BOGOTA Office Visa Applicants 2014

[lellen]

If you see the instructions for Colombia posted here:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/central-south-amer/colombia.asp

You'll see that you're supposed to wait for instructions from the embassy to get your police certificates. Some people do it ahead of time after they get an application number, but it takes the same time either way.

 

[Solomon D]

Thanks lellen,

I'd looked at that weblink where it stated....

"How to obtain a police certificate - Colombia
Do I need to provide a police certificate when applying for permanent residence?
Yes, you need to provide a background verifications certificate. However, do not apply for the background verifications certificate before obtaining a file number from the visa office."

But
Note 14 in the Country Specific Instructions document checklist states that "you must submit original police certificates and a translation by a credited translator" with the principal applicant's forms.

I think they mean to send in an original police certificate and a translation by a credited translator with the principal applicant's forms and if sponsor is approved they will contact her later for a background verifications certificate

These are two separate checks?


Thanks Solomon.

 

[JoeMac]

Hi Solomon,

I think there is conflicting information in the various sources. From my understanding the police certificate and background verification is the same thing, they are just called different titles in different countries. I know when my brothers did their applications for their wives, all they did was send in everything(with no police or background checks) and the embassy requested the background check within the process with instructions(They have done the same with my wife's application). I am not sure if maybe they want some police/background checks with the application when sent in if you have lived in other countries. In the country specific instructions for Latin America, it states to send in the police certificate but then at the bottom, it says refer to the link for how to obtain the certificate for your region, and then in there for Colombia it says to wait until the embassy provides you instructions. So I think the safe bet is to wait for the embassy to provide instructions, that is what I find most people have done.

Hey Lellen, My wife's application went into processing October 22, looks like we might get approved at the same time. Any news on your end? I was thinking of sending an email as my Christmas or new years wish would be..... 8)

 

[lellen]

Yeah no news here! Who knows how long it will take. I guess we won't get an interview if we already went into processing?

 

[lellen]

Hey! I got passport request today... did anyone else?

 

[JoeMac]

Congratulations Lellen!! Which day did you send your background check receipt to the embassy? Just so i can get a timeline of what i should expect. We sent ours in on October 23.

 

[fab]

Congrats Lellen!!! what a nice christmas gift!

 

[lellen]

Thanks!!! Yes we're very excited, it was so nice to receive it on the 24th too! I already sent my passport, who knows if I'll get it back before the New Year. But I can wait a few days.

How about you fab, any news on SA at all??? It's been so long!

JoeMac, I paid for my background check on September 6th, and I think they received the bank receipt on Sept. 9th. Once I received my AOR from Bogota I thought I would speed things up by sending it in, and they were actually really nice about it when I sent it before they requested it. They replied to the email with instructions on how to send the original receipt. It took exactly two months from In Process to Passport Request. I think it won't be long for you either. Good luck!

 

[JoeMac]

We recieved passport request yesterday!!!!!!

 

[lellen]

Awesome! Congratulations!!!
Did you get any instructions with the passport request? Mine just said to send it in, and I haven't heard anything since then!

 

[fab]

Awesome! Congratulations!!!
Did you get any instructions with the passport request? Mine just said to send it in, and I haven't heard anything since then!

did you sent it with a prepaid enveloppe?

 

[lellen]

did you sent it with a prepaid enveloppe?

No, they said they didn't offer that service. Just regular certified mail...

 

[JoeMac]

Hi Lellen,

The only instructions we recieved for passport request was to send it in to assistant #17 at the embassy and that we have 15 days to submit the documents.

We sent it and they recieved it the next day January 8th. They actually called us when they recieved it as well to ensure we wanted it send by mail as we had mentioned the possibilty of bringing it right to the embassy in bogota. They relayed that monday January 12 is a holiday so they would send it tuesday and it should take 1 to 2 days to arrive. Lellen, you should have your back by now i would think? You can always send an email to the immigration email at the embassy. They are super helpful and patient.

 

[lellen]

oh no, now I'm freaking out... they've had it for a while and I haven't heard anything!
I just sent an email. Ugh we were planning on going with my husband in person to the embassy and we decided not to because we're idiots. And now he's going back to Canada in two days, and I'll have to stay here because I don't have my passport! booo

 

[queimmi]

Hi Everybody,

We got our passport request today! so my question now is, should I send the passport using the normal way or with a prepaid bill so the embassy can return it back?

queinmi