The ConsularProcess route to a green card consists of three steps: (1) Filing and approvalof the I-140; (2) National Visa Center; and (3) Consular interview. The middle stage, the NVC stage, consist ofcollection of fees for the processing of the Beneficiary and his or her family(often called “Fee Bills”) and the collection of a variety of civil documentation,such as birth, marriage, and police certificates. In a break from the past, the NVC will nowonly collect photocopies of these civil documents. The original civil documents should bebrought to the Consular Interview in the home country. Applicants at designated electronicprocessing posts will continue to submit their documents via email. This new policy iseffective as of November 12, 2014.
When the Consular Interviewis scheduled, NVC will instruct applicants to bring their original documents tothe interview for evaluation and final case processing. Beneficiaries should note that OriginalAffidavit of Support forms will still be submitted to NVC for initial evaluation. Affidavits of support are typically notused in employment-based immigration cases. Affidavits of support are usually only used in family-based immigration.
By making thischange, NVC hopes that it will maintain the integrity of the immigrant visaprocess, reduce customer wait times, and improve the customer experienceoverall.