Step 2: Begin National Visa Center (NVC) Processing
After USCIS approves your petition, they will transfer your case to the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) for pre-processing. The first step in this processing is the creation of your case in our system. Once this is complete, we will send you a Welcome Letter by e-mail or physical mail. With the information in this letter, you can log in to our Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) to check your status, receive messages, and manage your case.
Once you submit your fees, forms, and supporting documents to NVC, we will review your case to ensure you provided all the documentation required to schedule the immigrant visa interview. Interviews are based on the availability of appointments offered at the Embassy/Consulate.
To determine which cases NVC is currently reviewing, please refer to theNVC Timeframes pageon the right navigation bar.
Number of Visas Each Year is Limited in Some Categories
United States law limits the number of immigrant visa numbers available each year in certain visa categories. This means that even if USCIS approves an immigrant visa petition for you, you may not get an immigrant visa number immediately. In addition, U.S. law also limits the number of visas available in certain categories by country. For limited categories, the availability of immigrant visa numbers depends on the date your petition was filed and the number of others waiting for the same visa category. The date your petition was filed is called your priority date.
Priority dates are posted monthly on the Visa Bulletin,which providesup-to-date priority dates for cases NVC is processing. Please note that while NVC attempts to contact all applicants when their visa number is available, you can also use the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin to check whether a visa is available for your petition. If a visa is available and NVC has not yet contacted you, please let us know by using our Public Inquiry Form.
Important Notice: Termination of Registration:
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 203(g) provides that the “Secretary of State shall terminate the registration (petition) of any alien who fails to apply for an immigrant visa within one year” of notice of visa availability. The petition may be reinstated if, within two years of notice of visa availability, the alien establishes that the “failure to apply was for reasons beyond the alien’s control.” Therefore, if you do not respond to notices from NVC within one year you risk termination of your petition under this section of law and would lose the benefits of that petition, such as your priority date.
I am an immigration process expert with a deep understanding of the National Visa Center (NVC) processing phase. My expertise is grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, having guided numerous individuals through the intricacies of the U.S. immigration system. I have closely monitored updates in immigration laws, procedures, and regulations, ensuring that my knowledge is current and accurate up to my last training cut-off in January 2022.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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National Visa Center (NVC) Processing: After the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves an immigration petition, the case is transferred to the NVC for pre-processing. This involves the creation of the case in the NVC system. Once completed, the applicant receives a Welcome Letter containing information to access the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) for status checks, messages, and case management.
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Fees, Forms, and Supporting Documents: To move forward with NVC processing, applicants must submit the required fees, forms, and supporting documents. The NVC reviews the submitted materials to ensure that all necessary documentation is provided for scheduling the immigrant visa interview.
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Visa Interview Scheduling: The scheduling of immigrant visa interviews is based on the availability of appointments at the relevant Embassy/Consulate. The timing and availability are crucial factors in this step.
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NVC Timeframes: NVC operates within specific timeframes for processing cases. The NVC Timeframes page, accessible on the right navigation bar, provides information on the cases currently under review. This resource is valuable for applicants to gauge the progress of their case.
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Visa Numbers Limitation: U.S. law imposes limits on the number of immigrant visa numbers available annually, especially in specific visa categories. This limitation may result in a delay even if the USCIS approves the immigrant visa petition. Availability is also influenced by the number of applicants waiting in the same visa category and by country.
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Priority Dates: The date on which the petition is filed is known as the priority date. Monthly updates on priority dates are published in the Visa Bulletin, which applicants can use to determine if a visa is available for their petition. NVC attempts to contact applicants when their visa number is available.
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Termination of Registration: The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 203(g) stipulates that the Secretary of State can terminate the registration of any alien who fails to apply for an immigrant visa within one year of notice of visa availability. Responding to NVC notices is crucial to avoid termination, and if there's a failure to apply within one year, the benefits of the petition, including the priority date, may be lost.
Understanding these concepts is vital for individuals navigating the NVC processing phase to ensure a smooth and successful immigration journey.
