Visa & Green Card
What Is an NVC Case Number?
Your NVC case number is assigned after USCIS sends your approved petition to the National Visa Center. Here's its format, an example of where it comes from, and how it differs from your USCIS receipt number.
- Format & example
- Where to find it
- No personal data
Educational estimate only. Not legal, tax, immigration, or financial advice. Full disclaimer below.
Last updated: July 4, 2026. These are general planning ranges only — NVC and embassy timelines change constantly and are never guaranteed. Interview scheduling depends on appointment availability at your embassy or consulate. Always verify the official NVC timeframes and check CEAC.
NVC fees & timing
Affidavit of Support review
$120
Form I-864 review fee, per case.
Family-based IV (per applicant)
$325
Immigrant visa application fee.
Employment-based IV (per applicant)
$345
Immigrant visa application fee.
Other immigrant visa (where applicable)
$205
E.g. DV and certain special categories.
These are general planning ranges only — NVC and embassy timelines change constantly and are never guaranteed. Interview scheduling depends on appointment availability at your embassy or consulate. Always verify the official NVC timeframes and check CEAC.
Quick answer
An NVC case number is the identifier the National Visa Center assigns to your immigrant visa case after USCIS approves your petition and forwards it for consular processing. It typically starts with a three-letter code for your embassy/consulate ("post") followed by digits. You use it — with your invoice ID — to log in to CEAC, pay fees, and complete the DS-260. It is not the same as your USCIS receipt number.
Privacy note: keep your case number and invoice ID private. No legitimate tool needs your full case number, invoice ID, passport number, or date of birth to help you.
NVC case number vs. USCIS receipt number
Two different numbers from two different agencies — a common point of confusion.
| NVC case number | USCIS receipt number | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | National Visa Center (Dept. of State) | USCIS (Dept. of Homeland Security) |
| When | After petition approval, for consular processing | When your petition is first receipted |
| Looks like | 3-letter post code + digits (e.g. a New Delhi post prefix) | 3-letter service center code + 10 digits |
| Used for | Logging in to CEAC, fees, DS-260 | Tracking the petition on the USCIS case status site |
The format of an NVC case number
An NVC case number is built from a three-letter post code — the abbreviation for the U.S. embassy or consulate that will handle your interview — followed by a string of numbers that encodes the year and a sequence. For applicants interviewing in India, the post code corresponds to the consular post assigned to the case. You do not need to decode it; what matters is that you enter it exactly as shown on your welcome notice when you log in to CEAC.
Because the format looks similar to other government identifiers, families often mix it up with the USCIS receipt number or the DS-260 confirmation number. They are all different. The safest habit is to label each number clearly when you write it down (privately) and only ever enter it on the official CEAC site.
Where to find your NVC case number
- → On your NVC welcome letter or welcome email, sent after NVC creates your case.
- → On your CEAC case summary, once you have logged in.
- → From your attorney or petitioner, if they received the welcome notice on your behalf.
If you never received a welcome notice and enough time has passed since your petition was approved, your case may still be in transit from USCIS to NVC — or the notice may have gone to a different address or email. In that situation, an NVC public inquiry is the right way to ask for your case number and invoice ID.
Case number, invoice ID, and DS-260 confirmation — how they fit together
Three identifiers show up during NVC processing. The case number and invoice ID are issued by NVC and are what you use to log in to CEAC and pay fees. The DS-260 confirmation number is generated when each applicant submits the online immigrant visa application. You keep all three, but only the case number and invoice ID unlock your CEAC account. If you have one but not the other, check your welcome notice or contact NVC.
What to do once you have your case number
With your case number and invoice ID in hand, log in to CEAC and work through the steps: pay the fees, complete the DS-260, and upload civil and financial documents. To see exactly which stage you are in and what comes next, use the NVC case status checker. To plan how long each step may take, see NVC processing time.
More NVC guides
NVC Case Status & Timeline
Where you are after USCIS approval + next step
NVC Processing Time
Case creation, document review & interview wait
NVC Document Checklist (India)
Civil & financial documents for Indian applicants
NVC Public Inquiry
When and how to contact NVC
I-485 Processing Time
Adjusting status inside the U.S. instead
PERM Processing Time Calculator
The PWD → PERM → I-140 timeline before NVC
EB2 / EB3 Priority Date India
When your India priority date becomes current
Visa Bulletin Explained
How the monthly bulletin works for Indians
Immigration Tracker
Priority dates, backlog & processing times
Frequently asked questions
What is an NVC case number?
An NVC case number is the identifier the National Visa Center assigns to your immigrant visa case after USCIS approves your petition and forwards it to NVC for consular processing. It usually begins with a three-letter code for the embassy or consulate (the 'post') followed by digits. You use it, together with your invoice ID, to log in to the CEAC immigrant visa portal.
Where do I find my NVC case number?
It appears on your NVC welcome letter or welcome email — the notice NVC sends after creating your case. If you have already logged in to CEAC, it is shown on your case summary. If you used an attorney, they typically receive the welcome notice and can share the number. Keep it private.
Is my USCIS receipt number the same as my NVC case number?
No. They are different numbers from different agencies. The USCIS receipt number (three letters plus ten digits, e.g. starting with a service center code) tracks your petition at USCIS. The NVC case number is issued later by the Department of State for consular processing. You cannot use one in place of the other.
What is the NVC invoice ID?
The invoice ID is a separate number NVC issues along with your case number. You need both the case number and the invoice ID to log in to CEAC and to pay the required fees. If you have the case number but not the invoice ID, check your welcome notice or contact NVC.
Do I need my NVC case number for CEAC?
Yes. To access the CEAC immigrant visa portal you enter your NVC case number and your invoice ID. Without both, you cannot pay fees, complete the DS-260, or upload documents. If you have lost them, they are on your welcome notice, or you can request them through an NVC public inquiry.
Can I check NVC status without a case number?
Generally no. CEAC requires your NVC case number and invoice ID to show your case. If you do not yet have them, your case may not have been created at NVC yet — USCIS may still be forwarding it. If enough time has passed, you can submit an NVC public inquiry to ask about your case.
Written / reviewed by Deepak Middha · CA, Series 65
Last updated: July 4, 2026
Disclaimer, assumptions & sources
This tool is for general education and planning only. It does not replace advice from a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, USCIS, IRS, State Department, or other official source. Rules, limits, forms, fees, dates, and government processing information may change. Always verify before filing, investing, or making immigration, tax, or financial decisions.
- For educational use only — not legal advice.
- Not tax advice.
- Not financial advice.
- Not immigration advice.
- Numbers, forms, fees, dates, rules, and limits may change at any time.
- Always verify with official sources before acting.
- Consult a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, or the relevant official agency (USCIS, IRS, State Department) when it matters to your situation.
This is an educational tool and not legal advice. Always verify with official USCIS, Department of State, CEAC, and embassy/consulate instructions.
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