NOA2 expiry date

[balloonquest 0]

Hi,

British-US, k1 visa.

I am the British fiancée and am finishing my last year of college in England. I graduate in May 2014. We planned for myself to move to the US at the beginning of June after I finish school.

However as I have long vacations we are planning to meet up in December (we have a trip booked for me to go there for 5 weeks from Dec-Jan) and then I have another vacation for spring from mid march-mid april, however we have not booked anything for this trip yet.

We did not expect our file to be processed so quickly as we applied mid September and received our NOA2 by mid October, it literally took us one month from application to receipt of noa2 which was completely unexpected given the very long processing times, which, for us, were highly inaccurate. If we had known it would have been processed so quickly we would have applied later to avoid this happening.

While for some this would be great news I cannot actually move any sooner than June due to still being in school, so it is actually a problem for us.

The NOA2 expires on 29/1/14. I just spoke to the NVC and they said our case was mailed to London two days ago (6 november 2013)... now my dilemma is, will I be able to somehow extend this date so that I can interview and get my visa after I visit in Spring? Or is this impossible and will we have to scrap that trip?

Because if i have to interview by the end of January 2014 I will not be able to visit in March as it is a one entry visa.

Please advise me!

thanks!

[baron555 934]

For the K-1, that date is meaningless. Not to worry, once NVC or the Embassy has the case, the petition is automatically extended until they make a decision.

Besides, once you are granted the visa, you have six months with which to use it.

Edited November 8, 2013 by baron555

[balloonquest 0]

So when I call to make my appointment I can just ask for it to be after the date when im planning to return in April?

Does anyone know roughly how long they take to issue visas at London? I don't want the other problem either where I am still waiting for my visa to come when I have graduated.

Also, I have spent a lot of time in the US this past year and I am a bit concerned about being denied entry with these trips. This past year once I go in Dec I will have spent 5months in America!

[mehdali 4]

I got processed so quickly too, and now I need more time as well! LOL I have the same problem

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

I believe there is a special procedure for getting the petition expiration extended in London, so I am going to move your post to the UK forum where you can receive the best answers.

~ Moved from K-1 Process to UK regional forum ~

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

So when I call to make my appointment I can just ask for it to be after the date when im planning to return in April?

Does anyone know roughly how long they take to issue visas at London? I don't want the other problem either where I am still waiting for my visa to come when I have graduated.

Also, I have spent a lot of time in the US this past year and I am a bit concerned about being denied entry with these trips. This past year once I go in Dec I will have spent 5months in America!

Your previous answer was incorrect for a LONDON interview.

If you can't get the visa accomplished by the 4 month expiration of the petition, you will provide a notarized letter of intent from the US fiancé at your interview in London to revalidate the petition.

Your visa will be issued with an expiration six months after the date of the medical exam, so use that for planning. If you had an interview and got the visa on June 1, but your medical exam was Jan 1 (5 months earlier) then your visa would be issued to expire in 1 month.

Another thing you said..."so when I call to make my appointment"......

You don't call for a visa interview appointment in London. It is assigned to you after you have submitted the application form, the readiness for interview form, and your medical results have arrived at the embassy.

So if you stall around and don't submit the things needed, you are effectively pushing back your interview. The readiness for interview form is an online submission but there is a place to indicate your intended travel date where you can make them aware of your Jume plans. You may also contact the embassy via an online contact form to explain you need to finish school and ask them how you should proceed since your case has already arrived there.

The K1 instructions and forms for London are all online here. http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html

If you are using a tablet or phone, you won't see the form information in the right column. The link will put you in a mobile version and it it difficult to find the form info.

When you are using the website, there are a lot of "see more" links or "see ____ in the navigation column". Do click and read all links or you will miss information.

[rhirhi 35]

I have the exact same problem! I'm a teacher so I can't leave til school finishes next July. We applied last July when processing times were 6+ months...got our NOA2 in Sept. Nice to have a 'yes' so quick but a bit of a pain in the butt!

The way we're getting round it is just drawing everything out on our end now. You have 6 months from the day of your medical to use the visa. I won't book a medical appointment to be held before late January 2014. This means I'll have 6 months from late Jan to move out there, giving me until late July. If you are planning to move over next June, don't schedule your medical appointment to be held earlier than mid December.

You shouldn't have any problems visiting whilst all this is going on. I always take proof of my job and my MA course to show that I still have ties to the UK incase it's needed, but it never has been. The only thing is, once you have had your interview and received your passport back with the visa in it, remember that the visa is a single use visa, so the next time you fly out it will have to be to move permanently. We expect to get our visa next spring so after my December visit I won't be going out again. The way we're getting round that is he's coming to visit here over the Easter holidays

I'd complete the DS160 as soon as you are able. I was given this advice from someone in this forum because as I'm dragging out the rest of the process, completing this form shows them that we still intend to go ahead with the process. When the interview date is nearing you'll need a notarised letter of intent from the USC stating their continued intent to marry. Taking this to the interview will allow them to extend the expiration date.

Hope this all makes sense, and hope this helps!

EDIT: Ah, Nich-Nick beat me to it!

