F3 Visa - how long to emigrate?
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 38
F3 Visa - how long to emigrate?
After our F3 visa is granted, how long do we have to actually get to the US before it expires? And can we go there, get the visa stamped and come back to the UK if we are not ready to go straightaway? We are trying to time the move to ensure the kids start school at the start of the school year, to minimise disruption, but that might not work out timing wise with the visa.
#2
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 226
Re: F3 Visa - how long to emigrate?
The visa is valid until 6 months after the date of the medical. So you usually have a good 5 months to move once you receive your passports back from the embassy. You must enter before the expiration date on the visa.
Yes, you can enter and leave to wrap up things back home.
Yes, you can enter and leave to wrap up things back home.
#3
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 38
Re: F3 Visa - how long to emigrate?
Great, thanks. Do you know how long you could return back to the UK for, before emigrating properly?
#4
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: F3 Visa - how long to emigrate?
No set time but a few months should not be an issue.
#5
Re: F3 Visa - how long to emigrate?
When you enter the US you are a Permanent Resident. While you are allowed to return home for a certain period to 'tie up lose ends' you still, as a matter of fact, are a Permanent Resident of the US. Do anything to make it seem like you never took up that PR and you can run into problems down the line.
No more than 6 months out would be my recommendation, and you still have to ave a US address for your physical Green Card to be sent too and then forwarded on to you.
#6
Re: F3 Visa - how long to emigrate?
That's not really the right way to look at it, and certainly not the right way to describe it to a CBP officer.
When you enter the US you are a Permanent Resident. While you are allowed to return home for a certain period to 'tie up lose ends' you still, as a matter of fact, are a Permanent Resident of the US. Do anything to make it seem like you never took up that PR and you can run into problems down the line.
No more than 6 months out would be my recommendation, and you still have to ave a US address for your physical Green Card to be sent too and then forwarded on to you.
When you enter the US you are a Permanent Resident. While you are allowed to return home for a certain period to 'tie up lose ends' you still, as a matter of fact, are a Permanent Resident of the US. Do anything to make it seem like you never took up that PR and you can run into problems down the line.
No more than 6 months out would be my recommendation, and you still have to ave a US address for your physical Green Card to be sent too and then forwarded on to you.
Last edited by Pulaski; Feb 24th 2020 at 1:45 pm.