time limit after I-130 is approved?

[Ami_in_DE 0]

My husband and I live in Germany and want to move to the US. (We don't have any concrete plans but sometime within the next 5 years) We'd like to start the green card process now if possible. I know there is a 6 month time limit to move to the US after getting the immigrant visa, but could we just get the I-130 approved and wait to finish the process until we have actual plans to move? Is there any kind of time limit once the I-130 is approved or does the approval last indefinitely?

[Scott and Mhay 57]

I believe that once approved, you only have a year.

[SPSguy 18]

My husband and I live in Germany and want to move to the US. (We don't have any concrete plans but sometime within the next 5 years) We'd like to start the green card process now if possible. I know there is a 6 month time limit to move to the US after getting the immigrant visa, but could we just get the I-130 approved and wait to finish the process until we have actual plans to move? Is there any kind of time limit once the I-130 is approved or does the approval last indefinitely?

My wife and I live and work in Cambodia. She has had her K3 for over a year now. We have recently moved forward with our I 130 with NVC. Our intention is for her to get a greencard/social security card next time she enters the U.S, since we have now past our two year anniversary.

To answer your question, we have had her 130 approved since April of 2008. Yes, almost two years ago. As long as you keep NVC updated of your intent to complete the process AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, they will keep your file active. This is what I did the past two years to keep the case active.

1. complete ds 3032

2. wait a few weeks and pay the I 864 bill

3. wait a few weeks to pay the IV bill

4. called NVC to let them know I will be moving forward after our two year mark.

5. Recently began to send in I 864

6. Recently began to send in DS 230.

If you spread out the process you will buy time.

[Ami_in_DE 0]

My wife and I live and work in Cambodia. She has had her K3 for over a year now. We have recently moved forward with our I 130 with NVC. Our intention is for her to get a greencard/social security card next time she enters the U.S, since we have now past our two year anniversary.

To answer your question, we have had her 130 approved since April of 2008. Yes, almost two years ago. As long as you keep NVC updated of your intent to complete the process AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, they will keep your file active. This is what I did the past two years to keep the case active.

1. complete ds 3032

2. wait a few weeks and pay the I 864 bill

3. wait a few weeks to pay the IV bill

4. called NVC to let them know I will be moving forward after our two year mark.

5. Recently began to send in I 864

6. Recently began to send in DS 230.

If you spread out the process you will buy time.

Thank you so much! I've been trying to find the answer all day.

[Antje/Terry 1]

We are going to do it that way, too. But our plans changed after we started the CR-I.

If I had known about my husband coming to Germany I wouldn't have started the process. It is a lot easier/faster to do a dcf (direct consular filing) so you should consider doing ot that way.