I-129F Approval received but personal conditions changed - Can we defer?

[JamesLeslie 0]

Fiancee has an unexpected grandchild and hospital debt. She needs to stay in Thailand and take care of both. Now is not a good time for her to come to the US. Can we defer? How can I best handle this with Immigration Service?

[Karee 4,190]

Fiancee has an unexpected grandchild and hospital debt. She needs to stay in Thailand and take care of both. Now is not a good time for her to come to the US. Can we defer? How can I best handle this with Immigration Service?

It depends on how long you want to defer arrival. Usually the visas are good for 6 months. It looks like you still have at least a couple months before the interview, so without doing anything you can stretch it out to roughly 8 months. If you need longer I believe you can contact the embassy and delay the interview, but keep in mind if you do that they may delay it for months.

[JamesLeslie 0]

We will need more than a couple of months. Probably more like a couple of years. Who exactly should I contact? The Embassy in Bangkok? or someone in the USA?

[Ning 619]

Fiancee has an unexpected grandchild and hospital debt. She needs to stay in Thailand and take care of both. Now is not a good time for her to come to the US. Can we defer? How can I best handle this with Immigration Service?

No one wants to hear this but have you looked into what is going on with this story? These things just came out of the blue?

If its really going to be years you should withdraw the petition. Contact USCIS for more info.

[JamesLeslie 0]

Thanks for the candor, Ning. Yes, things did happen unexpectedly. 17 year old daughter gets pregnant. Complications with pregnancy lead to 2 months in hospital for daughter and baby, $$$$$. My fiancee covered expenses and is supporting them now. Not her fault but there's no one else to help them.

[Karee 4,190]

The I-29F has been approved, so USCIS has already sent it off to NVC, and they've probably turned around and immediately sent it to the embassy in Bangkok. I don't think you can withdraw an approved petition. I'd contact the embassy via email with the NVC case number as the subject line and ask them how to proceed.

The reason for Ning's doubt about the story, is that we've both seen many people here over the years get scammed in this manner. Go through the process all the way up until before the interview, while extracting as much money as possible from the foreigner, and then bailing out before the interview. I'm not saying that's what is going on in your case, because I know nothing about it. All I can do is make you aware that we've seen similar things happen before.

[Ning 619]

Thanks for the candor, Ning. Yes, things did happen unexpectedly. 17 year old daughter gets pregnant. Complications with pregnancy lead to 2 months in hospital for daughter and baby, $$$$$. My fiancee covered expenses and is supporting them now. Not her fault but there's no one else to help them.

I am sorry for what has happened of course especially when we see the impact on your lives. At least you know what has taken place is true and reasonable however unfortunate for so may reasons.

Since the case is so far along Karee is correct in what should be done at this point. For what its worth my candor was just as Karee said and not meant to be mean spirited. No one understand the situation as you do.

[Jojo617 1]

I think you can email to Embassy in Bangkok by stating your case number and email to email below.

" Inquiries about visas can be made via: visasbkkiv@state.gov

Inquiries should include “IV Inquiry” and the case number (which usually begins with “BNK”) in the subject line. No inquiries will be accepted by telephone."

[JamesLeslie 0]

Thanks, everyone, for the info and advice. I totally understand about the scamming concerns and did not consider that mean spirited at all, just good advice given the information provided. I've sent an explanatory email to the address Jojo provided and asked their advice on how to proceed. Hopefully this will not cause a problem should we move forward with another petition in the future.

[Karee 4,190]

Thanks, everyone, for the info and advice. I totally understand about the scamming concerns and did not consider that mean spirited at all, just good advice given the information provided. I've sent an explanatory email to the address Jojo provided and asked their advice on how to proceed. Hopefully this will not cause a problem should we move forward with another petition in the future.

If you decide to abandon this petition, it wont have any effect at all on a future petition. That said, you'll have to start over from the beginning.

[JamesLeslie 0]

UPDATE

The embassy in Bangkok has been very helpful in extending our K1 application for nearly two years now. We are considering whether to proceed with the remaining application submissions and interview or marry first and then apply for a K3, IR1 or CR1. We want her to be able to start work in the US as soon as possible. I've read the comparisons and kind of understand the time requirements. Is the likelihood of visa approval better if we are already married? Which visa would be best?

[JamesLeslie 0]

If we marry first, we will marry in Thailand.

[kikiyut 1]

1 marrying automatically cancels the k-1 visa

2 from what I've read, the spouse visa is almost guaranteed, (unless she is a terrorist or has significant medical issues). it also takes longer than a k-1, but it sounds like you have time.

and if I may put in my own 2¢, before marrying, I'd pay a long visit and make sure that marriage is the right thing to do. it's a legally more significant step than promising to marry.

good luck and good love to you!

[TEX_715 6]

Follow through with the K-1 and marry in USA. Marriage in Thailand will only make it more complicated.

[JamesLeslie 0]

Thanks for your replies. It looks like we will proceed with K1 for now.