warning for Canadians....

utopiacowboy says on Mar 23, 2006, 11:19:

You got that right, dude. I feel for you man. Anyone complaining about the US immigration system should consider the fact that in my case the ONLY piece of evidence any government official ever saw was our marriage certificate. For the entire K-3 process and for the AOS process afterwards to get her green card, that was the only document we were ever asked to produce. Pretty amazing.

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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oldbongo says on Mar 23, 2006, 11:20:

steve,..steve.. steve... didn't you take the oldgringos' advice?...
shame on you...

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rjstuff says on Mar 23, 2006, 15:30:

Can't your elected officials help? Here in USA we are able to contact our senators and congressmen for help with visa issues (they routinely have staff assigned to help the citiznes.) Don't you have access to your elected officials - they can sometimes start inquiries that can yield results.
It really is strange that Canda will be so much more harsher than US - I would have believed it to be the other way around. Good Luck and seek help from all sources including immigration attorneys - maybe something will work.

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utopiacowboy says on Mar 23, 2006, 22:15:

You have to provide copies of documents showing that any prior marriages were terminated (death certificates, divorce decrees etc) but all the K-3 actually requires in the way of documentation is a marriage certificate. All that other junk, letters of intent, photos together, proof of relationship is for the K-1 people.

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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Steve-88 says on Mar 24, 2006, 06:43:

RJ,
The problem is that in Canada, our members of parliament, similar to a US congressman, really has no authority to help us with immigration. The best they can do is "look into" the application and see what stage it is at. I have done this twice, and all it got me was the information that the file is sitting in a pile somewhere in Bogota since November 2005, without even being opened. So there is no help available at all because the Canadian immigration system is completely opaque to the public, they wont tell you anything about your file and you have no way or means to expedite the process. In fact, they actually "warn" you that if you attempt to call or e-mail the embassy, it will only slow down your application even more.

Oldgringo, if I recall correctly from your previous posts, you went through the conjugal partner class. Honestly, since I am a regular participant in various Canadian immigration message boards, I am aware of many "conjugal" class cases that are flat-out rejected by the visa office. I think you somehow managed to hit the lottery with your application and/or you had a very "rare" Visa officer that actually knew how to do their job. Also, for most of us, it is impossible to leave Canada and live in Colombia especially when we are trying to establish our careers in Canada, in my case, conjugal class was not even an option.

The point is, to AVOID having to deal with the Bogota office of the Canadian immigration system. Looking back, my wife should have stayed in the USA (we met there while I was employed in the states) and applied through the Buffalo Visa office. If so, she would have probably been living in Canada by now. But, hind sight is 20/20.

So, if at all possible, avoid doing ANY Canadian immigration through the Bogota Canadian embassy office, the slowest, most inefficient, useless Canadian Visa office in the entire world (and yes, the statistics verify this). THe only Canadian visa office worse than Bogota in terms of delays and inefficiency, are the tiny visa outposts in sub-saharan africa. Again, you can verify these statistics on the Canadian immigration website.

Additional advice: If you, as a Canadian meet your Colombian spouse or girlfriend in ANY country other then Colombia, and she has legal status in that country, apply through the Canadian Visa office in THAT country. Whatever you do, dont try to apply through Bogota or like me, you will be spending the first 3-4 years of your marriage living on separate continents. So, the problem is SPECIFICALLY with Bogota, not so much the other Canadian Visa outposts.

Why is this? A couple possibilities: It is hopelessly understaffed, they only work monday to thursday and close at noon on fridays (while almost ALL other Canadian visa offices in the world will work 5 full days including on weekends). Even worse, the Bogota embassy closes on every single Colombian holiday (and as you know, there are about 250 days off every year on the Colombian Calender!! LOL). Of course, this is insane because a "foreign" embassy should be working off the Calender of the Country it represents, since legally and technically, an embassy represents "Canadian Territory" within Colombia. So, even though the Bogota office is completely backlogged with thousands of pending cases, they continue to work sporadically and inefficiently, rather then putting in the extra time and manpower to clear up the backlogged cases.

Americans, you have no idea how good you have it!! You can even bring a Colombian fiancee into the States. In Canada, we are treated like subhumans when we "dare" to make the mistake of falling in love and marrying a human being who is not a "canadian citizen". Very sad indeed.

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rjstuff says on Mar 24, 2006, 06:52:

That's very pathetic. Can your wife move to another place e.g. Pananma/Costa Rica/etc. and then you reapply from that consulate or is that too difficult to do at this stage? Good Luck

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Steve-88 says on Mar 24, 2006, 06:56:

Actually RJ, thats quite a good idea and we are now looking at other countries, either for me to find a new job in, or that would be possible for my wife to re-apply from another Canadian Visa office. I will update our situation once anything changes. I find there is hardly any information on the internet for other Canadians going through this process. Thank you for your comments and ideas.

