Can the K1 Visa Date Be Extended?

[customx 0]

My fiance and I both live in Korea. She received her K1 visa in May, which means she must arrive in the US no later than the first week of November. I planned to go with her and help her move in with her friend, but I only have one week of vacation. I have a work contract here in Korea which means I can't move back to the US until January. Instead of trying to rush everything (ie apply for her green card and SSN)during my one week of vacation in November, I'd like to extend the K1 expiration date until January so that we can go together and take our time. Does anyone know if it's possible to extend the date? I heard that she might have to get a new medical exam and pay the visa fee again. Anyone know how accurate that is? Thanks~

[R de la R 2]

My fiance and I both live in Korea. She received her K1 visa in May, which means she must arrive in the US no later than the first week of November. I planned to go with her and help her move in with her friend, but I only have one week of vacation. I have a work contract here in Korea which means I can't move back to the US until January. Instead of trying to rush everything (ie apply for her green card and SSN)during my one week of vacation in November, I'd like to extend the K1 expiration date until January so that we can go together and take our time. Does anyone know if it's possible to extend the date? I heard that she might have to get a new medical exam and pay the visa fee again. Anyone know how accurate that is? Thanks~

Not it is not possible, all what you can do is to enter with her to US, to get marry, apply for AOS and you go back to Korea and she stay in US, because she can't go back with you.

Visa has to be used before the expiration date. Use or loose it.

[Jamaican JNR 2]

My fiance and I both live in Korea. She received her K1 visa in May, which means she must arrive in the US no later than the first week of November. I planned to go with her and help her move in with her friend, but I only have one week of vacation. I have a work contract here in Korea which means I can't move back to the US until January. Instead of trying to rush everything (ie apply for her green card and SSN)during my one week of vacation in November, I'd like to extend the K1 expiration date until January so that we can go together and take our time. Does anyone know if it's possible to extend the date? I heard that she might have to get a new medical exam and pay the visa fee again. Anyone know how accurate that is? Thanks~

To the best of my knowledge, the visa is good for only 6 months. If it expires you will have to start the process from scratch (I130)

[Otto 83]

May/may-not be possible - only way to be sure is to contact the Embassy/Consulate.

Edited August 18, 2009 by Otto und Karin

[Jamaican JNR 2]

My fiance and I both live in Korea. She received her K1 visa in May, which means she must arrive in the US no later than the first week of November. I planned to go with her and help her move in with her friend, but I only have one week of vacation. I have a work contract here in Korea which means I can't move back to the US until January. Instead of trying to rush everything (ie apply for her green card and SSN)during my one week of vacation in November, I'd like to extend the K1 expiration date until January so that we can go together and take our time. Does anyone know if it's possible to extend the date? I heard that she might have to get a new medical exam and pay the visa fee again. Anyone know how accurate that is? Thanks~

To the best of my knowledge, the visa is good for only 6 months. If it expires you will have to start the process from scratch (I130)

[customx 0]

I called the embassy today, and they said it was possible, but I didn't feel very secure in their answer. Someone at the embassy said that I have to let the visa expire, and then submit a new health check, pay the visa fee again, and bring in the envelope which contains all of the documents we completed in order to get the K1 visa. I'm going to call again tomorrow just to make sure. The last thing I want to have happen is to let the visa expire and then have the embassy tell me that I can't get a new K1 visa without going through the whole process all over again.

[R de la R 2]

I called the embassy today, and they said it was possible, but I didn't feel very secure in their answer. Someone at the embassy said that I have to let the visa expire, and then submit a new health check, pay the visa fee again, and bring in the envelope which contains all of the documents we completed in order to get the K1 visa. I'm going to call again tomorrow just to make sure. The last thing I want to have happen is to let the visa expire and then have the embassy tell me that I can't get a new K1 visa without going through the whole process all over again.

Yes, you better double check because I asked here in Dominican Republic and they told me. It is not allowed. Write down the name of the person you talk to over the phone.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

I called the embassy today, and they said it was possible, but I didn't feel very secure in their answer. Someone at the embassy said that I have to let the visa expire, and then submit a new health check, pay the visa fee again, and bring in the envelope which contains all of the documents we completed in order to get the K1 visa. I'm going to call again tomorrow just to make sure. The last thing I want to have happen is to let the visa expire and then have the embassy tell me that I can't get a new K1 visa without going through the whole process all over again.

That sounds fishy, especially as once the first visa is expired, you'll be stuck if they say no. From all I have read, it is not possible to extend a visa, but it is sometimes possible to re-issue it. Normally a good reason is required, such as you are moving with kids and want them to finish the school year, or had a sudden family bereavement. I would consider you to have a good reason, with the job, but I am not the CO I'd try and make an appointment to discuss this in person at the embassy, and hopefuly get the visa re--issued there and then if possible.

[customx 0]

I called the embassy again this morning and spoke with someone different. I was told the same thing yesterday: If she gets a new medical check, pays the visa fee, and types up a statement explaining the reason why she didn't use the visa, then they will re-issue it. I've also sent the question into the embassy via email and hope to get the same response. If it's possible, this will save me a lot of time, money, and stress.

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

Policies differ from consulate to consulate. It appears that Seoul is willing to reissue the K-1 under the specified circumstances. Getting it by email will be nice, of course, and hopefully you got the names of the consular staff with whom you spoke on the phone; but multiple attestation, which you now have, is a good sign. Good luck!

Just an aside: is your fiancee Korean?

[Krikit 1,164]

Definitely each Consulate/Embassy is different. We were told that it was possible to reissue the visa under certain circumstances, but they did not recommend taking the chance in case it was denied. I ended up making alternate arrangements and using it two days before expiry. Not the best of circumstances but the best I could do at the time.

[customx 0]

I asked for the name of the consulate officer I spoke with, but was told they can't give their name out over the phone, hence the reason I emailed them. I won't feel completely secure until I have something in words. Even then, I may call the embassy again in a couple of weeks just to verify everything again.

And yes, she is Korean.

[rebeccajo 14]

moved to consular forums

[PeruvyandGringa 25]

It sounds like you are trying to time the visa to coincide with the end of your assignment. Did they tell you how long it would take to re-issue the visa? Is it something she will have to wait to receive? If you must wait until after the original visa expires, and then it takes some time to get a re-issued visa afterwards...