Welcome to National Visa Center NVC !
Tel# (603) 334-0700
Email: NVCINQUIRY@state.gov
NVC Contact details can be found at: The US Department of State Official Website
If you follow these steps carefully, you can possibly be out of NVC in 4 to 6 weeks time.
Step 0 - Preparing For The NVC Process
Collect all the following general documents beforehand to speed up the NVC process. Note that these are general documents and it may differ case by case and country by country. For accurate details, please visit: Affidavit of Support Processing and Applicant Document Processing, also select the Beneficiary’s Consulate for consulate or region specific document requirements (after you've browsed to the consulate website, look for a link called "visas" --> "immigration visas", etc.).
Required documents from the petitioner for I-864 Affidavit of Support Package
- Last 3 years IRS Tax Transcripts (otherwise, last 3 years 1040 and W-2/1099)
- Original Employment Letter
- Pay stubs (include a few recent ones and a selection from throughout the previous 3 years)
- All of the above from any joint sponsors
Required documents from the Beneficiary for DS-230 Immigrant Visa (IV) Package
- Two passport-style photographs (2X2 inches) of the beneficiary. (Write down NVC Case# and beneficiary’s full name and date of birth on the back side of both photographs lightly)
- Completed and signed form DS-230 Part I by the beneficiary
- Completed and unsigned form DS-230 Part II by the beneficiary
- Photocopy of the beneficiary's passport biographic data page
- Original/certified copy of beneficiary’s birth certificate
- Original/certified copy of beneficiary’s and petitioner’s marriage certificate
- Original police certificate(s) of the beneficiary
- Original/certified copy of military record, if applicable
- Original/certified copy of divorce decree, death certificate, etc. of previous marriage, if applicable
NOTE: check Reciprocity by Country (select your country and scroll down to bottom) to see what documents are available from your country - many don't have military or police documents available.
Important:
• If any of the civil documents are not in English, translate them into English. NOTE: NOT necessary to notarize. Also, many sources say it's not necessary to translate, if the documents are in the language of the embassy where the interview will take place: see Documents The Applicant Must Submit
• Certified copy of the civil document must be from the respective agency. That means, birth certificate’s certified copy must be from the birth registrar’s office, etc.
• IRS Tax Transcripts can be obtained free by dialing 1-800-829-1040
• Forms start with “DS” (DS-3032, DS-230) are from the Department of State and must be completed by the beneficiary. Forms can be found at: Department of State Forms
• Forms start with “I” (I-864) are from the USCIS and must be completed by the petitioner. Forms can be found at: USCIS Immigration Forms.
Step 1 - NVC Assigns Case Number
NVC receives I-130 approval from the USCIS. Do not wait for I-130 approval notice from the USCIS. Dial (603) 334-0700 to check NVC’s Automated Voice Response system ( NVC's AVR). You need your I-130 Receipt Number to check the status.
After your NVC Case Number has been assigned, speak to an operator. Give them your own e-mail address as well as your spouse's e-mail address. They will then e-mail your choice of agent form and your fee bills once they are created.
NVC Assigns the Case Number in the format LLLNNNNNNNNNN Where: LLL is three letter code of the Foreign U.S consulate where beneficiary appears, first NNNN is the four digit year NVC assigned the Case Number, second NNN is 500 plus the three digit Julian Date NVC assigned the case, last NNN is the three digit serial number of the day NVC assigned the case. For example, if your case is at Chennai, India and the case is assigned on January 2, 2008 and it is the 2nd case on that date, your case # will be MDR-2008-502-002. That is MDR2008502002.
Step 2 – Choice of Agent Form (DS-3032) Generation & I-864 Fee Invoicing
- NVC Generates and sends a copy of the DS-3032 (Choice of Agent form) to the petitioner.
- NVC Sends the original DS-3032 (Choice of Agent form) to the beneficiary in the foreign country.
