National Visa Center Case Status
Your National Visa Center case status is the status of your visa petition or application at the National Visa Center. 9 min read updated on September 24, 2024
Key Takeaways
Your National Visa Center case status refers to the status of your visa petition or application processed by the NVC after USCIS approval.
The status may indicate whether your case is complete and ready for an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
The National Visa Center processes immigrant visa petitions, K-1, and K-3 visa applications after USCIS approves them.
You can check your case status using the USCIS’s online inquiry form, by email, or by standard mail.
The visa receipt number is a 13-digit identifier that USCIS assigns, indicating which service center is processing your visa.
Your petition's time at the NVC varies based on your visa category and country of birth. Your case status will be updated when your visa becomes available.
The National Visa Center charges specific fees for different visa categories, including immigrant and nonimmigrant visas.
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Your National Visa Center case status refers to your visa petition or application status at the National Visa Center (NVC).
The NVC processes approved immigrant visa petitions by USCIS, and your case status could reflect various stages in the process.
These include:
Whether the NVC has received your case
If the NVC is awaiting additional documents
If your case is complete and ready to be forwarded to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for an interview
Your National Visa Center case status often provides information on any action items or updates to your visa application process. This article will discuss vital details about your NVC case status and how to check it.
What is the National Visa Center?
The National Visa Center processes all approved immigrant visa petitions. It also processes K-1 visa applications for fiancees and K-3 visa applications for the nonimmigrant spouses of U.S. citizens.
Visa petitions are first submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security.
Once the immigrant visa petition has been approved, it is sent to the National Visa Center, which holds onto it until the case can be adjudicated at a consulate or embassy.
Once your application is filed with USCIS, you'll receive a Form I-797 or a Notice of Action. The Notice of Action notifies USCIS of receiving the visa application and provides a case number.
You can use your case number to check your case status online with USCIS.
The status of these visa applications, transfers, and extensions can be checked online:
H-1B (learn more about H-1B lottery results)
Form I-130
Form I-140
AOS
Advance Parole
Citizenship
Visa petitions may remain at the National Visa Center for weeks, or even years, waiting for the applicant's case to be ready for adjudication at the consulate.
The time a visa petition spends at the National Visa Center is based on the visa category and the visa applicant's country of birth.
A limited number of visas are handed out each year in certain visa categories and to petitioners of certain countries. When your visa is at the National Visa Center, you can contact them and ask about your case status anytime.
Once your case status is current, the NVC opens the case to allow the applicant to submit the immigrant visa application and supporting documents to begin the process.
When the NVC determines they have all the required documents, the visa application is forwarded to the applicant's local consulate or embassy at that time.
What is the Visa Receipt Number?
The USCIS assigns a number to each visa application. This 13-digit case number is used to identify your individual visa application and to check your National Visa Center case status. You can find this receipt number on Form I-797.
The first three characters in the visa receipt number indicate which USCIS service center is processing your visa application, such as WAC, EAC, SRC, or LIN.
Location and History of the National Visa Center
The National Visa Center was established by the U.S. State Department in 1994. The National Visa Center is located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on a closed-down Air Force base. A private contractor runs the National Visa Center.
Checking Visa Application Status at the National Visa Center
When an applicant's priority date approaches, the National Visa Center sends them an email and a letter that the case is ready to proceed.
You can use this tool to check your case status before that.
For other inquiries, you can use this online form. To do so, you will need your Immigrant Visa Case Number.
Along with your specific inquiry, you will need to include:
Applicant's name
Applicant's date of birth
Petitioner's name
Petitioner's date of birth
Employer's company or organization name (if it's an employment-based visa)
Attorney's name, law firm, and address
In 2022, the National Visa Center suspended its public inquiry phone line.
Checking Visa Status at USCIS
Before a visa application is sent to the National Visa Center, it must be processed at the USCIS. If you want to check the status of your visa and the National Visa Center doesn't have your case number on file, it's likely still at USCIS.
The online case status inquiry tool is the best way to check the status of immigration applications, petitions, or requests.
As the USCIS explains, the case status web page offers applicants the same information they would get from speaking with a representative on the phone. Additionally, this page is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
To use this tool, you must provide your 13-character USCIS Receipt Number. The USCIS provides this for every application or petition it receives. Your Receipt Number will begin with three letters (such as EAC or SRC) followed by ten numbers.
You’ll find your case Receipt Number on any notices of action sent to you by the USCIS.
To talk to a representative for other reasons (if you’re in the United States or a U.S. territory), you can call the USCIS Contact Center.
Representatives are available and respond to live calls and chats Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, except on federal holidays.
By Phone
You can call 1-800-375-5283 to check the status of your visa application with the USCIS.
Be sure to have your USCIS Receipt Number ready, as it will be requested.
These phone lines can be very busy, so be patient when connecting and getting answers. Since this is typically the slowest contact method, you are encouraged to use the online tool instead.
If your case status isn't available at the center where your number indicates, your visa application may have been moved to the National Visa Center. You can contact the National Visa Center by email, phone, or mail.
H-1B Petition Status
Use the online case status tool on the USCIS website to check the status of an H-1B Petition or other petitions and applications.
USCIS e-Request Portal
The USCIS e-Request Portal is an online resource for visa applicants to ask questions and make service requests.
Requests you can make in the online portal are:
Case questions outside of the normal processing time
Notification that mail notice wasn't received
Notification that card wasn't received by mail
Change of address
Accommodations needed for visa interview appointment
Typographic errors on documents
Basic information will be required when making a request through the online portal. The portal will ask for the applicant's NVC case number, date of filing, and other relevant case information.
