Our October 2026 Visa Bulletin update discussed filing opportunities for applicants whose priority dates fall before the applicable cutoff dates. For applicants pursuing immigrant visas through consular processing, however, meeting the Dates for Filing cutoff—Chart B—does not necessarily mean the National Visa Center (NVC) will immediately open fee payment or document submission.
There may still be a wait for NVC’s processing instructions.
What We Are Seeing in Our Cases
As of October 9, 2026, of four consular processing cases in our office with priority dates earlier than the applicable Chart B cutoff, only one has received NVC’s go-ahead email to begin fee payment and document submission. The other three are still waiting.
In response to our inquiry about one pending case, NVC stated that it is preparing to accept fees, forms, and documents and will send detailed instructions soon. That case already has an NVC case number, but further processing remains unavailable.
The response illustrates a practical gap between meeting the Visa Bulletin’s filing cutoff and actually being able to move forward with NVC. It does not provide a firm date when processing will become available.
These observations concern four cases handled by our office; they are not a measure of nationwide NVC processing times.
What Chart B Means for Consular Processing
Chart B identifies when applicants may begin the document submission stage based on their priority dates. The State Department’s instructions explain that applicants whose priority dates are earlier than the applicable cutoff may assemble and submit documents after receiving NVC notification containing detailed instructions.
Meeting the cutoff is therefore an important milestone, but applicants may still need to wait for NVC to make the next steps available. Having an NVC case number alone does not necessarily mean that fee payment and document submission are open.
Starting NVC Processing Is Different From Getting an Interview
Chart B also does not establish eligibility for immediate visa issuance.
For numerically limited employment-based and family-sponsored categories, interview scheduling requires visa availability under Chart A—the Final Action Dates chart. Applicants must also complete NVC’s document review, and scheduling depends on appointment availability at the relevant embassy or consulate.
Applicants may therefore encounter separate waits before NVC opens processing, during document review, and before an interview can be scheduled.
What Applicants Can Do While Waiting
Applicants can use this time to gather the civil documents and other supporting materials needed for their cases, monitor email—including spam folders—and follow up when appropriate using NVC’s published inquiry guidance.
Movement in the Visa Bulletin is encouraging, but it is not a promise of immediate NVC action. For consular processing applicants, realistic planning should account for the time between meeting the filing cutoff and receiving instructions to proceed.