petition and travel

[Mattmc1986 0]

Hello, 

 

I am a US citizen and had a petition granted for my husband to come to the US from the UK. This petition was granted April 2022. I believe we only have 12 months from the granted date to apply for his US visa. Is this correct? We would like to be able to extend this as we don't feel prepared to apply yet. Is this possible? Also what are the current timelines for getting the spouse visa once you have applied? We were sent to the Texas processing center last time. Lastly we are hoping to get a trip to the US in May of this year. How does that work if we apply for the US visa in April? Would my husband be able to travel to the US and come back before the visa is issued (meaning it was processing)? Any insight and help would be greatly appreciated.  

[Redro 4,611]

44 minutes ago, Mattmc1986 said:

Hello, 

 

I am a US citizen and had a petition granted for my husband to come to the US from the UK. This petition was granted April 2022. I believe we only have 12 months from the granted date to apply for his US visa. Is this correct? We would like to be able to extend this as we don't feel prepared to apply yet. Is this possible? Also what are the current timelines for getting the spouse visa once you have applied? We were sent to the Texas processing center last time. Lastly we are hoping to get a trip to the US in May of this year. How does that work if we apply for the US visa in April? Would my husband be able to travel to the US and come back before the visa is issued (meaning it was processing)? Any insight and help would be greatly appreciated.  

Read this... 

 

You can delay the case at NVC stage...

Another member (from the UK) never started the visa process after the petition was approved and was able to pay the fees after 2 years! But, I don't recommend that route. 

 

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, Mattmc1986 said:

Hello, 

 

I am a US citizen and had a petition granted for my husband to come to the US from the UK. This petition was granted April 2022. I believe we only have 12 months from the granted date to apply for his US visa. Is this correct? We would like to be able to extend this as we don't feel prepared to apply yet. Is this possible? Also what are the current timelines for getting the spouse visa once you have applied? We were sent to the Texas processing center last time. Lastly we are hoping to get a trip to the US in May of this year. How does that work if we apply for the US visa in April? Would my husband be able to travel to the US and come back before the visa is issued (meaning it was processing)? Any insight and help would be greatly appreciated.  

You have to do all the NVC processing…apply for the visa, pay fees, upload civil documents and get all that qualified which takes some time and you can stall completing that. Then NVC will issue a interview date in London. You will have to schedule a medical appointment prior to the interview date.  I don’t think you’ll finish everything before the trip. You can also reschedule the interview if it is too soon.

 

Until he has a visa in his passport, he can travel on ESTA.

 

 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

If the delay is for several months, then start the NVC process now but don't complete it - don't submit all the documents - until about 4 months before your desired move date.

 

If the delay is for a couple of years or more, follow the suggestions in the link @ROK2USA provided.

Edited January 24, 2023 by SteveInBostonI130

[Mattmc1986 0]

Thanks everyone for your help. I think we will look to defer it for 6 months then fully complete the process. From the information above we are best to start the process and pay fees but not fully submit all the evidence/ click complete. Is this correct? I think we will write to the NVC and also phone them. Does anyone know the best email for this? Does anyone know roughly how long it's currently taking to process the visa once all paperwork is submitted?

[Mattmc1986 0]

Hello, 

 

I emailed NVC and got the reply attached. I take it they mean we have to pay the visa fees or at least DS260 to keep it open plus continue to login at least once a year. Are we on the right track? 

[Redro 4,611]

4 hours ago, Mattmc1986 said:

Hello, 

 

I emailed NVC and got the reply attached. I take it they mean we have to pay the visa fees or at least DS260 to keep it open plus continue to login at least once a year. Are we on the right track? 

when would you like to move to the US? 
from this correspondence sounds like once you pay the fee the clock starts BUT… you can draw it out and submit paperwork every few months to keep the case active… 

Edited February 14, 2023 by ROK2USA