How long do we have until we need to move to the US

[tdrysdale 2]

I am a US Citizen and my husband an Australian Citizen and we are living in Sydney. Our i130 was approved and the National Visa Centre has contacted us to continue with the process. I'm wondering how long we have until the i130 or our process "expires"? My husband just took a promotion at work here in Sydney and so we don't want to move over for at least a year, maybe a few years but I don't want to start the process over again because the i130 took a year to be approved. Thank you so much for your help!

[Lil bear 4,311]

15 minutes ago, tdrysdale said:

I am a US Citizen and my husband an Australian Citizen and we are living in Sydney. Our i130 was approved and the National Visa Centre has contacted us to continue with the process. I'm wondering how long we have until the i130 or our process "expires"? My husband just took a promotion at work here in Sydney and so we don't want to move over for at least a year, maybe a few years but I don't want to start the process over again because the i130 took a year to be approved. Thank you so much for your help!

You can slow the process down now that it is at the NVC. You need to have contact with the NVC at least every 12 months to avoid the I 130 being sent back to the USCIS. Work backwards ..  once the visa is issued you have around 6 months to enter the US.. depends on when your medical was done , so don’t get that done until you are ready for the case to go forward .. once you have submitted all your documents it usually takes 3 months until your interview happens .. so you can slow the process down by paying the fees one at a time , a few months apart , and submitting civil and financial documents slowly. Beware of expiry dates for the medical and AFP police check. 
A great resource to help understand the NVC process is found at 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/after-petition-approved/begin-nat-visa-center.html

 

Happy to PM at any time ! Hi Aussie ! 

Edited February 4, 2020 by Lil bear