Post-interview - how long before you must enter USA?

[harrynwaller 6]

Hi guys,

New here, but have found some of these threads to be really helpful. My partner and I have just had our petition approved by USCIS, and so will be moving onto the Medical/Police Check/Interview etc stage shortly. I was just wondering after the interview has been approved, how long is the time frame before I must have entered the USA? I work contractually and I'm trying to work out how to schedule my work for the coming months (given that ideally we'd love to get married in the Summer).

Thanks very much,

Harry & Colin

[A'n'L 735]

Your visa will be valid for entry for six months from the day of your medical examination (there's a few exceptions to this rule, but they are very rare).

[yunnipie 6]

Congratulations on getting your petition approved and your impending marriage! You have to enter within 6 months of your medical, though consider it can be used for adjustments of status if needed, and try to account got that if you don't want to do another

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Yup, visa is valid for 6 months from date of completion of the medical. Once you enter the US then the 90 days begins.

Congrats on your NOA2.

[harrynwaller 6]

Thanks guys!
We're really excited. It has been a long time coming!

[JFH 12,190]

Once you enter you have to get married within 90 days.

So you should be OK for a summer 2017 wedding.

Are you interviewing in London? Mine is next week.

[acciokatie 64]

Hi guys,

i got approved on 30th november - NO2! i would ideally like to travel to usa in June. Should i do my medical and everything now or wait? how long do i have.

Thanks.

[JFH 12,190]

Hi guys,

i got approved on 30th november - NO2! i would ideally like to travel to usa in June. Should i do my medical and everything now or wait? how long do i have.

Thanks.

Your visa is valid for 6 months from the date of the medical so if you want to travel in June I would schedule the medical for January.

[A'n'L 735]

Hi guys,

i got approved on 30th november - NO2! i would ideally like to travel to usa in June. Should i do my medical and everything now or wait? how long do i have.

Thanks.

If you want to move in June, I'd advice you to wait at least until March with doing your medical etc. As said, the visa is valid for six months from the medical, so no point in cutting it close and risking paying the fee again (in case you need to delay you entry a little for some reason).

Also, when scheduling your interview, consider whether you're done with the pre-visa visits to the US. Once the interview is over and the visa is printed, you'll need to be ready to move on the next US entry.

[harrynwaller 6]

Hey guys,

Having had our petition approved, we're now waiting for contact from the consulate in London - is there a time limit once we've had contact from them for when we need to get have scheduled our interview by? My passport is being renewed and I need to wait for that to arrive before I can apply for my Police Records Check etc.

 

Cheers,

 

Harry

[Kat&Jon 85]

Your petition will be sent with an expiration date on it. Our petition had an expiration date of January 19, 2017 when we received it, so it's best to get your interview scheduled before that time, but it is not required to!

 

The consulate can automatically extend that expiration date if needed. If you do have your interview past your expiration date it is best to have a new letter of intent to marry, dated closer to your interview, from your US Fiance. If you do need it extended it is best to use the contact form to notify them that you need to schedule your interview after the petition expiration date, but you can always just send them things slowly like we did so that they know you are still working on it.

 

For example, we were approved in September but Jon didn't fill out his DS 160 until late October, then we scheduled his medical for mid December, and finally had the interview and were approved on January 6th.