Q's regarding NOA2/Pkt 3

[brynah 0]

Hi there everyone.

I have a few questions if anyone can help:

1. I have my NOA2 in front of me - it says it is valid from 1/31/08 - 5/31/08 - what does this mean? Does that mean I have until 5/31 to use it/send pkt 3 back? Any help would be appreciated.

2. In Pkt 3 - it says "complete and return immediately to this office the enclosed form DS-230I, Immigrant Visa Application Part I, Biographic Data" - I am intending to hold off on returning Pkt 3 as we do not want to have to leave Australia (my fiance is here in Australia with me) until early next year. Therefore I do not want the visa to be issued until July at the earliest. Should I still send the mentioned form? If I do, will I get an interview date, or will I not get the interview date until I send the entire packet?

3. Finally, it says if you have lived in another country for more than twelve months, you need to get a police certificate for that country. I lived in the UK twice, for a period of 10 months each time. My visa started in February 2005 and was valid until February 2009. I went to the UK and lived there from May 2005 until March 2006, then again from September 2006 until August 2007. I used the same visa the whole time, as it was a multiple entry visa. However there are stamps on my passport to say I came and went. Do you think I need to get a police certificate for the UK?

Thanks for your help..

[SnowyTater 2]

Hi,

I don't know about the police certificate. My simple answer would be just to get it anyway just in case, I think it's about $30 (or 30 pound?) fee for it which isn't too bad and I'm pretty sure I've read that you can request it online.

The date on your NOA2 is the date that it's good until, yes. The NOA2 is good for four months, but I think they're a little hazy on saying 'you have this long to send in packet 3'. I think they want you to do it asap. I know if for some reason your processing takes longer than the time they've alloted and it's their fault, then they automatically extend the time. But I don't know what they'd do if it takes longer but you waited three and a half months to send it in.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. My fiance can't move over here until October at the very very earliest and we got our NOA2 really early, so we're holding off on sending in packet 3 for a little bit, but only like a month for us. I think the timelines show that it usually takes about 2 months, on average, for them to set up an interview for you once they've gotten your packet 3. But this doesn't really mean anything, they could take less or more time with yours obviously.

I think you're waiting three months to send in the packet 3 is flirting with danger a little...or it sounds it to me. The following sounds really bad, but it might be an easy solution and could cause even bigger delays than you're hoping for: What if you just purposely screw something up on packet 3? Purposely get an RFE, not for anything bad like false information or anything that looks suspicious, but just forgetting to include something or to sign some form. This might slow you down up to weeks.

That's just an idea, though, people might pounce on me for suggesting it

[SnowyTater 2]

Oh I should mention. I know with the 6 months validity for your visa, you can request that they extend that time period, so maybe it'd be more straightforward for you guys to just go ahead and do anything normally and then get an extension? I don't know how extenuating your circumstances have to be, if there's an extra fee, or if they're liberal with this though.

[BigCityDave 0]

Would it be possible to get the Visa and then use that time as well while it is valid?

Intentionally getting an RFE sounds like danger as well in my opinion.

[brynah 0]

Thanks everyone.. I'm thinking I should just send it all in and get it under way. Don't want to screw my chances up.. I'll send it in and see what happens. Worst comes to worst, I can hopefully postpone my interview for a little while, etc.

[BigCityDave 0]

Thanks everyone.. I'm thinking I should just send it all in and get it under way. Don't want to screw my chances up.. I'll send it in and see what happens. Worst comes to worst, I can hopefully postpone my interview for a little while, etc.

From what I understand the interview is the only thing that can be postponed.