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NVC (National Visa Center)

The National Visa Center (NVC) is a US State Department office that handles immigrant visa cases after USCIS approves a petition and before the interview at a US embassy or consulate. It collects fees, forms, and documents, then passes complete cases to the consulate.

Written by the NorthAmericans Editorial TeamLast verified: Expert review in progress
On this page
  1. What NVC does
  2. Frequently asked questions
  3. Official sources

What NVC does

When NVC receives your approved petition, it sends a welcome letter with a case number. You then use the State Department's online system (CEAC) to:

  1. Pay the immigrant visa and affidavit of support fees.
  2. Submit Form DS-260.
  3. Upload civil documents and the affidavit of support.

Once the case is "documentarily qualified" and your priority date is current, NVC or the consulate schedules your interview. NVC does not decide visas; consular officers do.

Immigrant visa interviews were frozen worldwide from August 25, 2026. See Status Now and our consular processing guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I contact the NVC?

Use the Public Inquiry Form on the State Department website, with your NVC case number.

What does documentarily qualified mean?

NVC has everything it needs and your case is ready for an interview when a slot and visa number are available.

Does NVC handle adjustment of status cases?

No. Adjustment of status is handled entirely by USCIS inside the US.

Official sources

  1. State Department: The immigrant visa processtravel.state.gov
  2. State Department: CEACceac.state.gov

General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.