Tired but Very Happy

Well, we went yesterday to the US consulate and after only 3 hours we were approved for our k-1. The interview part was actually the easy part, preparing was the tough part. I have a couple of suggestions...

1. Have lots and lots of photos. I know the paper says like 4, but I would recommend having 12 (I know) between the lab, the medical, and the consulate, they kept asking for more photos. I think we had 10 by the time we were finished, but better safe than sorry.

2. Make your appointment for your lab and medical exam at least one week before you need to have it. And when you go to the exams, make sure you take all of the important papers with you. (Every form and pic should suffice, supporting docs, aren't necessary).

3. As long as you are at the consulate at 6:30, you will be in great shape. The immigrant visas move along pretty quick, and they only make about 70 a day, and this includes for kids and other dependents. Just DO NOT BE LATE!

4. If you have a dependent child sponsor, regardless of the age, they need to be there. I know we have received papers saying that our son didn't need to be there because of his age, but the interviewer was very disturbed by this, and was adamant that he come with us today when we pick up the visa.

5. We saw many other ladies there with big books of stuff to support. DO NOT put your formulario in plastic or in a book. You will just have to remove them. The supporting stuff is okay, but they didn't even ask for ours.

6. Dress casually but nice. Jeans may be a little to casual, and a jacket and tie a little to formal. But, bring a jacket of some form. Everything is outside (although covered) and if you've never been to Bogota at 7 in the morning, it is cold.

7. These rules always change, so even though I say one thing today, tomorrow they could be completely different. This is just one families experience.

Good luck to you all, and now I can sleep.

By hunjb224 on Jul 27, 2006, 06:30 in Visa & paperwork.

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divina22 says on Jul 30, 2006, 05:49: Thanks for th input! I will be traveling tomorrow to meet my fiance in Bogota for our SECOND interview. I wasn't with him for the first and after having what I thought was lots of evidence, it wasn't and they didn't grant his visa. So, we have another opportunity and I am going for this one, I should have gone to the first one but couldn't make the arrangements. I now have in hand, 93 photos of he and I, and about 2,000 e-mails showing our communication throughout the past year+....... and I will be there so I think that might be enough evidence (they asked for it, they're getting it). Wish me luck! Congratulations on your visa! Winners have simply formed the habit of doing things losers don't like to do....... 0 funny, 0 helpful.

hunjb224 says on Jul 31, 2006, 05:49: Good Luck Divina You being there will definitely be helpful to the process. They may ask how you communicate, if he speaks english and vice versa. Make sure you (and he) know the history on your travel to Colombia, how many times, when, etc... Be relaxed and at the interview stand by. Best Wishes! 0 funny, 0 helpful.

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