6-Year-Long I-129F Expired

[THETIMEISNOW 37]

I petioned for my then fiance, now husband to to come to the States in November 2006. When I moved to Senegal to be with him in 2009, I was told that the application was reapproved for processing. I never received any information/letters from them since. I called last week to find out the status of the petition and I was told that it "expired". When I questioned it, I was told that they had no other information and to call Department of State. I called Department of State and was told to call USCIS. I called USCIS and was told to call NVC. No one can give me any other information besides it being "expired". Can someone please help me to understand what is going on? Also, please offer any advice. Thank you.

[bsd058 296]

I petioned for my then fiance, now husband to to come to the States in November 2006. When I moved to Senegal to be with him in 2009, I was told that the application was reapproved for processing. I never received any information/letters from them since. I called last week to find out the status of the petition and I was told that it "expired". When I questioned it, I was told that they had no other information and to call Department of State. I called Department of State and was told to call USCIS. I called USCIS and was told to call NVC. No one can give me any other information besides it being "expired". Can someone please help me to understand what is going on? Also, please offer any advice. Thank you.

I think you'll need to resubmit for an I-130 petition. The fiance visa is an I-129F. So it wouldn't be feasible now anyways. You should look into applying for the I-130. They are being approved quickly through NBC right now. Perhaps that's a consolation. Sorry to hear you're going through this. Did you update your address with them since you moved? Why did you never submit a service request?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Usually any petition that has had no activity in a year is closed , K1 petitions have a validity of 4 months after approval ( or reapproval) so you either missed one window or the other it seems. But if you married in the mean time you wouldn't have been able to use the petition , they would have denied you at the interview when the marriage came up.

[THETIMEISNOW 37]

I think you'll need to resubmit for an I-130 petition. The fiance visa is an I-129F. So it wouldn't be feasible now anyways. You should look into applying for the I-130. They are being approved quickly through NBC right now. Perhaps that's a consolation. Sorry to hear you're going through this. Did you update your address with them since you moved? Why did you never submit a service request?

Thanks bsd058! I am currently back in the States and I did update my address. I am in the process of submitting an I-130 petition. I've never heard of a service request. What is it and how do I go about doing it?

[THETIMEISNOW 37]

Usually any petition that has had no activity in a year is closed , K1 petitions have a validity of 4 months after approval ( or reapproval) so you either missed one window or the other it seems. But if you married in the mean time you wouldn't have been able to use the petition , they would have denied you at the interview when the marriage came up.

So, are you telling me that the visa was approved at one point but the consulate did not properly inform us? If that is the case, then could I use the fact that I was not informed of the expired petition to help expedite my I-130 petition process?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There is a remote possibility you could use it is both of the following occurred. You were not married when the petition was back at the Embassy, You had properly filed change of address within 10 days of each move either you or your now hisband did from from original filing. If you married prior to the return the petition was non approval before it's return and if you failed to keep your address up to date then the notice was probably sent and returned as undeliverable thus ending their resposibility. However because the new petition is a different type they will probably not expediate it anyway.

[THETIMEISNOW 37]

There is a remote possibility you could use it is both of the following occurred. You were not married when the petition was back at the Embassy, You had properly filed change of address within 10 days of each move either you or your now hisband did from from original filing. If you married prior to the return the petition was non approval before it's return and if you failed to keep your address up to date then the notice was probably sent and returned as undeliverable thus ending their resposibility. However because the new petition is a different type they will probably not expediate it anyway.

Thank you so much!