Help Re: K-2 Follow To Join (Confused)

[zimzim2012 2]

Hi all,

My wife's K-1 was issued April 2, 2013. Date of entry into U.S.A. was April 12, 2013. AOS was filed in August (still in initial review). Her son's K-2 interview is scheduled for March 11.

I read that a K-2 child has 1 year from the date of issuance of my wife's K-1 to follow. What does this mean? That the child's K-2 must be issued by April 2 and then he has 6 months to enter U.S.A. or he has to arrive in U.S.A. by April 2?

You would think the language would be less vague so we don't have to guess what it actually means. Thanks!

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Hi all,

My wife's K-1 was issued April 2, 2013. Date of entry into U.S.A. was April 12, 2013. AOS was filed in August (still in initial review). Her son's K-2 interview is scheduled for March 11.

I read that a K-2 child has 1 year from the date of issuance of my wife's K-1 to follow. What does this mean? That the child's K-2 must be issued by April 2 and then he has 6 months to enter U.S.A. or he has to arrive in U.S.A. by April 2?

You would think the language would be less vague so we don't have to guess what it actually means. Thanks!

After a successful K2 interview, the visa will be issued and the K2 must follow to join within one-year of the K1 date of issue.

Are My Children Required to Travel with Me?

Your children may travel with (accompany) you to the United States or travel later (follow-to-join). Like you, your children must travel within the validity of their K-2 visas. Separate petitions are not required if the children accompany or follow to join you within one year from the date of issuance of your K-1 visa. If they want to travel later than one year from the date your K-1 visa was issued, they will not be eligible to receive K-2 visas, and separate immigrant visa petitions will be required. If your child has a valid K-2 visa and you have already adjusted status to that of permanent resident, your child may still travel on the K-2 visa.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/types/family/fiance-k-1.html#16

[zimzim2012 2]

After a successful K2 interview, the visa will be issued and the K2 must follow to join within one-year of the K1 date of issue.

But what does "follow to join" exactly mean? Only that the child's K-2 must be issued within 1 year of the issuance of the mother's K-1 or the child must "follow" or enter the U.S.A. within 1 year of the issuance of the mother's K-1? Thank you.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

After a successful K2 interview, the visa will be issued and the K2 must follow to join within one-year of the K1 date of issue.

But what does "follow to join" exactly mean? Only that the child's K-2 must be issued within 1 year of the issuance of the mother's K-1 or the child must "follow" or enter the U.S.A. within 1 year of the issuance of the mother's K-1? Thank you.

Follow to join = K2 does NOT accompany the K1 to the USA, but comes at a later time, up to one year

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

After a successful K2 interview, the visa will be issued and the K2 must follow to join within one-year of the K1 date of issue.

But what does "follow to join" exactly mean? Only that the child's K-2 must be issued within 1 year of the issuance of the mother's K-1 or the child must "follow" or enter the U.S.A. within 1 year of the issuance of the mother's K-1? Thank you.

"..your children must travel within the validity of their K-2 visas." <- They must enter the US before the expiration date on their K-2 visa.

[zimzim2012 2]

your children must travel within the validity of their K-2 visas." <- They must enter the US before the expiration date on their K-2 visa.

So if I'm understanding this correctly, as long as the child's K-2 is issued before April 2 (1 year from date of issuance of mother's K-1), then he has up to 6 months after that to enter U.S.A.?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

I do not know what validity the K-2 visa will have. Once it is issued, the child must enter before it expires. You will have to wait for the visa in order to see what the expiration date is on it. You could also email the consulate directly and ask them about your concerns.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi all,

My wife's K-1 was issued April 2, 2013. Date of entry into U.S.A. was April 12, 2013. AOS was filed in August (still in initial review). Her son's K-2 interview is scheduled for March 11.

I read that a K-2 child has 1 year from the date of issuance of my wife's K-1 to follow. What does this mean? That the child's K-2 must be issued by April 2 and then he has 6 months to enter U.S.A. or he has to arrive in U.S.A. by April 2?

You would think the language would be less vague so we don't have to guess what it actually means. Thanks!

The K-2's visa has to be ISSUED within one year of the K-1 being issued. Which means her son's visa has to be issued before April 2, 2014, issued happens after the interview. The language on the embassy website is rather clear on this:

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO FIANCE(E) DERIVATIVE (K2) APPLICANTS:

A fiance(e) derivative (K2) applicant must apply and be issued a visa (if qualified) within one year (1) from the date the fiance(e) (K1) visa was issued. Because of the one-year window for visa issuance, we strongly encourage K2 applicants to apply for a visa as soon as possible, potentially as early as four months after K1 issuance, and note the following average timelines:

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html

[zimzim2012 2]

The K-2's visa has to be ISSUED within one year of the K-1 being issued. Which means her son's visa has to be issued before April 2, 2014, issued happens after the interview. The language on the embassy website is rather clear on this:

I understand that. What is NOT so clear is what do they mean when they say the K-2 has 1 year to "follow" the K-1? Does "follow" mean the K-2 has to ENTER the U.S.A. within 1 year of the issuance of the mother's K-1 visa or is the only requirement that the child's K-2 visa has to be issued within 1 year and the child can travel to U.S.A. at a later date for as long as the K-2 is valid (6 months after issuance I think).