NVC Case Status 2026: CEAC, Fees, Documents and Interviews

The National Visa Center case status shows where an immigrant visa case stands after USCIS approves the underlying petition and transfers it to the Department of State. NVC creates the immigrant visa case, collects applicable fees, reviews Form DS-260, examines civil and financial documents, and coordinates interview scheduling with the assigned U.S. embassy or consulate.

NVC does not decide whether USCIS should approve Form I-130, I-140 or another immigrant petition.

It also does not conduct the final visa interview. Its role is to prepare qualifying consular-processing cases for the embassy or consulate that will make the immigrant visa decision.

A person applying for adjustment of status through Form I-485 normally remains with USCIS and does not complete the standard NVC document process. A beneficiary applying for an immigrant visa outside the United States generally proceeds through NVC after petition approval.

Last reviewed: August 27, 2026
Current NVC timeframe data: August 24, 2026

Current NVC Processing Times in August 2026

The Department of State updates the official NVC Timeframes page weekly. These dates show which cases, documents and inquiries NVC is currently working on; they are not guaranteed completion dates for an individual case.

NVC activity	Official status on August 24, 2026
Case creation	NVC was working on cases received from USCIS on August 6, 2026.
Document review	NVC was reviewing documents submitted on July 6, 2026.
Public Inquiry Form responses	NVC was responding to inquiries received on August 17, 2026.

Before assuming that a case is delayed, compare your own submission or transfer date with the live NVC Timeframes page. The document-review date applies after all required fees, Form DS-260, Affidavit of Support materials when applicable, financial evidence and civil documents have been submitted.

Important: NVC says these timeframes apply to immediate-relative, family-preference and employment-preference immigrant visa cases. They do not apply to Diversity Visa, K/fiancé(e), adoption or certain special-immigrant cases.

What Is the National Visa Center?

The National Visa Center is part of the U.S. Department of State. It handles pre-interview processing for many family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visa cases after USCIS approves the underlying petition.

NVC normally becomes involved after approval of a petition such as:

• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
• Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers.
• Form I-360 in certain immigrant classifications.
• Form I-526 or I-526E for an EB-5 investor.
• Other approved petitions designated for consular processing.

Once NVC receives the approved petition, it creates a Department of State case and sends a Welcome Letter by email or physical mail. The letter contains the case number and Invoice ID needed to access CEAC.

The petitioner, principal applicant and attorney or agent may receive the Welcome Letter when their contact information is included in the case. Keep the letter and login information in a secure location throughout the process.

When NVC Does Not Handle the Case

NVC does not manage every green card application or every immigrant classification in the same manner.

• An eligible beneficiary filing Form I-485 inside the United States generally remains with USCIS.
• Diversity Visa cases are primarily managed through the Kentucky Consular Center rather than the standard NVC process.
• K-1 fiancé visa cases follow a different process and do not use the full immigrant visa fee-and-document workflow described here.
• Adoption, special immigrant and other specialized classifications may receive different instructions.
• A petition filed and accepted directly by a U.S. embassy under exceptional procedures may not follow the normal NVC path.

Follow the instructions contained in the USCIS approval notice and the Department of State correspondence rather than assuming every approved immigrant petition must use the same CEAC steps.

CEAC Login vs. CEAC Public Status Check

Two different Department of State tools are commonly described as the NVC case tracker. They provide different information and use different credentials.

An applicant who wants to know whether a civil document was accepted must log in to the CEAC immigrant visa account. The public Visa Status Check does not display the detailed document checklist.

How to Log In and Check an NVC Case

1. Locate the Welcome Letter sent by the National Visa Center.
2. Open the official CEAC immigrant visa login page.
3. Enter the NVC case number exactly as shown in the letter.
4. Enter the Invoice ID number.
5. Select the required role or applicant information when prompted.
6. Review the “Your case is currently at” field.
7. Open the message center for new NVC instructions.
8. Review the status of each applicant, financial sponsor, fee, application and document.

The case number is not the same as a USCIS receipt number. The USCIS receipt number tracks the underlying petition before transfer. The NVC case number identifies the Department of State immigrant visa case after NVC creates it.

The Invoice ID is also different from a USCIS payment receipt, Department of State fee receipt or passport number. Copy both identifiers directly from the Welcome Letter.

CEAC Login Not Working? What to Check First

For an immigrant visa case at NVC, the official CEAC login uses the NVC case number and Invoice ID from the NVC Welcome Letter. A USCIS receipt number, passport number or payment receipt is not a substitute for those two identifiers.

