can immigrant visa be extended/renewed

[whusurdadi 0]

Hello again, I received my passport with dv2015 visa 18 September and the visa has expiration date printed as 18 January - I'm getting here the time difference between these dates of 5 months, not 6, which I was convinced is the period visas are typically valid for. Anyhow, Is it possible to apply for extension/renewal of the visa if one is not able to travel to the US before dv visa expires? Thank you very much for your help.

[Blessed137 1]

If I am correct I believe your visa expires the same time as your Medicals. So check the date of your Medicals if it's six months to the January date of the expiration date of your visa.

Hope that helps.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Immigrant visas are valid for six months from either the date of approval or the date of the medical, whichever happened first.

If you fail to use the immigrant visa before its expiry but still wish to immigrate then the embassy might be willing to re-issue it, though you would likely have to pay the fees again and have another medical performed. It's also discretionary, so they are under no obligation to do so.

[Boiler 45,559]

Activate it at least if you really want to use it.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

It's from the date of the medicals, and unlike family etc visas there is no extension or renewal of s DV visa possible. You need to enter the US before it expires or it will be worthless. You can leave again after that for up to a year if you still need to sort things out etc but the visa has to be used before it expires.

[whusurdadi 0]

Apologies, I made a typo - it's 18 February when my visa expires - that adds up to 5 months, but I did have the 'medicals' done in August so taking into account that it is indeed 6. Thank you for the replies they've been very helpful