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oldbongo says on Mar 24, 2006, 11:11:

gee whiz.... the oldgringo can see what the problem is...

for him, the point was to bring la commandante to canada.

for you..

"the point is, to AVOID having to deal with the bogota office"

duhhhh!!!!!!!..........

ever hear of cutting off your nose to spite your face?

your description of your response to this tribulation is typical,
and was so clearly predicted.

the oldgringo was lucky?......preparation kinda helps..hello?

and now, you're looking elsewhere,...
.. rather than buck up and show up.

"impossible"??..
to achive the impossible,..you must attempt the ridiculous.

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Steve-88 says on Mar 24, 2006, 12:24:

Maybe if you had read the original post you would have noted that my "preparation" included over 100 pages of photos, letters, e-mails, plane ticket receipts, phone bills, etc. In short, every possible trace and documentary evidence of my relationship to my wife.

How dare you insinuate I have not made every effort to deal with this difficult situation. You dont know me, my background or anything else about my personal circumstances. Try seeing what its like to have your life torn apart and being kept separated from your wife for 7 months due to bureaucratic stupidity. If you have nothing of any intelligence to add to the conversation then sod off you imbecile.

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oldbongo says on Mar 24, 2006, 14:37:

takes one, to know one,... the oldgringo loves namecalling..

oldgringo did read of your posts, from the word go.

100 pages don't mean squat if they are not prepared,presented,
and defended, in EXACTLY the right way. (maybe beyond you)

there is no insinuation, only point blank good advice, which you asked for and ignored.

the oldgringo was separated from his commandante for more than
one year due to the same bureaucracy...he learned the hard way too.

you are too dumb for more words....

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dave_travels says on Mar 26, 2006, 08:06:

Steve,,,,,is that 7 months since you submitted your sponsorship Steve. Is that 7 months since you submitted your sponsorship application in Canada? Did they request for any missing information after that?

I am sort of expecting to wait at least seven months from the sponsorship application.

On my first experience with the process in 89. It took 13 months to get the visa (fortunately spouse was in Canada). Still, I was so frustrated that I ended up shouting and screaming in front of a 100 people in the waiting room of the immigration office in Surry BC. They then processed her visa within an hour. That was my first confirmation that maybe sometimes "the squeeky wheel gets the grease".

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davidfmbca says on Apr 18, 2006, 12:43:

Steve-O Steve-o, don't panic just yet. It sounds like you're only a few months behind the regular turn around time for these applications. I'm told that it usually takes 2 months in Mississauga, Canadian immigration office and 4-6 months in Bogota. It may help to get your Member of Parliment to make a phone call or two. There's probably an election coming in the next year so he (she) will be anxious to help you. Also, I would consider hiring an immigration lawyer, either in Canada or Bogota to help you along. The best is Cohen Campbell in Montreal 1-888-947-9445 and a good guy, english speaking fellow in Bogota can also help you, I heard. His name is Luis E. Riano Tel: 222-7525 cel: 3124338096. I've dealt with Cohen in Canada and he's great but I haven't used Riano but I heard he's supposed to be very honest and helpful guy. Good luck.

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cancol says on Apr 21, 2006, 20:26:

Hard to argue I'm telling tales out of school, so as long as no one asks me for personal details, I'm happy to offer my personal experience for whatever it's worth.

I have been in this limbo with my wife since the summer of 2005 and have actively sought out people who work in and around the immigration system. This has given me a lot of information but sometimes contradictory.

The Bogota CIC office is the worst in the Western Hemisphere, and it has been this way for years. Whether it's the management of the Bogota office or higher-ups that allow this situation to continue, I don't know, but I do know that everyone I have dealt with knows this office is a joke.

First things first, the office has six months to process spousal applications, so don't bother doing anything until six months have passed. Their standard line will be "it's within the normal processing times".

Once the six months have past, get your MP's office to fax the Bogota office for a status update; in theory the office has 48 hours to reply. In my case, the assistant at my MP's office simply sighed when I said Bogota, and let me know that this particular office will use whatever excuses to avoid replying. I won't give any details, but suffice to say that 48 hours have long since elapsed without a word.

Another trick that was suggested to me is to fax the office asking for an update, and indicating that you have not received any information or requests from them since the application process started. This was useful for me because it turns out they had asked for updated police certificates, but we never got the letter. So my fax earned a phone call to my wife by an irate locally engaged staff asking for the updated police certificates. I can't say for sure that this always works, because I sent my fax the day before the bf date.