Edited November 9, 2013 by rhirhi

[balloonquest 0]

Your previous answer was incorrect for a LONDON interview.

If you can't get the visa accomplished by the 4 month expiration of the petition, you will provide a notarized letter of intent from the US fiancé at your interview in London to revalidate the petition.

Your visa will be issued with an expiration six months after the date of the medical exam, so use that for planning. If you had an interview and got the visa on June 1, but your medical exam was Jan 1 (5 months earlier) then your visa would be issued to expire in 1 month.

Another thing you said..."so when I call to make my appointment"......

You don't call for a visa interview appointment in London. It is assigned to you after you have submitted the application form, the readiness for interview form, and your medical results have arrived at the embassy.

So if you stall around and don't submit the things needed, you are effectively pushing back your interview. The readiness for interview form is an online submission but there is a place to indicate your intended travel date where you can make them aware of your Jume plans. You may also contact the embassy via an online contact form to explain you need to finish school and ask them how you should proceed since your case has already arrived there.

The K1 instructions and forms for London are all online here. http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html

If you are using a tablet or phone, you won't see the form information in the right column. The link will put you in a mobile version and it it difficult to find the form info.

When you are using the website, there are a lot of "see more" links or "see ____ in the navigation column". Do click and read all links or you will miss information.

Thanks for your help and correction to the other answer given! Is the petition automatically revalidated by the embassy...will it ever be rejected?

Thanks for letting me know about the medical date, i'll make sure not to get that before january.

Would it be inadvisable to stall for so long that I can visit again in March? Dilemma!

[balloonquest 0]

I have the exact same problem! I'm a teacher so I can't leave til school finishes next July. We applied last July when processing times were 6+ months...got our NOA2 in Sept. Nice to have a 'yes' so quick but a bit of a pain in the butt!

The way we're getting round it is just drawing everything out on our end now. You have 6 months from the day of your medical to use the visa. I won't book a medical appointment to be held before late January 2014. This means I'll have 6 months from late Jan to move out there, giving me until late July. If you are planning to move over next June, don't schedule your medical appointment to be held earlier than mid December.

You shouldn't have any problems visiting whilst all this is going on. I always take proof of my job and my MA course to show that I still have ties to the UK incase it's needed, but it never has been. The only thing is, once you have had your interview and received your passport back with the visa in it, remember that the visa is a single use visa, so the next time you fly out it will have to be to move permanently. We expect to get our visa next spring so after my December visit I won't be going out again. The way we're getting round that is he's coming to visit here over the Easter holidays

I'd complete the DS160 as soon as you are able. I was given this advice from someone in this forum because as I'm dragging out the rest of the process, completing this form shows them that we still intend to go ahead with the process. When the interview date is nearing you'll need a notarised letter of intent from the USC stating their continued intent to marry. Taking this to the interview will allow them to extend the expiration date.

Hope this all makes sense, and hope this helps!

EDIT: Ah, Nich-Nick beat me to it!

To be honest because we weren't expecting it to be completed so quickly I haven't really read anything about what I need to do now.

Are you not at all concerned that you have gone over the date, in case they don't re validate your petition?

He could come here in Easter but he only gets one week vacation whilst I get a month so it doesn't make sense for him to come here!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thanks for your help and correction to the other answer given! Is the petition automatically revalidated by the embassy...will it ever be rejected?

Thanks for letting me know about the medical date, i'll make sure not to get that before january.

Would it be inadvisable to stall for so long that I can visit again in March? Dilemma!

It is not "automatically" revalidated by the embassy. it requires a notarized letter (for London) if expired. No other issues about the date beyond the visa interview. The date basically gives it a shelf life date, so if you messed around for say a year without doing even one part at the embassy, the embassy could theoretically say your petition isn't valid still. If a long time passes, many many months without a word from you, I guess they want to make sure the fiancé is still on board, so ask for that letter.

[rhirhi 35]

I'm not concerned, everything I have read and all the advice I have been given regarding London states that they are happy to revalidate the petition when given a new, notarised letter of intent from the USC. In addition, I used the email form on their website to ask their advice. This was their reply:

Thank you for your email.

You have until October 21^st 2014 to take action in your case. If you do not do so by that date, steps will be taken to terminate your application.

If it is not possible to schedule an appointment before the expiration date of your Notice of Action, you will be required to present a letter of intent from your fiancé, confirming that you still intend to marry, both remain legally free to do so and that you will marry within 90 days of your initial entry to the United States. You can either present the letter at the time of your interview, or your fiancé can submit it by mail directly to the Immigrant Visa Unit by mail.

In other words, if they don't hear a peep from me by Oct 21st 2014 then they'll cancel the application. I intend to have my visa in-hand by Easter and married in August so that's not a problem.

Read Nich-Nick's post above and check out the link. It will tell you exactly what to do from now on. You can schedule the medical up to one month in advance, so if you're shooting for a early June move then schedule the medical in December to take place in January. Just be really clear on the fact that once the medical is done, you only have 6 months from that date to move.

