JT has written 24 posts

What happens at Miami w/ CR-1 visa?

Thanks to God and you on this site who helped guide me through this process, my wife received her CR-1 visa Dec. 23rd 2005!!!!

I tried to search for posts about the actual entering the US port w/ the visa to see what details I can pass on to my wife who will be coming through Miami later this month. What were your experiences like? Thanks! -jt ...

By JT on 2006-01-06 16:42:14. 3 comments.

Best way to xchange Pesos for Dollars?

I'm sellings some laptops this time when I go to Cartagena, and am not sure where I should exchange the pesos for dollars to get the best deal? Thanks! -jt

By JT on 2005-12-13 20:51:32. 2 comments.

DS-156 Where to get it?

Where do we get the DS-156 form which I'm told is used t pay the interview fee at the Bank across from the embassy. And thats the only branch of that bank in Colombia where it can be paid correct? Thanks so much! -jt ...

By JT on 2005-12-02 19:18:53. 6 comments.

DAS criminal record: 2 types?

What a hectic day for my poor wife. She is, as I type, in line at the DAS to get her "pasado judicial". And she finds out at the DAS that there are two types. One normal one , and the other for people to travel out of the country. So you could see why we were confused. Called Dra. Consuelos office, and they said that we just needed to bring the normal one. And Utopiacowboy says that it doesn't need to be translated into English nor do anything else. So we don't need to submit an English co ...

By JT on 2005-11-30 08:53:26. 5 comments.

Location of Lab and Dra. Consuelo?

My wife is from Cartagena and we aren't familiar with Bogota. She will get her lab work done early monday morning Dec. 5th and then Appt. with Dra. Consuelo in the afternoon.

What part of Bogota are the two places in? We're not sure where a good place to stay would be for the couple days she'll be in Bogota. Any help is really appreciated! -JT ...

By JT on 2005-11-26 11:26:06. 13 comments.

Change interview date possible?

Just received notice that the interview date for my wife is Dec. 23rd. She has graduation from med school in Cartagena Dec 21st. Although I've heard its possible, I dont want to press our luck and try to get the medical exam and the lab stuff done on the 22nd.

How can I change the interview date to sometime in January? Can I choose a date? Thanks! -jt

also, has anyone called the Embassy? They charge our credit card for 36.000 pesos? What are the hours we can ...

By JT on 2005-11-22 12:03:19. 6 comments.

Medical Exam Question: Lab and Physical in one day?

My wife will have her medical exam in september.

Can she get the lab work done, and the physical exam done in one day? Our concern about Dr Consuelo is whether she works at a hospital or a small clinic. Hospitals take forever and can cause problems. I was hoping to hear about your experiences and recommendations for the medical exam in bogota. She lives in Cartagena, so we were hoping to get it done in one day b/c she can't get many days off from work at the hospital. Tha ...

By JT on 2005-08-08 19:02:04. 5 comments.

Name on visa different from name on her passport

My wife is awaiting her interview in Bogota to receive her visa. her colombian passport, cedula, and other documents have her maiden name. but we used her married name for the visa application. will they issue the visa in her married name even if her passport has her maiden name? in other words, should my wife get a new passport with her married name? thanks! jt ...

By JT on 2005-05-18 10:55:16. 3 comments.

Question about Visa Packets. K-3

Hey there! I hope all is well with you. I wanted to ask for clarification about the visa packets. I'm in Cartagena with my wife and will be until july. Our I-130 was approved in Feb. We just received a letter from the NVC in New Hampshire. (for some reason the letter went through Germany first). It took one month for it to arrive. It is asking us to give them the address of where we woule like to receive the other mailings. It they suggest an address in the US, but I thought that the ot ...

By JT on 2005-04-14 06:27:26. 4 comments.

I-130 approved in only 3 weeks!

Holy Arepas!!!!! I can't believe that today our I-130 case for my wife of less than 2 months was approved today!!!

I sent the petition to Nebraska Service Center. Receipt date: Jan. 24, 2005. They are currently working on I-130's from November,2003. I was ready to file a I-129F to get a K-3 visa. But then they forwarded it to the California Center which is a year ahead and working on Nov, 2004 petitions. So I wasn't gonna waste money on the I-129F. I'm just blown away ...

By JT on 2005-02-16 20:05:55. 10 comments.

I-129F, bringing spouse to US

Greetings! Thanks for your time, and I hope you can answer this:

To those of you who are familiar with the I-130 followed by filing I-129F to bring your spouse to the US, I was wondering if it is necessary to send "proof of relationship" stuff with the I-129F???

Or does my wife need to bring that stuff only to the Embassy in Bogota when she has her interview? I have filed the I-130, received the "Notice of Action" and now can file the I-129F. I filed the I-1 ...

By JT on 2005-02-10 10:49:41. 8 comments.

How much is a Taxi in BOG?

How much would a taxi cost from the airport to Unicentro in North Bogota?
Does anyone have the phone # to a taxi company? Thanks!!

By JT on 2004-12-08 22:14:20. 27 comments.

Need Visa to stay 5 months in Colombia?

