Conflicting Information for Interview/Petition Expiration

[RandallKS 0]

It seems that everything I've read virtually everywhere states that the K-1 129F petition expires 4 months from the date that the NOA2 is issued. I called my lawyer and he said the same thing.

However, I called the CJ consulate today and was told that the petition is valid for up to 1 year from the date that the interview invitation letter is issued. I asked this TWICE to confirm that the consulate rep was telling me the correct information and that we were on the same page.

I realize that the consulate has the ability to re-instate the petition beyond the expiration date but I'm getting close to the 4 month period from when the NOA2 was issued and I would relax a bit more if anyone else has heard this "one year" business or went to their interview after the four month period.

I have to say that the one irritating consistency throughout this entire process is that information and experience seem to be inconsistent from case to case.

[sagarcia 1]

I don't have an answer for you as I am waiting for my NOA2, but AMEN to this statement----->"I have to say that the one irritating consistency throughout this entire process is that information and experience seem to be inconsistent from case to case"

Sandra

[Otto 83]

I've not heard anything about a 1-year validity of an interview invitation - could be a Juarez-specific 'thing.'

That said - it appears (based on your timeline) that Juarez received your petition in May - have you heard anything from them?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=37896 could also be a helpful source...

Edited July 28, 2009 by Otto und Karin

[RandallKS 0]

I've not heard anything about a 1-year validity of an interview invitation - could be a Juarez-specific 'thing.'

That said - it appears (based on your timeline) that Juarez received your petition in May - have you heard anything from them?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=37896 could also be a helpful source...

Yes, you're correct. The NOA2 was issue April 22nd - almost exactly 5 months after I received the first NOA. Between NOA1 and NOA2 I heard absolutely nothing and the case didn't even to appear to have been touched according to the online tracking system. The case was at the NVC for no more than a week or two and then sent to Juarez in early May. The consulate sent out the invitation letter to both my address in the U.S. and my fiancee's address in Mexico. However there wasn't really any "package of information" as others have described receiving. I know what to bring at this point simply by the amount of reading I've done, so that isn't a big deal. Plus I've called the consulate information line twice and they can quickly access the case in their computers. For the most part, folks have been helpful, and the people at the NVC were very informed and helpful.

If anything, it appears that the U.S. Consulate websites need updated information. Oh, and the U.S. State Department personnel were useless when I called them with a simple generic question.

[Otto 83]

Yes, you're correct. The NOA2 was issue April 22nd - almost exactly 5 months after I received the first NOA. Between NOA1 and NOA2 I heard absolutely nothing and the case didn't even to appear to have been touched according to the online tracking system. The case was at the NVC for no more than a week or two and then sent to Juarez in early May. So far, this all sounds 'normal' or at least on par.

The consulate sent out the invitation letter to both my address in the U.S. and my fiancé's address in Mexico. However there wasn't really any "package of information" as others have described receiving. Juarez kind of does things a little differently - the Embassy Section (above) for Juarez describes it fairly in depth.

I know what to bring at this point simply by the amount of reading I've done, so that isn't a big deal. Plus I've called the consulate information line twice and they can quickly access the case in their computers. For the most part, folks have been helpful, and the people at the NVC were very informed and helpful.

If anything, it appears that the U.S. Consulate websites need updated information. Oh, and the U.S. State Department personnel were useless when I called them with a simple generic question.

According to VJ member's timelines - the average time between when the Embassy/Consulate (Juarez Consulate in this case) receives the case and when an interview is scheduled for is 73 days (on average) so you should be close...

[TBoneTX 45,887]

Different attorneys to whom I've spoken have all said that consulates routinely extend the validity in increments of 4 months, usually automatically and sometimes upon the request of the petitioner. If I'm understanding your situation correctly, I wouldn't lose much sleep over it if I were in your shoes.