by Tammy Fox-Isicoff
The U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, adjudicates Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visas for Colombian Citizens and certain Third Country Nationals. In October 2017, the U.S. Embassy Bogotá was designated as the processing post for Cuban IV applications. NVC has begun transferring current immigrant visa applications to U.S. Embassy Bogotá, and scheduling immigrant visa interviews there for Cuban nationals. The transfer of applications takes several weeks. Your client will receive instructions from the NVC, KCC, or Embassy Bogotá once their case is ready to be processed. Given the volume of cases, the Embassy asks that you limit your case-specific inquiries until after your client has received instructions.
Fraud Concerns
The post has a very active Fraud-Prevention-Unit. The Consular Section of the Embassy encourages the public to report any fraud activity to: FPMBogota@state.gov. A report can include the perpetrator’s full name and birthdate as well as the nature of his or her wrongdoing. You can also attach relevant, electronic documents (like cell phone photos of visas, ID, passport pages, etc.)
No DHS Offices in US Embassy in Bogota
There are no USCIS/ICE/CBP offices in the Embassy. The USCIS Office in Lima, Peru has jurisdiction over immigration matters in Colombia.
Contact the Embassy
You may contact the embassy by providing the full name, date of birth, and case number of your client at:
- For Nonimmigrant Visas Issues: NIVBogota@state.gov
- For Immigrant Visas Issues: IVbogota@state.gov
- For Fraud Prevention Issues: FPMBogota@state.gov
Appointment Service
- NIV: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-CO/niv/information/niv
- IV: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-CO/iv/information/iv
Passport delivery issues: asa_contactus+co+courier+es@visaops.net
Fee payment issues: asa_contactus+co+mrv+es@visaops.net
Technical and account issues: asa_contactus+co+info+es@visaops.net
Telephone Numbers (only for registration, scheduling, and delivery process):
In Colombia: (571) 5088165 – (571) 5088185.
In the United States: (1)7032494652
Nonimmigrant Visa Procedure
Most of the nonimmigrant visa processing in Bogota is status quo. The Embassy has low wait times for interviews, so applicants have little need to request expedited appointments – – though the process is in place and efficient.
E applications –the most notable element of the nonimmigrant visa processing in Bogota is tied to our E 1 and E2 visa load. The Embassy recently moved from paper to electronic submissions and require at least one year of legal residency in Colombia to take the next available appointments. Electronic submissions should be no longer than 100 pages.
Travel history Requirement
The Embassy requires all applicants, regardless of nationality, to submit their travel history in Colombia for the year prior to their application (or in the case of renewals, the year prior to their travel to the US) to ensure priority is provided to Colombian residents and not to residents of other countries who are venue shopping. If the travel history is incomplete, the Embassy will require an update before the E Visa can be adjudicated.
Immigrant Visa Procedure
For further information about the transfer of Cuban Cases, go to: https://cu.usembassy.gov/frequently-asked-questions/
Prepared by Tammy Fox-Isicoff Partner in Rifkin & Fox-Isicoff P.A. in Miami Florida, and Chair of the Latin America and Caribbean Chapter of AILA.