• Open the official immigrant-visa CEAC portal at ceac.state.gov/iv.
• Copy the NVC case number and Invoice ID exactly from the Welcome Letter.
• Do not use the public CEAC Visa Status Check when you need to pay NVC fees, complete DS-260, upload documents or read NVC messages; those are separate tools.
• Do not post your NVC case number or Invoice ID publicly. The Department of State warns applicants to keep CEAC login information secure.

If you are using the correct case number and Invoice ID and CEAC still returns an error, the Department of State instructs applicants to take a screenshot of the error and send it through the NVC Public Inquiry Form.

If NVC has not yet created your case, you cannot begin paying fees or submitting documents in CEAC. Compare the USCIS-to-NVC transfer date with the current NVC case-creation timeframe before sending a duplicate inquiry.

The NVC Process Step by Step

NVC Fees in 2026

NVC generally collects an immigrant visa application fee for each person applying and an Affidavit of Support review fee when the case requires domestic review of Form I-864.

A typical family-based case with one applicant and a required Affidavit of Support review has $445 in NVC fees. Every derivative applicant normally pays a separate $325 immigrant visa application fee.

The $445 figure is not a universal NVC total. Employment-based applicants pay a different immigrant visa fee, and some cases do not require an Affidavit of Support review fee.

NVC fees are separate from:

• The USCIS petition filing fee.
• The medical examination.
• Vaccinations.
• Translations and civil records.
• Police certificates.
• Travel to the interview.
• Courier or passport delivery charges.
• The USCIS immigrant fee paid after visa issuance.
• Attorney or professional service fees.

For a broader comparison, review the complete U.S. visa and immigration fee guide.

How NVC Fees Must Be Paid

NVC fees must be paid online through CEAC using a routing number and checking or savings account number from a U.S.-based bank.

• NVC does not accept credit card payments.
• NVC does not accept debit card payments through the standard fee portal.
• NVC does not accept personal checks by mail.
• The payment cannot be drawn from a foreign bank account.
• The Affidavit of Support and immigrant visa fees are separate transactions.
• Anyone with the CEAC login information and an eligible U.S. bank account may make the payment.

After submitting the payments, allow up to 10 calendar days for NVC to process them. CEAC may show the fee as In Process before it changes to Paid. Form DS-260 cannot normally be opened until the immigrant visa payment is processed.

If CEAC does not allow payment, take a screenshot and contact NVC through the Public Inquiry Form. Do not mail a payment unless the Department of State specifically instructs you to do so.

NVC Documents and Forms

The documents required at NVC depend on the petition, immigrant visa classification, applicant’s history, country-specific reciprocity rules and financial sponsorship requirements.

Form DS-260

Each person applying for an immigrant visa must generally complete a separate Form DS-260. The form collects biographical, address, family, education, employment, immigration, travel, security and eligibility information.

After submission, the DS-260 status generally changes to Completed. The applicant cannot independently edit a submitted DS-260. NVC or the embassy must reopen it when a correction is necessary.

Print or save the DS-260 confirmation page for the medical examination and immigrant visa interview.

Affidavit of Support and Financial Evidence

Most family-sponsored immigrants require an Affidavit of Support from the petitioner. Depending on the household and income calculation, the case may also involve a joint sponsor or household member.

Common financial materials include:

• The correct edition of Form I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A or I-864W.
• An IRS tax transcript or qualifying tax return evidence.
• Evidence of current income.
• Proof of the sponsor’s U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence.
• Evidence of U.S. domicile.
• Joint sponsor or household member evidence when applicable.

A document being accepted by NVC does not guarantee that the consular officer will find the financial sponsorship legally sufficient. Updated financial evidence may be requested at the interview.

Review the Form I-864 Affidavit of Support guide for sponsorship requirements.

Civil Documents

Common civil documents include:

• Passport biographical page.
• Birth certificate.
• Marriage certificate.
• Divorce decree, annulment order or death certificate ending each prior marriage.
• Police certificates.
• Court and prison records.
• Military records.
• Adoption records.
• Petitioner documents requested for the visa classification.
• Certified English translations when required.

The applicant must follow the official Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents schedule for the country that issued each record. A document can be genuine but still unacceptable when it does not match the issuing authority or format identified by the Department of State.

