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Tourist Visa info

I had the priviledge of visiting Colombia this summer with a very good friend of mine and his family. I was also very fortunate to meet a wonderful girl from the city of Circasia (small town outside of Armenia) while out there. The stroy of how we met is a long and funny one which I wont bore poeple with here, but suffice it to say she is a friend of a friend of a friend. Well we hit it off instantly and have kept in touch via phone since my return back to Colorado, thank goodness for those phone cards. Well when I left, I promised that I would return to see her again which I am doing in a few short weeks (New Years). I also told her that I wanted her to visit me in Colorado and see all the beautiful things from my country. So since then I have been researching like a maniac to see all her options to visit, since her english is horrible the student visa was out of the question, so the only other option for us at this time was the tourist visa.

Setting up the appointment for the interview was very simple, I called the 1-800 number here in the states and told the guy that I wanted my girlfriend to visit me here to meet my parents. He asked a few questions such as her birthday, and ID number amd then gave me the appointment date over the phone. Now we need to visit some bank (can't remember which one) and pay the $100 USD fee for the interview. Once the fee is paid they will give you a receipt which needs to be placed in the passport.

I was also told when I called to arrange her Visa Interview at the Embassy that along with the Visa application she needed to provide documentation showing how she was paying for the trip to the US and also provide documentation showing that she intends to return to Colombia after the trip as well. I am not sure what we will provide for the finances of the trip since I am paying for her trip out here. As far as the intention to return, we are going to provide employment records in Colombia, her University class schedule, documents showing ownership of property, and financial records as well. I will be sure and keep everyone here posted on how this all turns out.

Also all new to me as well, so if anyone else here as info on this matter, it would be greatly appreciated.

Carl from Colorado

By carldecolorado on Dec 19, 2004, 20:00 in Visa & paperwork.

ACBlessing says on Dec 19, 2004, 20:15:

I'm curious too My GF has an appointment for a tourist visa in January however the advice I received was that she shouldn't tell anyone about me or else they might deny her. I guess a lot of girls come up here to see their boyfriends but don't return.

I haven't had to call any 800 number in the states as she got the appointment on her own. Anyway, I'll stay close to this thread.

Alex Blessing, Spokane, WA, USA
alex at acblessing.com,MSN Messenger
www.acblessing.com

Just plain poor

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carldecolorado says on Dec 19, 2004, 20:23:

Let me know how her interview goes Maritca's interview is set for this March, so please keep me posted on how your girlfriends interview goes. Is she planning on suppling any of the types of documentation that I mentioned??

Also I sent you a private email as well!!

Carl from Colorado

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utopiacowboy says on Dec 19, 2004, 21:09:

I would love to hear how these tourist visa interviews play out. Please keep us posted.

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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mrxcol says on Dec 20, 2004, 07:11:

Hope it works I wish you the best luck but it doesn't sounds easy.

Your friend is from Circasia so she doesn't seems to have a strong economical position. Circasia is not a big city and most of the people with money live in big cities. Getting a tourist via for USA is the hardest thing to do here.

The embassy says by default they consider the applicant to remain in USA and not return and is tha applicant's duty to convince the US agent that he will return.

There are soooooooooo many times i've seen friends with very good economical position, long term jobs (5 years in the same company), university and postgraduate studies being rejected their application that it's hard to believe somebaody get a touruist visa. In fact almost all colombians know that it's just luck to get a visa. Once my father in USA promoted my sister-in-law's trip with my brother but they rejected. No word why, they simply say (exact words):

"We're sorry You don't seem to comply with the requirements to enter USA. We invite you to try again when your personal situation change"

Luckyly i've had visa for 20 years so i have good chanches of getting renewed. But is a hard task for first time applicants.

Advice: Tell her to:

- Save all her bank reports (last 6 months) and possibly up to a year showing money transaction over COP$ 500.000.
- Get into some studies here in colombia. It would be better if you're studying.
- Ask for a personal reccomendation from her boss in a company labeled letter.
- Although embassy says the opposite, about 70% of applications are decided prior to the applicant going to the interview. During the interview look normal (not anxious) and don't mention that her boyfriend is waiting for her (and paying her expenses). Don't even mention at all. Say something like: i want to visit a park, i'm on vacations, etc.

Once again hope she get it, but it's so hard to get one here unless you're in your mid 30's and have money. And also, lots of luck.

