National Visa Center (NVC) processing

What the NVC does

The National Visa Center (NVC) is a DOS processing facility that handles immigrant visa cases after the petition is approved by USCIS and before the case is sent to a consulate for the interview.

NVC collects fees, the DS-260 visa application, financial evidence, and civil documents. When all required documents are received and reviewed, NVC "qualifies" the case and schedules the consular interview.

NVC fees and DS-260

NVC collects fees for immigrant visa processing. Pay fees only through official DOS/CEAC channels.

For most petition-based cases, each applicant (principal and derivatives) must complete Form DS-260, the online Immigrant Visa Application, through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). After submitting, print and keep the confirmation page.

Financial evidence and civil documents

NVC collects and reviews:

• Affidavit of Support (I-864) and supporting financial documents. When required for your category
• Civil documents: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce records, police certificates, and other identity and background records

Documents are uploaded electronically through CEAC. At the interview, bring original documents or certified copies. Do not mail originals to NVC.

Document qualification and interview scheduling

After NVC reviews and approves all documents, the case is "qualified" and sent to the consulate for interview scheduling. Scheduling timelines vary by post.

The DOS IV wait times tool shows approximate scheduling delays at many posts. However, this tool excludes DV, SIV, K, and adoption cases.

Dynamic items: verify with official sources

Cases that differ from standard NVC sequencing

Not all immigrant visa cases follow standard NVC sequencing:

• Diversity visa (DV): Uses CEAC directly and follows DV-year-specific instructions. Not standard NVC timeframes
• Special immigrant visas (SIV): Often processed through DOS without standard NVC petition-based sequencing
• K visa holders: Enter on a nonimmigrant visa and adjust status inside the U.S.
• Adoption cases: Follow Hague or orphan process routing

For any of these categories, use only the official guidance specific to that category.

What can vary by case, post, or month

These notes come from the research module behind this guide. Use them as flags; verify official instructions for your case before relying on general guidance.

Clearly required

• NVC fee and document steps for ordinary petition-based immigrant visa cases

Conditional

• affidavit-of-support requirements, derivative handling, and whether the case uses NVC at all

Dynamic (may change)

• review timeframes and post interview scheduling

Unresolved

• do not route DV, K, SIV, or adoption content through generic NVC timing assumptions unless official sources say so