Tensions between the U.S. and Colombia rose after Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially refused to accept deportation flights of Colombian nationals. After U.S. threats of imposing tariffs on Colombian goods, Colombia agreed to the flights, avoiding economic consequences. However, the U.S. State Department's visa restrictions have left many Colombians frustrated, as they must now wait significantly longer for visa appointments at the busy U.S. Embassy in Bogota. Individuals seeking visas expressed their dissatisfaction with these sudden changes and uncertainty about their future opportunities.
In Colombia, it can take up to two years to get a visa appointment at the U.S. embassy in Bogota, which has also been handling visa requests from neighboring Venezuela for several years.
Visa applicants who turned up at the embassy on Monday expressed frustration with the restrictions, which mean they will likely wait several more months for a new appointment.
President Petro did not represent our interests, said Elio Camelo, a U.S. visa seeker from Cali who had traveled to Bogota for his appointment.
...uncertainty now over what will happen next, said Mauricio Manrique, who had his Monday morning appointment canceled, having traveled from Popayan.
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