Hi everyone!

First I would like to thank everyone for the great info on this site.

Today we received our NOA2 after 37 days!! We're really happy, but now have a couple of questions as we didn't expect the approval to come so quickly!

I (the beneficiary) don't finish work until October and can't leave any sooner (I'm a teacher). We're pretty sure that this will be ok as the K1 lasts for 6 months and we know we're not at the end of the process yet! The problem is that I was planning on spending the summer break with my fiance in the U.S as we're going to a wedding but I know that I can't do this if I've had the interview.

How long does it usually take from NOA2 to interview? Is there a time limit to send packet 3 back?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

I believe there is a 4 month validity on the NOA2 (it's shown on the NOA2 just under the beneficiary name), but the embassy can extend that.

I had my interview a month after sending the packet 3 back, but the time varies quite a lot.

Does this mean that we have 4 months in which to receive and send packet 3, and complete the medical and interview or 4 months to send packet 3 back?

Thanks for your help!

Vermont I think is much faster than California in sending your case to NVC so it might be worth calling them after a week (if it was Cali I would say 4 ). My case once it hit NVC was received by them and mailed out to London the same day - in exactly a week I had - packet 3 - really fast

Oh and gratzies on NOA2:D

I'm not entirely sure.
I had the interview (3 months) after the validity period and there was no problems. But then again, I didn't send the packet 3 back until after the NOA2 "expired". I didn't even realize there was a validity period until reading it somewhere on here after sending packet 3 back. I'm not sure if they just automatically extended it, but I'd not risk it if I were you. I'd call them and check.

Sorry I couldn't really help you.

Congratulations! That is so shocking that you received the NOA2 so quickly. Did you happen to pay the expedite fees?

That does help, it's useful to hear personal experiences. I'll give them a call,

Thanks again!

Thanks!

We didn't pay the expedite fees, so I guess we were just lucky, or I hope for everyone that is waiting that they are speeding up!

Dont forget that the K-1 is valid for 6 months for entry to the US once you receive it, so technically you could have your interview at the beginning of May and the visa will be good for entry 6 months from that point (which includes the whole of October).

I suggest you speak to the Embassy.
I have heard of cases where they approved someone but didn't put the visa in their passport until later.

I would return the checklist s.l.o.w.l.y and then at the interview, explain your situation. I am sure they'll be able to help!

I think you'll find the info you provided is inaccurate. It is 90 days in which to enter the US and 90 days in which to get married on a K1.

Congrats on your NOA2!!!

I'm wondering about this myself!

Uh, actually minnie's right. It's valid for six months from the date of issue of the K1 visa; the fiance/e then has 90 days to get married from the date of POE.

From the London Embassy website:

"Immigrant and fiancé(e) visas are normally valid for travel to the United States for six months from the date on which they are issued."

Oh right.. was there a recent change to that or has it always been?.. if its always been then someone on this site who is telling porkies.....
thanks for that elm.

No probs! I know it certainly has been the case for at least a year (when I made the same mistake posting on this very topic...). Someone else is definitely off base here.

Kris and I are wondering the same thing. We are hoping for a May interview. We really want to get him out by June

My fiance just called USCIS about the NOA2 and they said 'We don't give extensions'.

I have to presume that this information is correct and that maybe they have changed the policy on extending NOA2s, but has anyone received an extension recently?

The extension is granted by the Embassy, not USCIS. You will have to email the US Embassy in London and request that the approval period for the petition be extended.

Ah, right, I'll get on and email them then, thanks!

Hi again!

After emailing the embassy to ask for an extension for the NOA2 they responded:

'If the petition approval notice has expired by the time of your interview, you will require a sworn statement from your U.S. citizen fiancé reaffirming his intention to marry within 90 days of entering the U.S. This should be signed in front of a U.S. notary public and brought to the interview.'

Has anyone done this before?
What is a U.S notary public? (sorry if that is a silly question)

Yes, this is just another letter of intent, like the one sent in with the I-129f petition. A notary public is someone who officially witnesses signing of documents to verify that the person signing a document is the right person. This is called having a document notarized. Most banks have notary publics available, who will notarize documents for no fee, or a small fee.

Great, thanks for the info