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NOA2 Expiration, Medical Expiration, Bank to pay Fee

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THAI EMBASSY

THREE questions as seen in the title?

I am the US citizen. My fiancé and I have live together in Thailand since December 2009. I believe we are at the NOA2 stage.

1) I assume the notice you get from USCIS, saying they have approved the visa and forwarded it to the NVC, is the NOA2. I noticed on the NOA2 there is a "Approval Notice" validity period. Does that mean if we do not have the visa approved by Sept 4 we have to start over? Or what does that validity period refer to?

Notice Date May 5, 2015

Valid May5 - Sept 4, 2015

The reason I ask is we are trying to time this so we can leave for the US in Jan or Feb of 2016. For the curious, it is for tax purposes as I’ll be moving back to California and I don’t want to pay taxes for 2015 to California for an extremely good reason.

2) I read on the Bangkok Embassy packet 3 instructions they say to be careful when you get your medical because there is an expiration date for the medical documents and your visa expiration will be tied to that. Does anyone know how long the medical documents are good for with regard to Thailand?

I want to delay getting the medical and mailing in Packet 3 as long as possible without exceeding the NOA2 expiration assuming that expiration is something I need to be worry about.

3) Lastly, I saw on the instructions for Packet #3, it clearly says to pay the DS-160 fees at Krungsri Bank. However, there is a link on this website page that says you need to pay at Ayudhya Bank…under the 2nd main heading on this page…“Instructions to Pay Your Visa Fee”.

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/th/th-niv-paymentinfo.asp

I’m assuming the Packet #3 instructions on the Embassy website would be more up-to-date. Can anyone who has recently paid their fees please verify where you paid?

Edited by khrfx4

10/11/2009 - Met in Thailand

12/30/2009 - Moved in together

I-129F (For Petitioner)

03/17/2015 - Mailed to US from Thailand

04/03/2015 - NOA1, Received at USCIS

04/07/2015 - Email saying routed to CSC

05/05/2015 - NOA2

06/02/2015 - Shipped to BNK Embassy

06/08/2015 - Finally got through to NVC and found out package had been shipped 6 days before.

Visa Application Process at Embassy for Fiance

06/09/2015 - Embassy received package.

06/15/2015 - Received Packet #3 in the mail. This is where I noticed the receving stamp from the Embassy.

08/08/2015 - Mailed Packet #3 (intentionally delayed)

08/09/2015 - Packet #3 received at Embassy

08/10/2015 - Received email from Embassy with appointment date of Aug 26th

08/26/2015 - Given passport back with 221(g) requesting more information to prove "Domicile"

------------ - We had a long voluntary delay for our own purposes which forced us to get another medical.

02/18/2016 - VISA APPROVED

03/04/2016 - Fiance arrived at LAX

03/14/2016 - Married

04/02/2016 - Mailed AOS to Chicago after getting certified copies of our Marriage Certificate

04/08/2016 - Immigration acknowledged receipt of all 4 forms via email and cashed the check for $1070

05/12/2016 - Boimetrics done.

07/25/2016 - Interview

08/01/2016 - Received 2-year GREEN CARD

04/24/2018 - Filed I-751 "Remove Conditions"

05/31/2018 - Rec'd NOA of I-751 filing  NOTE: Yes, it took that long

05/01/2019 - email to check status which said card was mailed

05/02/2019 - email to check status which said "Case Approved"

05/08/2019 - Received 10-Year GC in mail today.  Done!

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I just stumbled across the answer to question #1 on the Bangkok Embassy website.

"An approved I-129F petition remains valid for four months from the date of USCIS’s approval. Consular officers can extend the validity of the petition (revalidate the petition), and in practice does so while the application is being processed."

Edited by khrfx4

10/11/2009 - Met in Thailand

12/30/2009 - Moved in together

I-129F (For Petitioner)

03/17/2015 - Mailed to US from Thailand

04/03/2015 - NOA1, Received at USCIS

04/07/2015 - Email saying routed to CSC

05/05/2015 - NOA2

06/02/2015 - Shipped to BNK Embassy

06/08/2015 - Finally got through to NVC and found out package had been shipped 6 days before.

Visa Application Process at Embassy for Fiance

06/09/2015 - Embassy received package.

06/15/2015 - Received Packet #3 in the mail. This is where I noticed the receving stamp from the Embassy.

08/08/2015 - Mailed Packet #3 (intentionally delayed)

08/09/2015 - Packet #3 received at Embassy

08/10/2015 - Received email from Embassy with appointment date of Aug 26th

08/26/2015 - Given passport back with 221(g) requesting more information to prove "Domicile"

------------ - We had a long voluntary delay for our own purposes which forced us to get another medical.

