|
Post by bickmed on Nov 8, 2016 10:08:34 GMT -5
Good Morning. I have an appointment Thursday morning for my US visa. Does anyone have any recent experience on the time it takes to receive your passport back (in Medellin), as I fly out of country 8 days later and will require my passport.
|
|
|
Post by coolcoil on Nov 8, 2016 14:21:28 GMT -5
That will be tight. Normally, it would not get back to Medellin that fast. A friend of my wife recently got expedited service and was able to pick it up in Bogota in six days (not sure if that was calendar days or business days). He requested the fast service at the interview, and was told that he could only get the faster service if he picked his passport up in Bogota.
|
|
|
Post by barrumundi on Nov 8, 2016 17:22:26 GMT -5
bickmed ......... it wasn't possible to do that on-line?
|
|
|
Post by bickmed on Nov 8, 2016 17:51:26 GMT -5
Ok, thanks. Bugger, well will see what they say at the interview. If not, will have to take my passport with me.
Barrumundi - I'm not eligible for the ESTA anymore as have visited the banned list of countries; new ruling that came out in Feb this year.
|
|
|
Post by coolcoil on Nov 8, 2016 19:18:21 GMT -5
You probably thought of this, but could you reschedule the interview for after your trip?
|
|
|
Post by coolcoil on Nov 8, 2016 19:21:24 GMT -5
bickmed ......... it wasn't possible to do that on-line? We just went through the application process for my wife's renewal. Fortunately, they are now waiving the interview requirements for renewal applicants - you just have to drop off your passport and application cover sheet at the Applicant Services Center in Medellin. On the site, it said that if you need service faster than three weeks, you need to schedule and interview and ask for the expedited service at the interview.
|
|
|
Post by bickmed on Nov 8, 2016 21:06:48 GMT -5
Thanks Coolcoil - yep, on the State Department website it states that three weeks for people who have a biometrics waiver and to schedule an interview if it is needed quicker. I have my interview Thursday, and the website calculates 1 / 2 days for visa approval, processing, then the time for dispatch (ie mail back to Medellin) so I hope I have enough time to receive it by next Friday.
As for rescheduling, not really an option at this stage; if I cannot get it next week, I will have to back to Australia via a different route that does not include the US.
|
|
|
Post by gallito on Nov 8, 2016 23:03:26 GMT -5
As for rescheduling, not really an option at this stage; if I cannot get it next week, I will have to back to Australia via a different route that does not include the US. @ozgingo seems to prefer travelling via Santiago. Nov 3, 2016 13:21:12 GMT -8 barrumundi said: Nov 3, 2016 15:33:05 GMT -8 ozgringo said: "My wife and 16 month son and I will be flying Sydney to Auckland then Santiago. Then we stay one night at the airport hotel in Chile then fly to Bogota then 4 hour lay over until our flight to Cartagena. After 20 hours of flight time we will be spewing if we are delayed in Bogota." ozgringo have you flown this route before? Do you prefer this route over the via USA option? 'This will be my third time through Chile. We normally would go direct to Chile. As we are flying with a young one m y wife wanted to reduce the flight time so we are stopping in NZ for a couple of hours. I try and avoid flying through the USA especially LAX. Nightmare'.
|
|
|
Post by bickmed on Nov 9, 2016 7:04:25 GMT -5
Flights via Chile or Argentina are generally a lot more expensive. I try to avoid any transit where possible via the USA, however for cost and time, sometimes it is the best option. We came back to Colombia in Feb (Brisbane - Auckland - Lima -Medellin) after the US gov brought this ruling in last minute without consideration to people who already had approved ESTAS and flights booked ie it was made 1 week before we were due to fly and had to cancel all our Brisbane /US / Colombia flights.
|
|
|
Post by gallito on Nov 9, 2016 15:13:31 GMT -5
it doesn't make any sense;the yanks keep changing rules...if anyone should pay an entry fee to Colombia,it's them.
