- The National Visa Center’s long-listed number is 603-334-0700, but the State Department suspended the NVC public inquiry telephone line on May 23, 2022, and its current NVC contact page lists no phone number.
- The official way to reach NVC is the Public Inquiry Form at nvc.state.gov/inquiry, for immigrant visa cases only.
- Check nvc.state.gov/timeframes first: NVC asks you not to send a follow-up while your case is still inside its published response time.
(UNITED STATES) Searching for the National Visa Center (NVC) phone number usually ends at 603-334-0700, the number NVC used for its public information line from its base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The State Department says that line is no longer a public contact channel. It announced on May 23, 2022 that the NVC public inquiry telephone line was suspended, and the NVC Contact Information page on travel.state.gov (as archived on July 13, 2026) lists only an online form. We could not confirm that anyone answers 603-334-0700 today, and an earlier version of this article that gave fixed phone hours for 2025 could not be verified against any State Department source, so we removed it.
How to contact the National Visa Center today
| What you need | Where to go | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ask a question about an immigrant visa case | Public Inquiry Form | Official contact channel. Immigrant visa cases only; NVC cannot answer nonimmigrant visa questions. |
| Check how long NVC is taking | nvc.state.gov/timeframes | Updated weekly. Do not send a follow-up while your case is within these times. |
| Pay fees, upload documents, fill out the DS-260 | ceac.state.gov | Log in with the Case Number and Invoice ID from your NVC Welcome Letter. |
| General instructions and FAQs | nvc.state.gov | Includes the NVC Navigator for common questions. |
NVC also reminds applicants that visa records are confidential under section 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, so it generally gives case information only to the visa applicant, with exceptions for the U.S. sponsor, an attorney for the applicant, members of Congress, or someone acting for the applicant.
How long NVC is taking
NVC publishes three live timeframes. In the version captured on April 27, 2026, NVC was creating cases from petitions USCIS had sent on April 16, 2026, reviewing documents submitted on April 16, 2026, and answering Public Inquiry Form messages received on April 16, 2026. That is a lag of about 11 days on each. The page changes every week, so use the live page rather than these figures. If your inquiry is older than the date shown, send a follow-up through the form; if it is newer, wait.
What the NVC does
After USCIS approves an immigrant petition, USCIS sends it to the NVC. The NVC creates your case, collects the immigrant visa application fee and the Affidavit of Support, receives your DS-260 and civil documents, and holds the case until an interview can be scheduled at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Close family of U.S. citizens (spouses, children and parents) are contacted to proceed right away. For employment-based and other family categories, the NVC starts when the priority date matches or is about to match the cut-off date in the monthly Visa Bulletin, and it will tell you when it begins.
USCIS and the NVC are separate agencies. USCIS decides the petition; the NVC prepares the file afterward. For problems with a petition, use your USCIS contact options instead.
Do not lose your case: the one-year rule
Under INA section 203(g), if you do not respond to NVC notices within one year of being told a visa is available, your registration can be terminated and you could lose your priority date. A petition may be reinstated if you show within two years that the failure was beyond your control. Keep your email and mailing address current in CEAC and answer every notice.
Scams and unofficial sites
- NVC fees are paid through your CEAC account. Never give card or bank details to someone who calls, texts or emails you.
- Lookalike sites that sell “NVC phone numbers”, “priority service” or case status are not affiliated with the government. The official sites are travel.state.gov, nvc.state.gov and ceac.state.gov.
- If a caller claims to be from the NVC, hang up and use the Public Inquiry Form to confirm.
Related reading
- Age-Out Risk Rises as National Visa Center Delays Immigrant Visa Interviews
- Are NVC Services Operational During a Shutdown, and Fee Payments
- How to Prepare Now for Priority Date Movement
Frequently asked questions
What is the NVC phone number?
The number long associated with the NVC is 603-334-0700. The State Department suspended the NVC public inquiry telephone line on May 23, 2022, and its NVC contact page now lists only the online Public Inquiry Form, so do not count on reaching an agent by phone.
How do I contact the National Visa Center?
Use the Public Inquiry Form at nvc.state.gov/inquiry for immigrant visa cases, after checking the published timeframes at nvc.state.gov/timeframes.
Can I email the NVC?
The State Department’s NVC contact page directs you to the Public Inquiry Form rather than a general email address. Submit documents through CEAC as your instructions say.
Does the NVC handle nonimmigrant visas?
No. The NVC cannot answer nonimmigrant visa questions. Use the travel.state.gov tourism and visit pages or the embassy handling your application.
How long does the NVC take to answer?
It publishes the current response time at nvc.state.gov/timeframes and updates it weekly. In late April 2026 it was answering inquiries from about 11 days earlier.
