How long from NVC notification until visa issued? Safe to buy tickets in advance?

[juliabean 1]

About 2 weeks ago, I (US citizen) got notification from the NVC confirming that my petition for my Spanish fiancé has been sent to the US embassy in Madrid. He hasn't yet received his letter from the embassy but we are expecting to receive it fairly soon...in the meantime, we've started gathering his documents for the interview. Our plan has always been for him to come to the US in the beginning of January if possible. We recently saw a ticket for January 3rd at a great price and are thinking of going ahead and buying it, but I'm wondering if it's worth the risk. Based on how quickly everything has gone so far (sent in our I-129F in May, received NOA2 in August), it seems very unlikely that he wouldn't have his visa by January 3rd. Still, I know that things can always go wrong or slow down unexpectedly. What is a typical time frame from this point on? How far in advance does the embassy usually schedule the interview for? Is it better to wait until the visa is actually issued to buy tickets (and risk having to pay more), or is it safe to buy them in advance? Thanks!

Edited October 1, 2019 by juliabean

[Crazy Cat 39,218]

It is best to wait until the visa is in hand and checked for errors before booking travel.  Too many delays are possible......

[Just Paul 4,591]

7 minutes ago, juliabean said:

Is it better to wait until the visa is actually issued to buy tickets (and risk having to pay more), or is it safe to buy them in advance?

As instructed everywhere. . . 

DO not buy tickets

Do not quit jobs

Do not sell assets

 

Until you have your visa in your passport.

[Lis Xyooj 7]

I would not purchase your tickets yet.  Even if your case was at the embassy and is ready for interview, a US visa is not guarantee.  You will not know until after your interview!! So to answer your question... don’t buy tickets in advance!!!

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,078]

The small caveat is that if you get a really good deal on refundable or otherwise easily changeable for minimal cost tickets, it's probably okay to get them after a verbal approval if extended post-interview AP is uncommon in your country.

 

Though this could lead to some stress if for some reason it takes a while between interview and visa issued.

[W.Rominger 54]

i would suggest to book the ticket after you secure an interview spot 

 

Not sure about Spain, but the thing with embassy in Taiwan is there are only few dates for interview per month and very few spot each date (4-6 per day for immigration visa). 

Due to the delay of medical check result, i had to reschedule my interview. and there was no opening in the whole month of September at that time.

i logged into embassy site every 2 hrs for the week and finally was able to get a booking on another date when it open. after that everything went smoothly.

 

 

 

 

[Crazy Cat 39,218]

9 hours ago, W.Rominger said:

Due to the delay of medical check result, i had to reschedule my interview.

We had to re-schedule my wife's interview at AIT for the same reason...the 2 week wait for medical results....luckily, AIT gave us a new interview 5 days after the original one...

Edited October 2, 2019 by missileman

[W.Rominger 54]

3 hours ago, missileman said:

We had to re-schedule my wife's interview at AIT for the same reason...the 2 week wait for medical results....luckily, AIT gave us a new interview 5 days after the original one...

I knew the result would take 2 weeks, so i booked one in 16 days. Bad timing tho... i was told at the hospital that as it was August, lots of students there to have their check done last minute before US school year started, it takes longer than usual to get the result back....

Luckily I was able to re-schedule an interview 3 days later. and after interview, it only took 3 days to have my visa ready to be collected. 

so i was able to get my discount flight ticket still~~ VERY LUCKY i would say

[Blake&Melek 6]

Wait for the passport back and be sure it is all correct!  The all say not to book before you get it in your hand and that is the best advice!  My fiancee had a job lines up and was working in the UK until Sept. 21, flew back to Turkey and had her interview on the 23rd.  She arranged to have a job and had to be back in the UK on the following monday.  She was ready to give up that job but she did get her passport back with the visa inside it by the same friday!  She was very lucky it all worked out!  You may not get that lucky.

 

Good luck to you!