As I said, you can visit him right up until your interview date, but once you have that visa in your hand the next time you fly out will be to stay for good. I don't see why you can't do your spring trip and then have the interview in May. If that's the route you want to go down, be extra cautious and don't send in your "readiness for interview" online form until you really are ready for interview, i.e back in the country after your trip in spring (or a week or so away from flying home).

Edited November 9, 2013 by rhirhi

[Mcbride260808 1]

we missed our noa2 expiration date - partly as our noa2 arrived two months after it was dated! so we always knew we were going to go past the noa2 deadline.

it hasn't been a problem so far - we completed the documentation needed before the noa2 deadline but scheduled the medical for after this date, so we had enough time to get needles and the police certificate. my fiancé has supplied a certified letter of intent to marry for the interview. you should be fine to complete the relevant documentation before the noa2 deadline but delay scheduling the medical, so that it is six months before your departure date.

good luck!

[balloonquest 0]

I'm not concerned, everything I have read and all the advice I have been given regarding London states that they are happy to revalidate the petition when given a new, notarised letter of intent from the USC. In addition, I used the email form on their website to ask their advice. This was their reply:

In other words, if they don't hear a peep from me by Oct 21st 2014 then they'll cancel the application. I intend to have my visa in-hand by Easter and married in August so that's not a problem.

Read Nich-Nick's post above and check out the link. It will tell you exactly what to do from now on. You can schedule the medical up to one month in advance, so if you're shooting for a early June move then schedule the medical in December to take place in January. Just be really clear on the fact that once the medical is done, you only have 6 months from that date to move.

As I said, you can visit him right up until your interview date, but once you have that visa in your hand the next time you fly out will be to stay for good. I don't see why you can't do your spring trip and then have the interview in May. If that's the route you want to go down, be extra cautious and don't send in your "readiness for interview" online form until you really are ready for interview, i.e back in the country after your trip in spring (or a week or so away from flying home).

So essentially, once I receive the packet I don't have to do anything, or contact them in any way until next March (even though that will be after the expiry date). I can have my medical next January and start submitting documents next March and there won't be problems, I will just bring a notarized letter to the interview? Is this right? Although I should submit my DS-160 soon?

Do you have any idea roughly how long the wait is for interview appointments? Because obviously if there is a two month wait I want to submit my documents before March! Also, is there any information anywhere for how long it takes for the visa to be granted after the interview?

Thanks so much for all your help!!

[rhirhi 35]

So essentially, once I receive the packet I don't have to do anything, or contact them in any way until next March (even though that will be after the expiry date). I can have my medical next January and start submitting documents next March and there won't be problems, I will just bring a notarized letter to the interview? Is this right? Although I should submit my DS-160 soon?

Do you have any idea roughly how long the wait is for interview appointments? Because obviously if there is a two month wait I want to submit my documents before March! Also, is there any information anywhere for how long it takes for the visa to be granted after the interview?

Thanks so much for all your help!!

Yes, once you have the packet 3 you will then also have your LND number. With that LND number you should then fill out and submit the online form DS160 soonish just to let them know you're still moving along in the process.

Call them up next month to schedule your medical for January. Once you have had your medical they will send the results to the embassy, so the embassy WILL sort of hear from you before March, again letting them know that you're still moving along with the process.

All documents such as the notarised letter, the I-134, the financial details (tax returns, payslips etc) from the USC will be taken to and shown at interview, you don't send them in advance. Once you have all of these documents ready you need to submit this form to let them know you're ready for interview: http://london.usembassy.gov/iv/notification_of_applicant_readiness_form.html

Once the embassy have the medical results, the DS160, the readiness form and the original I-129F packet (sent to them by USCIS/NVC) they will then schedule an interview date for you. At the moment there's about a 2 month wait but that could all change by the time your medical is done. You could always delay sending in the readiness form until after your trip.

So to summarise, if I were you I would be tempted to do this in the following order:

1. Send your DS160 once you have received your packet 3 letter.
2. Next month, call up to schedule your medical.
3. Start collecting all the required documents for the interview. You will need some of these from the USC so give yourself time if these will need to be mailed.
4. In January, have your medical.
5. When you are ready for the interview (after any trips have been completed, once you have all the documents etc) send the readiness form in.

Ooh...have you had the police check done? You'll need that for the medical. That's something you can sort out in the meantime

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

So essentially, once I receive the packet I don't have to do anything, or contact them in any way until next March (even though that will be after the expiry date).

Of course you have to do something. You should apply for a visa, attend a medical, and submit the interview Readiness form before next March. That's three contacts you've made to let them know you are pursuing the visa.

Example--

Receive letter

Wait 3 weeks

Submit online application DS-160

Attend medical in January

Wait 3 weeks

Submit interview Readiness online form. Look at the form now.

HERE---> http://london.usembassy.gov/iv/notification_of_applicant_readiness_form.html

It has a place to tell when you want to marry. It has a place to tell when you wish to travel. That is how you let them know you aren't in a hurry before summer so they don't rush you an interview.

Wait for an appointment.

Attend interview taking a notarized letter of intent and your required interview documents.

Edited November 13, 2013 by Nich-Nick