Previously, applications for Chinese employment-based fifth preference (EB-5) immigrant visas were all processed in paper format. In December 2014, the National Visa Center (NVC) began converting EB-5 paper applications to an electronic processing format in an effort to increase the efficiency and speed by which these applications are processed.
However, NVC appointment notices for such Chinese EB-5 immigrant visa applications indicate that applicants must bring their original documents with them to the interview, even though the applicants already submitted the original documents to the NVC with the initial paper application. There have even been cases where the NVC notices incorrectly state that the NVC only received scanned copies. This has resulted in some confusion among such Chinese EB-5 immigrant visa applicants who must try to obtain a new set of original documents for the interview appointment.
To address the concerns of these Chinese EB-5 immigrant visa applicants, the NVC recommends the following. If you received an appointment notice with a request to bring your original documents with you to the interview, you should still attend the interview, even if you are unable to gather original copies of all documents. Applicants who do not have the required original documents with them at the interview will not be penalized. Instead, if you do not have a required original document, then the Consular staff will discuss the available processing options with you. If the NVC has the original documents at its office, then the NVC will expedite the file to the U.S. Consulate on your behalf after you have been interviewed.
Please note that in general, Chinese authorities typically issue three certified copies of original civil documents for EB-5 immigrant visa applicants. Thus, applicants should retain at least one of those originals to take with them to their interview at the U.S. Consulate. If you want to retrieve the original documents from the NVC file, then you may contact the NVC office at NVCAttorney@state.gov.
If you have any questions or concerns about your application, you may contact the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou at GuangzhouIVform@state.gov.