Well I have been hung up in A/R for nearly 4 months now. A half hour ago I called for my bi weekly news that nothing had happened. I happened to notice on my NOA-2 that my approval had an expiration date of May 22nd. I assumed it would be automaticially extended but thought I would ask just to be safe. The gal said no, that if I don't ask for an extension it will expire and I would have to start over. She really could not give me much information about who to cantact to extend it. Finally she gave me a phone number but I don't have a lot of faith in it.

If she is right then any others on A/R at NVC might want to be aware of this.

Hi, I'm Curious. Did you have to extend your notice. I just looked and mine has an expire date that is coming fast. More to worry about!

I wish I could answer that but dealing with the Goverment is like dealing with a brick wall. The gal at NVC told me I needed to request an extension as I posted but could not tell me where to send anything. She did give me a phone number for the state department. The number she gave me had no choices except automated replies. Someone here had posted a number for the state department and said they could give you updates on your status. I tried that and the gal said she could not give me any updates that the file was not there it was at NVC (NVC says it is not there but at the state dept).

Anyway, I e-mailed NVC at the general e-mail address for inquires and requested an extension or information about how to extend it.

Today I got a response that was basically a canned letter saying that since 9/11 extra security checks were necessary and when my file was sent to the embassy I would be notified. Nothing about the extension but they did reply and now I have a record that I asked for an extension.

Someone else posted here that after the A/R was finished they sent the file to the embassy and the embassy said it was invalid and had expired. The petitioner objected and they had them write a letter saying they still wanted the visa and re-instated the application.

I have read every thread I have been able to find here and listened to every story I can find and there are some really sad and disappointing stories. I have not found any who had a problem with an expired date other than the one I just told you about so I would say don't worry about it, but if it makes you feel better e-mail NVC and ask for an extension. You will get the same canned letter back I did but your message will be on there and you will have proof you requested the extension and that they recieved teh request.