What to Expect After I-130 Approval
October 9, 2025
For many families, this waiting period can be confusing and stressful. Understanding how the process works — and what to do if you don’t hear anything — can make a world of difference in keeping your immigration journey on track. This period marks the crucial transfer from USCIS to the Department of State, and this blog will explain what happens next, breaking down the typical timelines for receiving your NVC Welcome Letter, explaining how processing times differ, and outlining the steps you can take if your case appears delayed.
At McBean Law, we help clients nationwide navigate the complex world of U.S. immigration law with confidence, compassion, and clarity. Led by Attorney LaToya McBean Pompy, a nationally recognized immigration attorney and 2024, 2025, & 2026 honoree of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®, McBean Law brings unmatched experience in both federal policy and courtroom advocacy. Before founding the firm in 2016, Attorney McBean Pompy worked in various roles within the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Congress, and both federal and state courts.
Most recently, Attorney LaToya McBean Pompy was featured in The Wall Street Journal in an interview titled “Legal Experts Explain Impacts of Trump’s $100K H-1B Visa Fee.” She shared key insights on how this dramatic policy change could reshape the tech industry, impact global talent mobility, and influence the future of U.S. immigration law.
The Timeline: From USCIS to the National Visa Center
Once USCIS approves your I-130 petition, the agency forwards your case to the National Visa Center (NVC) if your relative will be applying for a visa outside the United States at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
This transfer usually happens within 4 to 8 weeks. When the NVC receives your file, they will email a case creation letter. This letter is important because it includes:
- Your NVC case number
- Your invoice number
- Instructions for the next steps — including whether you can move forward immediately or must wait until a visa becomes available
If you haven’t received this letter after about three months, don’t panic — but don’t just wait, either. You should go to the NVC’s Public Inquiry Form page online and submit an inquiry. You can use your USCIS I-130 receipt number if you don’t yet have an NVC number. Include your full name, date of birth, your petitioner’s information, and your email address.
After you submit the inquiry, one of two things can happen:
- The NVC replies that they don’t yet have your case. In this situation, you should contact USCIS for an update.
- The NVC confirms they have your case and sends you your case creation letter, allowing you to move forward with your immigrant visa process.
What Happens After the NVC Creates Your Case
Once your NVC case is created, the next steps depend on whether a visa number is available for you. If your priority date is current, meaning a visa is available, you can begin the NVC processing steps. This includes:
- Paying your NVC fees
- Completing the DS-260 immigrant visa application
- Submitting your Affidavit of Support (Form I-864)
- Uploading required civil documents such as police certificates, birth certificates, and marriage records
After you’ve submitted everything, the NVC will review your documents. Once everything is accepted, your case becomes documentarily qualified — meaning your file is now complete and waiting in line for a U.S. Embassy or Consulate interview.
If Your Visa Isn’t Yet Available
Not every family can move forward right away. If you are in a family preference category (such as siblings of U.S. citizens or married sons or daughters), your case may be stuck in the backlog until a visa number becomes available under the Visa Bulletin. Unfortunately, the NVC cannot move your case forward until your priority date is current. In most cases, you simply must wait.
However, there are rare situations where an expedite request may be granted — usually if a visa number is already available and there are strong humanitarian or urgent circumstances, such as medical emergencies or family hardship.
If you are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, the process is much smoother. Immediate relatives include:
- Spouses of U.S. citizens
- Parents of U.S. citizens
- Unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens
For immediate relatives, a visa is always available, so the NVC can move your case forward right away. To know more about this process, you can watch Attorney LaToya McBean Pompy’s YouTube video, “After I-130 Is Approved, When Will The National Visa Center Contact You?”, where she explains how long the NVC takes to contact you, what delays mean, and what steps to take next in your green card process.
