Can the visa be extended?

[dsldesch 27]

My fiance and I are up to the point where we can schedule an interview for the K1 visa. However, his parents have just separated, and he's concerned to leave his mom alone during this time. I know the visa is only valid for six months, so if we proceed with scheduling the interview and get the visa, if his mom still needs his support after the six months and he feels the need to stay a little longer before moving to the US, would we be able to extend the validity of the visa without starting the process over?

Neither one of us is sure how this will affect us going forward, but it's better to know all our options before we make decisions we can't reverse.

[Georgia16 2,858]

It's six months from the medical not the interview.

Have he had the medical yet?

But no it can't be extended that way you are taking about.

Edited April 28, 2016 by Georgia16

[Caryh 5,206]

I know with the Manila embassy, by paying the visa (interview) fee, you can keep the approved petition open up to a year if you stay in contact with the embassy. Embassies have the ability to extend the validity of the approved petition. Once the interview has been completed, you validity is based on the medical.

[chiggins82 88]

I don't know if you can extend the K1 once it has been given out (My guess is no). As stated above, you might be able to extend the validity of the petition. I did this and it was easy. Once I had my packet 3, I contacted the embassy and asked them if I could extend it. They told me they would and to check back every few months to make sure they knew to keep it open for up to a year. I then held on to my packet three and submitted it about 4-6 months after, then did the medical, interview etc.

Every embassy could be different, so I would contact them and see what you can find out.

[dsldesch 27]

Thank you for all of your help and answers. Unfortunately, despite both of us wishing otherwise, we've found it necessary to end our engagement in light of his family's new circumstances.

[Illiria 980]

Wow, that's super drastiic. Can't you stay together and just petition again when he feels he can leave his mom? Hell once he is over and adjusts his status he can visit his mom and once a citizen he could even petition for her.

I did 4 years long distance due to my husbands studying and job before we could first live together and it sucked but I love him so I dealt with it. I get not everyone can deal with long distance but this seems very knee jerk reaction.

As others have said you can delay by asking them to extend the validity of the petition before having the visa interview and delaying getting the medical done and the interview. I did this myself as I had actually gone to the us to visit so wouldn't be back before the end of the four month validity of the petition, I just emailed the embassy and said it was taking longer to get my documents and set the medical date and they were fine with it.

[Georgia16 2,858]

I'm sorry to hear that...

[dsldesch 27]

We discussed those possibilities, but he's unable (or perhaps unwilling) to put in the effort to make some other changes needed to stay together and make this work, to address issues he has said would be resolved when he gets here but hasn't worked on while we've been apart. So while it might seem drastic from the outside, for us, it's necessary.

[Illiria 980]

Only you can know your relationship and what is right for you both.

Hope you can find a solution that you are both comfortable with.

Wishing you all the best.

Edited May 11, 2016 by Illiria

[Unlockable 7,314]

Will share me and my wife's story...

Wife and I was engaged and everything was fine. I filed the K1 petition and was approved. Soon after receiving the NOA2 several compounding life events from both our lives and families occurred; medical diagnosis of sickness of loved ones, deaths, job loss, fear of immigration, etc, etc. It seems like any tragic event that could happen, happened.

We decided to call of the engagement and marriage to focus on taking care of things in our lives. But we remained in contact.

And for some reason I never cancelled the K1 application. I don't know why and I can't explain it. I just felt that it didn't feel right for me to cancel it. maybe I was just relying on it to die on it's own.

Anyway,Less than three months later we were back together.

We decided that despite enduring tragic events in our lives and families we wanted to continue being together. I investigated if the K1 petition can be extended when it is pass the 4 month validity. I discovered that the CO can extend it if it is not too expired. We restarted the process and by the time she had her interview it was 15 months AFTER the NOA2.

She arrived in January of this year. We just had wonder Mother's Day dinner this past weekend.

My point is that sometimes when you take a step back, you can still move forward. If your loved one needs time then it may be for the best. And who knows, you may still end up together stronger than ever.

I wish you two the very best of luck.

[dsldesch 27]

NuestraUnion, thank you for sharing your story with me. I think that possibility is always open, but we'll see what life brings us.