In cases of emergency or necessity, a petitioner can request to expedite their immigration process from the National Visa Center (NVC).

An NVC expedite request is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Make sure you have valid reasons to make this kind of request for your immigrant visa processing.

In this article, we will help you go through the NVC expedite requirements and process. We’ll also feature a sample letter for an NVC expedite request.

When Should You Submit an NVC Expedite Request?

As mentioned above, the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) decides on NVC expedite requests on a case-by-case basis.

If you’re wondering if you’re qualified, the following are regarded as legitimate reasons for making the request:

• The petitioner suffers from a major medical illness or health problem (any life or death medical emergency).
• Humanitarian emergencies
• The beneficiary has suffered significant trauma in their home country (i.e., sexual assault, a victim of a crime, etc.).
• Financial difficulty (must be fully documented to establish the financial damage)
• The child beneficiary is about to reach the age of twenty one.
• There are delays in the National Visa Center.
• The petitioner requires the beneficiary’s care due to medical reasons.
• The beneficiary is about to give birth.

How to Request Expedited Processing

To seek an expedited review, send a scanned letter or statement from a physician or medical facility to NVCExpedite@state.gov.

The letter should include the physician’s or medical facility’s contact information and state that a life or death medical emergency exists.

Include the case or receipt number in the subject line, as well as at least one of the following:

• Name and the petitioner’s date of birth
• Beneficiary’s name and birth date
• Invoice identification number

You can also make a call to the National Visa Center at (603) 334-0700 for immigrant visa questions and (603) 334-0888 for nonimmigrant visa questions.

Once you receive approval for your NVC expedite request without conditions, it will be sent immediately to the United States. Ensure that you have all of the relevant documents for this.

If your expedite request is approved with conditions (i.e., paying the requisite fees, documents, etc.), they must be met before the case is submitted to the United States Consulate abroad.

The application will proceed with the usual process if an expedited request is rejected.

Checking Your NVC Status

The following are some frequent statuses that you will find on the CEAS case tracker and what they mean:

At NVC

Your file has not yet been forwarded to the United States. The application was sent to the embassy/consulate and is still being processed at the National Visa Center.

In Transit

Your case has been forwarded to the US Embassy/Consulate, but they have not yet received it.

Ready

This means that the US Consulate/Embassy has received your paperwork and is ready to schedule the interview.

Once your paperwork is complete, you must arrange your embassy interview, schedule or register for the medical exam, attend the exam, and finish the interview.

NVC Expedite Request Letter Sample

To guide you in writing your NVC expedite request letter, you may refer to the sample below:

Email recipient: NVCexpedite@state.gov

Subject: Request for NVC Expedite | NVC Case Number XXXXXX

NVC Case Number: XXXXXXX

Beneficiary’s Full Name: Maria Alcantara

Beneficiary’s Date of Birth: 05/11/1990

Beneficiary’s Telephone Number: XXX-XXX-XXXX

Petitioner’s Name: Rolando Alcantara

Petitioner’s Date of Birth: 02/22/1977

Petitioner’s Telephone Number: XXX-XXX-XXXX

Dear Sir/Madam:

My name is Rolando Alcantara, and I am requesting to expedite the case of my daughter, Maria Alcantara, NVC case number XXXXXX.

I am currently facing an emergency medical condition and will need her to help care for me during my surgery (indicate why that applies to your situation).

[Mention the current status of your case, including any costs you have paid, paperwork that has been submitted, and so on. If you claim a major medical problem or health issue, submit medical documentation to prove this.

Additionally, include as many facts as possible to substantiate your suffering (financial, medical, humanitarian, etc.) and the reason for your request to expedite.]

[State the timeline of events about the visa application]

Please contact me at [insert phone number or email address] if you have any questions. Thank you!

Sincerely,

[Petitioner Name]

Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX

Bottom Line

You can file for an NVC expedite request if your reasons are valid.

However, it is still best not to let your hopes up when you submit a request. The judgment will still depend on the USCIS office, which handles each case differently.

If your reasons for expediting your request are not included on the list mentioned above, consult an immigration lawyer for assistance.