Ask the Consul
Review the validity period of your visa upon receipt
Residency visa applicants should review their visas immediately upon receipt to verify the expiration date. Applicants must travel to the U.S. before the expiration date of the visa. Many residency visas are valid for six months. There are others, however, that are valid for less time. The most common reason for an officer to limit the validity is when one or more of the supporting documents contained in the sealed envelope (to be opened only by the immigration officials at the port of entry in the United States) is itself time sensitive. For example, an officer may have asked an applicant to provide an Affidavit of Support from a joint sponsor and the applicant does not provide the documents until four or five months later. When the officer reviews the file prior to approving the case, he or she discovers the medical exam will soon expire, prompting the officer to limit the validity of the visa. Applicants and petitioners are strongly encouraged to be thoroughly prepared with all documents and medical records prior to the interview date.
All of the required documents are listed on the IV Unit's website at http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/.