case and good luck.

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Robert Jorge says on Feb 28, 2008, 21:52:

What Muchacho said .... and again, like he said, never lie.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Buongone says on Feb 28, 2008, 23:35:

The immigration process is almost a travesty. Yet they almost bend over backwards for Mexican people.

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bamacellist says on Feb 29, 2008, 05:28:

According to the US government's own information there is no restriction on getting married in the US while holding a tourist visa. This is explicitly stated. The path for change of status will likely be rockier, but it is not in and of itself against the rules. It would all depend on the timing and the appearances it creates regarding the initial reason for the visa application. I haven't seen this information regarding the student visa, but there is no logical reason for an exclusion there, so again, it would depend greatly on the timing and the appearnces created by particular circumstances. Yes the system is far more capricious than principled, but there's no reason to present it as even more imposing than it really is.

"The future is much like the present, only longer."

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jorgegdiaz says on Feb 29, 2008, 06:47:

If she is going to study she needs to be ACCEPTED in a college or Univ that is approved to issue I-20 (USCIS official document for students at any level).
Look at the requierements at your local schools (visa F-1), but in general she´ll have to show proof of:
Proficiency in the English language (ie, TOEFL). Sometimes the embassy denies F-1 visas just to study English.
Funds to pay tuition in full (out-of-state for public unis), books, and living expenses for a whole year.
I-20 issued by an approved school (many comunity colleges can do that)
shots, vaccines, transcripts, etc (depends on every school)

In any case never ever lie to the official.

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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buyslake says on Feb 29, 2008, 08:09:

Robert, When she tried to get the tourist visa the consulate asked her if she had a boyfriend here and she said no, however he suspected she did and therefore denied the tourist visa. She had everything ready for her tourist visa, she even had 9,000,000 pesos in her bank account and she was denied on the suspicion she had a boyfriend here.
I do not know how the consulate could deny based on suspicion. There is no way he could know if we are just friends or novios.

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jorgegdiaz says on Feb 29, 2008, 08:45:

Rather than cash in a bank they like to see property, a stable job or strong ties to Locombia that won´t prevent her from overstaying her visa.

My mom, 73 at the time, was denied a renewal after going the US many times but my dad wasn´t ! (both went at the same time). Sometime later she went to the embassy again, voila then!.

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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bamacellist says on Feb 29, 2008, 09:02:

"I do not know how the consulate could deny based on suspicion. There is no way he could know if we are just friends or novios."

That, sadly, is the capricious part. The system is inherently hostile in that it assumes the intent is to immigrate and the applicant must demonstrate why this is unlikely. It sucks for those who are unreasonably denied, although it's also not totally incomprehensible. She can apply again and an earlier denial is not suposed to have any bearing. It also should not have any bearing on an application for another type of visa which would have different requirements.

"The future is much like the present, only longer."

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Mononoke28 says on Feb 29, 2008, 10:25:

Don't people who are admitted to any college have to prove they have the financial means to cover their expenses, including tuition before they can go to the embassy for the student visa? I think I read that in Eltiempo.com.

Anybody?

Diana

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Gator says on Feb 29, 2008, 12:54:

First and foremost you need to show she has been accepted by a SEVIS approved school. This is most recent Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility of Non-immigrant Student Status, issued by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school she plans to attend. Must have this to complete the I-901 form. Other documents, at a minimum, are:

A valid passport with at least six months’ validity remaining. Note the embassy will not process visas for applicants whose passports contain any type of powder. Also, we cannot accept damaged passports.

A completed and signed Form DS-156 (Non-immigrant Visa Application). You may obtain Form DS-156 in Colombia at any authorized Banco de Crédito office, or you may download the form from the embassy website. If you download it from the website, make sure to print both pages of the form on one letter-size (8.5 inches by 11 inches) sheet of paper, front and back. You must take the completed form to Banco de Crédito when you pay the nonrefundable visa application fee.

Applicants must complete form DS-157 (Supplemental Non-immigrant Visa Application). You may obtain form DS-157 at any authorized Banco de Crédito offices, or you may download the form from embassy website.

A completed and signed Form DS-158.

A photograph. Paste the photograph to the front of the Form DS-156 in the photograph space.

Form I-20A-B [Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-1) Student Status - For Academic and Language Students]. You will need to submit a SEVIS-generated Form, I-20A-B, which was provided to you by your school. You and your school official must sign the Form I-20A-B. All students are registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), an Internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on non-immigrant students and exchange visitors and their dependents. The school is responsible for entering your information from the Form I-20A-B into SEVIS.

A Colombian national identity card (cédula de identidad personal) for citizens of Colombia 18 years of age and older, a Colombia residency card for residents of Colombia 18 years of age and older, or an identification card for citizens and residents of Colombia under 18). If you just turned 18 and have not yet received your cedula or residency card, you must present the receipt issued by the Registraduría as well as the corresponding annotation on the passport.

Other paperwork will probably be required the most important is financial evidence that shows you and/or your sponsors have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study. Guaranteed to need this.

About five years ago we sponsored and paid for the son of our foreman at the finca to attend the University of Florida(where else for a Gator) and the boy graduated in computer engineering in December 2006. The real paper work was the financial records we had to produce. YOU WILL BE QUESTIONED IN DETAIL ABOUT THE TORURIST VISA. IF THE EMBASSY STAFF FEELS THERE IS ANY HINT THAT SHE WILL NOT RETURN TO COLOMBIA OR SHE IS NOT A LEGITIMATE STUDENT THE VISA WILL BE DENIED.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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miamimike says on Feb 29, 2008, 19:35:

Buongone says on Thursday February 28th, 2008 23:35:

The immigration process is almost a travesty. Yet they almost bend over backwards for Mexican people
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BG-I wouldn't say they(state dept) throw a Red Carpet down for the Mexicans. My EX-Wife was Mexican and they put her thru the Mill. No Courtesies for her yet she had all the "Right STuff" An Executive Level Job of 15 years seniority with Sieman's in Guadalajara, Title to her Condo, No Criminal Record, a sizeable Bank Account, Strong family ties ect.

In regards to why they put Colombians thru the wringer concerning the granting of Tourist/Student Visas is the fact that there are MANY Visa Overstayers from Colombia so they assume( wrongly in many cases) that every single young Person is going to overstay. If you are looking to place Blame, place it correctly! That is why Colombia years back was removed from the Visa Lottery; overstays are factored into what countries are included and Colombia is not Permitted due to the high amount of overstays. Its a shame for the well intentioned honest Colombians but these Visa Absconders ruin it for everyone.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Buongone says on Feb 29, 2008, 21:16:

So true. Just venting. But it seems though as the Mexican people have an easier time of it. I know it used to easy for the GI's to get Philippino women over here. But not no more.

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jorgegdiaz says on Mar 1, 2008, 04:50:

Miake, Col wasn´t "removed" from the visa lottery.
Every year State makes a list of eligible countries based on several factors. One of them is numbers of each country citizens who became US permanent residents (through family reunion, adjustment of status, inmigrant visa, etc).

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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miamimike says on Mar 1, 2008, 06:56:

JD-let me rephrase that; every year, Colombia is not included due to the factors you mention and the % of Visa absconderswhich Yes, are included as a determing factor as to what countires are included and which ones are not. Overstays are a Factor,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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