Use VISA Quickly???

[mfa 1]

Before I begin this whole VISA procedure with (for) my wife, I am curious about actually USING the visa once it is obtained.

We live in Peru.

We will eventually move back to my home city in the states.

But we cannot and will not move back to Chicago without a job waiting for me and we will not get a job until we have the visa.

So...once we obtain the visa how quickly must we use it?

Suppose it is 6 months...but I dont get a job offer and cannot go to the US...is the visa then invalid and must we do this all over again???

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

Yes, if it is not used within 6 months it is invalidated, and you have to start all over again, pay the fee, wait months etc. If you truly do not want to risk a move without a job, then your only option is to apply for jobs- travel to interviews- and them once you have a job, put your I-130 in asap, via DCF (direct consular filing) to the US embassy in Lima. Once the I-130 is filed you can leave Peru (though it is best to wait till it is approved, just in case) and start work in the USA, and your wife can follow when she gets the visa.

[mike411 15]

Hope you have skills in demand! I know people had job offers started 6 months later.

Not sure about DCF (direct consular filing), but looks like I could have dragged out many NVC steps to 1 year. It would be better than delaying i-130 since that's what took the most time.

If you would only start the job search after she gets the visa, then you have 6 months.

[Matt & Rocio 28]

Before I begin this whole VISA procedure with (for) my wife, I am curious about actually USING the visa once it is obtained.

We live in Peru.

We will eventually move back to my home city in the states.

But we cannot and will not move back to Chicago without a job waiting for me and we will not get a job until we have the visa.

So...once we obtain the visa how quickly must we use it?

Suppose it is 6 months...but I dont get a job offer and cannot go to the US...is the visa then invalid and must we do this all over again???

Good guess on the 6 months, you were right on. Once the visa is issued by the foreign embassy/consulate you have 6 months to enter the United States or the visa is invalid.

Since you are residing in Peru you will most likely fly through the USCIS phase. As of August of last year DCF (Direct Consular Filing) is no longer offered unless their is a USCIS office in your area. Over the past several months there has been a trend with members who reside overseas with their spouse that they get approved in a matter of weeks rather than months. There are a few threads on this topic and what seems to trigger the case for this expedited queue.

Once USCIS approves your I-130 petition your case is sent to the NVC. This is a place where you can slow things down if you want. I am just finishing up with the NVC and this notice has been written at the bottom of a number of documents they have emailed me:

Please Note: If a period of one year passes without communication to the NVC, all submitted fees and

documents expire and must be resubmitted to resume the immigration process.

So you could file the I-130 now and then start looking for a job in the US. Once you have something lined up you can proceed from where you left off. The reason I would suggest you file now is because there is no guarantee that you will fly through the USCIS phase. You could end up waiting 7 months like I did.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Good guess on the 6 months, you were right on. Once the visa is issued by the foreign embassy/consulate you have 6 months to enter the United States or the visa is invalid.

That 6 month timeframe is NOT universal, sometimes the validity of a visa can be less than 6 months. That's why it's very important to check the expiration date on the visa as it must be used before that date.