Need Help Please

Michael B says on Sep 6, 2005, 23:51:

help Please tell me she is more than 17 years old and I will help you. (Hey, internet and web cam? That sounds just like how I met my wife, who is also from Cali).

1) Do I have to marry her first to bring her here? --No, there is a K-1 visa (fiancee visa). With this visa, she may enter the US ONE time only. After she is here, if you get married within 90 days and file follow up papers (Adjustment of Status) she may stay forever (and leave and return as often as she wants). If you don't get married within 90 days or fail to file the Adjustment of Status, she'll have to leave the US....go to the BCIS (formerly INS) web page and you can read the regulations and download the forms. (And you DON'T need to hire a lawyer to fill them out)

2) Is it required that I go to Colombia to be with her first before I can bring her here? --Yes and no. To qualify for the fiancee visa, you will have to prove that the two of you have met in person at least once within the last two years. Where you meet doesn't matter legaly, but as a practical matter, since she can't enter the US, you'll have to go to Colombia or find a netural country to meet in.

3) I would also like to know what is the safest way to send her money. --There are many money sending services. Dolex is the best that I'm aware of in Texas, I think they serve California too. Go to the Mexican part of town and look for their sign in the windows of small businesses. I've used them lots of times and never lost a cent.---(now comes the meddling) Are you sure it's time to send her money? I'll leave that decesion to you. Some guys do, some guys don't, some guys get played for a sucker, some don't. Naturally, there will be expenses concerning the visa (certified copies of documents from Colombian Civil Registery, these documents must be translated into English, somebody has to pay for that, etc.). Some guys pay for their lady to study English, some guy give them an 'allowance', (some guy make her family think they've just won the lottery) how much money you send her, what it's for and how will it be accounted for is something that you and she will have to work out, each couple's needs are different.

dannyherm says on Sep 7, 2005, 07:58:

Totally agree I totally agree with everything said. Go to Colombia to meet her in person BEFORE you decide to get married. You have to meet her face to face anyway. PS, when you do, take plenty of pictures with date stamps to prove when you where there. Also keep you airline ticket receipt. You'll need that to prove you were in Colombia.

As for sending money, I use Dinero Seguro through the US post office. Only available at certain post offices (website can tell you which ones). What I like is the flat fee. For $10 you can send up to $700 I believe.

I do send my novia money each payday. But only after I was sure we had a legitimate relationship, and we were both committed to getting married. She never asked for the money, and even refused it at first. If your novia is too eager to accept your money, be careful.

PS, here's some comforting words if you're concerned about how long it takes. I went to Colombia to meet my novia in person in April. By late May we had submitted her K-1. Just last week she recieved her first packet, which she is turning into the embassy today. If all goes well, she'll have her embassy interview next month, and be here in October or November. Seven months from meeting her in person to getting her here. Not bad.

Buena Suerte,

Danny H.

Neonovo says on Sep 7, 2005, 09:44:

I 2nd that notion... Personal interaction is paramount...then everything else. I met my Lady in Sept /04-went out twice two nights in a row; Then in Nov/04 I mangage to miss my plane and get left behind in Bogotá, so I spent a weekend at her house, separate; visited a few sites, got to talk a little more about the future; then took her to San Andres in Feb/05, and gave her an ATM after we came back to Bogotá; Petitioned for her in April; and I'm headed back day after tomorrow for the inteview. Heading back a week from Friday.

So she'll be here just about 1 year from the day we met. I'm not complaining either.

Paz
Neonovo

ps: I found the best way to send money is via an ATM card from Compass bank (no fees)

cali4cali says on Sep 7, 2005, 10:31:

I know it sounds like I am rushing into this with this girl but... well maybe I am. =) Honestly we have never approached the marriage with each other but I am sure it is in the back of her mind like it is mine. We have talked many times about how we would like to be with each other but she is so far away. I know I may be a bit of a wuss but Colombia scares me a bit. It is probably all from the media coverage and movies that depict the country as overrun by the guerillas and drug lords. I have been reading the talk in the friendly talk forum and there was a thread about "Is Cali safe?" From what I read as long as I stay out of certain areas and don't wander around alone at night or go to the cities outside of Cali I should be okay. How do the local men feel though when they see a gringo with a Colombiana?
You are all right though, if I ever want to think about marriage with her I need to meet her in person. I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and get my butt down there.
As far as the money I was just wondering but have not discussed money with her. If she was asking me for money I would be pretty skeptical.
Thanks again.
Matt

adela says on Sep 7, 2005, 15:30:

advices

Matt, I suppose you don't expect advices from a caleña like me, but...please,

1.-I think it is better for you to visit her in Cali for some time (at least 3 trips in two years). Cali is more safe than ny, los Angeles, Chicago or Miami. There are hundreds of good hotels or aparta-hotels located in safest places of the city.


2.Why, why, why you have to send her money? Is very unusual that a tipical caleña could accept any money from a boyfriend.

As Muchael B said: are you 60 and she is teeneger?. I hope not.

CaliCalor

adela says on Sep 7, 2005, 15:33:

did you read my thread about match maker agencies? I did talk about
a private investigator that told me how many women are attracting gringos from the net. What kind of women: prostitutes, thiefs, etc..

Think about it...

CaliCalor

Cel says on Oct 9, 2005, 11:59:

Visas Gonzalo Services located in Cali Plaza, processes more documents for visas than anyone else in Cali. The information is located at www.CaliPlaza.com, under services.

BAQ says on Oct 9, 2005, 21:08:

Here is what you do Not trying to be rude, but if you can;t figure your questions out and find the answers by yourself (They are SIMPLE), you need to seriously reconsider what you are doing. If you are needing help trying to figure out how to send her money, date her, trying to figure out if you need to come down here and get general advice about marriage and visas, you are going to be screwed when it comes time to do the paperwork.

Just a thought.

Semper Fidelis !