I-129F expiry

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Hi all! Sorry if this is an amateur-hour question, but it just occurred to me:

 

I know I-129Fs expire four months after being issued by USCIS. But with the amount of time it takes petitions to track through the NVC and reach the various consulates, and then with the wait times for interviews, most petitions take longer than that to get where they're going. Do we need to do anything to ensure that they don't expire? Or do the consulates/NVC just move them forward despite the expiry dates?

 

Thanks in advance; I feel like I keep finding new things to worry about in this process, and I appreciate you all for your experience and expertise.

[CaLi90 56]

Hi there!

Personally I reached out to NVC just to get updates from them (this was during the COVID standstill) that was for peace of mind. But to be honest, the consulate has the authority to extend an expired i-129f approval so long as you respond to their letters/emails or follow instructions. Keep tracking your application to make sure you don't miss anything when it is time to schedule interview etc. That way you should know roughly when you'll receive instruction from them.

 

Congrats on the initial approval and hope they don't keep you waiting too long for your interview!

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5 minutes ago, CaLi90 said:

Congrats on the initial approval and hope they don't keep you waiting too long for your interview!

Aha, sadly I'm still in the pre-NOA2 stages – I'm literally just worrying ahead of time. But this is super helpful, and I really appreciate it! I periodically run my receipt number through the USCIS portal to check where it's at; is there anything else I should be doing in terms of keeping track of things?

[Chancy 6,241]

18 hours ago, wav_m said:

Do we need to do anything to ensure that they don't expire? Or do the consulates/NVC just move them forward despite the expiry dates?

 

Typically, the consulate automatically extends the validity of the I-129F approval for up to a year.  No action required from you.  For your peace of mind, you may contact NVC or the consulate directly to request an extension, so you will have an email trail.

 

[IWander 589]

8 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

Typically, the consulate automatically extends the validity of the I-129F approval for up to a year.  No action required from you.  For your peace of mind, you may contact NVC or the consulate directly to request an extension, so you will have an email trail.

 

NVC will direct you to the consulate as they have sole authority to extend