Once you get the K-1 visa, how much time do you have

[Muqz&Nonz 0]

Hello everyone!

First things first, I just received my NOA1 in the mail today, though it is dated March 8. I guess it is too early to get too excited but at least the ball is rolling, somewhat.

I am sure this question has been answered before, but I am going to ask this anyway since I am a little confused due to conflicting information I have received previously from people who are not exactly credible.

Once the fiancee receives the K-1 visa, how much time are they allowed before they have to travel to the USA. Does this time include the 90 days mandate to get married? I have read that you have 6 months to travel but I would like to know if that includes the 90 days - or are they separate time frames.

I suppose it is never to early to start planning, so any and all information that you all can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Muqz

[ken and mintra 0]

Good luck on your journey. Your fiance has six months from the date the visa is given to leave his/her country and come to America. Once in America, you have 90 days from arrival date to marry so they are seperate.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

My wording would be you have 6 months (period to use and travel on the K-1) and 90 days after arrival to get married no six months plus another 90 days (just me, does that make sense?)

[joeyjoey 1]

Hello everyone!

First things first, I just received my NOA1 in the mail today, though it is dated March 8. I guess it is too early to get too excited but at least the ball is rolling, somewhat.

I am sure this question has been answered before, but I am going to ask this anyway since I am a little confused due to conflicting information I have received previously from people who are not exactly credible.

Once the fiancee receives the K-1 visa, how much time are they allowed before they have to travel to the USA. Does this time include the 90 days mandate to get married? I have read that you have 6 months to travel but I would like to know if that includes the 90 days - or are they separate time frames.

I suppose it is never to early to start planning, so any and all information that you all can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Muqz

They are seperate time frames.

You have 6 months to use it to enter the US.

Then you have 90 days to marry.

[TimsDaisy 0]

It gets easier to understand - for me anyway - if you remember throughout the process that, technically, the K1 visa is a NON-immigrant visa. Many visitor visas (such as tourist visas or entries on the visa waiver program) allow only 90 days in the U.S. for the visitor. So the K1 visa just keeps the same time line as its visa friends.

Of course, you file to adjust your status and then you get to stay in the country - the filing turns your NON-immigrant status into a legal immigrant-in-process status.

Does that help to remember the timelines? You won't have to think too hard about the 6 month validity for USING the K1 visa - an expiration date will be printed on it.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Ok dumb question, if you come over at say 5 months and 25 days (right at expiring) is it plus another 90 days or you better get married the minute you hit the ground?

ohhhh i just noticed i got another heart

Edited March 14, 2007 by brnidokiegurl

[Jenn! 918]

Ok dumb question, if you come over at say 5 months and 25 days (right at expiring) is it plus another 90 days or you better get married the minute you hit the ground?

The 90 day countdown starts from the date of entry.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

ok thanks i had been reading it differently.

[TimsDaisy 0]

ok thanks i had been reading it differently.

You're not alone - it's exactly that kind of thing that got us in trouble with dates and visas in the past. The same sort of distinction between the validity of the visa vs. the time you get to stay in the country applies to many of the visa classes. Like the B2 holiday visa. It can be valid for a year. If you don't know better, you might think that means you get to stay in the U.S. for a year - until before the visa itself expires. Of course, people here know that isn't the case - none of that excess time on the validity of the visa gets tacked on to the time the POE official stamps on your I-94. My then-boyfriend didn't know that and didn't even know to check. Flash-forward a few months and imagine the awful problems that kind of misunderstanding can cause.

So better to keep those sorts of questions up on the boards so people learn!

[brnidokiegurl 0]

True and actually i hadnt given it much thought, i just knew he would come within weeks of getting the visa, then within couple weeks again a quick marriage. That was a good question for all.

[Muqz&Nonz 0]

Thank you all for your inputs - much appreciated.

So let me get this straight - and someone please correct me if I am still wrong. After my fiancee receives her K-1 visa, she has 6 months within which to travel and enter the USA. Then once she has entered the US, she has 90 days within which to get married to me. Am I right so far?

If that is indeed the case, then at least we have some time, albeit very short, in which to plan the wedding. I am already feelign much better - LOL

Thanks everyone

[TimsDaisy 0]

You got it.

Also - bear in mind that you have to have the LEGAL marriage within 90 days. But it's very common for visa-couple to have a quick legal marriage at the courthouse, etc, and then plan the big, familiy, traditional wedding in a church or wherever, for later on.

You have to get creative sometimes and invent your own traditions - but there's probably a good way to balance the legal requirements and your own dreams for your wedding. Not mutually exclusive at all.