How long do we have between I-I29F approval and interview?

[Hank_ 9,174]

So if I'm understanding correctly,

We have 6 months to make the interview...

Incorrect. You have "up to" a year to get the visa issued. (ISSUED not start the process)

Ahhhh see that's the kind of info i need..

So there is a short period where the interview needs to be scheduled (not necessarily completed,,, but scheduled)...

Is this correct?

My fiancee lives in "nowhere".. they can't get mail at the home.

How is she contacted to let her know that it's time to schedule the interview (and any paperwork they might send)?

Is this done by mail?

Or

Is it something I can find out online through my immigration account or some other way?

No there is not a short period of time to schedule the interview, as stated already you have up to a year to get the visa ISSUED, so you could delay for near 8-10 months if needed.

YOU/your fiancee schedules the interview online (info in the link below in my signature) after paying the visa fee. Once you schedule the interview you print out the interview confirmation as it is needed for the medical and on interview day.

Nothing of importance is mailed to your fiancee. Being she lives out in the province I would suggest to have the visa delivered to a 2GO.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Yes, this is the real point. I expect approval of I-129F to happen around sept to Nov.

BUT

We want to do some traveling around the Philippines (possibly neighboring countries) until maybe Jan.

So I was hoping to put off the interview until then. At which point we do the steps and come back to the USA.

So I just wanted to ensure that we can hold off that long without screwing things up.

For sure not an issue to do what you are planning.

Once you have your MNL # pay your visa fee, have your account setup with the embassy and then do nothing regarding setting up your interview until you are ready. Do NOT complete the medical until you have your interview scheduled. The visa validity is tied to the date of the medical (maximum of 6 months)

I did sort of what you did when we were doing the process, only we stayed longer in the Phils after the visa was issued before we flew home.

[gtewks 1]

OK,, so

1) The first "deadline" is simply paying the VISA fee and getting the account with the consulate. (Must be done before I-129F expires). (4 months) YES?

2) Once payment is made for VISA. Then we have up to 1 year to schedule interview. (well a bit less because the visa must be ISSUED by then).

3) Once the visa is issued, we have six more months to get into the USA.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Yes, this is the real point. I expect approval of I-129F to happen around sept to Nov.

BUT

We want to do some traveling around the Philippines (possibly neighboring countries) until maybe Jan.

So I was hoping to put off the interview until then. At which point we do the steps and come back to the USA.

So I just wanted to ensure that we can hold off that long without screwing things up.

So have you got an approval of a NOA2 or not? If not and you just sent in the paperwork you can expect about 4 months to get the NOA2 then you can start the process in the Philippines. My wife is from a remote part of Mindanao and when she picked up her visa, she had it sent to Davao City and she just picked it up there rather than waiting a week for it to get to her.

Once you get the NOA2, you will then get your MNL# about 24-48 hours later. Once that happens your fiance can pay the visa fee at a BPI bank, then about 24-48 hours later you can schedule the interview at the embassy.

[russandraquel 86]

The above poster has helpful remarks, but I feel I should point out that lately, the NOA2 to MNL# period is around 3 weeks.

[Hank_ 9,174]

OK,, so

1) The first "deadline" is simply paying the VISA fee and getting the account with the consulate. (Must be done before I-129F expires). (4 months) YES?

2) Once payment is made for VISA. Then we have up to 1 year to schedule interview. (well a bit less because the visa must be ISSUED by then).

3) Once the visa is issued, we have six more months to get into the USA.

1) Paying the visa fee; no it does not need to be paid within the 4 months, BUT there is no benefit in delaying and there is a plus to paying it immediately as it alerts the embassy to your intent, this takes care of the extension of the I-129F petition issue ... the embassy only needs to see intent/activity to automatically extend the petition for up to a year. The visa fee is only good for a year, as is your approved petition

Once you have your NOA2 (Approval Notice) your case file will go to NVC, there it can take upwards of a month to get your MNL#.

2) Yes basically. You have up to a year to complete the visa process, whether you pay the visa fee or not, the clock started ticking when the petition was approved. No benefit to delay paying the visa fee.

3) Once the visa is issue you have UP TO 6 months to enter the USA - from the date of the medical, not the date the visa was issued.