Once a K-1 visa is received, does foreign fiancee have to use it if entering to visit?

[JenAndKatie 0]

I received my NOA2 yesterday for my fiancee who lives in the UK. It is good through August 16th, 2015. From reading some other posts, it seems like she will most likely get her consulate interview within this period of time. We didn't realize this would go as quickly as it has and my fiancee has already booked a trip to visit here in August for my family's yearly beach vacation. My question is, if she gets approved for the K-1 before the date of this vacation (August 1-10) is she obligated to use it to enter the U.S.? I know the K-1 visa is good for 6 months, so we were hoping to have a visit and then she would subsequently come here for good prior to the 6 month expiration date.

Thanks for your help!

[Limey 550]

Its a frequently asked question here.

Generally once the k1 is granted you can no longer use ESTA - your k1 will be activated when you next enter the US, and from there you have 90 day to get married.

So best option - enter prior to august, enjoy the vacation, and arrange the wedding for right after that.

[chrismorrison 96]

Or you could stall your visa application at the embassy. You'd more than likely pass the NOA2 expiration, but that's a quick fix at London, just a new fiance letter of intent restating that you're free and legal to marry. You'd probably be best to do some things in order to show the Embassy that you're still pursuing it-DS-160 and medical stretched out over time. And then just before heading back to the UK submitting your readiness form.

But since it's only late April, you still have 3 months-you could have the whole process done.

Edited April 22, 2015 by chrismorrison

[N&S 32]

The K1 visa will be activated as soon as she enters for the first time after receipt of visa and cannot be re-used. You might be able to stall the process but not sure if that long is possible - check what the current time between NOA2 and visa in hand is for London embassy. Maybe it would be worth it to get in touch with the embassy once they have received the file and see if you can push your interview until after the vacation (or if it would be possible to keep your - hopefully approved - file on hold until after the vacation and then send in the passport when returned to get the visa into it).

[Zedayn 485]

I received my NOA2 yesterday for my fiancee who lives in the UK. It is good through August 16th, 2015. From reading some other posts, it seems like she will most likely get her consulate interview within this period of time. We didn't realize this would go as quickly as it has and my fiancee has already booked a trip to visit here in August for my family's yearly beach vacation. My question is, if she gets approved for the K-1 before the date of this vacation (August 1-10) is she obligated to use it to enter the U.S.? I know the K-1 visa is good for 6 months, so we were hoping to have a visit and then she would subsequently come here for good prior to the 6 month expiration date.

Thanks for your help!

If the K-1 visa is in the passport, it will be used upon entry to the US.

Your best option is to delay the interview until after the Aug vacation. The NOA2 can be extended for up to one year so don't worry about the Aug 16 expiration date.

Edited April 22, 2015 by Zedayn

[JenAndKatie 0]

Thank you everyone!! Very helpful responses