Legal Definitions - National Visa Center (NVC)

The National Visa Center (NVC) is a vital administrative hub within the U.S. Department of State, acting as a central processing facility for immigrant visa applications. After U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves an immigrant visa petition, the NVC takes over the case to prepare it for a final interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Its primary responsibilities include collecting required visa application fees, gathering necessary civil and financial documents from both the visa applicant and their U.S. sponsor, and holding the approved petition until an interview slot becomes available. The duration a case spends at the NVC can vary significantly, ranging from several months to many years, depending on the specific visa category and the applicant's country of origin.

• Example 1: Family Sponsorship

  Maria, a U.S. citizen, successfully petitioned for her husband, Javier, who lives in Mexico, to immigrate to the United States. After USCIS approved Maria's petition, the case was forwarded to the NVC. The NVC then contacted Maria and Javier, instructing them to pay the required visa fees and submit all necessary civil documents, such as Javier's birth certificate, marriage certificate, and financial support documents from Maria. The NVC will hold Javier's petition and review these documents until an interview appointment can be scheduled for him at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez.

  How this illustrates the NVC: This scenario demonstrates the NVC's role in collecting fees and documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, financial support) and holding the petition while preparing the case for the consular interview abroad.

• Example 2: Employment-Based Immigration

  A tech company in California sponsored its lead software engineer, Dr. Anya Sharma, who is a citizen of India, for an employment-based immigrant visa. Once USCIS approved the company's petition for Dr. Sharma, the NVC took over the case. The NVC then communicated with Dr. Sharma and her legal representative, requesting the payment of visa processing fees and the submission of her academic transcripts, professional licenses, and other supporting documentation. The NVC will ensure all paperwork is in order before forwarding the case to the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi for Dr. Sharma's final visa interview.

  How this illustrates the NVC: Here, the NVC acts as the intermediary after USCIS approval, collecting specific employment-related documents (transcripts, licenses) and fees, and organizing the case for the embassy interview, highlighting its administrative preparation function.

• Example 3: Long-Term Family Preference Category

  Mr. Lee, a lawful permanent resident in the U.S., petitioned for his unmarried adult son, Jae-hyun, who resides in South Korea, to immigrate. Due to the annual limits on visas for this particular family preference category, USCIS approved the petition, but it was then sent to the NVC where it will remain for several years. During this waiting period, the NVC will periodically update Mr. Lee and Jae-hyun on the status of their case and will eventually request the necessary documents and fees when Jae-hyun's priority date becomes current, signaling that a visa number is available.

  How this illustrates the NVC: This example highlights the NVC's function of retaining a visa petition for an extended period ("several years") when a visa number is not immediately available, and its role in eventually initiating the document and fee collection process once the case is ready to move forward.