ask the consul
How Can I Ensure I am Prepared For My Immigrant Visa Interview?
Every day, many applicants leave the Consular Section of the Embassy without their visas due to lack of preparedness. You can avoid this by having all the required documents completed. Depending on the type of visa, most applicants require an Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration (Form DS-230), certificates of birth, marriage, and divorce, a medical report, a police certificate, and an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864).
The DS-230 must be completed in advance. Make sure all names are spelled correctly and dates of birth; marriage and divorce certificates are included and correct. Do not sign the form. The DS-230 must be signed in front of the consular officer. Please be sure to answer all questions truthfully and accurately. If you fail to answer a question or answer a question untruthfully – for example, concealing a prior arrest – this will delay your visa issuance and perhaps result in a permanent refusal.
Colombian birth, marriage, and divorce certificates must be certified copies. The Consular Section requires long-form birth certificates for all applicants born in 1940 or later. We do not accept short form birth certificates for applicants or American citizens petitioning for a parent. Baptism certificates may be used in place of a birth certificate for applicants born in 1939 or earlier. Before you come to the Consular Section, make sure all names and dates of birth are correct and exactly match the applicant’s passport. A simple misspelling of a name could delay visa issuance for a week or more.
Medical examination results and police certificates are valid for one year. Please schedule your medical examination as soon as you receive your interview date so that your medical examinations will be ready for your interview.
You must have one I-864 from the petitioner. If the petitioner does not meet the financial requirements to support the applicants, you will need an I-864 from one or more joint sponsors. A copy of the most recent U.S. Federal or Puerto Rican tax return must accompany each I-864. You can save time and paper by naming all the applicants on one I-864 instead of submitting one for each applicant.
Photocopies of U.S. birth, death, marriage, divorce, citizenship and legal residence documents are acceptable.
Finally, check your passport. Make sure it is not about to expire.
Each of these steps improves your chances of obtaining your visa promptly. Qualified applicants will be able to pick up their issued visas two business days after their interview.
What’s the Summer Work/Travel Program all about?
Many people are interested in the Summer Work/Travel Program, which allows full-time university students to work and experience life in the United States. Several local recruitment agencies charge fees to help with this process. These agencies are required to provide pre-departure information about housing and employment, prepare a list of job openings, and help participants find a job in the United States. We suggest that you investigate these recruiting agencies thoroughly before paying them money. The U.S. Embassy cannot recommend any specific agency.
To qualify for the Summer Work/Travel Program, you must:
- Speak English well enough to do your proposed job.
- Demonstrate that you intend to return to Colombia at the end of the summer and go back to school.
- Show that you are a full-time, serious student, actively pursuing an academic degree at an accredited university.
- Stay no longer than four months in the United States.
- Return before the following academic semester starts so you do not miss any classes.
You can ruin your chance to participate in the future by:
- Engaging in unauthorized employment during your stay.
- Returning from the United States after classes begin.
- Failing to continue your studies following the program.
The Summer Work/Travel Program is a great cultural exchange experience for many people. Please make sure you comply with the requirements of the program so you can enjoy your time in the United States and ensure that you will be able to visit again in the future.
For more information on this type of visa, please consult our website [http://bogota.usembassy.gov/scjvisa.html].