- NVC Invoices I-864 (Affidavit of Support) Fee to the petitioner online at The Department of State Online Payment System
There are now two independent tracks that run parallel within the NVC. For those who are using a lawyer, DS-3032 is NOT generated or sent by the NVC as the lawyer would automatically be designated as the agent.
TRACK 1 - I-864 AOS Fee payment Time: No extra time needed The petitioner pays I-864 (Affidavit of Support) Fee ($70 - always refer to USCIS Website for most current fee amounts) online with The Department of State Online Payment System.A bank checking account (no credit cards) is required- you will need the ABA # (or Routing #) and Account #. Funds must be in US dollars drawn from a bank on US soil. Payment status changes to “PENDING”. I-864 - Affidavit of Support Package Express Mail to NVC Time: 1 to 2 days after above step In one or two days time, payment status will show as “PAID”. Immediately print out I-864 bar code coversheet from the online payment site and express mail the entire I-864 (Affidavit of Support) Package to NVC by USPS. Important: - Create your own cover letter for I-864. Refer to I-864 Cover letter or Attachment 2 below
- Use the address on bar code cover sheet
- Write NVC Case Number on the top right hand corner of all pages of the I-864 Package and supplemental pages (tax invoices, employment letter, etc.)
NVC Receives I-864 Package Time: 1 day after above step NVC receives I-864 Package
NVC Enters & Reviews I-864 Package Time: ~1 week after above step NVC enters I-864 Package into their system and reviews it in couple of days time. If more info/evidence is required, then NVC will generate and send a checklist to the Petitioner. Petitioner responds to the checklist. Important : If NVC's AVR message says “Your forms are reviewed and found missing or incomplete information…” after your I-864 has been reviewed and before your IV fee or DS-230 generation, don’t panic. NVC is waiting for your IV Fee and DS-230 form.
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TRACK 2 - DS-3032 and DS-230 * DS-3032 Emailing Important: - Subject line of email must contain NVC Case#, Beneficiary Full Name and Date of Birth
- Make the Petitioner the Agent
- For Email format, refer to Email DS-3032 form or Attachment 3, below.
*NVC Enters DS-3032 Time: ~1 week after above step DS-3032 is entered into NVC System *NVC Invoices IV Fee Time: ~1 week after above step NVC Invoices Immigrant Visa (DS-230) Fee online * Agent pays IV Fee Time: No extra time needed The agent pays IV Fee ($400 - always refer to USCIS Website for most current fee amounts) online with The Department of State Online Payment System.A bank checking account (no credit cards) is required- you will need the ABA # (or Routing #) and Account #. Funds must be in US dollars drawn from a bank on US soil. Payment status changes to “PENDING”.
* DS-230 Package Express Mail to NVC Time: 1 to 2 days after above step In one or two days time, payment status will show as “PAID”. Immediately print out IV bar code coversheet from the online payment site and express mail the entire IV Package to NVC by USPS. Important: - Create your own cover letter for DS-230 package Refer to DS-230 Cover Letter or Attachment 4, below
- Use the address on bar code cover sheet
NVC Receives DS-230 Package Time: 1 day after above step NVC receives DS-230 Package NVC Enters & Reviews DS-230 Package Time: ~1 week after above step NVC enters DS-230 into their system and review it in couple of days If more info/evidence is required, then NVC will generate and send a checklist to the Agent. Agent responds to the checklist.
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Step 3 - Finalization
Final Step 1 – NVC Case Completion
Time: Approximately 1 week after the last step of the above 2 independent tracks
Case is officially completed and NVC will set an interview date in conjunction with scheduling available at the foreign U.S. Consulate/Embassy.
Final Step 2 – NVC Case Forwarded to the Foreign U.S Consulate
Time: Approximately 7 to 10 days after above step
Case is officially forwarded to the U.S Consulate by DHL. All your Originals/Certified copies submitted to NVC along with all your files are mailed to the consulate in this step.
NVC mails out immigrant visa appointment letter to both the petitioner in the U.S and the beneficiary in the foreign country.