K1 visa validity - Postponing Interview

[Etherial 277]

Although my country allows for ESTA, I own a company outside of the US and I need to travel to the US for more than 3 months for business reasons. 

Therefore, I had initially applied for a B1/B2 visa on March 2021 but that application was on hold due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, me and my boyfriend applied for K1 Visa in May 2021.

Now, in November 2021 the embassy contacted me regarding my B1/B2 visa and scheduled me an appointment for April 21st 2022.

 

In January I used my ESTA and visited my bf for 2 months (we travelled together)

On April 19th 2022, the embassy rescheduled my appointment for April 20th and I missed that email as I was travelling. I requested a reschedule and they booked me an appointment for 27th October 2022.

 

Now, our k1 visa was approved in June 2022 and the case is now ready. However, I DO NOT WISH to use this yet, as I need to make the business trip and come back to my country for few months before i proceed with the K1 visa.

The embassy has sent me p3 but I have deliberately not proceeded to fill in DS160 as I have another DS160 active for the B1/B2 visa. 

 

My question is, how do I proceed with postponing the K1 process (I read up its possible to postpone for 3 months each time, for a total of 12 months)

Should I ask for them to postpone now?

Should I wait after my B1/B2 visa appointment to postpone the K1?

Or should I proceed with the DS160 and select the latest possible date i find for interview? 

My NOA expires Oct 15th!

 

Edited October 14, 2022 by Etherial
edits

[Mike E 11,739]

1. It’s a bad idea to try to get B visa when you are esta eligible because the B is usually denied and once denied you usually can’t get esta again. 
 

2. Your I-128F petition can expire. You can ask the embassy to extend it. It won’t surprise me if they say no. 

Edited October 14, 2022 by Mike E

[Etherial 277]

7 minutes ago, Mike E said:

1. It’s a bad idea to try to get B visa when you are esta eligible because the B is usually denied and once denied you usually can’t get esta again. 
 

2. Your I-128F petition can expire. You can ask the embassy to extend it. It won’t surprise me if they say no. 

Its a business trip for 5 months so the 3month timeframe is very low for this trip. I applied with my company's info and have docs from partners to support my claim for needed a 5 months trip, bank statements to show available funds for this trip, tons of ties to my country, first of all being my own company.

My country is very low fraud and we can now even apply for B1/B2 visa via mail visa not even need to interview if we have given 10 fingerprints in the past. 

Btw B1/B2 is different from tourist visa b2. Its business/tourism 

Edited October 14, 2022 by Etherial

[Etherial 277]

11 minutes ago, Mike E said:

1. It’s a bad idea to try to get B visa when you are esta eligible because the B is usually denied and once denied you usually can’t get esta again. 
 

2. Your I-128F petition can expire. You can ask the embassy to extend it. It won’t surprise me if they say no. 

Btw my ESTA is valid for 2 years. If the visa is denied after the ESTA is active, it doesn't mean the ESTA will be cancelled. 

 

[Boiler 45,467]

Very very unusual for an allowed business activity trip to need 5 months so that may well confuse the Consulate 

 

Agree if refused then you need to update ESTA and run the risk of it not being approved 

[Etherial 277]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Very very unusual for an allowed business activity trip to need 5 months so that may well confuse the Consulate 

 

Agree if refused then you need to update ESTA and run the risk of it not being approved 

I dont disagree in general, but as I said above, our country is very low fraud and have recently allowed us to be able to apply for B1/B2 visa (although we are esta eligible) by mail, waiving even the interview stage, if 10 fingerprints were given in the past for another visa or when entry in the US.

[Boiler 45,467]

That is not a Greece thing and they have the option of waiving the interview 

 

Please let us know how it goes 

[Etherial 277]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

That is not a Greece thing and they have the option of waiving the interview 

 

Please let us know how it goes 

Can u explain what u mean that is not a Greece thing?

 

[Boiler 45,467]

Waiving interviews, that has been done, can be done anywhere.

[Etherial 277]

Just now, Boiler said:

Waiving interviews, that has been done, can be done anywhere.

I didnt mean waiving an interview.

I meant apply for a visa by mail only without interview, its called mail-in visa 

Its a program new in Greece (2022):

 

MAIL-IN VISA TYPES

Based on current guidelines, Greek nationals with prior ESTA or U.S. visa may apply for B1, B1/B2, C1/D F-1, H-1, H-3, H-4, non-blanket L, M, O, P, Q, and J academic visa categories by mail.  Please follow the below steps to mail in your visa application:

STEP ONE: Review the criteria below to ensure you qualify for mail-in service:

• You must be a Greek passport holder and be physically present in Greece when you mail your application; and
• You must have provided 10 fingerprints in the past for a U.S. visa or ESTA travel; and
• You must have never been refused a U.S. visa or ESTA; and
• You must never have had a U.S. visa lost, stolen, or revoked; and
• You must be applying for B1, B2, B1/B2, C1/D, F, H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, non-blanket L, M, O, P, Q, or academic J visa

[Boiler 45,467]

That is what I meant, seen a lot of Indians go for that, they must have added in the be in home country requirement recently. They were sending stuff to say Parents who then mailed it in.

[Lil bear 4,189]

23 minutes ago, Etherial said:

Can u explain what u mean that is not a Greece thing?

 

Other nationalities .. including Australian..  have the same option open to them  through Dec 2022 

[Etherial 277]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

That is what I meant, seen a lot of Indians go for that, they must have added in the be in home country requirement recently. They were sending stuff to say Parents who then mailed it in.

I got that mail 2 days ago.

However, i am still planning to attend the interview and not try the mail option as I can explain while in person easier the needs for the trip and not using my k1 at the moment

[SalishSea 17,819]

1 hour ago, Etherial said:

Btw my ESTA is valid for 2 years. If the visa is denied after the ESTA is active, it doesn't mean the ESTA will be cancelled. 

 

Incorrect.  B visa denial with current ESTA/ESTA eligible means bye-bye ESTA.

[Etherial 277]

2 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Incorrect.  B visa denial with current ESTA/ESTA eligible means bye-bye ESTA.

Definately NOT incorrect on that!

I own a travel agency company and I have been issuing ESTA's for over 10 years.

When you have a valid esta and get the visa denied, you need to UPDATE your esta info (specifically the question if you were ever denied a visa).

Depending on the visa category and the denial reason, the ESTA MIGHT or might not be denied.

 

I have had clients that were approved on ESTA while their visa was denied.