Documents required for submission to the National Visa Center (NVC) for an immigrant visa case include:
1. Form DS-260 or Form DS-261, Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application;
2. Valid passport(s);
3. Birth Certificate(s);
4. Marriage Certificate(s);
5. Police Certificate(s);
6. Medical Examination Report;
7. Evidence of Financial Support;
8. Photographs;
9. Form I-864, Affidavit of Support; and
10. Any other documents specified by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
The best way to determine the documents necessary for your specific immigrant visa category and case is to consult the U.S. Department of State’s website or speak with a qualified immigration attorney for specific advice. All applicants are required to provide certain basic documents, such as a passport, birth certificate, and other proof of identity. Depending on the category of visa, additional documents may be necessary. For example, employment-based visa applicants may need to provide proof of a job offer, while family-based visa applicants may need to provide proof of the family relationship.
The NVC prefers documents to be submitted in PDF (Portable Document Format) or TIFF (Tagged Image File Format). If the documents cannot be provided in this format, then they must be scanned and submitted as a single PDF or TIFF file. Electronic copies are accepted by the NVC.
No, you must wait until you receive instructions from the NVC before sending any documents. The NVC will provide you with a list of required documents and instructions on how to submit them.
1. Create a profile on the National Visa Center (NVC) online portal.
2. Submit the required documents to the NVC, including Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application), passport bio page, birth certificate, civil documents, police certificates, financial documents, and any other documents as required.
3. Once submitted, the NVC will review your application and documents and provide you with an Invoice ID.
4. Pay the applicable fees online using the Invoice ID.
5. Submit any additional documents if requested by the NVC.
6. Once all documents have been submitted and reviewed, you will receive notice from the NVC regarding the next steps in the process.
Each document must be legible, in the original file format, and under 4 megabytes (MB). The NVC accepts most file formats, including Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), JPEG (.jpg), GIF (.gif), and TIFF (.tif). The NVC will not accept any paper documents.
1. Use only white, 8.5 x 11 inch paper for all documents.
2. Print all documents using a laser or inkjet printer; photocopies are not accepted.
3. Write all information legibly in black ink.
4. Avoid writing or typing text too close to the margins of the paper—leave a margin of at least one inch on all sides of the page.
5. Make sure that each document is signed and dated in the appropriate places.
6. All documents must be in English or translated into English and certified by a competent translator.
7. When submitting photocopies, make sure that all copies are clear and legible.
8. If submitting attached documents, make sure that they are securely stapled or glued together and that all pages are securely attached to the main document or application.
9. Use large fonts, such as Arial 12 point, when typing your documents to ensure readability.
10. Make sure your scanned documents are clear and legible when they are emailed or uploaded online to the NVC.
No. The NVC does not accept translations of non-English documents directly from applicants. Document translations must be prepared by an accredited translator or translation service and must be accompanied by a Certificate of Accuracy.
Yes, the National Visa Center (NVC) has detailed instructions for submitting civil documents, including birth certificates and marriage certificates. The specific instructions vary depending on the nature of the document and the country where it was issued. Generally, documents must be submitted in their original format, as photocopies are not accepted, and must be sent with a cover letter that includes the applicant’s case number and NVC contact information. The NVC may also require additional documents to prove the authenticity of the civil documents.
An Affidavit of Support is a document that enables an individual to provide proof of financial support for someone, such as a spouse, relative, or foreign student. The affidavit is typically used to prove that the sponsor has the means to provide for the person they are supporting financially.
The Affidavit of Support will need to be notarized and should include the following information:
• The sponsor’s full name, address, date of birth and contact information
• The sponsored individual’s full name, address, date of birth and contact information
• A statement of the sponsor’s intent to provide financial support to the sponsored individual
• A statement of the amount of financial support that will be provided
• Evidence of the sponsor’s ability to provide financial support (pay stubs, bank statements, etc.)
• A statement that the sponsor is aware of their responsibility to provide financial support until the sponsored individual is self-sufficient
The Affidavit of Support should be scanned and included as part of any necessary document submission.
The time frame for submitting documents to the NVC after receiving instructions is typically 30 days.
Yes, you can make changes or corrections to the documents you have already submitted to the NVC. You must provide updated information or documents to the NVC in order to correct any errors or omissions. However, you should contact the NVC before making any changes to ensure that they are accepted.
If you are experiencing discrepancies or issues with the documents identified by the NVC during review, you should contact the NVC directly through their website or by calling their customer service line. They will be able to advise you on the best course of action to address the issue and provide more information on the process for submitting additional documents.
Yes, you can submit documents that are not originally requested by the National Visa Center (NVC). However, there are certain requirements that must be met. First, the documents must be relevant to your case. Additionally, they must meet U.S. embassy/consulate requirements and any applicable visa laws. It is important to contact the NVC before submitting any additional documents to ensure that they will be accepted.
Yes. The National Visa Center (NVC) requires that police certificates, background checks, and other security-related documents be submitted in accordance with their specific guidelines. To view these guidelines, please visit the NVC website at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/security-background-checks/submit-security-documents.html.
If you are having difficulty uploading or submitting documents to the NVC’s online portal, then you should first try to troubleshoot the issue. Check to make sure that your documents are in the correct file format, that they are not too large to upload, and that you have strong internet connectivity. You can also contact the NVC with general questions or inquiries related to the submission process by calling their customer service line at 202-663-1225. Additionally, they have an online chat service available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.
Yes, in some cases you may be able to request an extension for additional time to gather and submit the required documents. However, extensions are not guaranteed and you should contact the agency or organization that is requesting the documents for further information.
To track the status of your document submission and confirm that the National Visa Center (NVC) has received them, you may use your CEAC case number by visiting ceac.state.gov. If you do not have a CEAC case number you may contact the NVC at 1-603-334-0700 or via email at [email protected]. You may also contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will be interviewed to inquire about your documents.
Yes, the NVC charges a fee of $445 for applications requiring Affidavit of Support from a sponsor. There are also additional fees associated with specific applications and documents.
There are a number of resources available to help navigate the document submission process to the NVC effectively. The National Visa Center (NVC) provides free resources on their website, such as forms and instructions, videos, and frequently asked questions. Additionally, there are many organizations that provide free or low-cost assistance with the document submission process, such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association and National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild. You can also speak with a qualified lawyer or immigration specialist for more specific guidance.