Date of visa issuance

[Harold]

Hello,

I will have my interview at the consulate in one month's time. My question is: (if successful), will the visa then be issued straight away, or can you request for it to be issued per a later date in 2012 (of course before the Sep 30 deadline)? A later date would be preferable for me since it would give me more time to prepare/organize the move (which has to take place in the 6 months available after the date of visa issuance)... Many thanks.

 

[Firi]

Hello,

I will have my interview at the consulate in one month's time. My question is: (if successful), will the visa then be issued straight away, or can you request for it to be issued per a later date in 2012 (of course before the Sep 30 deadline)? A later date would be preferable for me since it would give me more time to prepare/organize the move (which has to take place in the 6 months available after the date of visa issuance)... Many thanks.

From what I have been reading around, you can do that. However, it is not recommended. The reason is behind the availability of visas. If you do delay and they run out of visas for your region, you will be out of luck. They won't 'reserve' visas for you.

 

[kunato]

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[ferdiii]

My friend gave them passport and asked to pick up several weeks after and he experienced no problems.I think this may depend from one embassy to another and it may be at the discretion of the consular. I would think that once successful application has been approved and interview conducted that by default the DV visa is secured.

Me too! Expiration date has nothing to do with remaining visa allocation. You get ur passport stamped with the expiration date you negotiated with the Consular Officer.

 

[kunato]

...

 

[Firi]

My friend gave them passport and asked to pick up several weeks after and he experienced no problems.I think this may depend from one embassy to another and it may be at the discretion of the consular. I would think that once successful application has been approved and interview conducted that by default the DV visa is secured.

Agree, it might not be a problem if historically that particular region does not run out of visas fast. As far as "securing" the visa goes, I am not sure about that. I had read about cases processed in Poland, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan where people were told that visas would not be reserved for them and that they would be risking. Unfortunately, I can't find an official document that would specify how these cases are handled.

 

[Superkruz]

I will have my interview at the consulate in one month's time. My question is: (if successful), will the visa then be issued straight away, or can you request for it to be issued per a later date in 2012 (of course before the Sep 30 deadline)?.

Yes the visas are issued on the same day of the successful visa interview.

A later date would be preferable for me since it would give me more time to prepare/organize the move (which has to take place in the 6 months available after the date of visa issuance).

You have options here.
One option would be to reschedule your interview for a later date, but as mentioned before, you then run the risk of all visas being allocated before your re-scheduled interview date.
Another option is to attend the interview but deliberately omit a document that they require. That way your case will be "pending" until the missing document is submitted. You can then simply turn up and give them the document whenever it suits you. The risk is the same as before, ie visas may run out and you may miss out on getting one.
A third option is to go to the interview as scheduled, get the visa, and then go to the US for a few days just prior to the visa expiry date. Then return to your home country to wrap things up and then travel to the US (preferably within another 6 months).