Marriage within 90 days from interview or from entry into the US

[Ari2009 0]

Need help. I am an expat in a foreign country on a work assignment when I met my fiancee. When we did our K-1 interview together, the officer told us very clearly, multiple times that we have to marry within 90 days from the visa acceptance. We said OK because we don't want to argue, and the officer approved the K-1 request. But my work assignment in this foreign country isn't scheduled to finish in another two months, so our original plan actually was to go back to US together almost exactly 3 months after the interview and marry officially within 20 days at City Hall. Following this plan, the total days from visa interview is 110 days from interview, which meets the 6 month to enter the US and 90-days to marry rule which is documented on the official website http://travel.state.gov/. However, when we stated this plan to the officer, he told us that it is not possible, since we have to marry within 90 days from visa acceptance.

Also, when we received the envelope with the sealed package and her visa a few days after the approved interview, the front page attached also says to enter US within 6 month and marry within 90 days after enter US. I am confused whether to go with what the interview officer clearly stated (marry within 90 days from interview) or with what all the documentation and websites say (90 days from entry into the US)?

Can the individual officer make special rule for some cases, such as in mine since I am an expat? For example, could he have written a note inside the sealed, do-not-open envelope saying we have to marry 90 days within interview date?

[Canerican 242]

All the websites that you have visited are true. You have 6 months to enter the USA and then 90 days from there to get married. I don't think the officer would have put anything in the sealed envelope. Go with the 6 months to enter the USA, though if you had the medical a month or two ahead of the interview, the expiration of the VISA will be 6 months from the date of the medical. Go with the 6 months to come to the USA and then the 90 days and you should be good.

[Pitaya 2,580]

For more information, check out the DOS Nonimmigrant Visa for a Fiancé(e) (K-1) FAQs:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2994.html

[Darnell 8,480]

check her visa in her passport. there are 2 dates in there.

she needs to come into the USA by the latest date on that visa - usually ppl want to be 'safe' and come in a few days earlier.

but ..

her time in the USA is governed by the I-94 document, not the visa dates.

Once she's in the USA, she has 90 days to marry to you.

so, check the dates in the VISA stamp in the passport, tell us what you see, earliest date, latest date,

as

many times, the validity of visa duration hinges around the medical exam date, and not the visa interview date.

IMO, you got a newbie human at the IV Unit. It happens, sometimes.

Edited October 7, 2013 by Darnell

[Ari2009 0]

Thank you all, her passport shows visa Issue date 19spet2013 and expiration date 17March2014

Maybe what I heard was wrong?

[Darnell 8,480]

maybe what you heard was exact, but the human saying it was wrong, a recent hire with scant training, giving over wrong info.

all is governed by what's printed in the visa, for her transit into the USA.

Then she has 90 days after entering USA, to marry with you.

Seriously.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Need help. I am an expat in a foreign country on a work assignment when I met my fiancee. When we did our K-1 interview together, the officer told us very clearly, multiple times that we have to marry within 90 days from the visa acceptance. We said OK because we don't want to argue, and the officer approved the K-1 request. But my work assignment in this foreign country isn't scheduled to finish in another two months, so our original plan actually was to go back to US together almost exactly 3 months after the interview and marry officially within 20 days at City Hall. Following this plan, the total days from visa interview is 110 days from interview, which meets the 6 month to enter the US and 90-days to marry rule which is documented on the official website http://travel.state.gov/. However, when we stated this plan to the officer, he told us that it is not possible, since we have to marry within 90 days from visa acceptance.

Also, when we received the envelope with the sealed package and her visa a few days after the approved interview, the front page attached also says to enter US within 6 month and marry within 90 days after enter US. I am confused whether to go with what the interview officer clearly stated (marry within 90 days from interview) or with what all the documentation and websites say (90 days from entry into the US)?

Can the individual officer make special rule for some cases, such as in mine since I am an expat? For example, could he have written a note inside the sealed, do-not-open envelope saying we have to marry 90 days within interview date?

The validity date is printed right on the visa, enter the USA before that date. Then you have 90 days from POE to marry.