What is the National Visa Center (NVC)?
The National Visa Center (NVC) is part of the U.S. Department of State. It holds immigrant visa petitions approved by the USCIS until a visa number becomes available, at which point it arranges for the beneficiaries to have a visa interview at a US Embassy or Consulate abroad
Does National Visa Center still accept mail inquiries?
NVC Correspondence Update On June 1, 2020, National Visa Center will no longer accept or respond to inquiries through mail. National Visa Center has modernized the way we pre-process visa applications. This has allowed NVC to streamline services to case parties and to U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
How does the National Visa Center fit into the immigration process?
National Visa Center. How does the National Visa Center fit into the U.S. immigration process? After U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves your immigrant visa petition, USCIS forwards your petition to the National Visa Center (NVC) in Portsmouth, NH for immigrant visa pre-processing at the correct time.
How to contact the National Visa Center 24 hours a day?
An automated recorded message can answer many of these inquiries 24 hours a day, seven days a week (603) 334-0700. Status of case information can only be accessed by entering your National Visa Center case number or USCIS receipt number on a touch-tone telephone. The National Visa Center only has information on petitions it has received.

Is the National Visa Center still working?
The NVC is currently working on cases that were received from USCIS on or before April 13, 2022. The NVC creates visa cases by entering petition data into the system.
How long does it take NVC to schedule interview 2022?
How long does it take to get an appointment? Although NVC strives to schedule appointments within three months of NVC's acceptance of all requested documentation, this timeframe is subject to the operating status and capacity of the consular section.
Is NVC scheduling interviews in 2022?
7:4312:59When Will The NVC Schedule Your US Visa Interview? April 2022 ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDays that is six days more than their normal deadline. As of april 18 2022 nvc is responding toMoreDays that is six days more than their normal deadline. As of april 18 2022 nvc is responding to inquiries received on february 26 2022. The next step is u.s embassy or consulate interview the u.s
What time does National Visa Center open?
Phone (603) 334-0700 Customer Service Representatives can speak with you Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight (EST). We recommend you call during off-peak hours to receive faster service. If you need to submit a form or document to the NVC, visit our How to Submit Documents to the NVC webpage.
How long does it take for NVC to send case to Embassy 2022?
Your petition is awaiting an interview appointment. At this time, no further action is required. We appreciate your patience. After the NVC sends you this confirmation, then you can expect to wait between 2-6 months for the NVC to schedule you an interview at the U.S. consulate in your home country.
What is a current priority date with NVC?
The date your petition was filed is called your priority date.
How long is the wait for immigrant visa interview?
around two to three weeksOn average, waiting times for an appointment are around two to three weeks – under normal conditions.
How long is NVC taking?
After you have submitted all of your required documentation to the National Visa Center, paid the visa fees, and uploaded all of the necessary documents to your Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) portal, it can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months for the National Visa Center to review your documentation and ...
How long does it take for NVC to send interview letter?
That can often take six to eight weeks after approval of the I-130, and possibly even longer. When NVC receives your case, it will send you a notification, typically via email. If you're a "preference relative" (on a waiting list), that delay won't affect you much.
How long does it take NVC to review additional documents 2022?
Document review takes 71 days Time until documents submitted on CEAC are reviewed by NVC.
How long does NVC take to process I-130?
After filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, the approval process can take anywhere from 5 to 12 months for immediate relatives and could take several years for family preference categories. This is an approximation. It may be shorter for some and longer for others.
How can I expedite my case at NVC?
How to Make the Request. To request a review for expedite, submit a scanned letter (or statement) to [email protected] from a physician (or medical facility). The letter must include the physician's (or medical facility's) contact information and declare a life or death medical emergency exists.
How long does NVC take to review resubmitted documents 2022?
Document review takes 71 days.
How long does it take USCIS to schedule an interview 2022?
INTERVIEW. The citizenship interview usually takes place about 14.5 months, on average, after USCIS receives your naturalization application (sooner or later for some applicants).
How long does it take to get scheduled interview after being Documentarily qualified?
Cases are queued for interviews based on the date they were documentarily qualified (not their Priority Date, or receipt date). Posts give their availability for interviews 30 to 60 days in advance by immigration category.
How long does it take to get an interview after waiver approval 2022?
In addition, DOS estimates that it will schedule the applicant for an immigrant visa interview within 2 to 3 months after approval of the provisional unlawful presence waiver and the applicant's submission of the required immigrant visa processing documents to DOS.
