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Updated: 18/IX/03

Frequently Asked Questions

Versión en español


How can I enlist in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy or Marines?
How I can find a relative or friend who lives in the U.S.A.?
I need the address of the OAS.
How I can work in the Embassy?
What is the temperature in Phoenix now?
How is Christmas celebrated in the U.S.?
How many hours' difference are there between Bogotá and Los Angeles?
Which Notary will authenticate papers that will be used in the U.S.?
Where can I find the list of official translators accepted by the Embassy, to have some school grades translated?
How can I find a scholarship to study in the U.S.A.?
Is it possible to do an internship in the U.S.A.?
Where can I find information about the "au pair" program?
I need the address for the INS in Philadelphia.
I am a U.S. citizen living in New York and planning to marry a Colombian. ¿How long does it take to get the visa if we marry in Colombia?


Question: How can I enlist in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy or Marines?

Answer: The U.S. Armed Forces are restricted to citizens and residents of the United States. If you are citizen or resident you can enlist at the nearest recruitment office.


Q: How I can find a relative or friend who lives in the U.S.A.?

A: In the Embassy we do not have listings of resident Colombians in the U.S.A.. From our website you may access a variety of telephone directories from our main page under " About the U.S." However, not everyone has a listed telephone number, and operators can only give numbers that are listed in the telephone directories. Under certain conditions, the Department of Health and Human Services can provide assistance in locating and contacting persons in the United States.


Q: I need the address of the OAS.

A: From our main page you can find links to many intergovernmental institutions under " U.S. Government"


Q: How I can work in the Embassy?

A: The Embassy announces vacancies in the local newspapers and on our website. The Human Resources Office receives resumés only in answer to those announcements.


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Q: What is the temperature in Phoenix now?

A: From our main page go to "About the U.S." where we included a link so you can search for the weather in any city or state.


Q: How is Christmas celebrated in the U.S.?

A: On our website under " Holidays" we included information about U.S. holidays and how they are celebrated. If you need information in English, you can visit the Library at the Centro Colombo-Americano.


Q: How many hours' difference are there between Bogotá and Los Angeles?

A: From our main page, go to "About the U.S." where we included links to information about time zones in the U.S.


Q: Which Notary will authenticate papers that will be used in the U.S.?

A: . Documents originating in the United States require for recognition in Colombia an Apostille issued by competent U.S. authorities. Likewise, documents originating in Colombia require for recognition in the U.S. an Apostille issued by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Relations (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Oficina de Legalizaciones, Transversal 17A # 98-45, Bogotá, D.C.). Documents legalized with the Ministry's Apostille need no authentication by U.S. Consular Officers.


Q: Where can I find the list of official translators accepted by the Embassy, to have some school grades translated?

A: There is a list of Translators in Colombia.



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Q: How can I find a scholarship to study in the U.S.A .?

A: On our website under you can find financial information on studying in the U.S., as well as on different types of educational institutions. We also suggest communicating with Colombian institutions such as ICETEX and Colfuturo.


Q: Is it possible to do an internship in the U.S.A.?

A: Whoever wishes to do an internship in the U.S.A. must look for a U.S. organization to sponsor him/her. That organization initiates the visa process request before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) . Each case is different, so sometimes F, H-3, or J visas are granted.


Q: Where can I find information about the "au pair" program?

A: Visit: www.aifs.com/aupair/index.htm


Q: I need the address for the INS in Philadelphia.

A: On our main page you should select "U.S. Government"; there, under "Departamento de Justicia" you will find the INS. On their website you should select "Field Offices" and then "List of Field Offices".


Q: I am a U.S. citizen living in New York and planning to marry a Colombian. ¿How long does it take to get the visa if we marry in Colombia?

A: While in the past, we were able to accept petitions filed by U.S. citizens not resident in Colombia, due to the overwhelming volume of such petition filings, since July 1, 2003, the Embassy no longer accepts petitions for family members (spouses and children under 21 years old) from U.S. citizens who are not resident in Colombia.

U.S. citizens resident in the U.S. must file petitions for a family member (including spouses, children step-children, parents and siblings) with the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services office with jurisdiction over the U.S. citizen's place of residence.

U.S. citizens who are resident in Colombia may petition for their spouse, unmarried children (under 21 years old) and stepchildren at the Embassy. A U.S. citizen can petition for stepchildren only if the marriage to the Colombian national took place before the child's 18th birthday and only if the child is under 21 years of age at the time of the petition.

The U.S. citizen petitioner may come to the Embassy any Monday through Thursday at 1:00PM to initiate an Immigrant Visa petition, and should bring the following documents:

  • Original of the civil registry of marriage (church wedding documents are not accepted).
  • Documents proving the legal termination of all previous marriages (divorce, death or annulment certificates) of both parties.
  • Original birth certificates of minor children.
  • US$130.00 per applicant, payable in cash in dollars or pesos (credit cards and checks are not accepted).
  • The passport of the U.S. citizen and petitioned Colombian family members.



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