Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) Processing

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Travel.State.Gov > U.S. Visas > Immigrate > The Immigrant Visa Process > Submit a Petition > NVC Processing

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Filter Countries Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) Processing

Managing Your Immigrant Visa Case Online

The U.S. Department of State has gone paperless to serve you better! Immigrant visa applicants in some countries use a Department of State online application center to submit required fees, forms, and documents to the National Visa Center (NVC) for review. This tool is called the Consular Electronic Application Center, or CEAC. It’s secure, easy to use, and faster than the traditional mail-in application process. Using CEAC gives immigrant visa applicants:

Security

Your application information on CEAC is secure. Use your unique case number and invoice ID number to log into CEAC. Only share these numbers with people you trust.

Transparency

CEAC allows you to see what’s going on with your case at any time. Unsure if you’re supposed to be doing something? Need to make sure NVC received your documents? Log into CEAC and check!

Knowledge

NVC will post messages in CEAC each time there is a change to the status of your case. You’ll get detailed feedback right next to your submitted documents so you know what to do next. It’s a faster and more eco-friendly way to ensure you are always up-to-date.

Using CEAC is simple. To access your case online, use the unique case number and invoice ID number that NVC sends you. After you log in, you will see a summary of your case that includes the status of each visa applicant and financial sponsor associated with your case. The status chart will tell you what steps you need to take. The three main things you need to do are: 1) pay your fees, 2) complete the online visa application form, and 3) upload required documents that you scanned and saved to your computer.

Unless specifically instructed to do so, you do not have to send NVC anything in the mail. Instructions and updates from NVC will be posted in your CEAC account. You can also use CEAC to update your email address; add or delete traveling family members; and add financial sponsors.

Next steps

Follow the steps carefully on nvc.state.gov for completing your case.

Back to step 2 - NVC Processing

Who's Involved

National Visa Center: After petition approval, the National Visa Center (NVC) handles processing for certain kinds of documents, sending them onward to U.S. Embassies & Consulates. When and how to Contact NVC.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): USCIS oversees immigration to the United States and approves (or denies) immigrant petitions, and more. Learn about USCIS.

What does it mean to be a...

Petitioner Sponsor Beneficiary Agent Attorney of Record

More Information

Latest News A-Z Index Glossary Diversity Visa Program Fraud Warning What is a U.S. Visa? Adjustment of Status NVC Customer Service Pledge

FAQS: CEAC FAQs: IV Processing A Guide for New Immigrants Visa Bulletin ×

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