What Is Your National Visa Center Case Status?
Your National Visa Center case status is the status of your visa petition or application at the National Visa Center.
What Is The National Visa Center?
The National Visa Center processes all approved immigrant visa petitions. The National Visa Center also processes K-1 visa applications for fiancee...
What Is The Visa Receipt number?
The USCIS assigns a number to each visa application. This 13-digit case number is used to identify your individual visa application and to check yo...
Location and History of The National Visa Center
The National Visa Center was started by the U.S. State Department in 1994. The National Visa Center is located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on a c...
Checking Visa Application Status at The National Visa Center
To check on your case status you can email, call, or mail them. You must have your visa case number or INS receipt number. This is the 13-digit num...
Checking Visa Status at USCIS
Before a visa application is sent to the National Visa Center, it must be processed at the USCIS. If you want to check the status of your visa and...
USCIS Electronic Immigration System
The USCIS Electronic Immigration System is an online system that lets users submit and view certain visa requests, receive electronic notification...
National Visa Center Fees
Below is a list of the visa fees from the National Visa Center. The fees periodically change so be sure to check with the National Visa Center for...
Withdrawal of A Visa Application
To withdraw a visa application, either the applicant, the petitioner, or the lawyer of the applicant must submit a signed, written statement. It's...
Expedition of Visa Application at National Visa Center
The National Visa Center has no control and no ability to expedite the visa application process.If a visa application date is current, it's possibl...
Does the National Visa Center accept mail?
On June 1, 2020, National Visa Center will no longer accept or respond to inquiries through mail. National Visa Center has modernized the way we pre-process visa applications. This has allowed NVC to streamline services to case parties and to U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Elimination of paper correspondence is the next step in this modernization.
Is a visa application confidential?
Note: Visa records are confidential under Section 222 (f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), so information can only be provided to visa applicants. There are some exceptions, such as providing information to U.S. sponsors, attorneys representing visa applicants, members of Congress, or other persons acting on behalf of the applicants.
What is the National Visa Center?
The National Visa Center processes all approved immigrant visa petitions. The National Visa Center also processes K-1 visa applications for fiancees and K-3 visa applications for the nonimmigrant spouses of U.S. citizens.
What happens if your visa number isn't recognized?
If your visa case number isn't recognized, it's likely that the National Visa Center hasn't yet received your case and cannot report your case status.
What does the first three characters on a visa receipt number mean?
The first three characters in the visa receipt number indicate which USCIS service center is processing your visa application. There are four service centers that are noted as WAC, EAC, SRC, or LIN.
What is the USCIS receipt number?
The USCIS assigns a number to each visa application. This 13-digit case number is used to identify your individual visa application and to check your National Visa Center case status. This receipt number can be found on Form I-797.
What is the I-797 form?
Once your application is filed with USCIS, you'll receive a Form I-797 or a Notice of Action. The Notice of Action is a notification that the visa application was received by USCIS and provides a case number. Your case number can be used to check your case status online with USCIS.
How to check visa status?
To check on your case status you can email, call, or mail them. You must have your visa case number or INS receipt number. This is the 13-digit number that identifies your visa application.
How to withdraw a visa application?
To withdraw a visa application, either the applicant, the petitioner, or the lawyer of the applicant must submit a signed, written statement. It's important to explain why the visa applicant is requesting to withdraw their visa application.
What is a K-3 visa?
In addition to the immigrant visa cases, the NVC also processes K-1 (fiance/e) and K-3 (nonimmigrant spouse of a U.S. citizen) cases for consular interviews once the petitions are approved by the USCIS.
How long can a petition stay at NVC?
Petitions may remain at NVC for several months or many years before the priority date becomes current for a given case. NVC cannot guarantee how long it may be before you are scheduled for an appointment for a visa interview.
What is the NVC?
National Visa Center (NVC) processes all approved immigrant visa petitions after they are received from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and retains them until the cases are ready for adjudication by a consular officer abroad.
What is NVC email?
Email is N VC’s most preferred method of communication regarding specific questions about a case.
What do you need to submit to the NVC?
In such a case, you must submit medical documentation declaring a life or death medical emergency to the NVC, in the form of a letter or statement from a physician or medical facility and include medical contact details such as an address, telephone, and e-mail.
Does NVC receive USCIS?
