National Visa Center (NVC)
IV PROCESS & FLOWCHART

Three standardized instruction packages are now used in immigrant visa processing:

(1) The Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants (formerly Packet 3)
(2) The Appointment Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants (formerly Packet 4)
(3) The Follow-Up Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants (formerly Packet 4a—this is the package which initiates the termination process).

Since October 1991, all approved immigrant visa petitions are sent to the national visa center (NVC). The cases are initially processed by NVC and held until a visa number is available and the case is “current for processing”. In the case of a petition approved for a spouse, child or parent of a US citizen, a case is always current. For many Consular Posts, the appointment for an interview is also scheduled by NVC.

For tips on saving time at the NVC and to find out your case number, please see NVC Timesavers, Emailing your DS-3032, Knowing your Case Number

See the below Flowchart for an overview of the NVC process for an immigrant visa (IV). You will note that there are two paths, one for the Visa Applicant (beneficiary) and the other for the Petitioner. If your choice of agent is the Petitioner, which many choose to save in mailing time, the paths still remain separate. Ensure to follow the mailing instructions given at each step for these paths as they do differ.

The below flowchart is an image that contains links. If you are having issues viewing the flowchart whereby the text is difficult to read, please try the following instructions to view correctly:
If you are using IE, your images may be being resized. Click on TOOLS then select Internet Options. You will get a pop-up box. Scroll down to Multimedia and un-check "Enable Automatic Image Resizing". You will then need to close, and reopen your browser. If you are not using IE, the browser that you are using could be similar.