We have are interview date for July at the embassy of Bogota

Mononoke28 says on Jun 2, 2008, 09:34:

Do you have the interview letter in you hands? Because neither doctor nor the lab will see them without the letters.

Diana

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Robert Jorge says on Jun 2, 2008, 09:43:

Hey Ray, the immunizations have to be performed by a US government approved doctor (civil surgeon). The final package your fiance gets will have the detailed instructions and list of approved doctors. If they get their shots now, they will still have to go to the approved doctor anyway and he will have to sign off. Basically, it will double your time, and double your expense.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Mononoke28 says on Jun 2, 2008, 09:50:

No, the shots don't have to be administered by an approved doctor, they can go anywhere they want as long as they are not more than a week old. Mainly because the only two doctors approved by the US embassy in Bogotá want to charge you for them to make more money. If you want they can still go to the Red Cross in Barranquilla no more than a week before their medical and they'll be fine. But again, they need to have their interview letter with them before getting this done or the doctors won't see them.

Diana

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 2, 2008, 09:53:

My wife just talked to Roa's office on Friday and was told that she could get the vaccinations at any Red Cross location. They didn't mention the one week limit. I had been previously told by the same office that it could be up to a month in advance. Still, she is going to get them done within a week of the interview so as not to give them any excuses to hassle her.

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chester says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:00:

my recent experience with vacination shots in Bogota for the embassy interview involved getting shots at the same doctor's office that did the exam.

there is also another clinic where they do the blood work and chest xray for everyone over 15 years of age.

make sure you call and make an appointment.

the clininc opens at about 7 or am. just walk in with the appointment letter.

you need the appointment letter to get in the clinic or doctor's offices.

they are not located in the same part of Bogota.

however, if you have a morning appointment at the clinic, you can make the medical exam office in the afternoon.

the doctor's office charged a high price for all of the extra shots now required by the embassy.

last year, the list was not so long.

hopefully you can get some or all the shots at the Red Cross since their prices are less.

your appointment package should list all the newly required shots.

but be prepared for the doctor to insist he must give extra shots or he will not sign the medical exam report. what a rip.

in any event, I would go two days early and give myself two days in Bogota before the interview date.

on the morning of the interview, you will have to get in line very early, like around 7 am.

though they do have a seperate line for immigrant applicants, like number 3 or something.

do not get in the line for regular tourist visas.

there will be colombian aides out front directing you into the correct line.

once inside, you will directed to other lines and hand over paperwork for initial inspection before waiting for your name to be called where you will finally get to talk to an american consular officer thru a glass plate ticket window by using a phone. sort of like a visiting window at a prison.

you might wait one hour, you might wait 5 hours.

AND BRING JACKETS FOR ALL, BOGOTA IS PHUCKIN COLD.

also, you may wish to stay at a local boading house within walking distance of the embassy that is run by a very nice lady Dona Flora.

price about 40 to 50 bucks a night with breakfast included.

the rooms have multiple beds and private baths with hot water.

nice neighborhood and safe too. just don't eat at the discount chicken joints along the main drag, man, they serve really, really bad chicken.

just make sure you call the clinic and doctor's office for appointments and have the embassy appointment letter.

Also, before you go to the interview, you have to go to a local bank near the embassy and pay the interview fee in advance.

the bank will want some forms filled out as well. sometimes the tellers can be real pricks, if you end up going there and they give you a hard time, ask to speak with the bank manager.
jesus christ, you would think paying a interview fee was rocket science or something.

it is a good idea to have them go early and get some of the shots and exams out of the way, but I would still count on going two days early in July with them in case of paperwork jams.

good luck, sounds like you have a good plan/idea.

ohh, have extra certified copies of your birth certificate.

also, if you need too, there are local internet cafes where you can log onto visajourney.com and the USCIS webites and print out extra forms if you need them.

I had duplicates and triplicates of a lot of stuff.

the extra copies of your birth certificate may be needed later anyway, when you guys file for Adjustment of Status (AOS).

I even had some of my documents such as birth certificates and former divorce papers certified with the Gold Apostilate Stamp issued by your states Secretary of State Office.

If you send in the documents to the Secratary of State office with the fees, you will usually get them back in about two weeks or less.

the colombians love that gold Stamp shit.

anyway, go to visajourney.com and ask for tips there too. and read the comments made by others that went thru the same thing as you.

one day you will look back fondly on your experiences at the embassy (BS)

also, don't forget to check out the holidays in July both in colombia and the usa. the embassy closes for all of them.

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Mononoke28 says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:06:

I'd like to have a job over there. You know there are like 150 Colombian holidays, add the US holidays to that and you only end up working like 3 months out of the year. =D

Diana

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lpdiver says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:22:

Another tip...enter in the American gate if you are going to be with her. It will save you a load of time. Also don't get into the long disney style line...again go through the citizens line since you will be with her.

t

"cook some rice!"

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Mononoke28 says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:24:

Whaaa? There was none of that when we were there. As far as I know there are only 3 lines, K1, K3 and CR1/IR1 visas stand in line 3 and follow the bitchy lady into the embassy. But there weren't any American gates nor citizens lines there.

Diana

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lpdiver says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:35:

There are and they are not labeled. Now the first gate I am referrring to is just to get in the compound. The second is to the right of the disney style line.

t

"cook some rice!"

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raycjs says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:37:

Thank you to all :

Yes we have the letter and an interview date and time.

I am trying to cross all my T and dot all my I

Thanks

Ray

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:43:

From what I've heard, your place in line matters little if at all. The interviews are not done on a "first come" basis. You could be the first one in and the last one out.

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lpdiver says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:52:

That is true; but, at least you are inside sitting down.

t

"cook some rice!"

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:55:

When did you use that entrance lp? Did you have to do anything besides show your passport to gain entrance?

My wife is from "Tierra Caliente" so I'm sure she will be miserable standing outside. We are actually going to the leather district a day or two before to get her a big coat. Her cold weather gear is seriously lacking?

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Mononoke28 says on Jun 2, 2008, 12:39:

In my opinion, line 3 is not to get in early but mainly to be in the same group as everyone else since the lady who checks you before you go in is the one who gives you the brown folder with the instructions, then gets your info to give it to the pit bulls behind the first windows.

Diana

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Robert Jorge says on Jun 3, 2008, 00:13:

This line shit amazes me. There is no secret to it. When waiting in the line at the embassy, when they open the gate, go to the freaking line they tell you to ... based on the visa type you are interviewing for. Yes, the K1 and K3 line(s) are much shorter than the others. So?

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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lpdiver says on Jun 3, 2008, 04:50:

CG I used the entrance in 2004. As stated in by other posters once inside you get no special favors. Line one is for payments and then two through six are for the K visa applicants. I am normally hot natured and even I was cool. Gearing up is an excellent idea.

And yes I did have to show my US passport to gain entrance at the US citizens gate. It is not marked it is just a turnstile type gate with an armed guard.

t

"cook some rice!"

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chester says on Jun 3, 2008, 18:44:

when in Bogota, another housing option for Visa applicants is a rooming house run by a very nice lady Dona Flor.

we found her rates reasonable and the rooms all have private baths with hot water.

I know there are other housing options for Visa applicants in bogota.

this is just another place to consider.

I stayed there with the wife and kids and had a good experience.

the address is Carrera 44C Number 22A-16 Quinta Paredes, Bogota, about 3 blocks from the embassy with plenty of nearby cafes and resturants.

the phone number is 269 8694

we paid about 90 bucks total a night for two seperate rooms with private baths.

breakfast incuded and very good security. nice neighborhood.

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