Police Certificate Rules

Police certificate requirements depend on the applicant’s age, nationality, current residence, former residence and arrest history. General Department of State rules include certificates from:

• The country of nationality when the applicable residence threshold is met.
• The current country of residence when different from the country of nationality and the applicant has lived there for more than six months after age 16.
• A former country of residence when the applicant lived there for at least 12 months after age 16.
• Any location where the applicant was arrested, regardless of the length of residence and subject to document availability.

Country-specific rules can differ. Some certificates are unavailable, obtained only by the embassy, issued only to current residents or subject to different age requirements.

A police certificate generally expires after two years unless it came from a former country of residence and the applicant has not returned there since issuance. The embassy may request a newer certificate when circumstances change.

How to Read CEAC Fee and Document Statuses

The CEAC summary page contains separate columns for financial sponsors and visa applicants. A status in one column does not mean every part of the case is complete.

Fee Statuses

DS-260 Application Statuses

Document Section Statuses

Individual Document Statuses

What Documentarily Complete Means at NVC

A case becomes documentarily complete, also called documentarily qualified or DQ, when NVC determines that the required fees, forms and documents have been submitted and reviewed for interview scheduling.

NVC normally sends an email or CEAC message confirming the documentarily complete date. That date is important because NVC generally schedules available cases in the order in which they became complete, subject to visa availability and embassy capacity.

Documentarily complete does not mean:

• The immigrant visa was approved.
• The interview has already been scheduled.
• The case has reached the embassy.
• A visa number is available in a preference category.
• The consular officer cannot request more evidence.
• The applicant is admissible to the United States.

A documentarily complete case can continue displaying At NVC in the public tracker while it waits for an interview appointment.

Documentarily Complete Is Not the Same as Ready

The CEAC public status Ready generally means the embassy or consulate has received the case and it is available for the next consular step. It does not mean NVC merely completed document review.

When Will NVC Schedule the Interview?

NVC can schedule an immigrant visa interview only after the case is documentarily complete and the embassy or consulate provides an available appointment.

A preference-category case must also have a visa number available under the applicable Final Action Date in the monthly Visa Bulletin.

Interview scheduling depends on:

• The documentarily complete date.
• The immigrant visa category.
• Priority-date availability.
• The embassy or consulate’s appointment capacity.
• Local operating conditions.
• Staffing and workload.
• Case-transfer requests.
• Required vetting and case-specific processing.

The embassy or consulate tells NVC which appointment dates are available. NVC generally assigns those appointments in documentarily complete date order among cases that are otherwise eligible.

NVC normally emails the applicant, petitioner and attorney or agent approximately two to three months before the scheduled appointment. Actual advance notice can vary.

How to Use the IV Scheduling Status Tool

The Department of State’s Immigrant Visa Scheduling Status Tool shows the documentarily complete month and year for which NVC is scheduling most interviews at a selected embassy or consulate.

1. Open the official IV Scheduling Status Tool.
2. Select Immediate Relative, Family-Sponsored Preference or Employment-Based Preference.
3. Select the assigned embassy or consulate.
4. Review the documentarily complete month and year currently being scheduled.
5. Compare that date with the DQ date in the NVC confirmation email.

For example, when a post shows that it is scheduling cases documentarily complete in March 2025, a case completed in December 2025 may still have a substantial wait. A case completed in February 2025 may warrant checking whether other eligibility or scheduling issues exist.

The tool is updated monthly and does not guarantee that an individual case will receive an appointment by a particular date. Some posts may not move forward every month.

Use the Visa Bulletin and priority dates guide when the case belongs to a numerically limited family or employment category.

Public CEAC Immigrant Visa Statuses

For a detailed explanation of post-interview CEAC statuses, review the CEAC Visa Status Check guide.

Why NVC Rejects or Marks Documents Invalid

Common document problems include:

• The document does not come from the authority listed in the Reciprocity Schedule.
• The scan is incomplete, illegible or cuts off seals, signatures or annotations.
• The wrong side or page was uploaded.
• A translation is missing or incomplete.
• The translation lacks the required certification.
• The document belongs to a different applicant.
• The applicant uploaded a summary instead of the full record.
• A marriage, divorce, adoption or name change is not fully documented.
• A police certificate is missing, expired or from the wrong authority.
• Form I-864 is unsigned, incomplete or inconsistent with the financial evidence.
• The sponsor used an incorrect Affidavit of Support form.
• The tax evidence does not cover the required information.
• A document was uploaded but not formally submitted.

