If you are applying for an immigrant visa for a family member, you will encounter the National Visa Center during your immigration process. The National Visa Center is a branch of the Department of State responsible for managing the processing of immigrant visa applications.
Once USCIS has approved your immigrant petition, your case is transferred to the National Visa Center to collect additional documentation from you, before your case can be scheduled for a visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains why there have been delays in immigrant visa processing due to challenges faced by the National Visa Center.
Overview
What are some of the problems causing delays in visa processing?
Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) Technical Errors
The Department of State uses an online application for immigrant visa applicants to submit required fees, forms, and documents to the National Visa Center (NVC) for review.
This tool is called the Consular Electronic Application Center, or CEAC which requires you to enter your case number and invoice ID number to login in to the platform.
After logging in the platform will instruct you regarding the steps you need to take to complete pre-processing of your case. This includes 1) paying your fees, 2) completing the DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application, and 3) uploading the required documentation.
Unfortunately, users commonly experience errors while using the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) platform. This includes problems with uploading documents.
When trying to upload documents to CEAC, users who see an “Invalid Image Detected” error must save the completed document as a PDF and re-upload it.
Immigrant Visa Processing Delays
Due to these technical errors, the National Visa Center has been experiencing immigrant visa processing delays. These issues have pushed back immigrant visa processing because the National Visa Center has been unable to promptly receive, and review required documentation.
Other common situations causing delays include submitting incomplete documentation or documentation that is missing required information.
Significant backlogs at the USCIS level are also common reasons prolonging the immigrant visa process. It can take USCIS more than 90 days to transfer cases to the National Visa Center which adds to the waiting period for visa processing.
Limited Visa Numbers
Another important factor to take into consideration are the annual numerical limitations for immigrant visas, which restricts the number of green cards that can be issued each year.
Even if your case has been declared “documentarily complete” by the National Visa Center meaning that you have submitted all the required documentation to complete pre-processing, your case will not proceed with visa interview scheduling until your priority date is current on the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin.
Issues with Documentation
Incomplete or missing documentation that does not comply with the Department of State’s requirements is another common reason for processing delays.
Additionally, if you have made a mistake on your DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application after its submission, you will have the opportunity to correct the mistake at your visa interview. You may do this by bringing the updated documentation to your interview and informing the officer of the correction.
NVC Responses to Inquiries
If you have a question about your case, you may submit an online inquiry using the National Visa Center’s Public Inquiry Form.
As of November 4, 2024, the National Visa Center is responding to online inquiries received on October 29, 2024.
For more information about the National Visa Center’s processing times, please click here.
Backlogs at the National Visa Center
Massive immigrant visa backlogs continue to plague the National Visa Center. According to its October 2024 Immigrant Visa Backlog report, the number of eligible immigrant visa applicants still waiting for visa interview scheduling was more than 360,000 at the end of October 2024. Only 50,022 applicants received interviews in October.
Unfortunately, busy Consulates and Embassies have had very limited availability for visa interviews, causing cases to sit at the National Visa Center for prolonged periods of time.
What You Can Do
To prevent immigrant visa processing delays, ensure that you:
- Timely submit all required documentation on the CEAC portal
- Avoid submitting missing or incomplete documentation
- Promptly pay your immigrant visa fees
- Avoid delays by submitting an accurate and complete DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application
- Communicate with the NVC at least twice a year if your priority date is not current for final action
For more information, please see our helpful links below.
Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-569-1768 or call 619-819-9204.
Helpful Links
- Immigrant Visa Interview Backlog Report
- Immigrant Visa Process – Civil Documents
- Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC)
- NVC Contact Information
- NVC Processing Times
- Visa Bulletin
- Adjustment of Status Filing Dates from Visa Bulletin
- USCIS Processing Times
- ImmigrationLawyerBlog
- ImmigrationU Membership
- Success stories
- Youtube channel
JOIN OUR NEW FACEBOOK GROUP
Need more immigration updates? We have created a new facebook group to address the impact of the new executive order and other changing developments related to COVID-19. Follow us there.
For other COVID 19 related immigration updates please visit our Immigration and COVID-19 Resource Center here.