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My wife's visa was approved today after her second interview at the US Embassy in Bogota... Exactly 21 days after our first interview... She arrived at 6:30am, they opened the gates at 7:00am and she got approved at 12:30pm... They told her to come back after 3:00pm to pickup the visa... She wound up not leaving the Embassy until after 5:00pm... An all day grind...

I spoke with her several times today as she was very nervous... She said that she met 12 other ladies who were trying to get their visa too... Of the 12, only 7 got their visa... Some of the ladies were missing paperwork... Like the "proof of employment" letter that states your annual salary... One lady had the letter, but it wasn't notarized... Another lady had it too, but it didn't state the annual salary... Another didn't have the 3 years of Income Tax Returns... Yet another didn't have W2's... When they say they want it, they really want it... These ladies were told to return when they had ALL the required documents...

They basically spent all day together, becoming fast friends... They exchanged email addresses and promised to stay in contact... They told jokes and compared their stories... Ironically, there was a segment on TV yesterday morning in Bogota about a Colombiana that came to the US with her new husband... After her arrival, he locked her in a room and only fed her bread and water... Typical horror story... Several of the girls saw the segment on the tube... They all joked about it, but promised each other that if one was in trouble, they could call on the others for advice/support... After the 7 ladies got their visas, they all went out for a cerveza... They even had a group photo made to remember the day... Funny... Kinda like the graduating class of 27 de Mayo...

... in response to Approved!!!, posted by wizard on May 27, 2003

Congrats!!!

... in response to Approved!!!, posted by wizard on May 27, 2003

Thank you for the great post. It just saved me what might have been a disaster. My fiance has her interview in Bogota June 4.  Everything was complete except my employer gave my hourly salary rather then annual and it was not notorized. I'm Airborne with the info 2 morrow. Also I used Avianca Express to send paperwork it wound up taking five days(no weekend) but only cost 15 bucks. Many blessings to you.

... in response to Re: Approved!!!, posted by Craig on May 28, 2003

Thanks Craig,

Completing all the paperwork is an exercise in frustration... Lot's of detail and not much direction... It's like they're trying to trick people... Worst part is that the interviewer at the embassy didn't even ask for some of the paperwork they state is required...

Glad to help...

... in response to Approved!!!, posted by wizard on May 27, 2003

A Big Congratulations!!

That had to be a load off your mind!

... in response to Re: Approved!!!, posted by Hiker on May 27, 2003

After your story, we were prepared for the worst... We're both glad the paperwork and the bureaucracy are behind us...

Best wishes luck to you and yours...

... in response to Re: Re: Approved!!!, posted by wizard on May 28, 2003

Thanks.  Her plane lands (scheduled anyway) at 5:58 day after tomorrow.  I am ready!

... in response to Approved!!!, posted by wizard on May 27, 2003

Congratulations!  Always nice to see someone go through the process and come out fairly unscathed.  Many blessings to you and your wife.

... in response to Re: Approved!!!, posted by thundernco on May 27, 2003

Thanks Thunder...

It's been a real adventure... IMHO, the pursuit itself can become addictive... That is until you find the one...

Thanks again...

... in response to Approved!!!, posted by wizard on May 27, 2003

[This message has been edited by Cali vet]

That would sure beat being locked in a room with nothing but arepas and water. Anyhow congratulations and thanks for reminding on the importance of the details.

... in response to Re: Approved!!!, posted by Cali vet on May 27, 2003

Thanks CV...

Yeah, but in Colombia someone who is locked in a room and fed arepas y aqua is usually called a "hostage"... BTW, glad your friend came out of his adventure relatively unscathed... I think about the times I've wandered around Cali alone... I guess ignorance is bliss... We become used to a certain level of personal security in the US and it's tough to adjust to the threat level when in a foreign land... Just watch your six...

From what my wife said, the girls that didn't get their visas were very upset... I would'nt want to face my wife if I'd screwed up and didn't include all the paperwork...

... in response to Approved!!!, posted by wizard on May 27, 2003

Now treat her right when she gets here, or those other six will come donw on you, hee hee.

... in response to Great news, posted by Michael B on May 27, 2003

Yeah I know... Treat them bad and the "Colombiana Network" comes down on you...

... in response to Approved!!!, posted by wizard on May 27, 2003

Fantastic, Wizard!!!   Congratulations!!   So when is she coming to the US?

... in response to Re: Approved!!!, posted by Doug on May 27, 2003

Thanks Doug...

I'll fly down to get her in a week or so... She has to close up her apartment and her Mom wants to move back to Villavicencillo... So my wife is going to help her get moved and setup in a place there...

Soon though... Very soon...