PORTSMOUTH, NH—Following the initial approval of an immigrant petition by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the case file is immediately transferred to the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC is the critical intermediary step responsible for pre-processing immigrant visa applications before they are sent to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad for the final interview.
The NVC’s primary role is to ensure all necessary fees and documentation are collected and reviewed, making the case “documentarily qualified.” This preparation is essential for a smooth interview process overseas.
The NVC Process: Immediate vs. Preference Categories
The NVC’s actions upon receiving a petition vary significantly depending on the visa category:
1. Immediate Relative (IR) Cases: Expedited Processing
For those immigrating to join a close family member (spouse, minor child, or parent) of a U.S. citizen, the process moves forward without delay.
- Because these visas are not subject to numerical limits, the NVC will contact the applicant and sponsor to proceed with fee payments and document submission almost immediately after receiving the approved petition from USCIS.
2. Family Preference and Employment-Based Cases: The Priority Date Check
For all other categories, including extended family relationships and employment-based visas, the NVC must first determine if a visa number is currently available.
- The Priority Date (PD): The date the immigrant visa petition (e.g., Form I-130) was originally filed with USCIS is known as the Priority Date. This date is listed on the Form I-797, Notice of Action, that USCIS sent to the petitioner upon approval.
- The Visa Bulletin: The PD must be checked against the Visa Bulletin, which is updated monthly by the Department of State. The Visa Bulletin publishes the Cut-Off Date—the latest Priority Date for which a visa number is available in a given category and country.
- Case Activation: The NVC will only begin processing a case (requesting the immigrant visa application fee and documents) if the applicant’s Priority Date matches or will soon match the Cut-Off Date listed in the monthly Visa Bulletin.
What Happens Next?
If an applicant’s Priority Date does not yet match the Cut-Off Date, the NVC will notify the applicant that the case is being held. The NVC will only contact the applicant to initiate the fee and document collection process once the Priority Date is ready or is approaching the Cut-Off Date.
Once the NVC has collected all fees and reviewed all required forms and civil documents, it declares the case “documentarily qualified.” The NVC will then hold the complete documentation package until a visa interview can be scheduled at the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad, based on appointment availability and the final action date becoming current.
Applicants are strongly advised to regularly monitor the Visa Bulletin on the Department of State website to track the movement of the Cut-Off Dates and better anticipate when their case will be actively processed by the NVC.
