F2A: How are USCIS Receipt Number, NVC Case Number and Invoice ID Number different?

During the F2A application process, users can receive many different types of codes.

The three codes that most often cause confusion are:

USCIS Receipt Number.

NVC Case Number.

Invoice ID Number.

Many people think that these are just three ways of calling the same profile code.

Actually that is not so.

Each code is generated in a different phase and serves a different purpose.

WHAT IS USCIS RECEIPT NUMBER?

USCIS Receipt Number is the code used by USCIS to identify the petition file in the USCIS system.

When Form I-130 is received by USCIS, the applicant receives a confirmation notice.

The Receipt Number appears on this notice and is used to track the application while USCIS processes the petition.

For example:

Receipt Number:

IOEXxxxxxxxxx

This code belongs to the USCIS phase.

If user wants to check I-130 status like:

Case Was Received.

Case Was Actively Reviewed.

Request for Evidence.

Approved.

Denied.

Receipt Number is important information to use.

IS USCIS RECEIPT NUMBER NVC CASE NUMBER?

Are not.

This is a very common mistake.

USCIS Receipt Number belongs to the USCIS system.

NVC Case Number belongs to the Department of State system and is issued by NVC after NVC receives a petition approved by USCIS and creates a visa application.

So an F2A profile might have:

USCIS Receipt Number:

IOEXxxxxxxxxx

Then there are added:

NVC Case Number:

HCM2026xxxxxx

These two codes are not the same and are not interchangeable.

WHAT IS NVC CASE NUMBER?

NVC Case Number is the case code issued by the National Visa Center after NVC receives a petition approved by USCIS.

NVC uses this code to manage immigrant visa applications during the consular processing stage.

When NVC creates a case, the user will receive an instruction message with Case Number and Invoice ID Number.

These are two important pieces of information to access CEAC.

Therefore, when records transfer from USCIS to NVC, users should not continue to use only Receipt Number to manage the entire process.

WHAT IS NVC CASE NUMBER USED FOR?

NVC Case Number is used in many steps of the immigrant visa process.

In particular, users need Case Number to:

Login to CEAC.

Follow your profile at NVC.

Follow the payment steps.

Manage DS-260.

Follow Financial Documents.

Follow Civil Documents.

Check notifications from NVC.

Check application status on CEAC.

When contacting NVC, Case Number is also one of the important information that helps NVC identify records.

WHAT IS INVOICE ID NUMBER?

Invoice ID Number is another code provided by NVC.

It is not the NVC Case Number.

NVC Case Number identifies the case.

Invoice ID Number is used in conjunction with NVC Case Number to access CEAC.

Can be understood simply:

NVC Case Number = case code.

Invoice ID Number = accompanying authentication code to access and perform steps on CEAC.

So the user needs to save both.

WHY DOES CEAC NEED BOTH CODES?

CEAC uses the NVC Case Number and Invoice ID Number to determine the user is accessing the correct record.

If there is only NVC Case Number but no Invoice ID Number, users may not be able to log in to CEAC.

Therefore, when receiving the Welcome Letter, you should not just take a photo of the Case Number part.

Please save all login information provided.

CAN USCIS RECEIPT NUMBER BE USED TO LOG IN TO CEAC?

Are not.

USCIS Receipt Number and NVC Case Number are in two different stages.

CEAC immigrant visa uses information provided by NVC.

If the user tries to enter the USCIS Receipt Number where the NVC Case Number is requested, the system may not be able to recognize the record.

CAN I USE NVC CASE NUMBER INSTEAD OF INVOICE ID?

Are not.

These two pieces of information have different functions.

NVC instructs users to use both NVC Case Number and Invoice ID Number to log in to CEAC.

Therefore, it is not recommended to manually replace one code with the other.

WHEN IS NVC CASE NUMBER AVAILABLE?

NVC Case Number appears after NVC receives a petition approved by USCIS and creates a visa application.

According to NVC's procedures:

USCIS Approved.

↓

Documents are transferred to NVC.

↓

NVC creates cases.

↓

NVC issues Case Number and Invoice ID.

↓

NVC sends Welcome Letter.

↓

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