visa

[cwebb]

I'm stoked the fiance visa was approved on mon. Jan. 26th. My fiance called and said its only good for 4 months.(I understand she has 90 days once she gets here). I thought the window to use it was 6 months. Please let me know. I appreciate everyones help over the months. Thanks

[Ray]

Congratulations!

“Normally”, the visa is good for 6 months.

However, if she has her visa in hand, she can read the expiration date on the visa, so it must be 4 months if that’s what it says.

Does the expiration date say 26MAY2010 or 26JUL2010?

Unless she is planning to wait longer than 4 months to use it, I guess it really doesn't make any difference, right?

[Capstone]

Like Ray said a K-1 usually has an expiration date of 6 months after its issue date but I have seen where others have posted of this not always being the case as well. Even so, as long as she enters the US within the next 4 months then everything will be ok. Note that once she enters the US then the K-1 is no longer valid and the expiration date on it is at that point meaningless - it will be the expiration date stamped on her I-94 by immigration at her point of entry that will be the determining factor of when she must get married by or if not then return to her country of origin. Her I-94 will be valid for 90 days after entry into the US.

EDIT: I probably wasn't too clear about the I-94 date. Her I-94 will be stamped with her date of entry into the US and then you guys will have 90 days from that date to get married. 

[cwebb]

Thanks guys, i was worried the clock strarted to tick from 4 months down. I have a few things at work to finish before she comes over. I based everything on the visa being 6 months. But if we have 4 months to use it,then 90 days once she gets here Im in good shape. Again thanks for the replys. I appreciate it.

[Ray]

My advice:

Get her over here, marry her, and the rest will all work itself out.

I would give her a month at most to get her affairs in order, say good bye to her friends and family, do some shopping, have a despedida party if she needs it, and get her arse on the plane.

There are just too many things that can come up in the next 4 months to throw a monkey wrench into the works. For example, right after 9-11, all flights were canceled, added restrictions were put into place, some visas expired, etc, etc…

It’s possible that someone screwed up the expiration date on her visa, but the LAST thing you want to do is to have here return it to the embassy to fix it. A visa in the hand is worth two in the bush!   

Ray