When NVC rejects a document, open the Response Note beside that specific file and read the message in the CEAC inbox. Correct the identified problem rather than repeatedly uploading the same file.

How to Contact NVC

The National Visa Center’s public inquiry telephone line remains suspended. Immigrant visa applicants should use the official Public Inquiry Form.

Before sending an inquiry:

1. Check the NVC Timeframes page.
2. Log in to CEAC and read every message.
3. Review the status of each applicant and sponsor.
4. Check whether a fee or document remains unsubmitted.
5. Compare the DQ date with the IV Scheduling Status Tool when waiting for an interview.

An NVC inquiry should generally include:

• The NVC case number.
• The petitioner’s full name.
• The principal applicant’s full name.
• The principal applicant’s date of birth.
• A clear explanation of the issue.
• A screenshot when reporting a CEAC technical or payment problem.

Do not submit duplicate inquiries about the same issue while the first request remains within the published response timeframe. Duplicate messages delay NVC’s ability to respond.

What to Do When an NVC Case Appears Stuck

USCIS Approved the Petition but NVC Has No Case

Compare the USCIS transfer date with the current NVC case-creation date. When NVC is already creating cases received after the transfer date, submit a Public Inquiry Form with the USCIS receipt number, approval notice and identifying information.

Confirm that the USCIS approval notice designates consular processing. A petition retained for adjustment of status may not transfer automatically to NVC.

Documents Remain Submitted

Compare the date the complete package was submitted with the current NVC document-review date. If NVC is reviewing documents submitted after the case’s submission date, check the CEAC message center and submit an inquiry when necessary.

Adding or replacing a document can return part of the case to the review queue. The latest complete submission date may be more relevant than the date the first file was uploaded.

The Case Is DQ but Has No Interview

Use the IV Scheduling Status Tool for the assigned embassy and category. Also verify that the priority date is current when the case belongs to a family-preference or employment-based preference category.

NVC cannot schedule an interview solely because the case has been waiting for a certain number of months. The consular post must provide an appointment, and a visa number must be available.

Changing Contact Information in CEAC

Email is NVC’s primary communication method. At least one applicant, petitioner, attorney or agent email address should remain current.

The applicant can generally update email addresses in the CEAC summary page by selecting the edit option in the Email Addresses section. The applicant may add, remove or change email addresses for case parties and authorized contacts.

Mailing addresses and telephone numbers cannot always be changed through the same CEAC field. Use the Public Inquiry Form and provide the case number, petitioner’s name, and principal applicant’s name and date of birth.

An attorney whose contact information changes should follow the NVC attorney-update procedure rather than relying only on an applicant’s CEAC edit.

Adding or Updating Derivative Family Members

A qualifying spouse or child may be eligible as a derivative applicant in certain family-preference and employment-based cases. Immediate-relative categories generally do not provide derivatives through the principal applicant.

When the case remains at NVC, CEAC may allow the principal applicant to add or remove a derivative family member. A newly added applicant generally must:

• Pay a separate immigrant visa fee.
• Complete a separate Form DS-260.
• Upload the required civil documents.
• Complete the medical examination and interview requirements.

CEAC also allows an eligible derivative to be identified as Accompanying or Follow-to-Join while the case remains at NVC.

If NVC has already scheduled the interview, contact the embassy or consulate immediately before changing a derivative’s travel status.

A marriage, divorce, death or child turning 21 can change visa eligibility. Some categories require the beneficiary to remain unmarried, and not every family member can be added as a derivative.

The One-Year NVC Contact Requirement

Applicants should not leave an NVC case inactive while waiting for a response or priority date. Section 203(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act allows the Department of State to terminate the immigrant visa registration when the applicant fails to apply within one year after notice of visa availability.

Failing to respond to NVC notices for one year can result in termination and loss of the petition’s benefits, including the priority date.

The petition may be eligible for reinstatement when, within two years of the notice of visa availability, the applicant establishes that the failure to act resulted from circumstances beyond the applicant’s control. Reinstatement is not automatic.

NVC vs. USCIS vs. the Embassy

Consular processing and adjustment of status are separate legal procedures. Neither is automatically preferred solely because the beneficiary is inside or outside the United States. Eligibility depends on location, immigration history, visa availability and the adjustment-of-status requirements.

What Happens After NVC Schedules the Interview?

NVC sends an appointment email containing the interview date, time and assigned embassy or consulate. The applicant must then follow the post-specific preparation instructions.

