Once your USCIS I-130 Petition for a foreign relative has been approved by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the case is then forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC acts between USCIS and the US Consulate or Embassy where your relative is located to collect additional information and evidence before the immigrant visa interview can be scheduled. The immigrant visa interview will not be scheduled until NVC clears the case for the interview. Sometimes this process can take several months. We discuss how to request NVC to expedite your case here.
What situations qualify for an NVC expedite request?
If your I-130 has been approved, a visa is available for your relative’s category, and you provided NVC with all required documents, an expedited request may be made for the following reasons:
- The petitioner has a serious medical condition or health ailment (life or death medical emergency)
- Urgent humanitarian reasons
- The beneficiary has experienced severe trauma in their home country (i.e., sexual assault, a victim of a crime, etc.)
- Financial hardship (these must be thoroughly documented to prove the financial loss that has or would occur)
- The child beneficiary is turning 21 years old and is aging out
- Unreasonable delays or errors caused by the NVC
- The petitioner needs the beneficiary to care for them due to health reasons
- The beneficiary giving birth soon
How do I make an NVC expedite request?
If you have a situation that qualifies for an expedite request, and a visa is available for your relative, a request is made by submitting a statement (letter) along with supporting evidence directly to the NVC at: NVCExpedite@state.gov
The request must include your case or receipt number in the subject line along with at least one of the following:
- Petitioner’s name and date of birth
- Beneficiary’s name and date of birth
- Invoice ID number
The National Visa Center no longer has a phone number to field such requests. They must be made in writing and submitted directly to the NVC.
What happens after I make an expedite request with the NVC?
You will typically receive a reply to your expedite request from the NVC within 30 days. If your NVC expedite request is approved without conditions, then the NVC will send it directly to the US Consulate or Embassy to schedule the interview. If the expedite request is approved with conditions (pay the required fees, forms, etc.), these will need to be completed before the case is sent to the US Consulate abroad.
How do I check National Visa Center (NVC) processing times?
NVC UPDATE – National Visa Center (NVC) Suspends Public Inquiry Telephone Line
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