What is the National Visa Center and Its Importance in Immigration?
Definition & Meaning
The National Visa Center (NVC) is a part of the U.S. Department of State that manages the processing of immigrant visa applications. It acts as a bridge between the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. Once an immigrant visa petition is approved by USCIS, it is sent to the NVC, which retains the petition until it is ready for adjudication by a consular officer. The NVC also collects visa application fees and documentation from applicants.
Legal Use & context
The NVC plays a crucial role in the immigration process, particularly in the areas of family and employment-based immigration. It handles the administrative aspects of visa applications, ensuring that all required fees and documents are submitted before a case is forwarded for adjudication. Users can manage their applications using forms and templates available through services like US Legal Forms, which can simplify the process.
Real-world examples
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
Example 1: A person who has an approved family-based immigrant visa petition receives a notification from the NVC to submit their visa application fees and required documents. Once submitted, the NVC processes the application for adjudication.
Example 2: An applicant for an employment-based visa is informed by the NVC that their priority date is current, prompting them to complete the necessary steps for visa processing. (hypothetical example)