Case status
How do I check my NVC case status online?
Updated · Not legal advice
Use the State Department's CEAC Visa Status Check (ceac.state.gov), choose Immigrant Visa, and enter your NVC case number. To pay fees, upload documents and see messages from NVC, sign in to the CEAC immigrant visa account with your case number and invoice ID.
| Status | What it generally means |
|---|---|
| At NVC | NVC is handling the case: fees, documents or scheduling |
| In Transit | The case is moving between NVC and the embassy or consulate |
| Ready | The case is at the embassy or consulate, ready for or scheduled for an interview |
| Administrative Processing | More review is needed after the interview |
| Issued | The visa was issued |
| Refused | The visa was refused; for 221(g) refusals the case may still be completed later |
Documentarily qualified (DQ)
After you pay fees and submit forms and documents, NVC reviews them. When everything is accepted, the case is documentarily qualified and NVC schedules the interview when an appointment at your embassy or consulate is available and your priority date is current.
NVC case number vs USCIS receipt number
They are different numbers for different agencies. See NVC case number vs USCIS receipt number.
Quick answers
- How long does NVC take to schedule an interview after documentarily qualified?
- It depends on appointment availability at your embassy or consulate and whether your priority date is current. There is no fixed number of days.
- How do I get an alert when my CEAC status changes?
- CEAC itself does not offer personal alerts. Check it periodically, or watch for NVC emails.
- How do I know when my I-129F moves to NVC?
- After USCIS approves the I-129F, it sends the petition to NVC. NVC assigns a case number and forwards it to the embassy or consulate.
What to do next
Track the USCIS side of your case and your Visa Bulletin date here.
Set up alertsSources
Checked: November 12, 2026