It looks like about 26 days until you can start uploading documents and paying fees. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/nvc-timeframes.html

you can start the process as soon as you receive your the letter from NVC with your NVC Case Number: and Invoice ID Number. the first step is to pay your fees .

Check your email, they’ll send you some log in details. If you have it, log in and it’ll take you to where you’ll pay for financial support and IV. Once you pay, you’ll wait for a week or so, you’ll them get a notification that you can now upload your civil documents and other stuff. Generally, these doesn’t take long. What takes long is when they’ll document qualify (DQ) you to the time when they’ll send you interview date.

how long after DQ is wait until interview

I’ve seen almost a year to about 9 months. so it just depends on the country, I think.

thank you it’s been seven months for us and it’s Nigeria

thank you all for your replies, they sent my case to the Department of state I think 5 to 10 days after approval

@Toure, check your email for some log in info and see if you are able to log in and then pay.

okay I will but how to know that they sent the welcome letter and how much time does it normally take after approval

I filed for my wife and 4yr old son but only my son was approved and my wife still pending. My son’s case was immediately sent to state department and they have already forwarded payment details to me but I will not do anything until they approve my wife’s. Because I want them to go both get the same interview dates.

so it is almost 9 months that your case is with the nvc? can I know about their processing time?

and @Lisa, my family is in Nigeria too

Thank you Andy big prayers that all goes fast for you hard being away from family 🙏

@Toure, check your letter in the mail. Then check your email for the log in details that’s when and how you’ll know your case is in NVC/ state department

@Toure, it’s not my case that’s with NVC for 9 months. I said I know of people who’s cases are with NVC for 9 months to a year. And I don’t know their processing time.

@andy thanks, I’m from Guinea west Africa

@nbc the rfe was on old school record, medical record, church baptism certificate etc…

except the w2 which financial documents the petitioner must also submit? and is it obligatory to join a sponsor?

It’s not obligatory as long as your income is over 125% of the poverty line of your state. You can read that up- what the poverty line in your state is. Then I always like to use my tax transcript at her than w2… that’s just me.

thanks @Andy