calena with child

[pack]

question: any of you guys married or going to be getting married to a calena with a child? if so i have some questions about the process and costs.

[Pete E]

... in response to calena with child, posted by pack on Jun 17, 2002

I brought my step son here with my wife 28 months ago.It basically required 2 sets of paperwork at the Embassy in Bogota.2 I-129's,2 affidavid of supports.When she gets her visa the kid does also.
He was 8 when he came,is 11 now going in to 6th grade.He speaks very good english already,much better than his mother.He graduated from elementary school on Friday.He was one of 3 students on the honor roll,plus several other honors.He was the most honored kid at the graduation.The teachers loved him because he is so polite easy to teach.His mother was very proud.
As far as costs it was another $400-$500(I'm guessing,basically double what it is for one) at the embassy.The real costs are the airline flights,I think he has been on 16 so far(3 round trips Cali -Bogota for the Embassy,we screwed up),plus clothes,food,TOYS,GAMES,COMPUTERS,PLAY STA. 2,CD's,DVD's,ect.I think we have about $3000 invested in our golden retriever I got him(our vet loves him) so far,but he really is for all of us.I used to call him $500 Dog,now his name is $3000 dog.Just joking,I named him Buddy,after Bud who started Latin Love.

Pete

[Ted]

... in response to Re: calena with child, posted by Pete E on Jun 17, 2002

He's right about the paperwork and fees. As for the medical, the child if under 12 (I believe) only needs the medical exam and not the lab tests. As for the trip, you need to factor in meals and maybe some warm clothing if they don't have any, like a jacket.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: calena with child, posted by Ted on Jun 17, 2002

Its 12 or 14 under which the child doesn't need a blood test.My wife read that as he didn't need a medical exam.Not so,the do need a medical exam.We sent him home to grandma in Cali to go off on our honeymoon then we find out he does need the medical exam so we have to fly him back.
Also you need to get the blood test the day before the medical exam so the doctor will have the results.If you could get the blood tset in the AM the day you go to the embassy the first time at 1.00PM you could get the medical the next day and maybe be in Bogota only 2 days.We didn't have the doctor imformation untill after the first appointment but maybe you could get it.
It was so frustrating with all of the screw ups.We stood in line at 7.00AM at the embassy and at the Bogota Police station(for her police certificate) only to find out we needed to be there at 1.00 PM.Our driver from the Andino Royale got us in to the Police sta screw up.Yes there is a huge line at 7.00 AM,but not for this purpose.My buddy Bud of latin love told me about line up at 7.00 AM at the embassy.Wrong.I guess that was what they did one year earlier when he did it.
Stay out off all the long lines with Colombians.As a US citizen you can go right to the front gate at 1.00 PM.

Pete

[pack]

... in response to Re: Re: calena with child, posted by Ted on Jun 17, 2002

yea good advice ..jacket..bogota chilly ( compared to cali)
thanks

[pack]

... in response to Re: calena with child, posted by Pete E on Jun 17, 2002

thanks for the info Pete...very helpful.
my lady has a 9 year old boy GREAT KID!
was just wondering how much extra costs?
im not to worried about the flight costs i have 79,000 flyer miles...just was curious about the medical,visas,embassy , hotel in bogota,flight to bogota, etc?

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: calena with child, posted by pack on Jun 17, 2002

As I mentioned above he had 3 rounds trip flight Cali-Bogota.I think it was $200 each.Might have been 200,000 pesos,I'm not sure.We stayed in a suite at the Andino royalle in Bogota.$100 a night but with the driver from the hotel,room service and laundry it was $200-$250 a day.We were there 5 days.
The Medical was $40 or so.I think his half of fees at the Embassy was $400 or so.It was like $150 each fee the first appointment plus when my wife went back for the second appointment it was another 800,000 pesos for something.I,m guessing.It was just a blur of handing out money,I really didn't keep an accurate record.Of course you don't need to spend what we did on a hotel and an extra flight to Bogota from our screw up.

Pete

[pack]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: calena with child, posted by Pete E on Jun 18, 2002

thanks Pete...good info...helpful.

[Ted]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: calena with child, posted by Pete E on Jun 18, 2002

The medical exam is 90k pesos, the lab is 105k pesos. The first visa fee iss $130 ea. At the second appt, the fee has changed to $335. If a spousal visa, you don't need to pay the additional $65 fee. I'd pay at the embassy with dollars since they give you a terrible exchange rate. One trick I used was to get pesos out of the ATM at around 2300 and look for an exchange house that will sell dollar at 2200. There's one near the embassy. Not much but at least it better than getting ripped off at the embassy.

[pack]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: calena with child, posted by Ted on Jun 18, 2002

thanks Ted..

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: calena with child, posted by Pete E on Jun 17, 2002

Pete,
I've only got around 400-500 bucks in my German Shepherd not including food. How did your Golden run up a tab like that?

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: calena with child and $3000 Gold..., posted by Red Clay on Jun 17, 2002

I had a running tab in my head that passed $2000 some time back,but $3000 may be high.$500 for the dog,probably $1000 in vet bills.It was several hundred for his first year puppy package plus several $100 plus special trips.The last one he was coughing like he had something stuck in his throat.I couldn't see anything looking so my wife took him to the vet.It was a throat irritation.He got an exam,an injection,a lab test and two perscriptions,$130.Our female vet actually kisses him on the mouth when she sees him.I said I would kiss him to for $130.He is overdue for his yearly exam and blood tests,probably another $100.Then there is food for 28 months plus doggy watering devices,food stands,leashes,chewy toys,heartworm medicine,flea treatment medicine.ect.
I told my wife when I was a kid the dog never went to the vet unless he was deathly ill,and they always survived anyway.Kind of like spending an hour and $12 going to get the car washed when you could do it in the driveway for free in 15 minites.We get used to wasting money on things people never would have in the past or in other countries.
I always tell people a dog is a 10-15 year commitment that will cost you $5000-15000 so get the dog you want to start with.Why spend all that money on a free mutt.
He is a beautifull dog,100 lbs.,full off energy and affection.He even loves the mailman.
The only thing he doesn't like is cats(my wife taught him to chase them,Colombianas don't like cats)and Doug and Nelcy's Rottweiler that Nelsy brought back from Colombia.He didn't like it when the Rotweiler bit him but when it bit my wife Rocio it really p-ss-d him off.If he is in the car when Rocio visits Nelsy the Rotweiler just looks up like he wants him to come out and play.Buddy is snarling out the window.

Pete

Pete

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: calena with child and $3000 ..., posted by Pete E on Jun 18, 2002

You could fly your Golden to my vet in TN and come out cheaper, lol. I guess my dog doc does things the old way like you described when you were young. Glad you got a good dog, though. I agree with your mutt theory. [no offense to the mutt owners on the board] Guess I have been lucky, my dogs biggest expense was when she was "fixed",about 100 bucks if I remember right. Biggest accident was getting sprayed by a skunk, got a little on me, too, not pretty, lol.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: calena with child and $3..., posted by Red Clay on Jun 18, 2002

Yeah we get ripped on some things around here,it goes with the territory.But then I'm a realtor,get paid a percentage commision and the median house is $550,000,over 3 times the national average.
I'm not sending my dog anywhere but my wife and step son will see the doctor and dentist when they are in Cali next month.About 10% the cost of here.

Pete

[Viajero]

... in response to calena with child, posted by pack on Jun 17, 2002

Mi novia has 2 kids, and will be arriving in a month.
What are your questions?