What is the NVC?
NVC stands for the National Visa Center, where Step 2 of the Immigrant Visa Process takes place. The National Visa Center is a government agency in Portsmouth, NH that Is responsible for pre-processing immigrant visa petitions. You can think of the NVC as the middleman between USCIS and the U.S. Consulate, the agency that will ultimately issue your visa. The NVC’s whole job is to create your case and deal with your civil documents so you have the correct documents when it comes time to get your visa. The NVC process is one of the most important steps of the overall immigrant visa process because all your documents must be reviewed at the time of your consular interview.
How Much Time Does the NVC Take to Review Documents?
It takes the National Visa Center (NVC) about 2 months to review documents. If you are waiting for documents to be processed, you may visit NVC timeframes to know the current processing time -- the data on that site is updated once a week. If you have not received a response for your matter, reach out to the NVC via their online form. It may take up to 8 weeks to receive a response from them.
What Happens During Pre-Processing?
During pre-processing, the NVC reviews your documents and prepares them for the U.S. Consulate, where your interview will take place. At this stage, your petition has been approved by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), but you are still preparing to apply for your visa. The NVC will create a case in the U.S. Department of State’s system – you can use this case to apply, and the U.S. Consulate will be able to access your records and application using the case the NVC gives you.
What Is Submitted to the NVC?
You submit fees, forms, and supporting documents to the NVC, and the NVC reviews the documents before you can schedule your immigrant visa interview.
The NVC supporting immigration documents such as:
- Electronic forms
- Affidavits of support
- Supporting financial documents
- Civil documents (birth certificates, passports, police, court, and prison records, etc.)
When you submit your documents to the NVC, follow instructions carefully, and remember that these instructions can be country- and case-specific. Usually, you will scan a copy of the original documents or mail a physical copy to the NVC. Never mail original documents, as they may get lost, and mailing documents can delay your case if the NVC did not specifically ask for hard copies.
Avoid Mistakes. Work With an Experienced Immigration Lawyer.
At any step of the immigrant visa process, mistakes can cause devastating delays. If you submit the wrong document to the NVC, for example, the agency may take weeks to let you know and weeks to process the corrected document.
For many visas, time is of the essence. The United States limits the number of visas available in certain categories each year, so problems with your case could mean you miss out on an important opportunity.
At every phase of the immigrant visa process, you should have an experienced immigration attorney on your side. At Maghzi Law Firm, LLC, we are committed to helping you achieve your goals. From reviewing your documents to resolving problems with the NVC, we are driven, resourceful, relatable, and experienced advocates who can help you get an immigrant visa and make your dreams a reality.
Don’t risk making a mistake and don’t trust your future to just anyone. Instead, contact Maghzi Law Firm, LLC via online form or call (843) 800-2750 to find out what we can do for you! Our services are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.