How long is the K1 Visa valid for?

[A&D25612 32]

2 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Not many I imagine .. but for those few who find themselves needing to do this for some reason, I would think it could almost be the last straw in what has been a challenging process. Needing to delay because if family health issues for example can be very distressing. 

Yeah agreed. Or work situations, schooling etc. Or perhaps just spending as much time with family as possible since it's unlikely to see them again any time soon.  😧

[Just Paul 4,595]

10 minutes ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

Honestly, for almost everyone, this is much ado about nothing. How many people have their medical more than a couple weeks before their interview, and also try to put off coming to the US until the last possible week or two?

and then folks complain that the AP/EAD takes so long to get.   The K1 folks want it because it is so fast and then realize come moving time they have another 6 to 12 months of waiting.

[Loren Y 2,755]

Easy answer, it is valid to the date printed on the visa when you receive it. be it 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months. Stick to the golden rule and don't make any plans until visa is in hand, then you know. anything else is simple speculation based on this post here, this post there, I hear this, but I saw that.

 

I get Visas for travel all the time ( Mostly thru work) and they always want to book the flight before visa is in hand, and I keep telling them they are going to get burned sooner or later. they live under the assumption you always get your visa in time why worry, and my response is it's your money, just be aware they could deny me at any time.

Edited April 24, 2019 by Loren Y

[Lil bear 4,189]

Just now, Loren Y said:

Easy answer, it is valid to the date printed on the visa when you receive it. be it 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months. Stick to the golden rule and don't make any plans until visa is in hand, then you know. anything else is simple speculation based on this post here, this post there, I hear this, but I saw that.

Unfortunately it seems that  it’s not that simple.  Though it should be For instance , the official DOS information states clearly that the date of the medical may influence this 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/interview/after-the-interview.html

 

Individual country and embassy rules seem to override the guidelines 

 

[Loren Y 2,755]

1 minute ago, Lil bear said:

Unfortunately it seems that  it’s not that simple.  Though it should be For instance , the official DOS information states clearly that the date of the medical may influence this 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/interview/after-the-interview.html

 

Individual country and embassy rules seem to override the guidelines 

 

So your saying that when I get my visa physically in my hand, the date on it could change? I have gotten at least 50 visas over the past 6 years and not once has the ink on the visa magically changed while I was holding the visa in my hand or had it in my passport. It could get invalidated or voided I guess without my knowledge, but I have yet to see the date change on an issued visa.

[payxibka 10,045]

32 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

So your saying that when I get my visa physically in my hand, the date on it could change? I have gotten at least 50 visas over the past 6 years and not once has the ink on the visa magically changed while I was holding the visa in my hand or had it in my passport. It could get invalidated or voided I guess without my knowledge, but I have yet to see the date change on an issued visa.

Are you saying you have had 50 visas subject to underlying visa medicals exams?  Wow, new VJ record holder 

Edited April 24, 2019 by payxibka

[SalishSea 17,819]

53 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Unfortunately it seems that  it’s not that simple.  Though it should be For instance , the official DOS information states clearly that the date of the medical may influence this 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/interview/after-the-interview.html

 

Individual country and embassy rules seem to override the guidelines 

 

I have never heard of the visa expiration date being altered after being affixed to a passport.

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 hour ago, Loren Y said:

Easy answer, it is valid to the date printed on the visa when you receive it.

Yes this is the absolute answer.  Can it be less than 6 months from issue?   Yes it can.    This is true for all types of visas.   We once had a Mexican Telecom Exec get a 2 week B1 visa for a meeting. 

 

The general rule for immigrant visas is 6 months from medical.

 

28 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Are you saying you have had 50 visas subject to underlying visa medicals exams? 

LOL, out of context.   The USC travels a lot.  I used to run out of space and have to get the added pages and still wouldn't last me 5 years.  I always have two valid passports.  The only medicals I've done are for Africa, Yellow Fever etc.  I've travel or lived in 99 countries.   If I ever had to immigrate here I am sure I'd be in AP for half a decade and wouldn't be able to supply all of my passports.

 

For everyone else the Golden Rule is true.   Don't pay for anything until the visa is in the passport.

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

This thread is funny. The answer from most are the same. Some with a little real world experience thrown in but most are saying the same. But it is going on three pages all saying pretty much the same thing. The obvious answer, which many have opined is what is on the Visa is what the expiry date is. 😁

[Shiran 1,134]

But what would Internet be like if we didn't argue in excruciating minutiae about each trivial point and technicality without any regard given to practicality. 

[Mr. Data 26]

I think for my wife's visa, they gave us an expiration date based on her medical date. 

 

For example if you get your medical on March 15 and have your interview on March 21, they will give you a visa that expires on September 15. 

[George & Roth 1,485]

3 hours ago, Shiran said:

But what would Internet be like if we didn't argue in excruciating minutiae about each trivial point and technicality without any regard given to practicality. 

Incorrect 

 

 

 

Just felt like saying that to fit the thread. Good night 

Edited April 25, 2019 by George & Roth

[ch3john 308]

25 minutes ago, George & Roth said:

Incorrect 

 

 

 

Just felt like saying that to fit the thread. Good night 

Incorrect!!!!

 

(you forgot the exclamation points)

[ourjourney_pc 118]

because of this i had to check my visa expiration which i thought is 6 months from they issued which is on April 1, well its  6months from my medical date March 12... i see...

Edited April 25, 2019 by ourjourney_pc

[geowrian 22,337]

The visa is valid for up until the expiration date printed on the visa. Nothing else.

 

As for when that should be...

 

From the FAM directly: 9 FAM 502.7-3(C)(7)(a) https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM050207.html#M502_7_3_C_7

"K Visa Validity:  K-1 and K-2 visas should be valid for six months for one entry."

 

However, also from the FAM: 9 FAM 302.2-3(C)(b) https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM030202.html#M302_2_3_A

"Visa Validity:  Notwithstanding the provisions of INA 221(c), you should make sure to limit the validity of the visa to the validity of the medical examination.  For example, if an alien has a medical examination that is only valid for four months from the time of visa issuance, the visa should be valid for only four months."

and (c):

"New Medical Examinations:  Applicants not traveling to the United States within the exam validity period will need to undergo a new medical examination. If the TB portion of the examination has expired before immigration, the entire medical examination (all components, including vaccination, syphilis, mental health/substance abuse, etc. assessment) needs to be repeated at the same time the TB re-evaluation is performed. The expired DS forms should be submitted to the Consular Section along with the complete set of current DS forms for the new medical examination."

 

The above FAM section also lists some conditions where the medical may be valid for various periods, not just the typical 6 months. It's even possible for the medical results to be valid for later than 6 months from the initial exam.

 

So the short answer is it is valid for up to 6 months from the date issues. However, it is constrained by the validity period of the medical.

Edited April 25, 2019 by geowrian