K-1 Visa Valid Less Than 90 Days?

[HazelGreen 0]

My fiance had his interview August 17th at the embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal. It had been rescheduled from June because he had to go back for a sputum test for TB. He was approved and was finally able to pick up the visa today. The issue date says August 26 and the expiration date is November 4 - less than 90 days validity. I thought six months was standard.

I waited until he was approved to buy the plane tickets, but I assumed the six month window, so I have already bought plane tickets to go there and both of us arrive in the US in mid November.

I emailed the embassy, assuming it is a mistake, and asked how we can fix it. Does anyone else have experience of having a shorter valid time on their K-1 visa?

[Merrytooth 5,748]

The K-1 visa is valid for six months from the date of the medical or the date of issuance, whichever comes earlier.

[HazelGreen 0]

Thanks Merrytooth. I never saw that before. I still would have assumed that meant August since his medical results weren't complete till then. :-(

[acajim 16]

The shorten time may be linked to the TB test. I don't know anything about the K-1 visa, but I went through the CR-1/R-1 visa, I was tested for TB and indeed the visa was only .valid for 3 months after the issue date, not the standard 6 months. Don't delay the arrival. Most likely, the health department will contact your fiance after his arrival.....standard protocol

[HazelGreen 0]

Thanks for the heads up acajim - what will they contact him for though, since he's been cleared?

[acajim 16]

TB follow up. Even if he's clear and the consulate sends the info to the health department, they will contact him after his arrival. Don't panic, just present a copy of the medical exam (if he has one), and if he doesn't get a copy, don't worry, the consulate will send a copy to the health department. In my case, I had a copy that I was given at the POE, I didn't know the reason I had a copy, I went to the local office and they didn't know either. Few days later, we received a call and a letter from the HD, I went to the office, took the medical exam report, the CD with the x-rays, and the results of an exam I had taken on my own. Didn't work! I had to take a blood exam, which I found the least of my concerns, because I was cleared twice! Going back to the visa length, if it says is valid for 90 days, get him here before it expires, otherwise he will have to go through another 2-month sputum test + processing time.

[HazelGreen 0]

Going back to the visa length, if it says is valid for 90 days, get him here before it expires, otherwise he will have to go through another 2-month sputum test + processing time.

Nooooo! I'll get him here early, God willing. And I was patting myself on the back that the plane tickets were less than the amount I budgeted!

Thanks again for your help!

[acajim 16]

I found the technical instructions directly from the CDC, look at page 8, that's the most important in this case, 3rd and 4th blue-block.

http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/pdf/tuberculosis-ti-2009.pdf

[acajim 16]

I forgot to add, this doesn't mean he has latent TB, or TB at all, it just means that for some odd reason, he was required to take the TB test. If the x-rays are not clear (a little spot on the x-rays), the applicant has to take the test.