BOGOTA Visa Office 2012 applicants

[ccunnington]

Yes! It is a relief!

I think you're very close to the end of your process! We still have some waiting to do. I'm sure it will be at least another couple of months before we hear anything from Bogota

 

[julycathe]

Hi all. I just wanted to give you thanks for sharing your experiences with the bogota visa office. it has helped us to stay strong and full of hope. I will like to share our timelines. I submitted the application to sponsor my hubby to mississauga in Dec/2010, it was approved on feb/2011 and on april/2011 he received the AOR, and the request of his military card and the payment for his security and background check. then we did not hear anything from them until March/2012 when they requested for an interview. my hubby went for the interview on march 12 and it went well. the IO requested his passport right away, new medicals, an updated background declaration form and to submit an authorization to return to canada application as he had a removal order which became a deportation order due to his failed refugee claim. he never overstayed and always followed instructions from immigration Canada. we submited all the requested documents on early april/2012, up until today we have not received any updates. the only thing was on ecase, it says that medicals results have been received, it has been there since early june. I got in contact with the MP last week and just today the assitant called and told me that they replied to her request and said that the case has not been reviewed by some officer and to get in contact with them again in Nov if we don't hear anything from the visa office. I really hope that that oficer is the one who reviews the file and issues the visa.

 

[ccunnington]

Hi all. I just wanted to give you thanks for sharing your experiences with the bogota visa office. it has helped us to stay strong and full of hope. I will like to share our timelines. I submitted the application to sponsor my hubby to mississauga in Dec/2010, it was approved on feb/2011 and on april/2011 he received the AOR, and the request of his military card and the payment for his security and background check. then we did not hear anything from them until March/2012 when they requested for an interview. my hubby went for the interview on march 12 and it went well. the IO requested his passport right away, new medicals, an updated background declaration form and to submit an authorization to return to canada application as he had a removal order which became a deportation order due to his failed refugee claim. he never overstayed and always followed instructions from immigration Canada. we submited all the requested documents on early april/2012, up until today we have not received any updates. the only thing was on ecase, it says that medicals results have been received, it has been there since early june. I got in contact with the MP last week and just today the assitant called and told me that they replied to her request and said that the case has not been reviewed by some officer and to get in contact with them again in Nov if we don't hear anything from the visa office. I really hope that that oficer is the one who reviews the file and issues the visa.

You definitely have been waiting a long time! Hopefully things get finalized soon for you, since you're past the 16 months processing time posted on the website. Your case likely took longer due to the deportation order. I've seen some cases processed in 5 months in Bogota, while others take years! Keep us posted and good luck!

 

[esims2003]

Update: New medical exam was done on Aug 3 in Guayaquil, the doctor said it takes up to 3 weeks for the embassy in Colombia to get the results. My husband finally obtained his birth certificate, and submitted it with the other requested documents: new police record check, copy 2 of medical exam and his passport. The package was mailed out today via Fedex from Manta. Hopefully will get there within the week. Now I guess we just sit and wait.....some more
Feels like there is a light at the end of the tunnel now tho! Fingers are crossed!!!

 

[ccunnington]

Update: New medical exam was done on Aug 3 in Guayaquil, the doctor said it takes up to 3 weeks for the embassy in Colombia to get the results. My husband finally obtained his birth certificate, and submitted it with the other requested documents: new police record check, copy 2 of medical exam and his passport. The package was mailed out today via Fedex from Manta. Hopefully will get there within the week. Now I guess we just sit and wait.....some more
Feels like there is a light at the end of the tunnel now tho! Fingers are crossed!!!

Hopefully that's everything you need now, so just the final bit of waiting to get through...Canada by Christmas!

 

[ccunnington]

Any recent news from the Bogota VO??? Anyone?

 

[Ibague]

Hi Guys,

My wife has just recieved an AOR from Bogota today 08/29/12. included with the AOR was an Banco de Occidente with instructions to pay 60,000 pesos. we are pretty excited.
here is my time line

application filed 02/16/12
AOR from missisauga 05/09/12
file transfer to Bogota 05/09/12
AOR from Bogota 08/29/12
Visa Pending

 

[ccunnington]

Hi Guys,

My wife has just recieved an AOR from Bogota today 08/29/12. included with the AOR was an Banco de Occidente with instructions to pay 60,000 pesos. we are pretty excited.
here is my time line

application filed 02/16/12
AOR from missisauga 05/09/12
file transfer to Bogota 05/09/12
AOR from Bogota 08/29/12
Visa Pending

That's great! glad to see that Bogota sends out AOR's...i should only be a few weeks after you...what is the 60,000COP for??? isn't the $1040 enough?

