Validity time of London-issued visa

[JandMA 9]

Since there seems to have been some confusion in these forums about for how long

a Visa is valid for entry to the US, I should record my own recent experience at the London embassy

(it may be different at other consulates.)

The visa is valid for up to 6 months from the date of the medical or the date of the interview,

whichever is sooner. However, since the medical has to be taken before the interview is even scheduled,

this essentially means from the date of the medical.

I received contradictory information from the embassy about this earlier, but was told quite firmly at the interview that

the above is the rule. This means that effectively you have about 5 months from the interview, not 6, to enter the US.

For most people this is not a problem, but if you have a house to sell, give notice on a job, etc. it can be.

Moreover, you cannot retake the medical until after it expires! That is, if you are for some reason delayed and think that you can simply update the medical

and not have another interview, think again! By the time the new medical results have reached the Embassy, and they have updated all your details, the

original 6-month visa stamp will likely also have expired and you'll need to go back to square one.

[Tuscadero 6]

That's very helpful. Thank you.

To clarify, from the 6 months following the medical exam, the visa is valid to enter the U.S. but the 90 day period in which you can get married, that doesn't start until point of entry, correct?

[cocolucho 35]

That's very helpful. Thank you.

To clarify, from the 6 months following the medical exam, the visa is valid to enter the U.S. but the 90 day period in which you can get married, that doesn't start until point of entry, correct?

Correct, 90 days start counting from POE :-)

[cocolucho 35]

Since there seems to have been some confusion in these forums about for how long

a Visa is valid for entry to the US, I should record my own recent experience at the London embassy

(it may be different at other consulates.)

The visa is valid for up to 6 months from the date of the medical or the date of the interview,

whichever is sooner. However, since the medical has to be taken before the interview is even scheduled,

this essentially means from the date of the medical.

I received contradictory information from the embassy about this earlier, but was told quite firmly at the interview that

the above is the rule. This means that effectively you have about 5 months from the interview, not 6, to enter the US.

For most people this is not a problem, but if you have a house to sell, give notice on a job, etc. it can be.

Moreover, you cannot retake the medical until after it expires! That is, if you are for some reason delayed and think that you can simply update the medical

and not have another interview, think again! By the time the new medical results have reached the Embassy, and they have updated all your details, the

original 6-month visa stamp will likely also have expired and you'll need to go back to square one.

My wife interviewed in Lima, Peru so here is her record. She had her medical on Aug 13, 2014 interviewed on Sep 3, 2014, her visa was issued on Sep 5, 2014, and it expires on Feb 11, 2015. So if you count from her medical exam she has 5 months 29 days to enter the US or from her interview date she has 5 months 6 days to enter the US. So very close to the information you received from the embassy in London regarding the 6 months rule :-)

Edited October 20, 2014 by cocolucho

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

London policy on visa validity is covered on their website http://london.usembassy.gov/visa_processing.html

And here http://london.usembassy.gov/faq-imm-proc.html#iv062

It changed in London in 2012 and has to do with expiration of TB screening I believe. Prior to that it was six months from visa issue date.

[Lermontov 0]

My wife recently received her CR-1 visa after 2 months in administrative processing. Her medical was the day before the interview.

Indeed, the visa's date of expiry is exactly 6 months after the medical exam date, which leaves 3 1/2 months to enter the US. Good to keep in mind.

Edited October 21, 2014 by Lermontov

[JandMA 9]

London policy on visa validity is covered on their website http://london.usembassy.gov/visa_processing.html

And here http://london.usembassy.gov/faq-imm-proc.html#iv062

It changed in London in 2012 and has to do with expiration of TB screening I believe. Prior to that it was six months from visa issue date.

Thanks, NIck-NIck - I originally saw only the second link, which is not very clear. I then received some remarkably confusing e-mails from the embassy about this.

In any case, as you say, it is perfectly clear on http://london.usembassy.gov/visa_processing.html

I was told at the interview that both the chest X-ray and the blood test would have to be redone if the medical has expired.