Julian.

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carldecolorado says on Dec 20, 2004, 09:28:

Thanks for the comments Thank you for all the feedback on this process. I knew going into this that it would be difficult, but your comments just sort of reaffirmed my beliefs. I will be sure to have her provide the types of documentation that you suggested and keep my fingers crossed.

Again Julian, thank you for your feedback!

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carldecolorado says on Mar 14, 2005, 10:17:

Well her Visa Interview is this week, cross your fingers for me Well her interview is this week, St Paddy's day to be exact. Please cross your fingers for me.

As far as paper work goes, she has an apartment in her name, a car, a contract as a Respiratory Therapist at the hospital in Circasia and 6 Million Pesos in the bank. Hopefully all these documents will be enough to get her the Visa.

If she doesn't get it, we do have a Plan B which is me going back out there for the Christmas Holidays.

Carl

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KirkWest53 says on Mar 14, 2005, 13:03:

Good Luck Carl, Good to see you on line again. I also wanted my girlfriend to come and see Colorado. The more I researched it, the more improbable it seemed. She had a good job and stable life but the outcome of her tourist visa was very uncertain. I ended up marrying her and she now lives in Colorado. Even that took 6 months. I hope your novia's interview goes well and she can come to Colorado. If she does, call me and we can get together.
PS - We are leaving for Barranquilla tomorrow morning for a week. Really looking forward to it, though the temp is supposed to be 104
Kirk

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Zepp says on Mar 15, 2005, 09:13:

Good Luck... Hey man I connected with your story in a similar way instead I didn't get a girlfriend but became extremely attached to some family over there that I had never met especially a couple of cousins I have who are about my age. I absolutely fell in love with the country. So now I'm in the process of trying to get my younger cousin out here to study and trying to get my other cousin to at least visit and some other relatives to visit as well. So now I'm in the process of figuring that out. But I am absolutely dying for them to get here so I can understand how you are feeling.

I love the US but traveling over there was a life changing experience. I mean over here we fight about stupid stuff and over there they have the minimum but are happy. I'm trying to go back over there for the summer and again during the holidays. Man I had NEVER celebrated Christmas and New Years like I did over there. What a shame too cuz I am of colombian descent but never went there till a few months ago. Now I have a lot of living to catch up to.

Hey but good luck with her getting the tourist visa....but why not try for a student visa? Wouldnt she wnat to study here at least for a couple of years?

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carldecolorado says on Mar 15, 2005, 13:54:

Student Visa Requires Proficiency In English I did look at trying to get her a Student Visa as well, but for that she needs to be proficient in English and take the TOFEL test. She is currently studying english, but is no where near ready to take and pass that test so the only other option for us to to try for the Tourist Visa.

I also know what you mean about the way of life down there and the outlook on life as well. It is very refreshing.

Good luck to you as well and let me know if I can be of any help to you.

Carl

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platano says on Mar 15, 2005, 18:16:

Crap shoot or "window roulette" I have spent hours in the lines outside that bunker and depending on what window I was called to I got or did not get a visa. I could never figure out the gringo system, and like you I knew well-connected people with property in Colombia, people to stay with in USA, a letter from the mayor, cash in the bank, you name it they had it, and BAM! a big NO! No rhyme or reason that I could tell. Gringos locos!

plátano

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utopiacowboy says on Mar 15, 2005, 19:14:

No te preocupes, Platano. We can't figure out the damm system either and we're allegedly the gringoes whose embassy it is. I hate the place. It makes me ashamed to be an American.

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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carldecolorado says on Mar 17, 2005, 09:57:

Crap Shoot Didn't pan out!! Well I just got off the phone with Martica and it seems that after waiting in line for about 3.5 hours today she was told NO, for her tourist visa request. I sort of figured this was going to be the response, but at the same time I am a bit disappointed.

So it seems that I will be traveling out to Armenia again towards the end of this year as well to celebrate Christmas and New Years with her family.

Thanks to everyone that had their fingers crossed for me, and I hope that someone here in the future gets lucky with the whole tourist Visa thing.

Carl

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utopiacowboy says on Mar 17, 2005, 12:19:

Thanks for letting us know how it turned out.

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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carldecolorado says on Mar 18, 2005, 13:27:

Maybe... Who knows Thanks Gator and to answer your question, the best I can say is maybe.

Carl

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