CEAC status “At NVC”: what it means and how long it takes
As of 2 November 2026, VisaMoves does not track time at the National Visa Center. For the later 221(g) stage, the median immigrant case took 18 days from interview to Approved or Issued, across 46 tracked cases.
At NVC means the National Visa Center has your immigrant visa case. This is where fees are paid, the DS-260 is filed and civil documents are submitted.
What it means
- The State Department's immigrant visa process sends approved petitions to the National Visa Center (NVC). NVC collects fees, the DS-260 and supporting documents, then works with the embassy or consulate to schedule an interview.
- CEAC showing "At NVC" is commonly reported to cover this whole stage, including after your documents are accepted and while you wait for an interview date.
- This label is mainly seen on immigrant visa cases. Nonimmigrant visas such as H-1B, F-1 and B1/B2 do not go through NVC.
How long people stay in this status
We do not track the time spent at the National Visa Center. These numbers cover the later stage, after an immigrant visa interview that ended in a 221(g).
Immigrant visa 221(g) cases: interview date to the first day CEAC showed Approved or Issued, across 46 cases.
Immigrant cases still waiting: 196 tracked cases have no reported outcome yet. They are a median of 174 days past their interview, and 93% are past 60 days. Some of these may have finished without an update being shared.
Based on reports applicants share publicly, anonymised. Cases with no outcome yet have no end date, so they are not in the medians. How we measure.
What to do next
- Pay the fees, file the DS-260 and upload documents in CEAC as instructed.
- After NVC accepts your documents, wait for interview scheduling. The status usually changes to In Transit or Ready once the case moves to the embassy or consulate.
Quick answers
What does At NVC mean on CEAC?
The National Visa Center has your immigrant visa case and is handling fees, forms and documents before your interview.
How long do immigrant 221(g) cases take after the interview?
Median 18 days from interview to Approved or Issued across 46 tracked immigrant cases, with 90% finished within 251 days.
Related CEAC statuses
- CEAC “In Transit”: what it means
- CEAC “Ready”: what it means
- CEAC “Refused”: what it means
- CEAC Refused to Issued: how long it takes
- What a 221(g) white slip means
- Wait times by consulate
- The 221(g) playbook: what to do and when
Other statuses: Administrative Processing · Approved · Issued · Application Received · Expired
Community data, not legal advice.