Need advice

[thundernco]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Need advice , posted by Fuzzyone on Jan 26, 2004

1 couple with atty., the other on their own. It seemed like it was dragging but both have sped up significantly as of recent. -TNC

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Re: Need advice , posted by lswote on Jan 26, 2004

As evident following Cali vet's visa quest, I wonder what was required to show proof of Colombian residency to enable the consular filing path.  Seems like there could be room to "trick" the system and file as a resident?

[Cali vet]

... in response to Resident option?, posted by cancunhound on Jan 26, 2004

I agree it all seems too easy to be true however I assume the "Colombia Resident" proof is the Temporal TS visa pasted in my passport. Further it seems their thinking is that although you currently reside in Colombia that is only temporary or otherwise why would you need a visa to make your wife a US resident. As I said on caligringo the application did require my US address. Which brings me to ask what if anything do you suppose they will send to that? I ask because evidently if the interview is acceptable to them and our papers are in order they will give her the visa the afternoon of the interview date and we won't need anything more besides a ticket for her to travel to the US. Or so I understand.

In any case I think the "trick" is that visa in your passport and if you are not retired that might be a trick in it's self.

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Resident option?, posted by Cali vet on Jan 26, 2004

That's what I suspected.  "Resident" is a vague term that is not defined anywhere specifically for this purpose.  Common sense would say "Residency" involves a home address, physical presence for some time, daily activity such as paying bills, etc.. But this is not defined hence the officer has the discretion.    So until they specifically designate a "time period" requirement of residing in Colombia, it would seem that any guy with Temporal TS could claim to be "a resident" for utilizing the direct consular filing option just like you did.  The marriage visa or "VISA Temporal Especial Para Contraer Matrimonio" is a TS visa.  It seems like they'd have to establish more stringent criteria for residency in order to prohibit use of this filing method (like require a Colombian visa in the Residente category).

So, when requesting your marriage visa at the Colombian consulate in the US, tell them that your are planning to spend a year with your wife in Colombia (IOW get a visa with time greater than 6 months).  Seems like all one would need to do is claim the wife's address, phone and such as yours.  Utilize it for communication with the embassy.  Get a cedula day one but it looks like the embassy didn't ask for it.  Maybe a couple of small chores like open a bank account.  

Now would all of this be  artificially "creating" residency in order to qualify for expedited direct consular filing?  Maybe, but seems like 3 days, 3 weeks or 3 months what's the difference, residency is where you are currently residing - I could live with that.  Who knows, you might like Colombia so much you end up staying down there a year anyway.  So I wouldn't have a problem utilizing this approach and wouldn't be concerned about them claiming that your trying to cheat the system.

Also, I recall when I did my DCF years ago that the officer was very friendly - the whole process was painless and damn near enjoyable.  I got the impression they looked forward to dealing with US citizens, as opposed to the daily grind of working the Colombian citizen line.  So I suspect nobody at the embassy would have a problem with this "residency" gimmick.  Now lawyers would probably point out that any misrepresentations in the visa process are punishable by fines, imprisonment, etc.    But if you convince yourself that you are a resident then what exactly is being misrepresented?

[CaliAdvisor]

... in response to Resident option?, posted by cancunhound on Jan 26, 2004

Sounds interesting.. So what you are saying is that if the spouse has dual resident status in Colombia he can get his wife's papers faster. There was got to be ways like this to play the system. Just takes some creativity I guess.

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Need advice , posted by elcolombiano on Jan 26, 2004

Colombiano

Free advice from the king of fast, reckless marriages:

Cold climate = Cold women
Warm climate = Warm women

As far as a tourist visa, you can browse the agency websites and find about 10% of the women listed have tourist visas.  They are very rarely the young, hot babes that most of us go for.  But, hey, they all look the same in the dark.

Steve

[tbirdjoy]

... in response to Nearly Worthless Advice , posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 26, 2004

Your ignorance on women from "cold climate" countries is coming through there Steve. The Hotest women I have known come from those "Cold Climates." Don't knock them till ya tried them....   Oh and my wife wanted me to add that it really depends on the man's abilities to stroke the flames.

Mark

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Re: Nearly Worthless Advice , posted by tbirdjoy on Jan 26, 2004

I could be wrong.  That's just my biased opinion.  And I haven't met many FSU women to have much of an opinion.  I don't like the look of the new super models from the FSU either, for what it's worth.  Too thin, pasty white, and "cold looking" for my taste.

Steve

[tbirdjoy]

... in response to Re: Re: Nearly Worthless Advice , posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 27, 2004

No problem we all have our individual tastes.  I work at a community college in the Los Angeles area and we've got a 60% hispanic student population. I can certainly understand why men are drawn to the beauty of Latina women.

Mark

[Jeff S]

... in response to Need advice , posted by elcolombiano on Jan 26, 2004

Plenty of nice college student women there if you know where to look. It's only a couple of hours and you could spend weekends there while waiting for the paperwork.

- Jeff

[elcolombiano]

... in response to Ever thgink of Tijuana?, posted by Jeff S on Jan 26, 2004

Thats an idea to think about.