|
|
|
Post by coolcoil on Nov 9, 2016 16:20:46 GMT -5
Well, you can take what I said about the three weeks and chuck it out the window. My wife's visa turned around in nine calendar days. She dropped off the paperwork in Medellin on Wednesday 10/26, and we just found out it's been ready for pickup since Friday, 11/4. I had emailed the embassy on 10/31 to ask if they could expedite, and they replied that they had not yet even received the passport at the embassy, there was nothing they could do to help, and we should plan on waiting the advertised three weeks. I logged onto my wife's account today to check the status, and it said "ready for pickup." I looked back through her emails, and we received the notice last Friday. I wish she would check her email from time-to-time.
|
|
|
Post by bickmed on Nov 9, 2016 22:03:35 GMT -5
How are you guys getting visa appointments in Medellin as opposed to Bogota - is it because it is a renewal as opposed to first time?
|
|
|
Post by james on Nov 9, 2016 22:04:25 GMT -5
I had to renew my passport which was due to expire this month. I went to GESTICOL which is across the street from Migracion in Medellin. They filled out the paperwork, I signed it and a power-of-attorney. Got my new passport in 3 days. Cost: 150 mil plus 170 dollars US renewal cost. Why anyone would fool around doing this themselves is beyond me.
- JAMES
|
|
|
Post by coolcoil on Nov 10, 2016 6:34:13 GMT -5
How are you guys getting visa appointments in Medellin as opposed to Bogota - is it because it is a renewal as opposed to first time? There is a US Visa Applicant Service Center in Medellin that opened in 2014. New applicants for visas can get their biometric work done there in preparation for the interview. The interview still takes place in Bogota. You can choose to have your passport with the new visa sent to the ASC or a number of DHL locations throughout the country. Those who are renewing a visa that expired in the last 5 years (or it might be 8 years, check the site) and have no visa violations and meet some other requirements are now waived from the interview. They just have to drop of their passport at the ASC. That is what my wife did. You should note that you need to make an appointment at the ASC for even simple things like dropping off and picking up passports. To get the ASC information, go to the visa section of the US embassy website and follow the application instructions.
|
|
|
Post by coolcoil on Nov 10, 2016 6:36:57 GMT -5
I had to renew my passport which was due to expire this month. I went to GESTICOL which is across the street from Migracion in Medellin. They filled out the paperwork, I signed it and a power-of-attorney. Got my new passport in 3 days. Cost: 150 mil plus 170 dollars US renewal cost. Why anyone would fool around doing this themselves is beyond me. - JAMES I wish you could do that for kids, but unfortunately they have to show up at the embassy in person. I also have to bring along a series of pictures that document their change in appearance over the past five years. I'm going to look into whether it would be easier to take their passports with me to the USA and follow whatever the process is there.
|
|
|
Post by bickmed on Nov 10, 2016 6:58:37 GMT -5
Thanks Coolcoil - yep,I completed the biometrics yesterday in Medellin and am on my way for the interview now, assuming I make it given the closed runway and airport delays. Mine is a first time visa.
|
|
|
Post by bickmed on Nov 17, 2016 15:48:54 GMT -5
US visa interview was last Thursday, and my passport was received today (Thursday as well) - so not too bad considering that Monday was a Public holiday.
|
|
|
Post by coolcoil on Nov 18, 2016 10:34:38 GMT -5
US visa interview was last Thursday, and my passport was received today (Thursday as well) - so not too bad considering that Monday was a Public holiday. That's great to hear! I am curious to know if you asked for special service or was the quick turnaround the norm?
|
|
|
Post by bickmed on Nov 19, 2016 10:14:19 GMT -5
The two things I did were; pay for the DHL service to home (21 USD) and at the interview, I asked the officer if she would process as a priority. She said that is only for emergencies, however she would see what she could do.
The visa for non Colombians is 5 years as well (at least for Australians).
|
|