How long does it take for NVC to schedule your visa interview in October 2024?

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In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick updates our viewers about how long it is taking for an immigrant visa interview to be scheduled at U.S. Consulates and Embassies overseas as of October 2024.

This information can be found on the State Department’s Immigrant Visa Interview Backlog Report. 

Please note that the green card application process will differ for individuals applying from inside the United States (this process is known as Adjustment of Status).

For the purposes of this video, we will focus solely on consular processing for applicants applying for their green card from outside the United States via a U.S. Consulate or Embassy overseas.

If you would like to learn more about this topic, please keep on watching.

How long do I have to wait for NVC to send my case to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for interview scheduling?

On average, it can take the National Visa Center approximately 45 days to declare your case “documentarily complete.”

A case becomes “documentarily complete” once the applicant has paid all visa fees and submitted all required documents, including the DS-260 Online Immigrant Visa Application, Affidavit of Support, and other supporting documentation.

PRO TIP: To minimize delays, ensure that you are familiar with the documentation you must submit early on, and provide it promptly.

The amount of time you will need to wait for interview scheduling may vary depending on the following factors:

  • Your Preference Category: unless you are the immediate relative of a U.S. Citizen, your preference category will be subject to annual numerical limits. This means that you must check the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin regularly to know how much time you will need to wait before final action can be taken on your case.
  • Country of Nationality: Your country of nationality may also have an impact on the processing of your case. If you are dealing with a U.S. Embassy or Consulate that is in high demand such as India, Pakistan, or the Philippines, then you can expect longer wait times for interview scheduling, due to limited availability of visa interview appointments.

PRO TIP: Be proactive. Ensure that you have submitted all required documentation and follow up with the National Visa Center (NVC) regularly regarding your case.

After Your Case is Declared Documentarily Complete

After your case is declared “documentarily complete,” and your priority date is current on the Final Action Dates chart of the Visa Bulletin, the National Visa Center (NVC) will communicate with your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy to determine whether a visa interview appointment is available.

Once an interview slot becomes available, your case will be transferred to your local Consulate or Embassy, and you will receive an interview appointment notice.

Note: If your priority date is not current on the Final Action Dates chart, your case will remain warehoused at the National Visa Center until it becomes current.

October 2024 Immigrant Visa Backlog Report

According to the NVC’s latest immigrant visa backlog report, there are more than 400,000 immigrant visa applicants with cases that are documentarily complete still waiting for interview scheduling as of September 30, 2024. Only 50,022 immigrant visa applicants were scheduled for interviews in October 2024.

The number of eligible immigrant visa applicants still pending the scheduling of an interview exceeds 363,000.

Before 2019, the State Department scheduled approximately 60,000 immigrant visa interviews every month.  The good news is that interview scheduling is improving. By 2025, we expect the pace of interview scheduling to match pre-pandemic levels.

Unreasonable Delays

Applicants with current priority dates are encouraged to follow up with the National Visa Center (NVC) regularly to ensure their cases are documentarily complete. Please be aware that if your priority date is not current, your case will not be scheduled for a visa interview because no visa is available for you.

Those with U.S. Citizen petitioners, facing compelling hardships such as urgent medical needs, may wish to speak to an attorney to discuss the possibility of applying for expedited processing or other relief.

Others may wish to move their cases to a neighboring Consulate or Embassy with faster interview scheduling.

Those who have experienced unreasonable delays, whose priority dates are current, may wish to discuss the possibility of filing a mandamus lawsuit in federal court to compel the State Department to take action.

Conclusion

Remember that you can contact the National Visa Center to ensure your case is documentarily complete and inquire on the status of interview scheduling. If you believe that you are eligible for expedited processing of your case or would like to file a mandamus lawsuit in federal court, we invite you to contact our office to evaluate your case and determine eligibility.

Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-569-1768 or call 619-819-9204.

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