National Visa Center or NVC
The National Visa Center (NVC) ensures that all the family-based green card applications going through consular processing are documentarily qualified. It does not make decision on the application; the consular officer will.
The NVC is a unit of the Department of State, not USCIS.

Frequently Asked Questions about the NVC
Use AskNVC to make the change.
Once you receive the Welcome Letter and can login into the CEAC, you can add ‘derivative applicants’ if your immigration category allows it.
Try again. For some reason the CEAC fee payment process is often down.
One of the ways to find the routing number of a U.S.-based checking account is to look at the bottom of a check associated with that account:
- The routing number is a 9-digit number which begins with a 0, 1, 2, or 3 and is bracketed by a symbol that looks like ⑆
- So, the routing number looks something like ⑆123456789⑆
- The account number is usually a string of numbers (around 10) followed by a special character that looks like ⑈
- So the account number looks something like 1234567890⑈
If you cannot determine the routing or account numbers, review a bank statement or contact your financial institution.
You need to have a ‘current’ Priority Date, or be an immediate relative. The NVC cannot and will not rush Interview scheduling if a Green Card is not available for you.
Generally, NVC Expedite is reserved for ‘life or death’ situation. People also look into Humanitarian Parole in these situations.
Look for ‘Immigrant Visa’ information on the website of your Embassy or Consulate.
No, you need to make electronic copies of your document and upload them in the CEAC. You do however want to bring the originals of some key documents to the Interview.
Your file upload size limit is 2MB.
Yes, you do. You may consider asking for them ahead of the beginning of the NVC step, so that you are ready.
Use AskNVC to make the request.
The NVC is not running CSPA computations for your applicants, or derivative applicants. It is up to you to make sure that:
- You are not paying fees associated with derivative applicants that are no longer eligible.
For instance derivative applicants who are the children of the principal applicant, and who ‘aged out’ in spite of CSPA. - You are ready to make your own CSPA case.
Remember that the CSPA calculation has to be made the 1st of the month of the Visa Bulletin when the Priority Date of the applicant becomes ‘current’ when compared to the Final Action Date (Chart A.)
Guides
We did the research so you don’t have to.
How to file perfect USCIS forms for your family-based Green Card.
What you need to know about NVC form DS-260 before and after you file.
6 important steps to complete, latest news and updates, and FAQ.
Latest predictions for All Countries, Mexico, Philippines and India F4.
Use our smart forms to avoid delays and save money and time with your green card application.





