After CR1 visa is approved, how much time do we have before we move?

[Gringuitico 4]

Hi there,

 

I'm 100% certain this question has been asked and answered here already, but I wasn't able to find a thread through various searches (here and in the wider world of Google).

 

My question is:  At the end of the CR1 visa application process, after the interview, and after visa is approved and received, how much time do we have before we move to the US?  Is it a 90 day window? 

 

Thanks!

[Petulc 28]

Hello!

 

The visa will have the expiration date on it. You need to move before that date.

It's usually a 6 month window between the medical and expiration date.

 

Good luck!

 

[jasonjiaqili 2]

6 months

[Ryan H 3,812]

The visa must be used before the expiration date that is printed on it, period.  Nothing else is relevant.

[Gringuitico 4]

16 hours ago, Petulc said:

Hello!

 

The visa will have the expiration date on it. You need to move before that date.

It's usually a 6 month window between the medical and expiration date.

 

Good luck!

 

Hi @Petulc: Thank you, that was exactly what I was looking for.  I assumed they'd tell me THEN how long I had, but I was trying to get an idea NOW about what that time was likely to be, for planning purposes.  Knowing that it's likely to be 6 months rather than 90 days (like I believe is standard for a fiance visa) gives me some options for planning my wife's move, and working around school ending and starting times (which are different in the US vs Costa Rica).  Obviously if the expiration date says something expected, we'll just adapt and roll with it, but for planning purposes... I'm happy to know that I'm likely to have 6 months.

 

@RyanH: Thank you for your confirmation, but your response was a bit harsh and aggressive, don't you think?  Is there some reason I'm not seeing why you felt it was necessary to answer me in such a scolding tone, out of the blue like that, rather than just providing a more reasonable and still complete response like Petulc had already given?  I acknowledge that you've obviously been around here for a long while, but seniority is no excuse for rudeness. The purpose of this forum is to help guide people through an already difficult, complicated and stressful process.

Edited October 18, 2017 by Gringuitico

[Lee & Lei 42]

His response was a bit curt but it didn't seem aggressive to me. Just to the point.

 

People say "you have six months" but that is a general rule, not a firm one. You have whatever length of time is indicated on your visa. That is the final, determining factor. Some people get less than 6 months -- they *usually* base it on when your medical date was, but not always. A colleague of mine recently completed the process with his wife in Manila, Philippines and her visa is only valid for 4 months. 

 

So, no matter what people say, all that matters is the date on the visa itself. Which should be 6 months if you follow the advice of doing the medical 2-3 weeks before the interview, but it *CAN* be less than 6 months if the embassy decides to make it that way.