How best to delay a IR Visa request?

[hisokajp 0]

We are still not sure if we are going through the immigration to the US or not, we started the IR process as a backup plan but now that we have received the NOA2 I am wondering how best to "delay" the process without having it cancelled. Is there an amount of time from start to finish before they cancel the request?

Would the best be not to send the Notification of Applicant(s) Readiness, Form 2001 and do the medical or send form 2001 and not do the medical? Considering that if we decide on going through with it, the main factor would be that it would take us less time to complete the process with either scenario?

I believe also that we could just complete the process, get the Visa and from there have 6 month to enter the US. This could also be a solution but it would mean having to pay for the Visa and Medical even if we do not move to the US.

Thank you for your help!

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

A lot will depend on how long you think you'll need until you have made your decision?

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Once the case hits NVC it will be closed if it remains inactive (they don't hear from you) for 1 year.

So you can delay the process by simply doing nothing for a while.

Edited September 29, 2011 by Bob 4 Anna

[hisokajp 0]

is it also possible to get all the way until getting the appointment for the interview and push that back until you are ready? Can you do that? And if you can, for how long?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Best way to do it is be s-l-o-w to send things in. You can wait weeks from when something is requested. By trickling things in bit by bit, you keep your case active. They won't think you abandoned it. And you can leave out something and get an RFE from NVC. And you can tell London you need to reschedule your interview.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

is it also possible to get all the way until getting the appointment for the interview and push that back until you are ready? Can you do that? And if you can, for how long?

You can usually only do that for 4 months, possibly longer if you can give a good reason ("we are not sure" is not a good reason for the embassy, and would be a red flag come interview time). As I asked in my earlier reply, what I'd suggest you do really depends on how long you think you'll need to make a decision... you can easily get 1.5 years by delaying sending back various paperwork for a year, then after the interview you'll have 6 months to use the visa. If you think you need significantly more than 18 months, your best bet will likely be to cancel this petition and start again when you are ready.

[hisokajp 0]

thank you for your answers, we are trying to decide what we want to do and it is not easy One of the reason is job hunting in the US, I have few contacts there that could help me find a job but it would be better to be "ready" if I get one than tell them they have to wait 2 month before I get my visa (if I stop before the medical exam process). The other scenario is go all the way, pay all the fee and in the risk not to find a job within the 6 month or decide not to go...

Would it be a red flag for a future to get the Visa and ending up not going to the US? Not sure if they would like to give it again to someone that did not use it the time before?

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

They'd ask a couple of questions as why you didn't use the first visa, but shouldn't be a major issue.

[hisokajp 0]

I believe people mentioned it usually takes around 8 weeks after our medical exam to get your interview. What about if you do your interview first then send your DS2001 after? How long after they receive it would you get your interview? I am trying to see which one of those is the shortest to resume the process after keeping it on hold?

sorry for all the questions... You have been very helpful!

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

What about if you do your interview first then send your DS2001 after? How long after they receive it would you get your interview?

Not sure what you mean by this... did you mean "What about if you do your medical firs...t"? How long to the interview will depend on the US embassy and time of year (for example November/ December tends to be slow due to holidays). Keep in mind the medical is expensive and only valid for a certain time- usually a year, but 6 month in some countries.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

What about if you do your interview first then send your DS2001 after?

Have you even looked at Form DS-2001? Click the link and read the first sentence.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

p.s. THE MEDICAL is only valid for six months, if visa not issued within six months, then a new medical will be needed. The PC has a validation period aswell.

[hisokajp 0]

ok, thank you very much for the answers, it's good to know. We are in a tricky situation and knowing this information is really useful to see what we will do.

Our idea would be to get all our papers together and pass the medical. Then, when (if?) I find a job offer in the US I would send the ds-2001 to do the interview and get the visa.

it would take into account the risk of wasting the £200+ for the medical if we cannot find something within the 6 month but that, I think would be an acceptable risk.

If they have already logged the medical, how long would would it take after their receive the ds-2001 to get the interview (including processing of the ds-2001)? From the date when I send the ds-2001 maybe 6-8weeks to get to the interview? What do you think?