K1 Visa Interview Review in Bogotá Colombia

Interview Date
June 9, 2010
Result: APPROVED

We started the day by calling a taxi at 6:00am. Our apartment (www.welovebogota.com) was close however were a bit worried because we didn't have much luck with calling taxis.  To be sure we called two different services with the intent of taking the first taxi that showed up.  The taxi arrived at 6:10am and got to the US Embassy at about 6:20am. We waited in line 3 which is right outside of the Embassy walls and the ladies in the hot pink vests verified our appointments and let us in the Embassy. We did not get the appointment letter so they had to call and verify our appointment before letting us in.
We then processed through security which is very similar to a security checkpoint at an airport. I’d also like to say that they don’t allow cell phones with cameras, cameras, mp3 players and a lot of other electronic devices in the Embassy.  You will need to check them in with security if you have them befor eentering.

We then went to line 40 or immigrant visas and were given a folder to organize our documents. The items in this folder included:

• Passport
• 2 copies of DS-156 & DS 156k forms
• Birth Certificate
• Baptismal Certificate
• DAS Judicial Records
• DAS Immigration Records
• I-134 & Supporting documents (Employment verification letter, W2 & Tax return from previous years, letter from bank stating balances on account)
• Medical exam results in sealed envelope
• Two passport style pictures

We waited in this line for about 40 minutes, got the folder, organized our documents and signed the DS-156 and DS156k forms, had them reviewed and were told to move to the waiting area near the Domesa line.

About 30 minutes later we were called to window 32 to submit the documents in the folder. The lady reviewed the document, asked my fiancée a few questions.. Where did I live? Where did I work, was I married? The then told us to go wait by windows 2 – 6 for the immigrant visa interviews.
We waited here for about 2.5 hours before being called for our interview and it was a bit depressing because most people we saw were not approved. You are able to tell if someone is not approved because the officer will return their passport.  If the visa is approved the officer will keep the passport for processing.  Most non-approvals were because o problems with documents and were told to set up another appointment. 

We were eventually called to window 4 for out interview an it was a man of what appeared to be Indian decent.
He asked my fiancée two questions that were: how long did she know me? Where did I live? and then asked to speak to me.

He asked me the following question:

How did we meet?
Where do you work?
When did you propose and did she accept?
Did you give her a ring?
When do you plan on getting married?
What type of wedding will you have?
What was her religion?

He then asked to see pictures and e-mails and I passed them through the window. I explained they were from my last visit in March.
He then told me that the application looked good but that he was uncomfortable with my nervous body language. I explained that I indeed was nervous because we have invested a lot of time, money and emotions in this process and our future depends on this interview.

He then requested to speak with my fiancée again and asked here the same questions. About 2 minutes later he requested to speak with me again and told ME and not my fiancée that the visa was approved. He told us to pay the Domesa fee so we did and walked out the door at about 12:18pm.  The interview lasted about a total of 10 minutes.
Also to my surprise the consular asked me about 70% o the questions in the interview.

Interview Tips
REVIEW YOUR DOCUMENTS!!!
They are very picky about the documents so make sure they are all the correct documents they requested an that everything is filled out properly. I cant stress this enough because most of the non-approvals were because of people missing documents like the DAS forms, W2 forms, employment verification letter etc…
Again.. Read the instructions in packet 4 and become familiar with the requirements. Again they will not approve your visa if you don’t submit all the requirements. This is the most important thing you can do before the interview.

Make every effort to attend the interview with your fiancé(e)
Im 100% sure that she wouldn’t have been approved I I wasn’t there because our relatively short time knowing each other. It also shows the officers that you are serious about your relationship. Of the few approvals I witnessed, the petitioner was there with the beneficiary. I can only remember one woman who was approved who was there by herself.
I hope this helps you prepare for the interview!