K1 interview passed, how long to use visa?

[GammaDucky 0]

My fiancee just passed her k1 interview and her visa was issued. I noticed that they gave her 4 months to use the visa but i read on the state department website that the maximum is 6 months. Do we have to request for the maximum since covid has made traveling a lot harder, i wanted as much leeway as possible.

[payxibka 10,047]

Just now, GammaDucky said:

My fiancee just passed her k1 interview and her visa was issued. I noticed that they gave her 4 months to use the visa but i read on the state department website that the maximum is 6 months. Do we have to request for the maximum since covid has made traveling a lot harder, i wanted as much leeway as possible.

When was her medical?  It's 6 months from that date not the issue date.

[GammaDucky 0]

So she got her medical completed on december 3rd but that still puts her may 3rd expiration date at 5 months.  

[SteveInBostonI130 3,482]

If you are planning the travel on around May 3, then yes, contact the embassy.  If you do not have definite travel plans, then make them first and then see if you are cutting it close with the current expiration date.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

13 hours ago, GammaDucky said:

So, she got her medical completed on December 3rd but that still puts her May 3rd expiration date at 5 months.  

The expiration date that the embassy assigns CAN be 6 months from medical OR at the discretion of the CO. In your case the CO assigned a 4-month window to use the visa. I suggest that you research soon what your options are for meeting the expiration date. YOU must be on US soil before the expiration or you will be turned away at the POE.

[Crazy Cat 42,100]

16 hours ago, GammaDucky said:

My fiancee just passed her k1 interview and her visa was issued. I noticed that they gave her 4 months to use the visa but i read on the state department website that the maximum is 6 months. Do we have to request for the maximum since covid has made traveling a lot harder, i wanted as much leeway as possible.

The MAXIMUM is 6 months, and is normally dictated by the date of the medical exam.  However, sometimes, the expiration date is even sooner.  My wife's medical exam was in April, yet her expiration date was September.  Just make sure she travels prior to the expiration date.  Visas cannot be extended.  Any re-issue would be at the complete discretion of the consulate.  There is no "requesting the maximum".  

Edited January 2, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[JFH 12,191]

Where is she traveling from? Flights are still operating. If she’s located in a COVID travel ban country, she will need to quarantine in a non-banned country for 14 days prior to her entry but she can still get here. It might not be how you dreamed her arrival would be, but nothing has gone to plan in anyone’s lives since March. Some embassies are not even scheduling K-1 interviews. 

[Mike E 11,742]

The expiration date on the K-1 visa is the last date it can be used to enter the USA.  My then fiancée’s K-1 had an expiration date  issued for 136 days after the date of issue and the date of issue was retroactive to 14 days prior to the passport being returns. So net 122 days or about 4 months.  
 

Requesting an extension runs the risk of re-opening the entire case, especially since the original approved I-129F has surely expired.  
 

I suggest coming to the USA as fast as possible.  
 

K-1s should be prepared to leave the week the visa is issued.  

Edited January 3, 2021 by Mike E

[Ed&Midori1031 330]

23 hours ago, GammaDucky said:

My fiancee just passed her k1 interview and her visa was issued. I noticed that they gave her 4 months to use the visa but i read on the state department website that the maximum is 6 months. Do we have to request for the maximum since covid has made traveling a lot harder, i wanted as much leeway as possible.

From what I remember, you have up to 6 months to travel on the visa. 

Edited January 3, 2021 by Ed&Midori1031

[Adventine 3,207]

2 minutes ago, Ed&Midori1031 said:

From what I remember, you have up to 6 months to travel on the visa. 

Yes, that's possible if the visa validity is 6 months. But if it isn't, they'll have to travel within the validity specified.

[Ed&Midori1031 330]

8 minutes ago, Adventine said:

Yes, that's possible if the visa validity is 6 months. But if it isn't, they'll have to travel within the validity specified.

Ah ok, I thought they were all the same.  Depends on country maybe??

[Adventine 3,207]

I only know that the K1 visa validity date is tied to the medical exam, but I'm not sure why others have mentioned different validity periods for K1 visas. Maybe there are other factors, apart from the medical exam, that determine the visa validity period. What those factors are, maybe others can explain.