02/18/2016 - VISA APPROVED

03/04/2016 - Fiance arrived at LAX

03/14/2016 - Married

04/02/2016 - Mailed AOS to Chicago after getting certified copies of our Marriage Certificate

04/08/2016 - Immigration acknowledged receipt of all 4 forms via email and cashed the check for $1070

05/12/2016 - Boimetrics done.

07/25/2016 - Interview

08/01/2016 - Received 2-year GREEN CARD

04/24/2018 - Filed I-751 "Remove Conditions"

05/31/2018 - Rec'd NOA of I-751 filing  NOTE: Yes, it took that long

05/01/2019 - email to check status which said card was mailed

05/02/2019 - email to check status which said "Case Approved"

05/08/2019 - Received 10-Year GC in mail today.  Done!

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
Timeline

Non-responsive post removed.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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I just found out the answer to my third question. Ayudhya and Krungsri are the same bank.

From the first sentence in their about webpage..."The Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited (Krungsri)".

So I'm still looking for the validity of the medical examiniation. Certainly someone out there has had a recent medical in Bangkok or Chiang Mai and can look at their paperwork? If not, I've posed the question to the IV unit at the Bangkok Embassy.

Edited by khrfx4

10/11/2009 - Met in Thailand

12/30/2009 - Moved in together

I-129F (For Petitioner)

03/17/2015 - Mailed to US from Thailand

04/03/2015 - NOA1, Received at USCIS

04/07/2015 - Email saying routed to CSC

05/05/2015 - NOA2

06/02/2015 - Shipped to BNK Embassy

06/08/2015 - Finally got through to NVC and found out package had been shipped 6 days before.

Visa Application Process at Embassy for Fiance

06/09/2015 - Embassy received package.

06/15/2015 - Received Packet #3 in the mail. This is where I noticed the receving stamp from the Embassy.

08/08/2015 - Mailed Packet #3 (intentionally delayed)

08/09/2015 - Packet #3 received at Embassy

08/10/2015 - Received email from Embassy with appointment date of Aug 26th

08/26/2015 - Given passport back with 221(g) requesting more information to prove "Domicile"

------------ - We had a long voluntary delay for our own purposes which forced us to get another medical.

02/18/2016 - VISA APPROVED

03/04/2016 - Fiance arrived at LAX

03/14/2016 - Married

04/02/2016 - Mailed AOS to Chicago after getting certified copies of our Marriage Certificate

04/08/2016 - Immigration acknowledged receipt of all 4 forms via email and cashed the check for $1070

05/12/2016 - Boimetrics done.

07/25/2016 - Interview

08/01/2016 - Received 2-year GREEN CARD

04/24/2018 - Filed I-751 "Remove Conditions"

05/31/2018 - Rec'd NOA of I-751 filing  NOTE: Yes, it took that long

05/01/2019 - email to check status which said card was mailed

05/02/2019 - email to check status which said "Case Approved"

05/08/2019 - Received 10-Year GC in mail today.  Done!

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  • 2 weeks later...

I received no answers to any of my questions on this thread, but I'll go ahead and answer the last questions now. I received an answer from the US Embassy in Bangkok from an email inquiry. It took almost a week, but they answered.

The Validity of the medical, at least in Bangkok, is 6 months...not the one year I had read about and a couple of other people had told me. This means, even though the validity of the visa is normally 6 months, the validity of your visa can be no longer than the expiration date of your medical which will certainly expire sooner than the day you get your visa (theoritically). So if you wait until say one weel before your interview date to get your medical then your visa, which I read is usually granted a day or two after the interview in Bangkok, your visa validity will be about 5 months and 3 weeks. I'll just have to wait and see how this plays out.

This information was critical for me to know since we want to delay our trip to the US until early 2016. The timing will be tight.

10/11/2009 - Met in Thailand

12/30/2009 - Moved in together

I-129F (For Petitioner)

03/17/2015 - Mailed to US from Thailand

04/03/2015 - NOA1, Received at USCIS

04/07/2015 - Email saying routed to CSC

05/05/2015 - NOA2

06/02/2015 - Shipped to BNK Embassy

06/08/2015 - Finally got through to NVC and found out package had been shipped 6 days before.

Visa Application Process at Embassy for Fiance

06/09/2015 - Embassy received package.

06/15/2015 - Received Packet #3 in the mail. This is where I noticed the receving stamp from the Embassy.

08/08/2015 - Mailed Packet #3 (intentionally delayed)

08/09/2015 - Packet #3 received at Embassy

08/10/2015 - Received email from Embassy with appointment date of Aug 26th

08/26/2015 - Given passport back with 221(g) requesting more information to prove "Domicile"

------------ - We had a long voluntary delay for our own purposes which forced us to get another medical.

