How the National Visa Center (NVC) Works

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The NVC is operated by a private contractor with more than 400 employees. The Department of State has five supervisory employees who work there. The FBI has one employee assigned to the NVC.

The NVC receives between 15,000 and 20,000 petitions per month from the CIS of the following types:

  • I-130 – Relative
  • I-140 – Employee
  • I-129F – Fiancé
  • I-129 – K1 and K3 LIFE Act
  • I-600/A – Orphan
  • I-730 – Asylee/Refugee
  • I-529 – Investment
  • I-360 – Special Immigrant

When an approved petition is received by the NVC, it is placed into one of three categories (expedite, current, non-current), and sorted by visa classification and priority date. The NVC enters the remaining data that has not already been transferred electronically from the CIS to the NVC. The NVC then assigns a case number which consists of the three letter consular post designator, the Julian date (+500) and the number of petitions designated for that particular post that day.

Typically, the NVC has approximately two million files on hand on any particular day. Bar codes are used to track transfers and file locations and prevent misfiling or other record loss.

Expedite files consist of the following types of filings:

  • I-129F – Fiancé
  • I-129 – K1 and K3 LIFE Act
  • I-730 – Asylee/Refugee
  • I-600/A – Orphan

These files and processed and transferred to overseas consular posts within one week of initial receipt. The only exception is in cases where a security advisory opinion is required. In such cases, the NVC will forward the case together with the security advisory opinion when it is received.

Standard review cases involve files that are to be sent to most of the overseas visa posts. When one of a case is determined to be “current” (the beneficiary’s priority date is earlier than the Visa Bulletin cutoff date – if any – for the beneficiary’s preference category and country of chargeability), the NVC performs the following steps:

  • The Immigrant Visa Application processing fee bill and the Affidavit of Support (AOS) processing fee bill are mailed to the applicant or his or her attorney of record 2 – 4 weeks from the receipt of a current case from CIS
  • The applicant or attorney returns to St. Louis in the envelope provided the
    • Affidavit of support payment and fee bill (if required), and
    • The immigrant visa fee payment for each applicant on the petition who is traveling at the time of the interview and fee bill (which must be paid with a certified check or money order).
  • The lock box in St. Louis processes the payment and forwards the fee payment information to the NVC
  • A packet of forms and instructions are mailed to the applicant or attorney of record (if represented by counsel). The packet consists of the following:
    • Affidavit of support (I-864)
    • DS-230 Part I
    • Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants
  • The applicant or attorney of record then completes the necessary forms and compiles the necessary supporting documents (e.g. tax returns, W-2s, job letter/pay stub). The applicant or attorney of record then returns all documents and forms to the NVC (including the bar-coded sheet with the case number)
  • The NVC reviews all the documents and forms for completeness. A checklist letter may be sent for missing or incomplete information
  • The case record is qualified if all the required forms and documents have been received. The electronic data and physical case files are forwarded to post (via DHL)

So called “appointment review” files are those that are sent to the approximately 35 overseas consular posts where the NVC also schedules the visa interview appointment dates. When one of these cases is determined to be “current,” the NVC follows the same steps as with “standard review” files, with the following differences:

  • Instead of just sending form DS-230 Part I, Part II is sent as well.
  • In addition to the other supporting documents requested to be returned, the NVC also asks for original or certified copies of birth and marriage certificates.
  • The NVC will request the allocation of a visa number from the Visa Office.
  • The NVC will then schedule the applicant’s immigrant visa appointment and send the applicant an appointment letter, together with the physician list.
  • The NVC then forwards the physical case file to the overseas consular post via DHL as well as transmits an electronic copy of the file to the post.
  • Applicants are scheduled for their visa interviews during the month prior to the month in which the interview will take place.

Contact information:

Fax:
(603) 334-0791

Mailing address for case inquiries only:
National Visa Center
32 Rochester Avenue
ATTN: WC
Portsmouth, NH 03801-2909

Telephone number: You will need your case number or CIS receipt number from your approval notice when calling
(603) 334-0700
Automated Voice Response-24/7
Operator hours-Monday-Friday
7:30am to 8:45pm Eastern time