[lcikra00]

My I171H was issued on October 25, 2007. When does it expire?

We were fingerprinted at USCIS for the I171H September 2007. When does that expire?

Our homestudy was done August 2007. When does that expire?

Thanks

[dac_cincy]

You homestudy depends on your state. I am in OH and mine was good for 2 years, but others have said theirs was only good for one year. Check with your home study agency

Finger printss expire 15 months after they were taken, so you have a bout 3 months- you need to start scheduling yours at least one month before they expire

I-171H expires 18 months from the date- it should be on the I-171H you recieved, that document also includes the process for updating - there is a one time free renewal, but you have to make sure you start the renewal and get it done before your current I-171H expires.

I hope this helps,

[hscott]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. As far as I know the I 171h is good for 18 months and the fingerprints for 1 year. You have to have an updated homestudy to apply for the I 171 H extension. This involves submitting an I 600 A. We had to get new Dr. clearances and police clearances. Also, an updated version of everything we had to submit the first time.

I understand that as long as you have filed for the extention before yours expires that you are o.k. but you don't want to let it expire or I think you could be in some trouble. Also, the process of getting everything updated can take a few weeks.

When we received confirmation of receipt of our request for an extention they said it would take 3 months to be granted an extention to our I 171 H.

We submitted all of our stuff in June and haven't been issued an updated one yet.

Hope this helps.

Heather

[DPline]

Deb is correct that fingerprints are good for 15 months from the date they are done (give or take a day or two) and your 171H is good for 18 months from the date of issue. (NOT the date you received it but the approval date.)

You do get a one time free extension, but you need to request it and submit an updated homestudy. You must apply for the extension prior to the expiration of your 171H, though as long as the renewal is in process before it expires you are ok. (Though definetly plan ahead for both fingerprints and 171H renewals so you are caught waiting for new approvals while waiting for Pink.)

How long new approvals take varies by office just like with the origional 171H so if you have a slow office, take that into consideration when considering timing. Your new fingerprint approval is sent from you local office to the National Visa Center which then cables the approval to the Embassy. So this is definetly something you want to allow some time for as well as follow up to ensure the approval is recevied by the Embassy. (If I remember correctly, you are in Michigan which is notorious for being slower than slow and really bad about getting the print approval to the NVC, so keep this in mind with your planning.)

[DFNY]

I've unfortunately had the "pleasure" of renewing both of these on several occasions while we wait for my daughter's adoption to be completed. Give yourself enough time, especially with the changes recently implemented which make the process & approvals take longer.

I-171H: 18 months from approval date--see top right of your notification letter
Fingerprints: 15 months (they send you a letter telling you the expiration date)

Homestudy--I've only updated the homestudy each time we've had to renew the I-600A that becomes the I-171H. I start about 3 months before the expiration of the I-171H since it will require the visit from the social worker, the medical forms, and the Child Records Clearance to be done again.

If you're eligible for the one-time waiver of the fees for the I-600A or the refingerprinting, don't send payment or they will cash the check. Send a letter and the copy of the current approvals showing expiration dates.

Good luck. NY used to be so efficient before and now I've spent the last 3 wks trying to find out why we still haven't received an appt to re-fingerprint. My fingerprints expire on Saturday (9/6)!

Damaris