Appointment NVC Processing
For certain U.S. Embassies and Consulates General, the National Visa Center (NVC) provides additional document collection and review, and schedules the cases for interview. The Department of State refers to these embassies and consulates as Appointment Posts.
For immigrant visa cases assigned to an Appointment Post, the NVC will collect the fees, affidavit of support, civil documents and police certificates, as required. When the case is complete, NVC will schedule an appointment for an interview with a consular officer. At the time the appointment is scheduled, the NVC will send an appointment letter to all interested parties (applicant, petitioner, and agent/attorney of record, if applicable) notifying them of the date, time, and location of the interview; and forward the petition to the appropriate embassy/consulate.
Notification from the NVC
After receiving notification from the NVC to begin Applicant Document Processing, all applicants MUST:
Review the Children who are about to turn 21 years of age instructions IF the applicant or a child of the applicant is about to turn 21 years of age,
Complete the Application For Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Forms DS-230 Part I and Part II .
Obtain and submit the applicant’s civil documents.
Review the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General-specific information.
Mail the DS-230 and the applicant’s civil documents to the NVC.
What happens next?
Warning: Do not take any action described above without authorization from the NVC. Taking action without the NVC's authorization could result in a delay in processing your case.
Document Requirements
The applicant and each family member who will accompany the applicant to the United States will need to submit the following original documents or certified copies of the documents listed in this section from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity). In addition to sending the original documents or certified copies of the documents to the NVC, the applicant and each accompanying family member must submit a photocopy of the original documents or certified copies of the documents.
Birth Certificate
Court and Prison Records
Deportation Documentation
Marriage Certificate
Marriage Termination Documentation
Military Records
Photocopy of Valid Passport Biographic Data Page
Police Certificate(s)
Translations
All documents not in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations.
The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the:
Translation is accurate, and
Translator is competent to translate.
Background
The DS-230 Part I and Part II contain questions regarding specific biographical information required for the immigrant visa.
Who completes the forms
Each family member that is eligible to travel to the United States with the applicant under this visa classification is required to complete the DS-230 Part I and Part II.
Overview
The information below provides the applicant with an overview of the steps that take place once the applicant have obtained all the applicant's documents and have completed the necessary forms.
STEP ONE
The petitioner in the applicant's case has been sent instructions concerning completion of the Affidavit of Support (form I-864) and supporting documents needed for financial sponsorship. The applicant may want to contact the applicant's petitioner to ensure that these documents are completed and returned to NVC as directed.
STEP TWO
The NVC will complete all necessary administrative processing of the applicant’s immigrant visa application. The applicant may be requested to provide additional information if the applicant has incomplete or are missing documents.
STEP THREE
Approximately one month before the applicant’s scheduled interview appointment with a consular officer, the applicant will receive an appointment letter containing the date and time of the applicant’s visa interview along with instructions for obtaining a medical examination.
Getting the applicant’s documents back
The applicant will receive the applicant’s original documents back at the time of the visa interview.
Note: Only one original or certified copy of each document must be submitted with the visa application. The applicant are advised, however, to obtain the necessary documents in duplicate, as this will enable the applicant to provide identical copies in the event the first set is lost or damaged.
When to call or write
The NVC cannot guarantee how long it may be before the applicant is scheduled for an appointment for a visa interview. Please call or write to the NVC if the circumstances of the applicant’s application have changed. For example:
Change of address
Change of marital status
Death of petitioner
Birth or adoption of additional children, or
NVC has requested additional information