 

[Ibague]

i hear the 60K pesos is for some Police report in Bogota. Somebody explaioned it quite in some detail on this forum. so i will be paying it this friday.

 

[ccunnington]

i hear the 60K pesos is for some Police report in Bogota. Somebody explaioned it quite in some detail on this forum. so i will be paying it this friday.

Is that different from the other police check?

 

[p.angie]

Hey everyone! Its really good to hear real stories of people going through the same thing. I sponsored my husband in august of 2011. In October of 2011 he received a letter requesting his Libreta Militar and a payment for background check which we sent in shortly.. and we have not heard back since then! We're a little bit concerned as the letter also states that the normal time to process these types of cases is 10 months and it has already been more than 10.
Do you guys know of any way to find some information about the case? I have sent what seems like a thousand emails and have never received a response . I would love any helpful information!

 

[Ibague]

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.

How or where do I obtain one?

If you live in Colombia (both nationals and non-nationals)
Once you have submitted an application to the visa office, the visa office processing your case will provide instructions to you on how to obtain the background verifications certificate.

If you live outside Colombia
The easiest way to obtain a background verifications certificate from outside Colombia is to ask a person living in Colombia to request the certificate on your behalf, following the instructions sent to you by the visa office.

You can also request the certificate yourself by following these instructions:

You must pay a processing fee of the equivalent of COP$60.000 at the current exchange rate per person, to be deposited to:

Intermediary Bank: BANCO INTERMEDIARIO CITIBANK N.A.
Swift Code: CITIUS33
ABA Code: 021000089
CHIPS Code: 0008
Beneficiary Bank: BANCO DE OCCIDENTE
Banco de Occidente Swift Code: OCCICOBC
Account No.: 10950229
Final Beneficiary Name: RISK MANAGEMENT COLOMBIA S.A.
Final Beneficiary Account No.: 223005463

You will receive a deposit slip as proof of payment. There should be one deposit slip per person.

Once you have made the deposit, you must send a scanned copy of the deposit slip to: aplicantes@procesosec.com

You must also submit the following information to the bank:

•For Colombian nationals:
the applicant’s full name, National Identity Card Number (Cédula de Ciudadanía), visa file number, and the name of the visa office that is processing the application.
•For non-Colombian nationals:
the applicant’s full name, Colombian Foreign Resident Identity Card Number (Cédula de Extranjería) or passport number, visa file number, and the name of the visa office that is processing the application.
•If a payment is made for several applicants:
a list with the names, identity document numbers, and a copy of the deposit slips for each person.
A copy of the deposit slip together with the applicant information listed above must be scanned and sent by e-mail directly to the visa office processing your case. The e-mail title must state “Background verifications” and the name of the visa office that is processing the immigration application.

The response will be sent directly to the CIC office processing your application. Please ensure that the name of the visa office is included on the payment slip as per instructions

 

[ccunnington]

Hey everyone! Its really good to hear real stories of people going through the same thing. I sponsored my husband in august of 2011. In October of 2011 he received a letter requesting his Libreta Militar and a payment for background check which we sent in shortly.. and we have not heard back since then! We're a little bit concerned as the letter also states that the normal time to process these types of cases is 10 months and it has already been more than 10.
Do you guys know of any way to find some information about the case? I have sent what seems like a thousand emails and have never received a response . I would love any helpful information!

It sounds like your husband served in the military at some point??? Not sure how that affects the sponsorship, but it likely delayed things a bit. I read in your other post that you received the passport request now...thats good news! Usually once you get that request, you're ready to rock and roll! Good luck and keep us posted. Sorry I can't help more regarding the process for military service

 

[p.angie]

actually he never served in the military.. its just a prerequisite for any adult male in Colombia, to have a Libreta Militar. I am a bit confused though because they didn't ask for more medical tests and its already been more than a year since his last ones. Would they ask for these later on before returning his passport with the visa? Sounds like they purposely delay these things as they could have just asked for it right away....

 

[ccunnington]

actually he never served in the military.. its just a prerequisite for any adult male in Colombia, to have a Libreta Militar. I am a bit confused though because they didn't ask for more medical tests and its already been more than a year since his last ones. Would they ask for these later on before returning his passport with the visa? Sounds like they purposely delay these things as they could have just asked for it right away....

There is a new policy regarding medicals. If they have expired, and you are close to finishing the process, CIC will extend them for 3 months i think it is so that you don't have to re-do the medicals. There is a thread on here regarding that issue, and it is also on the CIC website.