Does a US citizen need a colombian visa to stay more than 3 months? Has anyone done this? How do you get the visa? How long does it take?

By JT on 2004-12-04 09:34:16. 7 comments.

Utopiacowboy, I-130 or I-129F ????

Greetings! Its been a while since I've logged on. After I got my marriage visa from the Chicago Consulate, I thought I was on easy street. Then I remember that I need to get a visa for my wife after we get married this month. Three weeks untill the wedding in Cartagena!!!!! I can't wait!

In a previous post, you were kind enough to give me some advice about how do get a visa for my wife. Here is what I understand ( and I know I need help)

-Get married in Colomb ...

By JT on 2004-12-02 12:10:13. 1 comments.

Help w/ Translation

I'm looking for an example of the type of statement that a translator would attach to a document stating that the translation is accurate and that they are qualified to translate. This is for the spanish translation of my Birth Certificate and police record that need to be translated into spanish and notarized. Thanks! ...

By JT on 2004-10-13 19:57:23. 7 comments.

Chiropractors in Colombia?

I'm a chiropractic student in Iowa and my fiancee is finishing up medical school in Cartagena. It will obviously difficult and complicated for her to get her medical license here in the US. Does anyone know of any Chiros in COlombia? I have heard of a couple in Bogota. There are not any laws regulating Chiropractic in Colombia so I suppose I could set up a clinic there before finishing school because I wouldn't need a license. ...

By JT on 2004-10-12 18:36:04. 3 comments.

Anyone know how to find a Mariachi in Cartagena?

My fiancee's sister tipped me off that my fiancee really wants a mariachi band to come and play on our wedding night at midnight. I guess its a tradition for some people? Does anyone know how I can find a Mariachi band in Cartagena for December 21st? Thanks! ...

By JT on 2004-10-10 13:36:06. 3 comments.

Notarias in Colombia care if US translator is certified?

Can't I just translate my Birth Certificate and Certificado de Solteria (singleness document) into spanish myself, sign it in front of a notary here in the US and get the Apostille for it?

Most of the translating services aren't ATA certified, and the fees are way high for something I can do myself.

Anyone have experience with Notarys in Colombia? Do they care or even know if the translation of oficial documents was done by a professional? Thanks! -JT ...

By JT on 2004-10-06 20:35:56. 2 comments.

How did you translate Birth Certificate for Marriage Visa?

Hey gang, thanks for your time to answer!

I'm getting a marriage visa from the Chicago Consulate so I can get married in Cartagena this December. The requirements state I need both English and Spanish copies of my birth certificate APOSTILLED by the Secretary of State.

Can I just have a transation I have done get APOSTILLED?
Or do I need to have it translated by an official translator recognized by the Colombian Government? I can have this done in Colombi ...

By JT on 2004-10-03 13:26:04. 10 comments.

Is Hotel Hamiliton near North Bogota and those malls?

Is Hotel Hamilton, located at Carrera 14, No. 81-20, Bogota anywhere near the LDS Temple in North Bogota? I don't know where to find a map of Bogota so I am clueless. Can anyone give me info or tell me of a website that has maps? Thanks! ...

By JT on 2004-09-26 19:39:56. 3 comments.

Is there anything like Mapquest.com for Bogota???

Im trying to see where some hotels are located in the city. I haven't had any luck finding interactive maps (or any street maps) of Bogota. Anyone know of any?? Thanks!

Killing two birds w/ one stone......... I am doing paperwork for my marriage visa so I can marry in Colombia this december. How should I go about translating my documents into spanish? ...

By JT on 2004-09-24 17:27:09. 3 comments.

Hotel suggestions near Mormon Temple in North Bogota?

Hey guys! I think its great that some of you take the time to answer questions and give advice based on your experiences. I have never stayed in Bogota. I spent 3 weeks in Cartagena this summer and am now getting married in the Mormon Temple in North Bogota this December.

I was hoping that those of you who know the city can tell me of a some nice hotels that are around the area. I think that the Temple is near Unicentro some shopping center?? The addresses are below for where ...

By JT on 2004-09-24 17:24:28. 5 comments.

Cheapest way to get documents translated into Spanish?

I am planning to get married in Cartagena Dec 21st. As part of the 'marriage visa' application, I need to get translations of stuff. Does anyone know of a QUICK and INEXPENSIVE way to get these translations?

The Colombian consulate said that the translator didn't have to be anyone specific, but that the translation just had to be good.

I am arriving on a friday afternoon, and getting married Tuesday night. Is it possible to get my paperwork in order with the l ...

By JT on 2004-09-21 21:43:01. 3 comments.

Marriage 12/21 in Colombia HELP!

There has been some good material shared and I hope you wonderful people can help give me a little direction because the Colombian Consulate doesn't answer any questions over the phone! I have obtained a list of the required documents from online sources. Some of the comments you all have shared seems to imply that you had the documents translated to Spanish AFTER they were Apostilled??? I thought that the Tranlated documents had to be Apostilled too??? Once I have the documents for the S ...

By JT on 2004-08-12 14:42:21. 7 comments.