I129F Extension

[Bernie C 24]

Hi everyone, Today Doan received an email from the HCM Consulate saying they have received DS230 Part 1 and that once interview has been set she will be notified by mail. Based on the timing from reviewing all your timelines I am anticipating that the interview would be late December or sometime in January. Our I129F is valid until 1/16/2010. When should I start being concerned with filing for an extension to the I129F. So far we have gone without a hitch and I dont want to screw something up now! They say to contact them startine the end of December so I'm a little nervous about passing the I129F validity date. I'm also a little nervous because I need to have ample time to get my visa and tickets so I can arrive at week before so we can be sure everything is organized and prepared for Doans interview. Following is the email:

Good afternoon,

We have already received the beneficiary's completed DS-230 Part I. Our office will schedule an appointment at the earliest opportunity. Once a visa interview appointment has been set, we will notify the beneficiary by mail. Please contact us at the end of each month (starting in December) for further information about the appointment date.

Sincerely,

Information Team

Consular Section

U.S. Consulate General HCMC

Tel: (84-8) 3520 4200

Fax: (84-8) 3520 4235

E-mail: hcmcinfo@state.gov (regarding visa issues)

acshcmc@state.gov (regarding services for U.S. citizens)

Adoption: HanoiAdoptions@state.gov

Website: http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov

This e-mail is UNCLASSIFIED based on the definitions provided in E.O. 12958.

Thanks Everyone for your help!

~Bernie~

[Kevin and 10]

K1s can chime in, but I believe that the Consulate will extend your petition for you if it expires while they are processing it.

[Ronnie&Hang 12]

K1s can chime in, but I believe that the Consulate will extend your petition for you if it expires while they are processing it.

That's correct!!!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I got an email from the consulate that was nearly identical, except it didn't say "starting in December" (or any specific month). It just "at the end of each month". I sent them another email on October 30th.

I have the same problem. The mail service is horrendously slow and unreliable, especially during typhoon season. Phuong sent her DS-230's and DS-2001 on October 7th, and we still haven't heard anything. I'm afraid we're going to find out the interview date only a week or two before the interview, which will leave me in a mad scramble to get a visa and airline tickets, and to arrange vacation time from work.

Our petition approval expires on December 20th. If we start getting close to that date then I'm going to send a request to have it extended anyway. I know they usually extend it automatically, but it won't hurt to ask for the extension.

[toddandhien 2]

Many of us have had our cases go past the validity period. It is a normal occurrence...no need to worry. This is an excerpt from the HCM Consulate website:

"Although a K visa petition is valid for a period of four months, a consular officer can revalidate the petition provided the officer concludes that the American citizen sponsor and the applicant remain legally free to marry and that they continue to intend to marry each other within three months of the alien’s admission into the U.S."

[Bernie C 24]

Thanks Everyone! You are all 's