A response will be sent via email and standard mail.
USCIS Processing Time
The USCIS maintains detailed information on its website on processing times for visa applications.
To check your processing time, you'll need your receipt number.
Changed Circumstances
Visa petitions can take years to process. Once a visa arrives at the National Visa Center, it must wait until the priority date becomes current before being mailed to the proper embassy or consulate.
It's important to let the National Visa Center know if your case status changes during that waiting period.
Reasons to contact the National Visa Center for a changed circumstance are:
Change of address
Change of marital status
Death of the applicant
Birth or adoption of additional children
The National Visa Center requested additional information
Change of attorney
Removal of attorney
Withdrawal of visa application
National Visa Center Fees
Below is a list of the visa fees from the National Visa Center. The fees periodically change, so check with the National Visa Center for updates.
For temporary travel to the U.S., travelers will apply for a nonimmigrant visa. The visa fees are tiered, depending on which visa you apply for.
Non-petition-based Nonimmigrant Visa: $185
B: Visitor Visa: Business, Tourism, Medical treatment
C-1: Transiting the U.S.
D: Crewmembers – Airline, Ship
F: Student, Academic
I: Media and Journalists
M: Students, Vocational
TN/TD: NAFTA Professionals
T: Victim of Trafficking in Persons
U: Victim of Criminal Activity
Petition Based Visa: $205
L: Intracompany Transferees
O: Persons with Extraordinary Ability
P: Athletes, Artists, & Entertainers
Q: International Cultural Exchange
R: Religious Worker
Professional Specialty Visa: $315
E: Treaty Trader/Investor, Australian
Fiance(e) or Spouse of U.S. Citizen Category Visa: $265
K
Border Crossing Card
Age 15 and over, valid for 10 years: $185
Under age 15, valid for 10 years, or when a person reaches age 15: $15
Other Fees
Fraud prevention and detection for L visa: $500
Border Security Act fee: $4,500
When a Processing Fee Isn't Required for a Nonimmigrant Visa
Applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO, and diplomatic visas
Applicants for J visas who participate in official U.S. Government-sponsored educational and cultural exchanges
Replacing a machine-readable visa when the original wasn't attached or needs to be reissued not of the visa holder's fault
Applicants exempted by international agreement as determined by Visa Services
Applicants Travelling to Provide Charitable Services: No Fee
Visa services
U.S. government employee on official business
Parent, sibling, spouse, or child or U.S. Government employee killed in the line of duty who is traveling to funeral or burial. Or for visitation for U.S. employees wounded or needing emergency treatment
Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance Fee Isn't Required in These Situations
An applicant transiting to and from United Nations headquarters
Applicants participating in U.S. Government-sponsored programs may also include spouses or children
Official representative of a foreign government or international organization
Applicant traveling to provide charitable services
When a Visa Isn't Required
Immigrant Services for persons coming to the U.S. Permanently
Immigrant petition for relative (I-130): $675
International orphan, an immediate relative petition (I-600, I-800): $775
(When collected by U.S. Embassies and Consulates for USCIS. Fees are subject to change.)
Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fees
Immediate relative and family preference applications (approved I-130, I-600 or I-800 petition): $325
Employment-based applications (on approved I-140 petition): $345
Approved I-360 self-petitioners and special immigrant visa applicants: $205
Certain Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa
No fee
Other Fees
Diversity Visa Lottery: $330
Affidavit of Support Review: $120
Special Visa Services
Application for Determining Returning Resident Status, Form DS-117: $180
Transportation letter for Legal Permanent Residents of the United States: $575
Application for Waiver of two-year residency requirement, J Waiver, Form DS-3035: $120
Application for Waiver of two-year residency requirement, J Waiver, Form I-601: $930
Refugee or significant public benefit parole case processing: NO fee
Withdrawal of a Visa Application
To withdraw a visa application, the applicant, the petitioner, or the applicant's lawyer must submit a signed, written statement explaining why the applicant requests to withdraw the application.
If the applicant's attorney files this form, it must also be submitted with Form G-28, which is a notice that the applicant's lawyer filed the withdrawal of the application.
Expedition of Visa Application at the National Visa Center
The National Visa Center cannot force the Department of State and other US government authorities to grant your case priority (or ‘visa waiver’). It does not have the authority to expedite visa processing under normal circumstances.
However, when the visa application date is current, the NVC could fast-track the process in life-or-death situations or grave medical emergencies.
The necessary documentation often includes medical records, statements from health professionals, or other proof of the urgency of the application.
The NVC will review this information and then forward it to the United States embassy or consulate, which will handle the case.
Find an Immigration Lawyer in Your State
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National Visa Center Case Status: FAQs
Below, you’ll find common questions and answers regarding National Visa Center Case Status.
How can I find the status of my National Visa Center case?
The best way to check your National Visa Center case status is through the online status checker.
What information is required to find the status of my National Visa Center case?
An NVC case number is assigned when a case is opened at the NVC. You will need this when you inquire about your National Visa Center case status.
How does the National Visa Center fit into the rest of the U.S. immigration process?
After the USCIS processes it and your immigrant visa application's priority date becomes current, the NVC then processes it.
How do I find out my priority date?
Your priority date was assigned when you submitted your visa application to USCIS. It is also on the Approval Notice that you received from USCIS.
Why isn't my case information available at the National Visa Center?
Your case has most likely not yet been sent from the USCIS. There can also be delays between the notice of approval and the notice of receipt from the National Visa Center.
