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Visa time table from PBH members..

OK my fiancée and I have received our approval, her package from the embassy in Bogota. A couple of questions for those that know.

First question is how long does it take for the embassy to respond with your interview date? How much time do they give you from this notice?

How many days after the interview do you need to book your flight out of Colombia so as a family we are traveling at the same time?

By saddlespur on May 31, 2008, 19:06 in Visa & paperwork.

CatGirl says on May 31, 2008, 19:13:

I hope I am not stepping in too soon here, but I think you can google this on the site? I think this question was just asked recently? (not sure) Either way - it is a common question, so try to google first and see if you find it ;))

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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Robert Jorge says on May 31, 2008, 20:40:

Assuming you are talking about: That the NVC (National Visa Center) approved the petition, and that they notified you that they are sending the package to the embassy in Bogota - here is what happens. #1 They will send your fiancee "package 3" within 3 or 4 weeks from the embassy. Then, within another 2 or 3 weeks, they will send her "package 4", which is essentially the invitation to the final interview and requirements. In package 4, she will get the interview date and time. You can get this information quicker, by searching the interview dates by case number at the embassy. Sorry, I don't have a link to give you, but you can find the list of interview dates by Googling it. It may take a while, but you will find it. Usually, once you get the NVC notice that the petition is approved, you have 2 months to go - or less until the interview.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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saddlespur says on Jun 1, 2008, 06:03:

Thanks RJ. Did you depart for the states with your bride or did you come back for her at a later date? Is it wise to book the return tickets a week after the interview?

To Get What You Never Had...You Must Do What You've Never Done.

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Rikito says on Jun 1, 2008, 06:58:

Also, check out visajourney.com That site is far more competent than any information you can get in here. People in here can only give you info as it relates to them and for most, their process occurred long ago and things/procedures change.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

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beisbollover says on Jun 1, 2008, 09:30:

We got married 12 years ago but at that time we ran into this...
We were told to pick up my wife's passport with the visa inside on a friday. So we went to the embassy to pick it up and i had already bought us tickets to the states for that saturday. When the official looks at my wife's passport and the visa she sees that the name on the visa is spelled wrong, stello instead of stella. So she says that the passport has to go back to DC and be corrected, which will take 3-4 weeks. So whatch out for this kind of BS and buy your tickets after all the paperwork is complete and in your hands. I never got over that ordeal as it caused quite a problem for us both mentally and financially. It was the first time in my life that i realized the good ol' USA has an immigration department similar to old soviet union style. You have no rights and youll like it or not.

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beisbollover says on Jun 1, 2008, 09:30:

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beisbollover says on Jun 1, 2008, 09:30:

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rjstuff says on Jun 1, 2008, 11:39:

Its never a good idea to buy tickets till you have visa in hand - But if you want to do it - just buy completely refundable tickets; that way you can cover yourself if the visa is not granted or has some problem. Many of us did this and were OK. Don't just look at the bad side but figure out how to make it all come out OK for your case. Good Luck

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chester says on Jun 1, 2008, 15:14:

the embassy will not schedule an interview until packet three is returned.

then, generally, it must be returned before the 15th of the month, to be scheduled for the following month.

so, i would say you will not get a june interview, probably in july.

checkout the embassy website for the list of scheduled interviews. look for your case number and see if it is scheduled.

also, the embassy no longer hands out visas the following day of the interview.

you have to pay Domesa service (they have a desk/office in the embassy) and wait about two weeks for the visa to be delivered. the delivery may be faster if the home address is in Bogota.

give yourselves two weeks minimum from the interview date to schedule a flight.

even then, the interview may go bad and you will have to return to the embassy for further interview/paperwork.

Also, go to visajourney.com

there is better info at visajourney.com

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Robert Jorge says on Jun 1, 2008, 19:50:

We came back together. I flew down 2 days before her interview, and we left together 7 days after the interview. I took a calculated risk, and bought the tickets a month before the interview. They were not refundable either. Luckily, I didn't get burned.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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Brians says on Jun 2, 2008, 03:54:

Probably not a good idea to buy the tickets in advance. You recieve the confirmation and she will recieve one in Colombia in the next few days to a week. Then probably a July interview. The Visa will be sent and recieved about 10 days to two weeks after a successful interview. Some little things like paying the fee to the bank are necessary and cause confusion for a lot of people. However generally if you do eveything right she'll get it in a week or two after the interview. If you just got the packet in the US then I would expect a July interview if you are lucky. However she needs to get her packet and express mail it back and then wait.

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famsearch says on Jun 23, 2008, 20:08:

as for my wife and i, we were married in december of 2004, started the paperwork around january/february of 2005, she had the interview and got the visa in august of 2006, and we flew her here in november of 2006.

dan

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 24, 2008, 08:02:

I was just at the embassy for a K-3 interview last week. This is copied from something I wrote on VisaJourney.com last night.

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You can no longer pick up your visa at the embassy under any circumstances. The applicant should not plan any travel until they have been approved and have made arrangements for visa delivery.

Your visa will be delivered by Domesa, a private courier company used by the embassy. You have a few options when it comes to delivery. The costs for delivery vary by method and location.

Option 1: Picking up your visa at a Domesa office

You can pick up your passport, visa and related documents at selected Domesa offices in Bogota and a limited number of other cities in Colombia. If you live outside of Bogota, do not assume that this option is available in your city. Even if you know of a Domesa office in your city, they may not be able to provide the service.

This is usually the fastest method, especially when picking up your documents at the Domesa office in Bogota. You can normally pick up your visa at the Bogota Domesa office in 3-4 business days. Other cities take a few more days.

Option 2: Having the visa delivered to your home

Domesa will deliver your passport, visa and related documents to your home if you live in certain Colombian cities. Again, do not assume that your city has passport delivery service just because Domesa provides general courier service to your city. This option normally takes 6 to 8 business days.

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