expiration

[ryan.karr22 0]

so i have had my first interview and now have a case number. my concern is that i did this too early.

in my case we should have the visas in 2 more months but we will not be leaving japan until 2010. and on top of that we don't even know that we will be in the states after 2010.

my questions are:

am i wasting my money?

what do i do WHEN the visa expires?

what will happen with the visa IF we don't live in the US for another 12 years?

would it be easier to just send my wife to the states for 7 month (in oreder to validate the visa), then move her back to japan with me?

SOMEONE PLEASE HELP A DISTRESSED PETITIONER

and feel free to email me at ryan.karr22hotmail.com

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

- Yes you are wasting your money

- Nothing- you can just let it expire and then re-apply in 2010 or whenever you decide to move to the USA. You might get a few more questions as it will be your second application for the same person, but it will not prevent you/ your wife from getting the visa later.

- The visa expires. Spousal visas generally have to be used within 6 months of issuance. Under certain circumstances, you can get an extension for a few months, but not for a year or more, which is what you'd need.

- That won't work, because even if she activates the visa that way, her green card will expire. The green card/ spousal visa is for her to live with you in the USA. If you do not have permanent residence in the US and do not live there the majority of the time, her green card will be revoked. If she does wish to use her current visa, best option would be for you two to move to the US for 3-4 years, ie until she gets citizenship- then she can move abroad for as long as she wants and not loose her US citizenship/ ability to enter and exit the US.

[ryan.karr22 0]

thank you for the help!!!! so i have had my first interview and now have a case number and am still here in Japan until 2010.

Can we keep the same case number?

we will know our next base in late 2009, could the embassy/we use that as "certain circumstances" for us to get the visa this early.

or could we potentially get a refund for our first interview?

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Not sure what you mean with first interview- there usually is only one? It would help if you filled in your timeline, told us who the USC is, what visa you are going for (I assume K3 because that is where you posted) etc.

I doubt you can keep the case number alive that long, though I am not sure what case number you mean (NOA1, NOA2 etc). If you mean your I-130 got approved, then I believe that stays approved until withdrawn, but have no personal experience with this. You certainly will not get a refund of any moneys paid.

One thing though, you mention a base- is the US citizen a soldier on active duty? If so, slightly different rules apply and you may be able to get a visa despite not living in the USA. Check with your JAG office or post a new topic here asking specifically for other military members to share their stories.

[Urge To Race 2]

From your posts I take it that you are doing DCF in Tokyo? DCF would result in an IR1/CR1 visa, which would expire in 6 months. You posted this in the K3 forum. K3s expire in 2 years (might work with your 2010 date). Please fill in your timeline so that you can get more helpful answers.

thank you for the help!!!! so i have had my first interview and now have a case number and am still here in Japan until 2010.

Can we keep the same case number?

we will know our next base in late 2009, could the embassy/we use that as "certain circumstances" for us to get the visa this early.

or could we potentially get a refund for our first interview?