02/18/2016 - VISA APPROVED

03/04/2016 - Fiance arrived at LAX

03/14/2016 - Married

04/02/2016 - Mailed AOS to Chicago after getting certified copies of our Marriage Certificate

04/08/2016 - Immigration acknowledged receipt of all 4 forms via email and cashed the check for $1070

05/12/2016 - Boimetrics done.

07/25/2016 - Interview

08/01/2016 - Received 2-year GREEN CARD

04/24/2018 - Filed I-751 "Remove Conditions"

05/31/2018 - Rec'd NOA of I-751 filing  NOTE: Yes, it took that long

05/01/2019 - email to check status which said card was mailed

05/02/2019 - email to check status which said "Case Approved"

05/08/2019 - Received 10-Year GC in mail today.  Done!

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Thailand
Timeline

For your first question, assuming you guys do your interview soon, you must marry within 90 days of them telling you whether or not you're approved (right after the interview). I also think you must schedule the interview date before the expiration date on the NOA2. So you guys cannot wait until early 2016 to arrive in the USA, that will be way past your NOA2 expiration date AND way past the 90 days to get married. I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure I'm right.

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Kenya
Timeline

1) I assume the notice you get from USCIS, saying they have approved the visa and forwarded it to the NVC, is the NOA2.

Yes

I noticed on the NOA2 there is a "Approval Notice" validity period. Does that mean if we do not have the visa approved by Sept 4 we have to start over? Or what does that validity period refer to?

The 797 Notice form is used for many purposes. In the K-1 world, that is meaningless. Once NVC and then the Embassy has your case, it is automatically extended. Nothing for you to do or be worried about.

The reason I ask is we are trying to time this so we can leave for the US in Jan or Feb of 2016.

You have 6 months within which to use the K-1, so your plan should be good.

2) I read on the Bangkok Embassy packet 3 instructions they say to be careful when you get your medical because there is an expiration date for the medical documents and your visa expiration will be tied to that. Does anyone know how long the medical documents are good for with regard to Thailand?

Many Embassies tie the visa start date to the medical date. So ir you have the medical way earlier than the interview, you may not really have 6 months within which to use it. Most countries the medical is good for a year, but again, don't do it too early.

3) Lastly, I saw on the instructions for Packet #3, it clearly says to pay the DS-160 fees at Krungsri Bank. However, there is a link on this website page that says you need to pay at Ayudhya Bank…under the 2nd main heading on this page…“Instructions to Pay Your Visa Fee”.

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/th/th-niv-paymentinfo.asp

I’m assuming the Packet #3 instructions on the Embassy website would be more up-to-date. Can anyone who has recently paid their fees please verify where you paid?

Usually the Embassy is the most up to date. Email them and ask.

Phil (Lockport, near Chicago) and Alla (Lobnya, near Moscow)

As of Dec 7, 2009, now Zero miles apart (literally)!

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For your first question, assuming you guys do your interview soon, you must marry within 90 days of them telling you whether or not you're approved (right after the interview). I also think you must schedule the interview date before the expiration date on the NOA2. So you guys cannot wait until early 2016 to arrive in the USA, that will be way past your NOA2 expiration date AND way past the 90 days to get married. I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure I'm right.

"tysonrocky" You are mixing thngs up here. You could not be more wrong in what you say.

Once the package is in the hands of the embassy, then all you have to do is not take a really long time to gather the documents in packet #3...say one month. Once this package has been mailed to the embassy then you no longer have to worry about the expiration on the NOA2. The conular's office will and usually does extend this validity period. This is clearly stated on the US Embassy website. You can see the quote I gave from the website in my answer above.

My question is how long we have to use the visa or enter the US. This is called the visa validity. The visa validity has nothing to do with the 90 day period to get married. That 90-day clock only starts once you enter the US. So if we get our visa towards the end of August 2015 we CAN delay going to the US until January 2016 as long as the visa is still good. I MUST emphasize the visa validity has absolutely nothing at all to do with the 90-day clock to get married which only starts the day you enter the US.

However, the 6 month visa validity is NOT a given if you get your medical too soon, then your visa validity could be shorten by the date your medical expires and the medical, according to the answer I received directly from the embassy, is only 6 months. Theoritically you can't have a visa validity longer than about 5 months and 3 weeks and a couple of days, because you have to get your medical at least a few days before the interview and then subsequent granting of the visa about a week after the medical.

But as I said in my answer above, we will have to see how this all plays out after the medical, interview and granting of the visa. I hope to get back to this thread with all the timing.

10/11/2009 - Met in Thailand

12/30/2009 - Moved in together

I-129F (For Petitioner)

03/17/2015 - Mailed to US from Thailand

04/03/2015 - NOA1, Received at USCIS

04/07/2015 - Email saying routed to CSC

05/05/2015 - NOA2

06/02/2015 - Shipped to BNK Embassy

06/08/2015 - Finally got through to NVC and found out package had been shipped 6 days before.

