Visa Question

[burbuja2]

I received a form today from INS which approved my petition for a K-1 visa.  Its my understanding that this simply shifts the process to the fiancee interview at the consulate in Bogata.  The Approval Notice, however, states that it is valid from 8/20/2002 to 12/20/2002.  Since the Approval Notice is not a visa, what do the valid dates pertain to?

[playas]

... in response to Visa Question, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 26, 2002

it looks as though i will be going through this
process also very soon..with my novia from burcaramanga.
a couple of questions if you dont mind..
from the time you submitted the application until you received conformation..how long did it take?
what region did you have to apply to?
and did you hire any expert or legal help?
any other advise would be helpful..
thanks.....

[burbuja2]

... in response to Re: Visa Question, posted by playas on Aug 28, 2002

I submitted my petition for a K-1 visa to the INS Texas Service Center on 28 July 2002 and approval of the petition was dated 20 August 2002.  I did not hire an attorney but I did consult extensively an excellent  website hosted by an attorney in Dallas which is referenced by Georgina in this thread.  I'm really not in a position to give any other advice because I've just started the process myself.  I will pass on some advice an immigration attorney told me on another matter, however, and that is DO NOT LIE TO THE INS. They are relatively good at spotting inconsistencies and any misstatement may very well doom the entire process.  I hope this helps.

[Georgina]

... in response to Visa Question, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 26, 2002

It means that if your fiancee doesn't get any notice from the Embassy in her country before the expiration date or if she does get notice but don't have everything together and filed before the expiration date. You would have to start the whole process. Usually, this doesn't happen and she will have enought time to get all her paper work together and send it to the Embassy in her country. I believe I once read that if this this happens, you can ask for an extension of that date. Not sure about the last thought.

[Kit]

... in response to Visa Question, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 26, 2002

Approval notice dates indicate validity time of the approval itself. It has to be excercised within that timeframe. If she does not apply for K1 in Colombia in time, new petition will have to be filed for approval (history repeats itself).

[burbuja2]

... in response to Re: Visa Question, posted by Kit on Aug 26, 2002

At present, is there anything she needs to do or will the Consulate contact her?

[Kit]

... in response to Re: Re: Visa Question, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 26, 2002

There are two possible scenarios:

1/ If you have this approval on hands, you will need to send it directly to her and she will apply to the embassy (together with all other documents). The embassy will not contact her!

2/ INS sent an approval directly to the embassy in Colombia (and notified you of such). In this case the embassy will contact her (although I would call there and check anyway)

In either case I suggest she be proactive and keep contacting the embassy. People at the embassy couldnt care less if she receives her visa on time or not.

[Georgina]

... in response to Re: Re: Visa Question, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 26, 2002

The consulate will contact her (send an envelope with instructions), but if you know what kind of stuff she doesn't have like a valid passport, a birth certificate, etc. She can go ahead and get those kind of documents. Maybe it would take two weeks for her to hear from them.

[Edge]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Visa Question, posted by Georgina on Aug 27, 2002

Good idea Georgina to gather some of the things she will need now while she waits.  I would not be too worried about the embassy sending her the package in a timely manner.  It all went very smoothly with my wife and I have not heard of anyone complaining about their fiancée not receiving their package.  But Kit is right to also be cautious because anything can happen.

She will receive a list of vacinations that she needs and my wife took care of those in Cali before going to Bogotá.  It is one less thing to have to do in Bogotá.

Once she receives her visa it will be valid for 6 months. But once she arrives in the U.S., you have 90 days to get married.  Do not make the mistake of going beyond the 90 days.  But if it takes someone 4 months to get here, then they have 60 days to get married.  You would think the govt. would give you 6 months once she sets foot here.

[burbuja2]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Visa Question, posted by Georgina on Aug 27, 2002

I appreciate your comments because the Notice of Action was not clear and the customer service telephone number at the INS is perpetually busy.  I think I will have her wait until the end of September to see if the consulate contacts her.  If not, then I will have her initiate contact.  Does that sound prudent?

[Georgina]

... in response to Thank you Kit and Georgina, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 27, 2002

She will be contact by the consulate or embassy. For more info to this respect check this website:
http://www.mindspring.com/~docsteen/visainfo/visainfo.htm

She will get an envelope with an instruction sheet and other applications.

[Kit]

... in response to Thank you Kit and Georgina, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 27, 2002

If INS sent the approval to the embassy, wait 2 weeks and get her to contact the embassy. Give her approval #. If you have this approval sent to you, it is entirely up to her to get a visa now. Noone will contact her. Send it to her and she will have to apply to the embassy herself.

[burbuja2]

... in response to Re: Thank you Kit and Georgina, posted by Kit on Aug 27, 2002

The Notice of Action states that the approval has been forwarded to the consulate in Bogata.

[Kit]

... in response to A Calarification, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 27, 2002

Ok in this case they (the embassy) should take action first. I know that in case of Russia for example they (INS) send this notice  to the petitioner, who in his turn forwards it to her and she in her turn submits it to the embassy.

[Georgina]

... in response to Thank you Kit and Georgina, posted by burbuja2 on Aug 27, 2002

It would be better if you contact them. They are usually rude and not very helpful to non-Americans. She can let you know the phone number of the embassy or consulate in Colombia.