How long does your Fiance have to arrive?

[Robert & Olya 0]

I have searched but did not find anything (maybe I am saking the wrong question in the search engine?)

I am wanting to find out "Once you receive approval for a K1 how long (amount of time) does your fiance have to arrive in the US?"

I read somewhere? that it was 6 months and then somewhere else (maybe on VJ?) that it was 4 months. The reason I am needing to know is not because we want to delay her arrival after the K1 is approved, but because work has been very slow (I am in the construction Industry) and because of this I signed a Civilian contract for 1 year to work on the military bases in Iraq/Afgan. So I will not be myself "home" in the states again until October or 2010.

So I am wondering if I should submit our application now before I depart, or wait a couple of months based on the time frames is see for the K1 approval process.

From what I see approval times for a K1 are around 6-7 months and if you are allowed 6 months to arrive that would put us around October/November (if we apply now) before we "time out" BUT if you are only allowed 4 months to arrive after approval, then it would be better for us to wait a couple of months before submitting

anyone know the difinitive answer to "how long you have to arrive after the K1 approval you have before this Visa?" expires?

[SMR 368]

I have searched but did not find anything (maybe I am saking the wrong question in the search engine?)

I am wanting to find out "Once you receive approval for a K1 how long (amount of time) does your fiance have to arrive in the US?"

I read somewhere? that it was 6 months and then somewhere else (maybe on VJ?) that it was 4 months. The reason I am needing to know is not because we want to delay her arrival after the K1 is approved, but because work has been very slow (I am in the construction Industry) and because of this I signed a Civilian contract for 1 year to work on the military bases in Iraq/Afgan. So I will not be myself "home" in the states again until October or 2010.

So I am wondering if I should submit our application now before I depart, or wait a couple of months based on the time frames is see for the K1 approval process.

From what I see approval times for a K1 are around 6-7 months and if you are allowed 6 months to arrive that would put us around October/November (if we apply now) before we "time out" BUT if you are only allowed 4 months to arrive after approval, then it would be better for us to wait a couple of months before submitting

anyone know the difinitive answer to "how long you have to arrive after the K1 approval you have before this Visa?" expires?

The definitive answer is, after the visa is received, she has 6 months to enter the country. After she enters the country, you have 90 days to get married. Of course, 6 months starts after the interview, not after the petition is approved.

[baron555 934]

Actually 6 months starts on the date on the visa, which will be a couple of days after the interview.

K-1s are running about 6-8 months, so it seems that you should delay submittal until about a third the way or so into your assignment.

[1HappyGuy 45]

I would use a K-1 processing period of 3-4 months with the additional six months in which to activate the visa (arrive in the USA) as a measure of when you can plan on being together in the USA for marriage, etc. It seems likely that she would have almost one year from now, before the K-1 visa would expire. There are ways of delaying the process once it has gotten through the USCIS center. She can ask for a later interview date once the case file is received in the embassy, depending upon where you are in your work detail.

I hope you will have an opportunity to visit with her during the period you are working in Iraq/Afghanistan. Maybe you will be able to plan a vacation in Turkey or Ukraine or other place both of you can go to, so you won't need to get another visa for Russia.

[BluesTraveler 0]

anyone know the difinitive answer to "how long you have to arrive after the K1 approval you have before this Visa?" expires?

100% sure she must enter the USA 180 days from the date stamped on the visa. The K1 visa is a single-entry visa.

My suggestion is to apply for the visa asap. You never know what kind of delays can occur while the visa is processing on the USA side. Additionally it is more time consuming to mail things from US military bases back to the US. And what if you dind out are missing a document while you are in Iraq. How are you going to get it?

I would put the whole package together before leaving and mail it in, so you will have enough time in case they send you an RFE.

Like others have said, if for some reason the interview date in Russia comes up to quickly - which would be a first - she can always request a latter interview date, i.e. 1 or 2 months later. The US embassy doesn't mind.

Best of luck to you.

[baron555 934]

[ she can always request a latter interview date, i.e. 1 or 2 months later. The US embassy doesn't mind.

Best of luck to you.

Actually, you can't merely specify the future interview date; what they do is just place you in the back of the line, in the next open spot that they are currently filling. I know, we just did this.

The Embassy in Moscow is very nice this way. I've emailed them a few times while waiting for the Adoption and they were very timely and cordial with their responses. Hopefully bodes well on what to expect during the interview.

[Robert & Olya 0]

Thanks all,

it is a relief to know that it is 6 months and not 4 and I did not know about being able to re-schedule the interview date so this also eases my concerns. I certainly wanted to file before I leave (just shortly over 1 week from today) and to know that at least it was in the USCIS's hands.

I certainly will see my Olya as many times as possible over the course of this year. I will at least see her 2 times during this year. I am certain one of these will be in Russia, the other Russia somewhere elses? Olya takes a vacation every year in June (this past year I met her in Thailand) so will see if vacation time schedules out good, to be able to meet her again for her June vacation.

[akdiver 3]

Thanks all,

it is a relief to know that it is 6 months and not 4 and I did not know about being able to re-schedule the interview date so this also eases my concerns. I certainly wanted to file before I leave (just shortly over 1 week from today) and to know that at least it was in the USCIS's hands.

I certainly will see my Olya as many times as possible over the course of this year. I will at least see her 2 times during this year. I am certain one of these will be in Russia, the other Russia somewhere elses? Olya takes a vacation every year in June (this past year I met her in Thailand) so will see if vacation time schedules out good, to be able to meet her again for her June vacation.

Just remember to please TRY not to be as neurotic as so many VJ posters appear to be with respect to this whole process. Truthfully, for the vast majority of people (those with basic, straightforward cases), all the neuroticism is unwarranted. Just take things as they are, read the forms, follow the instructions. The information you need is typically RIGHT THERE. Don't try to read things into them that are not there. It isn't rocket science. Most people would be JUST FINE if they used a few brain cells during the process rather than spending all of their energy on the "OMFG!!!!!" circuits of their brains.

Good luck!

akd

Edited October 2, 2009 by akdiver

[slim 1,525]

First off, watch your @$$ over there, Robert. That place is still pretty hot, and Americans aren't exactly the favorite people. Try to stay "behind the lines" as much as possible and don't travel unless you absolutely have to.

That being said.... you're probably going to make a $#!tload of money, so hang in there!

If you file before you leave the times should line up pretty well for when you get back. You can also work with the military's family support unit or some kind of organization like that - they handle visas and that sort of thing. Usually deployed military units get direct links to embassies and consulates. It's not exactly a "special privilege" but when the First Sergeant starts making phone calls, someone usually listens. Make sure you seek out the unit representative for those matters, they should have someone. In truth, you may be better off over there than you would be here.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

For your mid-tour vacations, I suggest the Dominican Republic. About as far away as you can get from the AOR and a wonderfully nice place to spend time with the woman you love. Or, if you'd like to maximize your time, I hear nothing but good things about Sharm-el-Sheik in Egypt. Turkey's up there too. All those places are easy for RWs to get visas to. Have fun!