Visa Application Process at Embassy for Fiance

06/09/2015 - Embassy received package.

06/15/2015 - Received Packet #3 in the mail. This is where I noticed the receving stamp from the Embassy.

08/08/2015 - Mailed Packet #3 (intentionally delayed)

08/09/2015 - Packet #3 received at Embassy

08/10/2015 - Received email from Embassy with appointment date of Aug 26th

08/26/2015 - Given passport back with 221(g) requesting more information to prove "Domicile"

------------ - We had a long voluntary delay for our own purposes which forced us to get another medical.

02/18/2016 - VISA APPROVED

03/04/2016 - Fiance arrived at LAX

03/14/2016 - Married

04/02/2016 - Mailed AOS to Chicago after getting certified copies of our Marriage Certificate

04/08/2016 - Immigration acknowledged receipt of all 4 forms via email and cashed the check for $1070

05/12/2016 - Boimetrics done.

07/25/2016 - Interview

08/01/2016 - Received 2-year GREEN CARD

04/24/2018 - Filed I-751 "Remove Conditions"

05/31/2018 - Rec'd NOA of I-751 filing  NOTE: Yes, it took that long

05/01/2019 - email to check status which said card was mailed

05/02/2019 - email to check status which said "Case Approved"

05/08/2019 - Received 10-Year GC in mail today.  Done!

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To "baron555"

The 797 Notice form is used for many purposes. In the K-1 world, that is meaningless. Once NVC and then the Embassy has your case, it is automatically extended. Nothing for you to do or be worried about.

I mostly agree with you on this after I found that quote on the US Embassy website which I posted above, but I think if you were to take way, way too much time in gathering the documents for Packet #3 for the Embassy you might run afoul of this expiration, though I agree there does seem to be virtually no chance of this for the vast majority of applicants who are not sitting on their hands twiddling their thumbs gathering the information. The embassy will, as a matter of course, extend the expiration if you have problems gathering information. I actually hope to push this validity a little bit to gain more time. We have a few loose ends to tie up here in Thailand.

Many Embassies tie the visa start date to the medical date. So if you have the medical way earlier than the interview, you may not really have 6 months within which to use it. Most countries the medical is good for a year, but again, don't do it too early.

I agree and think this is exactly what the BKK Embassy does…tie the visa validity to the medical date, which according to them is only good for 6 months. This would necessarily shorten the normal 6 months validity of the visa to about 5 months and 3 weeks assuming you get your medical 1 week before the visa is granted.

Usually the Embassy is the most up to date. Email them and ask.

Though it appeared each site was mentioning two different banks, they are indeed the same bank as I state in my answer above. However, once again you do give good advice. If I had not cleared this up I was going to most certainly go with the Embassy information since this is basically a local issue. I did email the Embassy, but it was my girl who clued me in that they were the same bank before they got back to me.

Thanks “baron555” for some good information.

10/11/2009 - Met in Thailand

12/30/2009 - Moved in together

I-129F (For Petitioner)

03/17/2015 - Mailed to US from Thailand

04/03/2015 - NOA1, Received at USCIS

04/07/2015 - Email saying routed to CSC

05/05/2015 - NOA2

06/02/2015 - Shipped to BNK Embassy

06/08/2015 - Finally got through to NVC and found out package had been shipped 6 days before.

Visa Application Process at Embassy for Fiance

06/09/2015 - Embassy received package.

06/15/2015 - Received Packet #3 in the mail. This is where I noticed the receving stamp from the Embassy.

08/08/2015 - Mailed Packet #3 (intentionally delayed)

08/09/2015 - Packet #3 received at Embassy

08/10/2015 - Received email from Embassy with appointment date of Aug 26th

08/26/2015 - Given passport back with 221(g) requesting more information to prove "Domicile"

------------ - We had a long voluntary delay for our own purposes which forced us to get another medical.

02/18/2016 - VISA APPROVED

03/04/2016 - Fiance arrived at LAX

03/14/2016 - Married

04/02/2016 - Mailed AOS to Chicago after getting certified copies of our Marriage Certificate

04/08/2016 - Immigration acknowledged receipt of all 4 forms via email and cashed the check for $1070

05/12/2016 - Boimetrics done.

07/25/2016 - Interview

08/01/2016 - Received 2-year GREEN CARD

04/24/2018 - Filed I-751 "Remove Conditions"

05/31/2018 - Rec'd NOA of I-751 filing  NOTE: Yes, it took that long

05/01/2019 - email to check status which said card was mailed

05/02/2019 - email to check status which said "Case Approved"

05/08/2019 - Received 10-Year GC in mail today.  Done!

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