Travel time for my mother after interview

[stripedbass]

I petitioned for my mother to get a Green Card.

Her interview at the U.S. embassy in Nairobi was last week.

The interview was originally set for March but the health facility did not have her medical records in time.

We had to re-schedule the interview. The earliest available date was last week.

Today she picked up her passport and if we understand it correctly, she has to travle to the U.S. by October 1, 2012.

Can this be correct?

I thought one had up to 6 months before one had to leave for the U.S.?

[stripedbass]

I just got an e-mail from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. They say that my mother must travel by October 1st because the visa date is based on when she got her medical exam.

October 1st is only 4 days away. She does not even have her ticket. And she has a lot of personal matters to take care of which she could not do because she wanted to first have the interview and have everything confirmed that she was getting her immigrant visa.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[mtouch]

I just got an e-mail from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. They say that my mother must travel by October 1st because the visa date is based on when she got her medical exam.

October 1st is only 4 days away. She does not even have her ticket. And she has a lot of personal matters to take care of which she could not do because she wanted to first have the interview and have everything confirmed that she was getting her immigrant visa.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Ask the embassy if she can re-do the medical in order to extend the departure date. Otherwise just buy a ticket and leave. Then when she gets her green card she can go back to your country & finish whatever is her unfinished business, then return to the US. Keep us updated. Good luck.

[stripedbass]

The Embassy now says she can retake her medical exam.

But I need to know the following (waiting to hear from Embassy):

1) Whether she has to retake the interview.

2) How long does she have to take the exam before she jeopardizes her petition.

3) Since she needs at least 5 months to prepare for her departure from Kenya, what should she do? Should she take her medical exam only after she is ready to leave Kenya?

[stripedbass]

I have now completed my e-mail communication with the U.S. Embassy regarding my mother. I'm afraid of asking them more questions as I don't want to offend them.

This is what I know:

My mother has to take another medical exam.

She does not have to take the interview again.

The visa expiration date she got on September 27th (October 1, 2012) is based on the date she got her medical exam, not when she had her interview at the Embassy.

My family would like my mother to take her medical exam when she is ready or feels that if she gets a visa dated 6 months from when she took her medical exam, she will have adequate time to make preparations before she leaves Kenya for America.

The only thing I don't understand and the U.S. Embassy has still not told me is whether there is a point after which her Green Card status might be in jeopardy if she has not travelled to America from Kenya.

Does anyone know? If so, please let me know.

Thanks!

[stripedbass]

Does anyone know where in the State Dept or Foreign Affairs Manual website there's a description of how long an immigrant visa is valid for after one has had the interview with the U.S. Embassy?

Someone tells me that the immigrant visa should be good for 6 months after the interview and that this info is in the Foreign Affairs Manual online.

I need to see where this is mentioned.

I have searched and searched the State Dept site with no luck.

If someone can point me to the right section or passage I'll be really grateful.

Thanks!