i-130 approved - how long can we wait?

[laru 0]

my husband and I live in London (but he is not british), and we've just finished the i-130 process and been approved. I know we should move on to the DS-230, but we are not planning to move to the US in the immediate future. I don't want to get him the visa and then have it expire from non-use

Does anyone know how long the i-130 approval is good for? can we wait, for example, a year or more to apply for his immigrant visa?

[payxibka 10,047]

my husband and I live in London (but he is not british), and we've just finished the i-130 process and been approved. I know we should move on to the DS-230, but we are not planning to move to the US in the immediate future. I don't want to get him the visa and then have it expire from non-use

Does anyone know how long the i-130 approval is good for? can we wait, for example, a year or more to apply for his immigrant visa?

AFAIK, I-130's do not expire but if the length of time is too long they may send it back stateside... You need to ask London how they do this

Edited May 23, 2009 by payxibka

[JerrysGirlAnne 2]

Laru,

When did you file DCF London? How long did it take for the approval? Just wondering, as we have filed DCF London and were wondering how long it takes.

Annie

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

my husband and I live in London (but he is not british), and we've just finished the i-130 process and been approved. I know we should move on to the DS-230, but we are not planning to move to the US in the immediate future. I don't want to get him the visa and then have it expire from non-use

Does anyone know how long the i-130 approval is good for? can we wait, for example, a year or more to apply for his immigrant visa?

AFAIK, I-130's do not expire but if the length of time is too long they may send it back stateside... You need to ask London how they do this

I believe the I-130 is good for one year. I know MargotDarko, who did DCF through London in 2007, held off from filing the DS-230 for quite a few months to delay their departure. She was told it was valid for one year from the date of the NOA2. Best to double-check with the consulate if this is still true.

You could delay the departure date for about 19-20 months from the date of the NOA2 -- say it is dated May 1, 2009. You sit on it until April 15, 2010 (couple of weeks early to be safe) and then send the Packet 3 stuff. Packet 4 can take about a month or so to arrive, say May 15, 2010. Interviews tend to be a month from the arrival of P4 -- June 15, 2010. The visa has a validity of 6 months -- December 15, 2010. That's quite a delay!

[hayader 0]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=196706

[laru 0]

Laru,

When did you file DCF London? How long did it take for the approval? Just wondering, as we have filed DCF London and were wondering how long it takes.

Annie

I filed in October and just got the letter last week. I had one request for additional information that delayed slightly, and our circumstances are a bit odd because my husband is Moroccan but we live in the UK. I think that may have delayed things a bit too.

hope this helps~