NVC Steps
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.
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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.