Subsequent faxes have highlighted the imminent expiry of my wife's medical exam results (they are good for one year), because just about everyone I have talked with says CIC hates to let those expire, as this requires new tests, costs, delays, etc... So far, the Bogota office has cheerfully ignored my faxes, so it could be that CIC hates for meds to expire, but Bogota doesn't care.

My next trick to fly to Bogota and make all reasonable efforts to talk to the visa officer and ask them to expedite the visa before the meds expire. oldgringo, if you have any advice about how to collar a visa officer, that would be much appreciated.

In the meantime, I can offer up that there probably no more than 3 or 4 CBO's in Bogota, with an unknown number of LES; the LES will go through the documents, photos, etc...and request whatever additional documentation is required, or send it back to Ottawa for security checks. Once the LES is satisfied that the file is legit, they send it to ta CBO for final review and visa issuance. This, from what I have been told, is where the backlog occurs, as the CBO's will give priority to life-and-death refugee applications. Colombia is one of only six countries that CIC recognizes internally-displaced refugees, which is why Bogota's processing times are so absurd (check the African countries that are even slower, and you start to get the picture). Sad but true, many bogus refugee claims (describing the same sordid and life-threatening situation word for word) will be processed in a couple of months, while your honest, rule-abiding spousal applications gather dust on a desk.

I do think that people who have been screwed by this office need to get together and start complaining to CIC in Ottawa to do something about this office. Whether it's firing the manager, or temporarily assinging a half-dozen CBO's for six months to clear the backlog, I don't really care, but this kind of situation continues because not enough people complain about it.

Will keep you posted on how things work, but please keep posting information, as everyone benefits from this. Blaming applicants or spouses is unproductive, as it all rests in the hands of Bogota.

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James DIchter says on Apr 22, 2006, 12:42:

Solution
My 3 cents.


I went through this with my go who was Mexican at the time. Call your MP... Over and over and over again. I used Jim Peterson local mp for Willowdale, Ontario. Apparently he knew nothing of the sponsorship scandal. He's a politician, why would he lie?

I managed to bug him enough and got a Ministers permit issued and had status for her within 2 weeks! The whole process took 5 weeks. Make sure he knows what you do for a living and drop some names.

It was the biggest pain in the ass in my life today and for that she gets to live in and work in sunny Canada.

"Success is more important than being right."

Success is more important than being right.

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crystaln says on Apr 23, 2006, 08:48:

Be Patient! Hello...I have successfully received a visa for my conjugal partner. You need to be more patient! Seven months is NOTHING. Be prepared to wait and in the meantime do everything you can. If she has not received an interview yet you must still wait. If she has...tell her to give the Embassy a call to follow up...follow up ...follow up... In Canada, you should definitely contact your local MP and ruffle some feathers.

The entire process for me took about a year.

Best of luck, I feel for you!

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crystaln says on Apr 23, 2006, 08:48:

Be Patient! Hello...I have successfully received a visa for my conjugal partner. You need to be more patient! Seven months is NOTHING. Be prepared to wait and in the meantime do everything you can. If she has not received an interview yet you must still wait. If she has...tell her to give the Embassy a call to follow up...follow up ...follow up... In Canada, you should definitely contact your local MP and ruffle some feathers.

The entire process for me took about a year.

Best of luck, I feel for you!

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Lexxx says on Apr 23, 2006, 15:01:

I want to know what to expect Hello. I am new member to this site, and I am very thankfull to have people like you guys that have experiences for getting visas for spouses in colombia. Any knowlegde you guys can share or answer will be very appreciated. Apparently, I married my wife last year at May 2005, and started to the process of sponsoring my wife at once. I got my approval to be a sponsor at Feb 2006 and the file got to the embassy of Canada in Colombia at the end of Feb 2006. I am very anxious so far from comments from other above that they have waited years and years for the visa. Is it a common practice to take years? Can more of you share some experiences of the time you guys have waited to get your spousal visa's? If my file is in Colombia in Feb 2006, whats a good education quess as to when my wife would be as for an interview? And what is the usual length of time after the interview that she gets her approval, is it answer on the spot? This is my first post ever!!! I am glad that I am not alone in this. Best of luck to all of you.

Lexxx

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Lexxx says on Apr 23, 2006, 15:01:

I want to know what to expect Hello. I am new member to this site, and I am very thankfull to have people like you guys that have experiences for getting visas for spouses in colombia. Any knowlegde you guys can share or answer will be very appreciated. Apparently, I married my wife last year at May 2005, and started to the process of sponsoring my wife at once. I got my approval to be a sponsor at Feb 2006 and the file got to the embassy of Canada in Colombia at the end of Feb 2006. I am very anxious so far from comments from other above that they have waited years and years for the visa. Is it a common practice to take years? Can more of you share some experiences of the time you guys have waited to get your spousal visa's? If my file is in Colombia in Feb 2006, whats a good education quess as to when my wife would be as for an interview? And what is the usual length of time after the interview that she gets her approval, is it answer on the spot? This is my first post ever!!! I am glad that I am not alone in this. Best of luck to all of you.

