How long is interview process valid for?

[Trish_ 2]

Hello, we received notice that our status is “ready” and case last updated September 13. We completed the medical and will be looking to schedule the interview for sometime in January. Do we need to ask for an extension for the visa to still be considered valid or for us to be eligible to do the visa interview so far down the line? 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

An approved visa petition is valid for 4 months and can be renewed for up to a year if necessary.

One thing you need to consider when thinking of when to schedule the interview is that if the visa is approved, it will be valid for 6 months from the date the medical was completed. 

[Trish_ 2]

How do we renew? I called the embassy and they told me to go online and I can’t find it anywhere. 

[dwheels76 5,468]

7 hours ago, Trish_ said:

Hello, we received notice that our status is “ready” and case last updated September 13. We completed the medical and will be looking to schedule the interview for sometime in January. Do we need to ask for an extension for the visa to still be considered valid or for us to be eligible to do the visa interview so far down the line? 

Oh no why would you do a medical before you even got a date. The medical is only good for 6 months.

You didn't state what kind of petition filed?

[Trish_ 2]

We just did the medical mid October and we just paid visa fee today and are scheduling interview in January because we know we only have 6 months validity period with the medical. We filed I-129F for k1 fiancé visa. I think we are good as it let me pay my fee and check out the available dates for interview. 

[Trish_ 2]

On 12/2/2021 at 6:27 PM, dwheels76 said:

Oh no why would you do a medical before you even got a date. The medical is only good for 6 months.

You didn't state what kind of petition filed?

We filed I-129F for k1 fiancé visa. I think we are good as it let me pay my fee and check out the available dates for interview which we plan to schedule for January. I also received an email a few months back saying the embassy will automatically renew the visa once they receive it which was in September and it remains valid for 120 days. Technically we should have until January but we just paid the visa application fee yesterday and the visa medical paperwork didn’t get finalized until November 

Edited December 4, 2021 by Trish_

[Chancy 6,243]

On 12/3/2021 at 6:07 PM, Trish_ said:

I also received an email a few months back saying the embassy will automatically renew the visa once they receive it which was in September and it remains valid for 120 days.

 

The embassy cannot automatically renew a K1 visa, as US immigration rules do not allow it.  You probably mean the I-129F petition approval.  The embassy has discretion to re-validate that after 4 months, and they usually do.

 

The K1 visa validity is tied to the medical result date.  If you are not able to travel to the US with the K1 visa before the medical expires (usually 6 months after the medical date), you will need to re-do the medical.