Extension possible?

[Amina_KSA 0]

Hey DCF friends,

It turns out our I-130 was approved the NEXT working day after we submitted it, but it got lost in the mail. So, here I was worrying for nothing.

Anyway, we went to the embassy yesterday to check on the I-130 (because phone messages and emails went unanswered after one month of waiting)...and the guy really made it seem like the whole process would go VERY quickly from this point on. We are fine with getting the visa at any time, but the ideal thing for us would be if we could stay in Riyadh until next summer so that DH can finish his contract with out having to pay any penalties, we could save more money for the move, etc. Again, it's not a big deal if we have to leave before the contract is finished...but it would be really nice financially if we could stay until it was finished. Because we had (and still have) no real idea how long the visa process would take we wanted to apply now b/c we don't want to be in the position where DH would have to renew a contract for NEXT year (if we applied for visa too late or if the process took longer than expected)...kwim???

The point is, I am under the impression that once the visa is issued (GOD WILLING!!!) you have six months to get to America before it expires. If so, is there any way to apply for an extension so that one could stay abroad for a bit longer before coming to America? Does asking for an extension put the actual status of the visa in any kind of jeopardy? We don't want to do anything to jeopardize the whole process but if getting an extension is possible and not a big deal it would really make our lives easier.

Thanks for any help on this!!!

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

From what I understand, extensions are very difficult to get. However, you could delay your visa interview, by just not sending back the "readiness form" when you get it.

[Amina_KSA 0]

From what I understand, extensions are very difficult to get. However, you could delay your visa interview, by just not sending back the "readiness form" when you get it.

We got the the readiness form (DS-2001 I think it is?) yesterday. The officer said all we do is fill out the DS-230 part I and the readiness form ONLY, then return it to the embassy...then they will give us the medical packet and an interview date..at the interview we bring ALL documents (marriage cert., birth certs, affidavite of support)...so this is not the order in which I was thinking it would all go.

I am going back to the embassy today (forgot to ask one question yesterday, gah!) so I am thinking of asking them how long we have before we have to submit the readiness form (instead of asking them about an extension?)...it would be ideal for us if we got our visa round December but I really, really don't know how exactly to make that happen.

Edited August 27, 2008 by Amina_KSA

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Maybe just ask at the embassy how willing they'd be to give you an interview at a specific time- if it is later rather than earlier, like in your case, they may be willing to do so.

[Amina_KSA 0]

Maybe just ask at the embassy how willing they'd be to give you an interview at a specific time- if it is later rather than earlier, like in your case, they may be willing to do so.

That's a good idea - I'll ask today. So far we have seen the same guy each time we've gone and he is extremely nice so I think he'll help us to time it right if at all possible.

Thanks for your continued help Penguin!

Also, I have another stupid question...

When we bring all the documents to the interview does the Embassy review them the same day while we are there and is the Embassy the one who makes the decision? In my mind I thought we submit the documents before the interview and that they were reviewed in detail long before the interview..???

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

You submit the DS-230 before, that has some detailed info on the beneficiary's life. But yes, you only submit the affidavit of support and all the other docs at the interview, and unless it's a borderline case, can get approved right then and there.

[Amina_KSA 0]

You submit the DS-230 before, that has some detailed info on the beneficiary's life. But yes, you only submit the affidavit of support and all the other docs at the interview, and unless it's a borderline case, can get approved right then and there.

Thanks Penguin!

We just got back from the embassy and we got the nice guy again, lol. He said the best way to make sure the visa is still valid for as long as we want it to be is to hand deliver the DS-230 and the DS-2001 and then ask him (hopefully we get him!) to give us an interview appointment that is several months in the future. So, I feel a lot more relaxed about everything and I love the way this guy acts - he makes it seem like getting the visa is absolutely no big deal, and thank God so far it hasn't been. We have all the paper work ready, just waiting on the Saudi police clearance (which we were told we didn't need but now they do require it, otherwise we would have had it already)...

Thanks again for all your help!