NVC only has information on petitions it has received. If the automated service does not recognize the USCIS file or receipt numbers you entered, most likely NVC has not yet received your petition. Email is NVC’s most preferred method of communication regarding specific questions about a case.
Can the NVC expedite an immigrant visa?
Family emergency and expedition. Irrespective of the type of emergency, NVC is not able to expedite the immigrant visa petition until the priority date is current. Once the priority date is current, the NVC can expedite its procedure in case of life or death medical emergencies.
What is the NVC?
National Visa Center (NVC) is a branch of the Department of State that handles qualified immigrant visa (green card) petitions after they are received from USCIS.
Is NVC open for walk in?
The Department of State updates the Qualifying Dates on a monthly basis in monthly Visa bulletin. Note: NVC is not open for walk-in. All communication to NVC must be done by mail or phone.
How to check status of USCIS case?
Status of case information can only be accessed by entering your National Visa Center case number or USCIS receipt number on a touch-tone telephone. The National Visa Center only has information on petitions it has received. If our automated service does not recognize the USCIS file or receipt numbers you entered, most likely we have not yet received your petition.
What is packet 3?
When an applicant’s priority date is close to becoming current, the National Visa Center will mail a packet of forms and information (Packet 3) to the beneficiary (applicant). If requested to do so we will send this Packet 3 to the applicant’s lawyer or to the petitioner instead of the beneficiary. The exact contents of the Packet 3 will depend on where the applicant will be interviewed for a visa. For instance, the Packet 3 we send to people applying in China is different from the one we send to applicants in France.
What is the name of the agency that processes immigrant visas?
General Information – National Visa Center . The National Visa Center (NVC) processes all approved immigrant visa petitions after they are received from the USCIS and retains them until the cases are ready for adjudication by a consular officer abroad.
Where do I send my I-130?
When you complete a petition (I-130, I-140, etc.) for an immigrant visa you send it to the Immigration and Naturalization for approval. If the USCIS approves the petition they will send you a Notice of Approval (I-797) and then they will send the petition to NVC. Sometimes there is a delay between when you get the Notice of Receipt and the Notice of Approval from the USCIS and also between when you get the Notice of Approval and when NVC receives the petition.
What time does the National Visa Center open?
Operators are available to respond to more difficult inquiries from 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM (EST) Monday through Thursday. The National Visa Center also holds a customer service feedback day so that the public can talk to operators about the information we provide.
How long do visas stay in the national visa center?
Petitions may remain at National Visa Center for several weeks or for many years depending on the visa category and country of birth of the visa applicant.
Where to send a request for a naturalization petition?
Written inquiries, changes of address and requests to upgrade petitions due to naturalization of the petitioner should be sent to: The National Visa Center, 32 Rochester Avenue, Portsmouth NH 03801-2909. Please note that NVC is not open to the public.
How to get information on a visa?
First, the fastest and easiest way for you to get the information you need is to regularly check the website of your closest U.S. embassy or consulate. That is where the most up-to-date information about operations will always be, as well as information about the best way to get in touch with the embassy or consulate.
Is the Biden-Harris visa process still in place?
However, many immigrant visa applicants are subject to pandemic-related presidential proclamations remaining in place that restrict issuance of visas, including for those who have been in certain countries during the preceding 14 days before entry or attempted entry to the United States. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services Stufft explains the current state of immigrant visa processing, the restrictions that remain in place, and how the Department of State is seeking to reduce the backlog of immigrant visa applications as efficiently as possible within the process designed to secure U.S. borders.
Who is Julie Stufft?
I’m Liz Detmeister, director of the Foreign Press Centers, and this morning I’m pleased to welcome our briefer, Julie Stufft, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the Department of State. Today she will provide an update on immigrant visa processing at U.S. embassies and consulates.
Can you have multiple appointments for a visa?
Finally, please come to your appointments prepared with the documents outlined on your appointment letter. Just like with communications, using multiple appointments to present more information will slow down your visa processing as well as others. Again, we’re looking to serve as many people as we safely can, and we’re grateful for your patience.
Is there a restriction on immigrant visas?
So let’s turn to the current situation of the rescission of Presidential Proclamation 10014, which means there’s no general restriction existing on issuing immigrant visas. However, many immigrant visa applicants are subject to other presidential proclamations, including those for certain countries during the preceding 14 days before entry or attempted entry to the United States. These countries are China, Iran, Brazil, UK, Ireland, South Africa, and the 26 countries in the Schengen Area. Spouses and children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are excepted from these restrictions.
