K1 Visa in process; beneficiary passport set to expire in March 2017

[oliverynice 0]

Hi everyone! Still new here but have been finding this website so very helpful and would like to reach out for a concern I have.

So far, I have submitted the I-129f and received the NOA1 on April 26. My fiancé is Venezuelan, but he lives in Canada. Based on the current timeline info, I'm guessing that the consulate there will receive his application packet around September and we will be looking at an interview in maybe Nov/Dec if all goes well.

The question we have is concerning the fact that his passport is set to expire in March 2017. The Venezuelan consulate in Canada recommends allowing 60 days for passport renewals. We are not sure whether to get his passport renewed sometime in October, so he has time before needing it to get his K1 visa and travel to the US...OR...should we wait until he is here and we get married?

I'm not too clear on whether he will need to send his passport for the AOS and/or the authorization to work processes. We are hoping to get married asap after he arrives so that we can begin his work authorization stuff.

Any helpful advice is much appreciated!

[kandikandi 31]

I am a beneficiary in Trinidad, we mailed our i-129F last month. Like you, we are anticipating a September/October interview date. My passport also expires in March 2017.

Personally I am being cautious and renewing my passport now as I understand that they will not grant a visa unless the passport is valid for at least 6 months from the approval date. With the interview date being uncertain, and the processing times for the passport renewal being uncertain here in Trinidad, I am actually starting the renewal process this week.

I'm not sure what other people would recommend but I vote for renewing the passport as soon as possible! When your NOA2 comes through and things start moving, the last thing you want to think about is the validity of the passport. At the very least, it gives you peace of mind!

[samack 79]

The checklist for packet 3 states that one of the required documents is a "passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you plan to enter the United States", so, assuming he won't need it for the next little while, I'd do it ahead of time. I realized this a little late in the game and now I'm waiting on my new passport even though our case was received by the consulate on the 10th.

[pch1 64]

Get the ball rolling and renew the Passport.

[arken 4,197]

My suggestion would be to apply for Passport renewal ASAP and not even wait till October so that in case your petition gets approved fast, you can go for your interview with the new passport. Even if you come to the US with your old passport (in case of fast approval), you have to renew it within few months anyway, you can utilize your waiting time now for passport renewal.

[oliverynice 0]

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful! We have decided to try and renew it ASAP, but apparently the Venezuelan government will cancel his current passport if he tries to renew before 6 months before it expires (so before October). I guess it might be just as well though it will throw off some of our travel plans sadly..

[oliverynice 0]

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful! We have decided to try and renew it ASAP, but apparently the Venezuelan government will cancel his current passport if he tries to renew before 6 months before it expires (so before October). I guess it might be just as well though it will throw off some of our travel plans sadly..

Oh, so apparently the issue with renewing it before that 6month-to-expiry window is that if his passport gets annulled, his documents that allow him to stay and work in Canada may be suspended as well. So we will be making some phone calls to try and straighten that issue out. How frustrating! ><