1. Register for passport delivery or courier service when required.
2. Schedule a medical examination with an authorized panel physician.
3. Review vaccination requirements.
4. Gather original or certified civil documents.
5. Prepare updated financial evidence when required.
6. Confirm passport validity.
7. Review the DS-260 for errors or material changes.
8. Attend the immigrant visa interview.

The consular officer may approve the application, refuse it under INA 221(g) for missing information or administrative processing, or refuse it under another ground of ineligibility.

A scheduled interview does not guarantee visa issuance. NVC’s document review does not prevent the consular officer from requesting new or original evidence.

Review the complete consular processing and immigrant visa interview guide.

What Happens After an Immigrant Visa Is Issued?

After CEAC displays Issued, the passport may still require printing, quality control, courier transfer and delivery or collection. Do not make irreversible travel arrangements until the passport has been physically returned.

Check the immigrant visa for:

• Correct name spelling.
• Date of birth.
• Visa category.
• Passport number.
• Expiration date.
• Annotations.

The immigrant visa validity period is not always exactly six months. It can be limited by the expiration of the medical examination, passport or another case-specific condition.

Most new immigrants must pay the USCIS immigrant fee before traveling or soon after issuance so USCIS can produce the physical green card. Specific categories are exempt.

Some applicants receive immigration records electronically and do not receive a sealed packet. When the embassy provides a sealed packet, do not open it. Present it to Customs and Border Protection as instructed.

Admission as a permanent resident occurs when CBP admits the immigrant using the valid immigrant visa. Green card production and delivery can take additional time after entry.

Frequently Asked Questions About NVC Case Status

How do I check my NVC case status?

Log in to the CEAC immigrant visa account using the NVC case number and Invoice ID from the Welcome Letter. Use the separate CEAC Visa Status Check for the broad public status.

How long does NVC processing take in 2026?

There is no fixed total. Check the weekly NVC Timeframes page for case creation, document review and inquiry-response dates. Interview waiting time depends separately on the documentarily complete date, visa availability and embassy capacity.

What does documentarily complete mean?

It means NVC reviewed the required fees, forms and documents for interview scheduling. It does not mean the visa was approved or that the interview has already been scheduled.

Does Ready mean the case is documentarily complete?

No. Ready generally means the embassy or consulate received and registered the case for the next consular step. A documentarily complete case may remain At NVC while waiting for an appointment.

How much are NVC fees?

The family-based immigrant visa fee is $325 per applicant, the employment-based fee is $345 per applicant and the Affidavit of Support review fee is $120 when required. Different immigrant classifications may have different fees.

Can NVC fees be paid with a credit card?

No. Standard online NVC fee payments require a routing number and checking or savings account number from a U.S.-based bank. NVC does not accept credit cards, personal checks or payments drawn from a foreign bank.

Can I call NVC?

The public inquiry telephone line remains suspended. Use the official Public Inquiry Form after checking the current NVC response timeframe.

Why are all my documents accepted but the case still says At NVC?

The case may be documentarily complete but still waiting for visa availability or an interview appointment offered by the embassy. Compare the DQ date with the IV Scheduling Status Tool and the Visa Bulletin when applicable.

Can I change the embassy handling the case?

A transfer may be requested through NVC while the case remains there, but approval depends on residence, nationality, the receiving post’s acceptance and operating capacity. After interview scheduling, contact the embassy or consulate identified in the appointment notice.

What happens if I do not respond to NVC for one year?

The immigrant visa registration may be terminated under INA 203(g), causing loss of the petition’s benefits and priority date. Limited reinstatement may be available when the failure to act resulted from circumstances beyond the applicant’s control.

Related Immigrant Visa Guides

• CEAC Visa Status Check: Refused, Ready and Issued
• Form I-130 Petition Guide
• Consular Processing and Immigrant Visa Interview Guide
• Form I-864 Affidavit of Support Guide
• Visa Bulletin and Priority Dates Guide
• Green Card Requirements and Categories
• U.S. Visa and Immigration Fees

An NVC case becomes easier to manage when each status is interpreted according to the correct stage. CEAC tracks fees, Form DS-260 and documents; documentarily complete confirms that NVC finished its initial review; the IV Scheduling Status Tool estimates which cases are receiving interviews; and the embassy or consulate makes the final immigrant visa decision. Checking the correct official tool prevents unnecessary duplicate inquiries and helps applicants respond before important deadlines expire.