Lexxx

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oldbongo says on Apr 26, 2006, 11:47:

a little unsure of your plan..... THE WIFE COMES WITH YOU AND WAITS DOWNSTAIRS.
BETTER TO ONE HOUR EARLY THAN ONE MINUTE LATE.

SWEET TALK AND SHOW HER YOUR PAPER REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW.
BE PREPAREDED TO OFFER TO WAIT, AND IF REFUSED AN INTERVIEW,
THEN TURN UP THE INTENSITY BY EXPLAINING YOUR CANADIAN RIGHT
TO AT LEAST AN APPOINTMENT, MANANA.
you'll be fine....

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cancol says on Apr 26, 2006, 20:04:

They folded Called her in the morning, all sweetness and cheerfulness, your visa has been approved, no need for you to come to Bogota, the courier will deliver it in two business days, have a nice day.

Still doing the trip, what with a non-refundable ticket and all, but now it's a vacation instead of a showdown. Not sure if it was my fax with the itinerary showing my arrival date, or the fax from my MP's office, but the nightmare is over after 8 months and 2 days. I'll be posting more about my experience when I get back home in a couple of weeks.

For those of you who have waited more than 6 months, get your MP to send a fax; if your application is routine, it unclogs the machinery, and if your application is non-routine, at least you'll know what the hold up is.

Good luck to all, I am still in shock that this is finally over. Gracias a todos por sus contribuciones tambien!

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rjstuff says on Apr 27, 2006, 08:29:

Congrats. All is not lost after all. Others can see that they have a chance also. Have fun

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daver says on Apr 27, 2006, 19:25:

Congrats!!! (you lucky, lucky, lucky BASTARD!!!!!!!!!!!)LOL!

I am still waiting..... I live in Medellin full time and I just refuse to let this waiting game bother me.

My case is one of the "non routine" deals, so I just keep waiting.

Anyway, cancol, I am very happy for you.

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utopiacowboy says on Apr 27, 2006, 22:01:

You the man, Daver! You living the dream, dude. No 1 am calls from some "lawyer" to your old lady! We've seen the photos - we know you're the lucky bastard.

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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oldbongo says on Apr 28, 2006, 09:45:

well played cancol.... as expected,..if you do it right,...nulles perspirandum.

as to the.." WARNING FOR CNADIANS"...title....:

let the warning be: don't be like the poster.

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daver says on Apr 28, 2006, 10:28:

U-Cowboy Well, seeing the photos of my wife, many would say that I am lucky, and when you cross reference the photos of my wife with the photos of me, only then do I become a "VERY LUCKY BASTARD!"

As far as the original poster, I feel his pain, but I don't agree with him on some points.

Mainly, going through Buffalo instead of Bogota. THe waiting times in Bogota are the worst in the western hemisphere, but if you look at the posted times, Buffalo is the second worst, only a 2 months or so quicker than Bogota.

You then must deal with the fact that your sponsored person is not living in the county of their citizenship, and you will have to get Buffalo to communicate with Bogota, then back to Canada. I can't see this being quicker, but then again I don't really know for sure.

As for those who are Canadian and married to a Colombian, I would suggest the following:

1. Understand that it is not going to be quick and easy
2. Understand that Canada has a grip on the problem of illegal immigration (not like our friends to the south) and short cuts, work arounds, and gifts to to your MPs don't work.
3. Make plans to live in Colombia. Cross cultural relationships are not easy, and this will give the chance to learn a bit more about Colombia, and you can fight things out face to face and not on the phone.
4. Remember that the Canadian embassy in Bogotas main problem is created by Colombians with bogus refugee claims. Do not insult them on a public form like this, and this website is generally for non-Colombians, and your case officer may be a member on this web-site.

I have met 4 people in Medellin who have relatives living in Canada under refugee status. In all 4 cases, after careful proding, they all amitted that the claims were fake.

I have met 2 people on the plane (Air Canadas glorious Bogota to Toronto direct!!! No more INS THANK GOD!!) who were visiting Colombia for the first time after getting refugee status in Canada (I think they have to wait 3 years before being able to go home to visit) and they both admitted that they lied too.

For any Colombian who wants to cook up a fake refugee claim realize that you are doing the following:

a) You create hardships for people trying to be with their families
b) You are possibly killing a fellow Colombian who truely deserves asylum in Canada, but cannot get it because there is a back-log of fake claims.

My two Canadian cents (which, are getting quite valuable these days...snicker snicker!!)

Dave

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