Questions & Answers

Why are my dependents not included in the letter from the National Visa Center?

My EB-5 petition was approved on February 26, 2018 and one month later I received the receipt letter from NVC. In the letter, my ID and invoice ID were mentioned, but there were not any details of my dependents (my wife and 2 kids.) Is this normal? Should I notify NVC about the dependents? How long would it take NVC to add dependents'' names and send me another letter? Should I wait to pay the fees and fill out DS 260 until their names are added?

Answers

• Fredrick W Voigtmann

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on April 16, 2018

  The National Visa Center (NVC) no longer receives a physical file or notice of dependents from the USCIS. Therefore, it is necessary for you or your attorney to notify the NVC of the dependents and provide copies of their passports and evidence of relationship to you (marriage certificate or birth certificate) so that the NVC can add them to the case and issue the immigrant visa fee bills necessary to move the case forward with them included. The NVC usually can do this in a few days to a week. You can pay the IV fee for yourself now or wait until your entire family has the fee bills.

• Belma Chinchoy

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on April 16, 2018

  First, why isn''t your I-526 attorney handling this? No one should go through the National Visa Center process on their own; it is a seemingly simple process but one fraught with various complications (and errors from the center). It is common for dependents not to be issued fee bills. You must add them if you want them to get visas and do so before you pay the fees. Call your I-526 attorney or get a different lawyer.

• BoBi Ahn

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on April 16, 2018

  You should notify the National Visa Center. Your wife and child (under 21 years of age) should have also received an IV fee invoice.

• Charles Foster

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on April 16, 2018

  The National Visa Center should know about your dependents based upon the information you would have already provided. Also, you will include information about your dependents at the time you apply for your immigrant visa at the appropriate American consulate abroad as you complete your application on Form DS-260. Yes, in order to proceed you should pay your fees and continue the process and complete your DS-260.