The National Visa Center (NVC) is a division of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) that plays a critical role in processing immigrant visa applications. More specifically, it is relevant to the Form I-130 petition process for foreign relatives of U.S. citizens and Green Card holders.
In this article, gain a basic understanding of NVC processing, find Form I-864P federal poverty guidelines, and learn where to locate an Alien Registration Number.
What is NVC Processing?
NVC processing begins after a beneficiary (the immigrant visa applicant) and a petitioner (a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) receive Form I-130 approval from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Upon I-130 approval, USCIS forwards the petition to the NVC for further processing.
There are 7 steps involved in NVC processing:
- Pay the fees.
- Complete Form DS-260 and upload civil documents.
- Upload affidavit of support (Form I-864) and proof of the sponsor’s income.
- NVC review of the application.
- Interview at a local U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Pick up passport with a stamped visa.
- Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee.
Visit the full National Visa Center processing guide to find fee amounts and review specific details to each of the above steps.
What is I-864P?
Form I-864P, Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support, is not a form that is filed with USCIS; rather, it is a provision published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is released annually in January by HHS. Thus, we are still under the 2024 FPL.
If your sponsor’s salary is 125% of the HHS guideline for the sponsor’s household size, or 100% for sponsors who are on active duty in the U.S. armed forces, you will meet the FPL.
Navigate to the full 2024 I-864P poverty guidelines here.
Where Can I Find My Alien Registration Number?
An Alien Registration Number—also simply called an A-Number, A#, or USCIS#—is a unique seven- or nine-character identifier issued to immigration applicants by USCIS. To locate your A-number, use one of the following methods:
- Locate on Form I-485 receipt notice under “USCIS Alien Number”
- Locate on biometrics appointment notice under “USCIS#”
- Locate on Form I-129F approval notice under “Beneficiary” field
- Locate on I-551 Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) under “USCIS#”
- Locate on Naturalization Certificate in the “USCIS Registration Number” field
- Locate on Employment Authorization Document (EAD) under “USCIS#”
- Locate on Immigrant Visa under the “Registration Number” field
- Locate on Form I-797 under “USCIS A#”
- Locate on Form I-140 approval notice in the “Beneficiary” field
- An A-Number is automatically assigned after an asylum application (Form I-589)
- Locate on immigration court notices under “File#”
Keeping track of the A-Number identifier is essential throughout the U.S. immigration process. If you are unable to locate it, contact USCIS at 800-375-5283 to speak with a representative in English or Spanish.
Photo by Porapak Apichodilok: