The Immigrant Visa Process

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Begin National Visa Center (NVC) Processing

Welcome to the homepage of the National Visa Center (NVC). You have come to this page because you received a letter or email from the NVC directing you here after the NVC received your approved petition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Please complete Steps 1-6 below to begin visa pre-processing with the NVC. If you have not been directed to this page by letter or email from the NVC, you will find general information about the immigrant visa process here.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Immigrant visa (IV) applicants currently working with the National Visa Center (NVC) to complete their IV applications should make sure NVC has a working e-mail address for at least one party on their case. (A case party is the petitioner, beneficiary, or agent/attorney.) If you have not previously given NVC an e-mail address where you can be contacted, please call 1-603-334-0700 to provide your e-mail information. When you call, have your case number, petitioner’s full name, and the beneficiary’s full name and date of birth available. NVC will then be able to e-mail you information and instructions rather than send them via traditional mail, which means you will receive items like NVC’s responses to submitted documents and notice of your visa interview appointment more quickly.

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If You Are Filing an Adjustment of Status: If you are physically present in the United States and will apply for adjustment of status with USCIS, then your case will not be processed by the NVC. (You will not apply for an immigrant visa.) Do not pay any fees or submit any forms to the NVC. Notify the NVC by email or mail as soon as you decide to pursue adjustment of status.
If You Are Applying for a Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver: If you plan to apply for a Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver, you must submit proof of payment of your IV application fee with your provisional waiver Form I-601A application to USCIS. After you pay the IV application fee online, you can print your payment confirmation from the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). Visit the webpage, Provisional Waiver–NVC FAQs (PDF - 196 KB) for more information. A Spanish translation is available here (PDF - 203 KB). USCIS will notify the NVC that you have applied for a provisional unlawful presence waiver.
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 the 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.

Step 1: Choose an agent

Step 2: Pay fees

Step 3: Submit visa application form

Step 4: Collect financial documents

Step 5: Collect supporting documents

Step 6: Submit documents to the NVC

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Who's Involved

National Visa Center: After petition approval, the National Visa Center (NVC) handles processing for certain kinds of documents, sending them onward to U.S. Embassies & Consulates. When and how to Contact NVC

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): USCIS oversees immigration to the United States and approves (or denies) immigrant petitions, and more. Learn about USCIS.