Is there a certain time limit between I-130 and DS-260?

[kjsmith91 0]

Is there a certain amount of time once I-130 is approved to file for the DS-260? 

 

I'm wondering because obviously the I-130 takes the longest to get approved, but once approve do we have to immediately file for the immigrant visa? Obviously once I-130 is filed we will work on certain things in preparation of an approval but there will be some things we cannot take care of until we know what the decision is/things we cannot take care of until very last minute like selling furniture and car, taking care of outgoing expenses, handing in notices at work etc, so is there a window in which you have to file? I hope this makes sense!

 

I know once DS260 is approved you have 6 months to enter the US.

[Mike E 11,739]

2 minutes ago, kjsmith91 said:

Is there a certain amount of time once I-130 is approved to file for the DS-260? 

You have one year from the later of:

 

* when I-130 was approved or

 

* if applicable, when the priority date was current in the date of filing chart of the visa bulletin

 

to actively seek a visa. 
 

If you do not, the approved I-130 can be canceled.

 

Exception: you notify NVC that you are still interested in a visa but not at this time. You should notify within 364 days of I-130 approval / currency.

 

You can keep  delaying your NVC steps, but you need to keep notifying NVC of your interest. No more than 364 days between notices. No more than 6 months to be safe.

[Chancy 6,241]

13 minutes ago, kjsmith91 said:

I know once DS260 is approved you have 6 months to enter the US.

 

There is no 6-month deadline from DS-260 approval.  There is no DS-260 approval in the first place, only DS-260 submission.  There is a 1-year deadline from NVC account creation (some time after I-130 approval) to DS-260 submission.  But as mentioned above, you can delay this by notifying NVC at least once a year.

 

Also, there is a 6-month maximum duration for the visa medical, not DS-260.  The visa will expire on the day the medical expires.  After the visa is issued, the immigrant must enter the US before the medical (and visa) expiry date.

 

[appleblossom 2,446]

5 hours ago, kjsmith91 said:

Is there a certain amount of time once I-130 is approved to file for the DS-260? 

 

I'm wondering because obviously the I-130 takes the longest to get approved, but once approve do we have to immediately file for the immigrant visa? Obviously once I-130 is filed we will work on certain things in preparation of an approval but there will be some things we cannot take care of until we know what the decision is/things we cannot take care of until very last minute like selling furniture and car, taking care of outgoing expenses, handing in notices at work etc, so is there a window in which you have to file? I hope this makes sense!

 

I know once DS260 is approved you have 6 months to enter the US.

 

From submitting the DS-260 to actually having a visa in hand via London is likely to be around 3-4 months anyway, so plenty of time to sell a car etc. And as said above, it's not 6 months from the DS-260 being approved to enter the US, it's 6 months from the medical (which will be 3 months ish after the DS-260).

[MarmiteC 68]

On 8/2/2023 at 10:21 PM, appleblossom said:

 

From submitting the DS-260 to actually having a visa in hand via London is likely to be around 3-4 months anyway, so plenty of time to sell a car etc. And as said above, it's not 6 months from the DS-260 being approved to enter the US, it's 6 months from the medical (which will be 3 months ish after the DS-260).

 Unless you have a long work notice lead time like I did.  I had to give 6 months notice so couldn't wait for visa approval 😞

[appleblossom 2,446]

6 hours ago, MarmiteC said:

 Unless you have a long work notice lead time like I did.  I had to give 6 months notice so couldn't wait for visa approval 😞

6 months notice here too but I just negotiated it down. Most companies wouldn’t hold you to 6 months if they know you’re moving abroad but even if yet do you still have time. You don’t have to move within the 6 months, only enter the US - so if you need to return to the UK for a month or two to tie things up before moving, that’s fine too.